FCK switch camp from Portugal to Dubai

Due to the current global Covid-19 situation, the team must change destination for their winter training camp. While the plan was originally to travel to Portugal once again, just like in January 2020, instead FCK will train in Dubai this winter.

It has not been possible to find suitable opponents for training matches in Portugal, and in addition, some of the venue's training facilities are currently closed.

Travel restrictions due to Covid-19 has also made it difficult to plan a training camp in Portugal and elsewhere in Europe.

"As you know, the situation is very unique in the world right now, and we do not have free choice in relation to destinations to train," says William Kvist.

"If we had, we would have gone to Portugal again. That's what we've been planning all along. However, due to the coronavirus situation, it has been impossible to find a place that could provide us with travel, training and the opponents we need.

"For us as a club and a business, it is absolutely crucial that we maintain our competitiveness and opportunities to get into European football next season. Here, the winter training camp is absolutely critical for us, and we had to make a decision now to get matches in place."

An alternative could have been to drop the annual winter training camp altogether, just like how F.C. Copenhagen players didn't have a pre-season as they prepared for the start of the 2020/21 3F Superliga season. However, our own pitches are not usable in January. Moreover, it is difficult to arrange matches at a level necessary for the team.

It is also a high priority for the football department to have the players together for a longer period. A training camp - with good weather conditions and pitches - provides more and better opportunities for optimal season preparation.

"The choice of Dubai has been made solely on the basis of the sporting opportunities in the current situation with a worldwide pandemic that makes the area the place with the best conditions in terms of training, opponents, facilities, compliance with coronavirus protocols and better entry and exit options," Kvist adds.

"We have of course considered the political situation during our deliberations, but in the current situation it is sportingly the only workable solution for us.

"We are aware that not everyone will agree on our priorities. We respect that, and we will not try to convince those who disagree, but simply to draw attention to the considerations that underlie our priorities."

The FCK team will travel to their training camp on 10 January and return on 25 January. The team will play two training matches.