The StarTimes Uganda Premier League kick off for the 2020/21 season has been postponed for the second time.
Initially, the campaign was to kick off on October 17th before being pushed to November 20th.
However, the latest statement from Fufa indicates the new season will tentatively get underway on December 3rd, a decision reached after deliberations arising from the meeting between FUFA, UPL Board and the 2020/21 UPL Clubs.
Below is the full statement;
Arising out of the deliberations of the meeting between FUFA, UPL Board and the 2020/21 UPL Clubs, FUFA hereby issues the Circular on the resumption of the 2020/21 StarTimes Uganda Premier League;
FUFA will procure a Government authorised authority as the official FUFA COVID – Testing Centre and only results from such a centre will be recognised by the football regulations.
FUFA will procure in-house medical personnel on a fulltime basis for a renewable period of 6-months to undertake COVID-19 responsibilities as required of FUFA.
Licensed players and technical staff for the 2020/2021 season who will undertake sporting roles at training and matches will undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test.
Only persons who test negative and get issued with a FUFA COVID-19 Clearance Certificate shall be eligible to participate in the team training and matches.
All Referees and Match Commissioners for the 2020/21 UPL Season will undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test. Only persons who test negative and get issued with a FUFA-COVID-19 Clearance Certificate shall be eligible to officiate the matches.
The FUFA COVID-19 personnel and the official FUFA COVID-Testing Centre will administer the bi-weekly testing of players and technical staff.
FUFA shall undertake the cost of testing Referees and Match Commissioners and will also pre-finance the cost of COVID-19 tests for club players and officials.
Corresponding deductions will be made against future club incomes as reimbursement for this medical exercise.
Players and officials found to be positive to the COVID-19 test shall be ineligible to make contact with the rest of the players and technical staff for training and matches. A match shall only be rescheduled if a club has less than 10 outward players and goalkeeper that are not positive to the COVID-19 test.
Training and Matches venues are out of bounds to persons that are not members of the playing or technical staff that have been issued with FUFA COVID-19 Clearance Certificate. An inspection will be conducted by FUFA and only authorised venues will be issued with the FUFA COVID-19 Venue Clearance Certificate to host training sessions and matches.
FUFA will issue COVID-19 Competitions Regulations to detail the execution of the authorised matches and training by the 15th November 2020 with the strict observation of training grounds and Stadium SOPs.
There will be sanctions and fines up to exclusion of the club from FUFA Competitions for repeated and gross violation of the COVID-19 Competitions Regulations.
The FUFA Club Licensing Committee will issue 2020/21 UPL Club Licenses by 3rd November 2020 while the FUFA Competitions Directorate to issue Players’ Licenses and bench permits by 10th November 2020 and the UPL Secretariat shall release the fixtures by 10th November 2020 and the Uganda Premier League Kickoff is set for 3rd December 2020.
