Among the various measures announced to fight against the fifth wave of Covid, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced the establishment of a vaccination pass from January 15, 2022, to replace the health pass. Pass which has yet to be adopted by parliament. If it is validated, it will be necessary to go to many public places such as sports arenas.
The entourage of the Minister for Sports was very clear and made it clear that there would be no exemption. Without a vaccine, it is impossible to play whether you are an amateur, professional or known high level athlete. Something to think about this footballer playing in National 2. If he stopped playing, he would lose between 700 and 1,000 euros per month: “Already from the start of the season, the club was precise: he did not want a pass problem because it is quite restrictive, it can cancel matches, we could suffer some penalties. I have my personal convictions, but professionally, it can become a blockage. “
“If I cannot be paid or continue my professional project, I will have to make choices.”
A National 2 footballerto franceinfo
“I’m going to think about it anyway”, says this footballer who will leave himself another day of reflection but is ready, despite the fear of the vaccine, to take the plunge, to continue to exercise his profession.
In Top 14 and Pro D2 they are, according to the National Rugby League, a handful to still refuse vaccination. About ten in Top 14 and also ten in Pro D2. Which does not even represent one player per club. Since the start of the season, all have agreed to be tested daily in order to be able to play the matches on weekends. So, the general manager of Stade Français Paris, Thomas Lombard, thinks that everything will be able to be settled by the discussion: “We have almost all of our group which is vaccinated so I think that the rare elements who are not will understand that today we are in a situation where we do not necessarily have a choice.”
For Thomas Lombard: “From the moment you want to continue to exercise your activity as a professional player, it may also be a public health approach that must be accepted. The idea is when you are a rugby player or when you work in a profession like ours, you do a passionate job so that requires making sacrifices, understanding the issues and I think that by discussing on good terms with everyone, we will be able to convince the most reluctant if there are any left. ”
For the moment, Thomas Lombard does not consider at all the question of a possible dismissal or a breach of contract. The clubs have not received any information yet on the procedures to be followed in relation to the vaccination pass.
Vaccination does not seem at all obvious in individual sports but also in semi-professional clubs. A rugby player who is playing in Federal 2 told us that if we forced him to be vaccinated, he would choose to stop practicing his sport, even if it means losing his contract: “Honestly, I don’t want to feel like I have to get vaccinated to be able to play rugby.
I’m ready to stop playing if they force us to get vaccinated.
A Federal 2 rugby playerto franceinfo
“It leaves me with regrets, it can be prejudicial to me because we are players under contract, we still have obligations. So when the championship resumes in mid-January, it may be a bit complicated. The coach has us sent a message to the players’ group and made it clear to us that those who are not vaccinated will not play “, says this sportsman. In his team, there are five in his case. He will still discuss with them and with his teammates when training resumes to find out if they too give up their passion and the contract that goes with it.