With the 2020 Chinese Super League season finally set to kick off on Saturday, organizers have warned that any violation of their stringent coronavirus regulations at the two host cities will not be treated lightly.

"I hope everyone understands that a violation of the epidemic prevention policies does not mean just a penalty or fine. A violation might mean he or she will be required to leave the match area, and the violator will not be allowed to attend this year's CSL season anymore," said Qi Jun, a CSL official in charge of the epidemic prevention team, told media on Friday.

This year's season was originally scheduled to begin on Feb 22 until the COVID-19 pandemic forced its postponement. The Chinese Football Association pushed for a late-June start but reportedly failed to earn government approval due to inadequacies identified in its antivirus measures.

After installing Dr. Zhang Wenhong, a leading expert in China's efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak, as the CFA's anti-epidemic consultant, a behind-closed-doors return was approved, with the 16 teams split into two groups based in Dalian, Liaoning province, and Suzhou, Jiangsu province.

The first step is to ensure everyone arrives at the host cities healthy, with all players and club staff undergoing one coronavirus antibody test and two nucleic acid tests 21 days prior to their departure.

All media and support staff are being tested upon arrival. After the season kicks off, nucleic acid tests will be administered to everyone involved each week, with antibody tests conducted once a month.

"For example in Dalian, apart from local club Dalian Pro, there will be seven clubs arriving at Dalian airport. To shorten the time that the teams need to wait for their nucleic acid test results, a 'green passage' has been established at the airport," said Qi.

"The test equipment in the 'green passage' will be used to test all the teams as they arrive. Then it's just 10 minutes from the test zone to the bus for the players. We want the players to enter the lockdown areas as quickly as possible. They will wait for the results in their hotel rooms."

All these plans couldn't have become reality without the support of local authorities. According to Miao Zhiwen, the deputy director of Dalian's administration of sport, the city has established 16 working groups to cover all aspects of hosting the CSL games.

"This a very special year to stage the CSL matches. So we've prioritized the epidemic prevention work," Miao told media on Saturday. "We have our own epidemic prevention policies in Dalian, and the CFA has its specific requirements. So we've devised strict lockdown and testing policies."

In both cities, the match and living areas are divided into blue, green and purple zones.

Players, coaches, referees and core match staff are assigned to blue zones and will be under strict lockdown. Only those with blue credentials will be permitted to enter these areas and they will be forbidden from interacting with people with green or purple credentials.

The players will be restricted only to hotels, training pitches and match stadiums, and will be required to use Alibaba's remote conference platform DingTalk to report their whereabouts at designated times.

"Epidemic prevention is the key to our job, and the core of the operation is focused on players and referees. They are the key elements on the pitch, so they need to have the highest level of protection," Qi said.

"The strict measures were discussed and agreed by the clubs who have all been really supportive. And the reason why we have done this, of course, is so they avoid contact with the outside world and reduce the possibility of being infected."

In an effort to create something akin to a match-day atmosphere inside the spectator-less stadiums, goals will be accompanied by themed club videos on giant digital screens, while a playlist featuring songs that fans have voted for will accompany teams as they step out onto the pitch.

Reports have suggested that the Chinese Basketball Association, which is around a month into its restart, could soon welcome back limited fans into arenas, pending government approval.

However, it is unclear if the CSL will follow the CBA's lead in this regard.

"In China, our goal is zero infections. So we are more cautious," epidemic expert Dr. Zhang said. "If the infection number is approaching zero and we can maintain that, we will allow more people in the stands. Meanwhile, we will keep everyone safe."

Some fans have voiced concerns that all players might struggle to adhere to the quarantine rules. In an effort to relieve boredom levels during the two-month campaign, which will be followed by a knockout stage, the CFA is providing a multitude of recreational facilities in the lockdown areas, including pool tables, basketball courts, reading rooms, video games and even karaoke.

"We understand that people will live in a relatively small area for a long time, and it's a little bit hard for everyone to adjust," said Qi.

"The players need to display their professionalism now. I believe the scenario that some fans have envisioned will not happen. I don't believe that the players will seek to find their own ways to relax.

"The lockdown area is not just a hotel. It's a compound of about 5.5 square kilometers. There are tennis courts, badminton courts and swimming pools for them to use."

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