Coronavirus northern beaches: Lionel Watts Reserve soccer players flout group exercise ban
More pictures have emerged of soccer players organising training sessions on the northern beaches that breach COVID-19 group exercise bans.
Manly
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Rebel soccer players are ignoring COVID-19 bans to organise unauthorised training sessions and matches in a popular Sydney park.
Groups of men have flouted public health orders prohibiting exercising in groups by turning up for football drills and games at Lionel Watts Reserve at Frenchs Forest.
Northern Beaches Council is now calling on locals, who see individuals or groups disobeying the rules designed to stop the spread of coronavirus, to call the police.
As part of the NSW Government Public Health Orders people can leave their homes to exercise, but only with one other person.
Last week a photograph emerged showing more than 20 men playing a game of soccer at the park.
The players, who risked fines of $1000 each, fled after outraged residents called police who arrived in a patrol car with its lights and siren activated.
Now more photographs have come to light showing small groups of men training at the same park.
On Saturday the Manly Daily saw three men kicking balls at Lionel Watts Reserve toward a fourth man who was playing goalkeeper.
And late last week a resident uploaded a photograph to a community Facebook page of a small group of men practising their passing and dribbling skills at the same ground.
The unauthorised training sessions come as the club which uses the reserve for its home games — Wakehurst FC — warned its players not to ignore COVID-19 regulations.
There is no suggestion the men photographed at Lionel Watts Reserve play for Wakehurst FC.
The Manly Warringah Football Association has banned all football activities, including training and “friendly” matches, until at least May 31.
Wakehurst FC president Greg Dick told the Manly Daily he received a telephone call from an police saying they had seen what appeared to be organised football training taking place at Lionel Watts Reserve.
“The police told me that those people, who seemed to be playing a game, fled when officers arrived and that they left boots and equipment behind.”
While the identity of the players is not known, Mr Dick said he was confident they were not from the Wakehurst club because it had regularly messaged its players about their COVID-19 responsibilities.
Mr Dick said police told him they would be increasing their patrols of Lionel Watts Reserve.
Northern Beaches Council CEO Ray Brownlee said council rangers were also patrolling Lionel Watts Reserve, and other sporting fields across the northern beaches, to ensure COVID-19 social distancing measures were being maintained.
“We would also recommend contacting police as well as the Manly Warringah Football Association if people spot individuals or groups disobeying guidelines established by NSW Health authorities and the State Government in March,” Mr Brownlee said.
On Sunday Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced an easing of COVID-19 restrictions, including allowing outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people.