No spitting or kissing the ball, says CONMEBOL

Men's Football Tournament Semifinal Brazil v Honduras - Maracana - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 17/08/2016. Neymar (BRA) of Brazil kisses the ball before scoring a penalty goal against Honduras [COURTESY]

Teams competing in South America’s Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana have been told players must avoid spitting and kissing the ball as part of new rules published by the region’s football governing body (CONMEBOL) to combat COVID-19.

The two flagship tournaments were suspended in March due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus and new start dates have still to be decided.