To think football shouldn't start again until the crisis is over?

[PhilSwagielka]

First off: no, this is not about who I support. I could be a Watford fan and feel the same way. I'd be happy to give Liverpool the title by default. In the Netherlands, they've voided the season, though I don't think Ajax got the title by default, and apparently Eredivisie clubs are threatening to get the decision overturned.

There have been reports about the Premier League coming back in 5-6 weeks and players training again, and players being tested. How true it is, I don't know, but I don't understand why fit, healthy young men get priority for testing while people working in the NHS, care homes and elsewhere don't get tested. Also, bringing matches back means having to make matchday staff work. Medics, caterers, stewards, security, groundsmen etc. Not to mention that even if matches are played behind closed doors, people will congregate outside the grounds. FFS, Goodison Park is right next to a residential area, what are the chances of Everton fans hanging around outside? The whole thing is a bad idea.

I like football but honestly, I'm happy to go without it for a few months if it means saving lives.

I completely agree. I am a big big football fan. This idea of 150 minimum people per match not social distancing, which means over 1k a week, travelling across the country, in close distance, with staff, all with families, doing what they like whilst other people sit at home not seeing their loved ones or being able to open their business whilst these multi, multi millionaires swan about as usual.
It’s an absolute disgrace if it happens, and entirely unfair. They have already opened some training grounds which is a joke in itself. Alright for the millionaires to drive on non essential journeys.
All about ££££ as usual.

How are players going to socially distance in a contact sport that involves tackling, walls etc.? Or play in face masks? Goalies dive about all over the place, wouldn't their masks come off?

They might play games but the stadium won’t have any fans, mass gatherings are not going to be approved for a while yet.

Big premium league clubs can play for tv though surely?

Another football fan here who definitely agrees. It should be one of the last things to start up again due to it being completely non-essential.

I’m a massive rugby league fan but I can’t see how it can resume this season (feb - October for us) I would much rather write off this season and then hopefully be ready for next year

There is talk of playing all remaining Premier League matches in a kind of mini tournament at Wembley behind closed doors isn't there?
I imagine the testing for players would be paid for by the FA or clubs themselves. The tests are out there, it's the govt who are being ineffectual at getting access to them for key workers. I don't think one would directly affect the other tbh.

You may no longer have a club to support if this goes on much longer.

YABU in not supporting Watford! But no, football should not be played until we are clearer with the CV situation. Though I would happy if the season was voided from a selfish point of view

Pretty much. Not sure about Wembley but it will be behind closed doors, possibly at neutral stadiums. If it's at somewhere like the Etihad, which has its own complex, less chance of people congregating outside.

If Everton go into administration, I'll be sad but I'll live.

There's flights starting from next month. Romania, Hungry and other places are going ahead with holiday bookings. Parts of Spain want to open up for this summer. So the Premier league are going to push for this. Apparently they are going to get tested before every match. The PL have the money to do it.

I agree it makes a mockery of the pettiness around visiting elderly people to say happy birthday at a distance and fines we have seen issued.

I'm supposed to be going to Spain for Primavera Sound but it's been moved to August. G-d knows how things will be by then.

Funny thing you brough this up OP as I came across some Liverpool and Man United fans arguing on social media last night and it was like some kind of normality had returned!

I think, although I don't really 'get it',that football brings a lot of joy to a lot of people. My DF and DB are huge football fans and they have both commented on how much they miss watching games. They'd both be over the moon if it came back as they'd have something to watch (I know DF is driving DM potty because he's so bored). Obviously there would have to be now crowds, though I don't know if that would work?

I can't see any sports going ahead until the Autumn at the earliest. There are so many other things, far more important, that need to get back towards normality first, such as the NHS, schools, shops, businesses, etc., all of which are viable with social distancing and good personal hygiene practice/PPE.

Sorry, but sports, hospitality, concerts, etc are way down the list.

I think bringing football back behind closed doors and broadcasting free to all on terrestrial tv has been contemplated as a way to bolster national morale, particularly if the lockdown is extended again

Yeah, my stepdad is Chelsea and he misses it. I do a bit but Everton and Liverpool fans are still sniping at each other on social media as usual.

The idea is that games will be played behind closed doors and fans can watch it on TV.

It wouldn't bolster morale if players started getting sick. Or managers, especially the older ones.

Trouble is, fans will get together in peoples' homes to watch it, so that's social distancing out of the window isn't it? There's no way that fathers/sons, brothers, workmates, regular fans, will want to watch their important matches on their own. The whole point of watching football for most fans is the social aspect. If pubs and stadia are closed, then they''ll just load up with cans from the off licence and head to eachothers' houses!

That was always part of the fun for me as a kid. I go to matches alone these days, but part of the fun was meeting up in the pub with my Evertonian relatives beforehand. A lot of fans miss the camaraderie and meeting up with their mates or going the pub afterwards. Which you can't do if it's closed doors and pubs closed.

Ridiculous idea. For all the reasons given.

Players should have drastic pay cuts as well.

Here in Liverpool there's a grievance felt that the Madrid match went ahead on the 11th March. These questions were asked on one of the press conferences. They are trying to trace if the strain that hit Liverpool was connected to that match.

Our Royal hospital never got upgraded thanks to corruption and we aren't getting a super new hospital, our closest is Manchester, over an hour away.

So the planning of this needs to be put to the public first. We have good MPs, but when they were pushing for answers about the care homes, back in March, they were dismissed.

It's the spin off as well, because community/amateur teams will see it as a green light for training/matches and then we have our A&Es filing up with injuries.

@ponoka7 I wouldn't be surprised, and this isn't a dig at Liverpool, if it did. Loads of foreign fans flying in from infected areas, big groups of people in one place, it's bound to happen. Didn't Klopp get mad at fans trying to shake hands with him?

And that's a point as well - players will get injured. What happens to them then?

Is anyone (in authority not supporters) suggesting the season should start before the crisis is over? Players are training individually adhering to social distancing, that is all.

Suggestions have been made about how football can recommence but at present they are just that, suggestions. The season does not need to be voided it could restart in October if deemed safe, behind closed doors broadcasting some games FTA.

Yes Phil you are right about the social aspect of it. They support a lower league club, but always go to the pub for a few drinks before and afterwards. DF is over 70 and has hypertension and atrial fibrilation so its unlikely he'll be going anywhere near a pub or football stadium for the forseeable anyway, but I know he'd like to be able to watch Premier League matches on TV before DM murders him.

YABVU not to support Watford

However games cannot be played until a certain South Korean returns to North London after doing his military service.

(Watford Fc are accomodating NHS worker from the hospital next door to the ground during lockdown)

No, no one needs to do professional sport and plenty of tv without it. Safety should come first. Even if tested, they will still go home to families etc and will they self isolate and see no one else at all? Otherwise test only valid on the day.

I love football and two members of my household hold a season ticket and are missing it dreadfully.
However I think it would be completely irresponsible to restart the season.
Far too many staff involved even if it happens behind closed doors.
And if they get injured would the hospitals be welcoming them to receive treatment ?
Yes it might boost morale for some but I think it would anger far more who cannot see their family / missing big family occasions / unable to go to funerals etc
And how would they manage the large groups gathering outside the grounds ?