CFL receives national interest exemption letter, seven-day quarantine required for players and staff

Photo courtesy: federal government

The Canadian Football League has obtained sign off from the federal government for a seven-day quarantine prior to the start of training camps.

According to TSN reporter Farhan Lalji: The CFL has now received the signed and approved national interest exemption letter. Only a seven-day quarantine will now be required, as the league has been expecting for a number of weeks and planned as such. Players from out of town will make their way to training camps on July 1-2.

The CFL is scheduled to begin training camps across the country on July 10, with players expected to arrive a week prior for a seven-day quarantine. The Public Health Agency of Canada has allowed the same exemption that was afforded to the NHL last year and this year.

According to a report from Dan Ralph of the Canadian Press, in early June PHAC started the process of reviewing the three-down league’s request for a national interest exemption for modified quarantine in cooperation with provincial health authorities.

The league and players’ union began meetings during the second week of February with a focus on playing football this year. After the Canadian government refused to provide a $30 million interest-free loan a year ago, the board of governors voted to cancel the 2020 season and the CFL reportedly lost between $60 and $80 million while staying on the sidelines.