The Peruvian Football Federation, in agreement with the Ministry of Health, has found a way to restart the Peruvian First Division under most strict medical surveillance. In terms of coronavirus, Peru is the second most affected country in Latin America, after Brazil.
Teams were allowed to restart training sessions, initially in smaller groups of players, after all players and staff have been tested. The tests revealed that 32 people (players and staff) are infected in some of the teams, with 9 only in Academia Cantolao, the most affected team. In Cusco FC two people have been found as infected, although without symptoms. However, all teams with infected people have to reschedule the training sessions, to take several extra measures and to pass several more tests. Tests will be anyway run regularly before the restart of the league on the 7th of August, and after that, before each game.
Despite the situation, Cusco FC resumed training sessions this week, respecting all the imposed health protocols. Players worked individually or in smaller groups, under the surveillance of head coach Carlos Ramacciotti and his staff of assistant coaches.
Training sessions have resumed for Cusco FC. Source: Cusco FC Facebook page
The format of the league has been changed. The first six rounds of Apertura, already played, will become part of the newly-named "Phase 1" of the league, actually replacing Apertura, but having the same schedule and the same 19 rounds, in a single round-robin format. The 13 remaining rounds will be all played in Lima, under strict medical surveillance, therefore on neutral grounds for most teams (except for those in Lima, which have clear advantage out of this arrangement). The Peruvian Football Federation will cover the travel costs for the teams outside Lima and will provide sufficient training grounds, while the teams are responsible for the accommodation, food and other costs involved.
Because there is not much time remained to play the Clausura this year, after the end of "Phase 1", a "Phase 2" will be initiated, with teams split in two groups of 10, each playing each other in the same single round robin format. The winners of the two groups will play the finals of "Phase 2" to determine the winner of "Phase 2". If the winners of "Phase 1" and "Phase 2" are the same, they are declared as national champions. If not, a play-off would be played to determine the national champions.
Therefore, the winners of "Phase 1" and "Phase 2", and, if the case, the first two classified in the aggregate table, would play the semifinals and the finals of the championship play-off.
The last four teams in the aggregate table will be relegated to the Second Division. The national champions, as well as the winners of "Phase 1" and "Phase 2" (if different) and the best classified in the aggregate table (other than the already mentioned teams) will play in the next year Copa Libertadores, while the next four classified teams (most likely placed 5 through 8) in the aggregate table are qualified for the next year Copa Sudamericana.
Because of the very tight schedule, Copa Bicentenario will not be played this year and is postponed for 2021.
For Cusco FC, as well as for other teams outside Lima, the fact that all the games will be played in Lima would represent a disadvantage. Even more, Cusco FC and other high altitude teams (Melgar, Binacional, Cienciano, etc) will lose the clear advantage of playing their home games at high altitude. This would make them even more vulnerable and clear candidates for relegation. The fact that the league is shorter makes it even more difficult for the teams which had a weak start, like Cusco FC, because the weight of the initial 6 rounds is higher and the time to recover is smaller.
The transfer window (which is already in place until the beginning of August) is unlikely to bring many novelties, due to the general health situation in the world and in South America. Probably the teams will continue with the same players as before. For Cusco FC, this is not the greatest news, as the squad is clearly weaker than the previous year and they would need good players to get out of the relegation area.
For Cusco FC, as well as for other teams outside Lima, the fact that all the games will be played in Lima would represent a disadvantage. Even more, Cusco FC and other high altitude teams (Melgar, Binacional, Cienciano, etc) will lose the clear advantage of playing their home games at high altitude. This would make them even more vulnerable and clear candidates for relegation. The fact that the league is shorter makes it even more difficult for the teams which had a weak start, like Cusco FC, because the weight of the initial 6 rounds is higher and the time to recover is smaller.
The transfer window (which is already in place until the beginning of August) is unlikely to bring many novelties, due to the general health situation in the world and in South America. Probably the teams will continue with the same players as before. For Cusco FC, this is not the greatest news, as the squad is clearly weaker than the previous year and they would need good players to get out of the relegation area.
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