Volleyball does not return viewers for the final series

The final series of volleyball in both competitions, which begin this weekend, will take place without the presence of the public, just as this edition resumed last month after a three-month break due to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, the Kosovo Volleyball Federation (FVK) throughout this week has planned to allow the return of fans to the final matches, normally with a limited number. But this plan was broken with the latest decision of the Government of Kosovo, which a few days ago announced new preventive measures for the spread of the coronavirus, announcing that it will not allow the gathering of more than 50 people in public places. This decision has caused FVK to end this edition as it started, without spectators in the stands. On Saturday (today), the first matches of the final series of this edition will take place in both competitions. For men, Ferizaj hosts the Prishtina Volley team, this match starts at 18:00. As for the women, from 20:10 in Pristina, M-Technologie and Skënderaj will face each other. The champion in both competitions will be announced after two victories.

"For us as a primary federation, the health of the athletes is because we have taken maximum care that everything goes according to plans since the edition has resumed. In fact, we had as an idea the return of the limited number of the public in the stands for the final matches, with which this edition closes. But, the last decision by the government and the large number of cases has made us not allow such a thing. So, let's close the edition without the public because this is for the benefit of everyone", said the secretary of FVK, Valon Nikqi, on Friday. "Perhaps it would have been better for the finals to be played with a limited audience, but this time the situation is what forces us not to open the doors. It is important to close this edition that resumed after a long wait and then look for the next edition, where I hope the public will have its doors open".

A similar decision as the FVK has been taken by the Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK), which has insisted that the return of the public to the stands is only being considered for the next edition. The FFK, even when the government canceled the decision that prohibited the presence of the public in sports events, had insisted that it would continue the matches of this edition behind closed doors. Football is the first collective sport in Kosovo that resumed competitions at the beginning of last month, adhering to a guideline for the prevention of the COVID-19 pandemic, compiled by the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Public Health. Indeed, days ago, the FFK Health Commission reacted to the fact that it found that the guide is not being fully respected, warning everyone.

"The officials of all Ipko Superliga clubs (without exception), who are standing in the stands during the matches, are not respecting the protective measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

While the players, coaching staff and medical teams are mainly respecting the protective measures.

also Sports June 27, 2020 Handball brings viewers back for the Cup finals

The health officials of the Football Federation of Kosovo ask all the officials of the Ipko Superliga clubs to wear a mask during their presence in the stands and to keep the distance from each other", the announcement said.

In addition to football and volleyball, handball has also resumed competitions after the pause due to the pandemic, but not basketball, which canceled the edition without announcing the champions. Unlike football and volleyball, handball has already closed the 2019/20 season and has also designated the teams for participation in European competitions for the 2020/21 edition. Last week, the Kosovo Handball Federation (FHK) concluded the pandemic edition with the final matches of the Kosovo Cup, which took place a few days after the champions in both competitions were announced. However, in the final of the Kosovo Cup, FHK allowed a limited number of public in the stands to become the first sport to bring back fans in this time of pandemic.