“There will be people in pain.” What are the consequences for unvaccinated athletes?

From Monday, the vaccination card will replace the health card in France. To enter the stadium you must then present your sesame, whether you come to watch or do the show. In other words, the athletes, both French and foreign, who develop regularly or on time in our country, will not be affected there. So we’re safe from the ‘Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open’ tragicomedy.

Especially since fanatics are as rare as volleyball students in modern tennis. “In Ligue 1, according to our figures, 95% of the players have been vaccinated, according to the details, Sylvain Castindio, co-chair of UNFP, the Federation of Professional Footballers. They are a little lower in Ligue 2, but we are not far from the same number.”

show guest It’s up to you in France 5On January 12, Didier Deschamps revealed that “not all players have been vaccinated, or not fully vaccinated” among the Blues, referring to “individual freedom” and without giving a name.

“98%” are vaccinated in professional rugby

On the rugby side, the identity of some rebels has been leaked, particularly by La Rochelle (South Africa Liebenberg) and Claremont (New Zealand’s Mala and Japan’s Matsushima). “98% of the Top 14 and Pro D2 players are vaccinated, however, identifies Matteo Giudicelli, General Manager of Provalli Union. And this number is changing as hesitant people so far are starting to take the initiative. This represents about twenty players out of the 30 Professional club. Among the numbers, some have tested positive for Covid, giving an additional three months.”

The Fijian of Stade Français Waisea Nayacelavu ticks both boxes. “Wesey contracted the virus a few weeks ago, so today it is an autoimmune disease,” Thomas Lombard, the general manager of the Paris club, told AFP on Monday. But when he comes out of his immunity is vaccinated. We talked about it with him. »

Vaccination card approved. Once the law is passed, it will become mandatory to enter public buildings already subject to the health card (stadium, theater or hall) for all French and foreign spectators, practitioners and professionals 1/2

– RoxaMaracineanu January 16 2022

In other professional sports, the “rebel” share also seems to remain, as in basketball. “With us, all players are vaccinated, assures Martial Bellon, President of SIG Strasbourg. Clearly, a vaccination permit will not be a concern. Other professional basketball players? I know that in December about a dozen players in the entire Betlic elite were not vaccinated.”

Whatever the reason dictates their behaviour, athletes who have not received their doses of Moderna or Pfizer are thus part of a minority population, with increasingly restricted rights. To date, they can participate in competitions, provided that they double the PCR tests. It’s over now, and many of them won’t be able to train anymore, unless they do it in a special enclosure that is not an ERP (a facility open to the public), like most sports complexes.

‘The noose is narrowing’

“The players will no longer be able to do their job at all, comments Sylvain Castendeuch. The screws are narrowing. Already some clubs have been choosing to deprive themselves of unvaccinated people. The pressure is huge. With competition, you lose your place quickly. Obviously there will be people in pain. We have people calling, worried about the next step.”

Same story with rugby players. “These are often players from other countries, with different cultures, strong religious beliefs, notes Matteo Giudicelli. It’s hard for them. They call Proval, we try to reassure them, give them their rights. »

Damocles’ sword of fragility

The law does not provide for the release of unvaccinated persons. But they can still be anxious. “Employers are considering laying off, failing to terminate contracts, with all the financial implications of that,” Kastendeuch says. “The professional athlete has the unstable Damocles sword over his head, Gudicelli develops. If overnight we have players who see their contract on hold, this could have other important economic, familial and other consequences.”

Because the five- or six-figure monthly salaries of L1 or Top 14 stars shouldn’t make us forget the much lower income of L2 or Pro D2 trimmers. Especially since the club may now think twice before extending or enlisting the vaccination discount.

Only the last of the rebels should pray for the vaccine passage to disappear as quickly as possible. I’m not sure they find much relief with Olivier Veran: “We will apply the vaccination permit as long as necessary but not longer than necessary,” the health minister dropped on Thursday, according to the emergence of a new variant after Omicron that “could be a game-changer”.