Football restarting. Why?

[HMSSophie]

If premiere league football - famously a sport played by people from the same household - restarts, WHY?

I am angered by this unreasonably. Football? Is that what we've come to? That the (primarily but not only) male masses need their dummy? That the footballers themselves can't lose a season in which to shine? That restarting will "justify" their obscene salaries?

[toolatetooearly]

Personally I think football should be banned all the time anyway!

But if that isn't happening, then yes, let it restart now. A small risk for making a lot of people happy - plus all the jobs connected with professional football - seems like a good trade-off.

[HelloMissus]

People say ‘money’ airily as if money and pleasure can’t go hand in hand.
Pubs don’t serve drinks out of altruism.
TV production companies turn a profit.
Garden centres aren’t charities.

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

Because people love it.
Because it brings untold pleasure.
Remember that? Pleasure?

And there's the problem, we're not supposed to be enjoying ourselves according to many people!

[Sparklingbrook]

Don’t see the problem. But just mentioning the word ‘football’ on MN sets people off.
If it was another sport there wouldn’t be the horror.

[Rowantree2020]

It’s ok, the players can just stay 2m apart on the pitch.

[russetbella1000]

Money

[Qasd]

It’s a pretty big income generator and if they test the players before playing given age and fitness of the players they are low risk on the whole. Obviously having crowds would be different but a quick gain for the economy that is relatively low risk it’s probably pretty sensible..I am not fan myself!

[blue25]

Money and Greed.

[Barbie222]

Money and gambling. If there are no crowds, and players are tested, it's not a big thing for me

[LudaMusser]

Football is much more than a team of eleven players. Take Manchester City for example, they have hundreds of staff behind the scenes. People need to all come slowly back to work and this includes football

BTW, don't talk to me about their salaries. On my evening walk I walk past a premier league and England player's house. I think it must be one of his many houses. His Range Rover has only been there three times in 3-4 weeks. He earns in a week what I'll earn in 3-4 years

I'm not bitter

[ByzantinePrincess]

What people don’t realise is when a footballer is paid £200k a week, the club pays a ridiculous amount in PAYE taxes, National insurance etc (google Tevez payslip if you don’t believe me - £330k in PAYE and nearly £8k a month in NI!)

That footballer then will go and buy the most expensive things in John Lewis etc (VAT) and regularly move expensive houses (stamp duty)

A lot of this money is brought in by rich foreign owners (Russian/gulf oil money) - literally the definition of bringing money into the country

[ListenLinda]

I haven’t heard that it is coming back?

[Iwalkinmyclothing]

That the (primarily but not only) male masses need their dummy?

Oh yes, OP, you really do sound like you want a reasonably intelligent and measured discussion about the reasons, potential risks and potential benefits, and not at all like a spiteful child having a tantrum .

[LetsGoFlyAKiteee]

It's also nothing to do with not having the chance to shine. Theres so much that would needed sorting if they didnt play..how to end the season fairly.. do you just null and void in which case no promotions? Go by that points thing in which case probably still be clubs that miss out unfairly. Then owning money money after that which probably be damaging to some clubs.

[slipperywhensparticus]

Probably because government doesnt want to pay the footballers furlough salary

[ITonyah]

Money?!

Yes, money is involved. It's a job. A job that gives people a lot of pleasure. Jesus.

[mynameiscalypso]

Of course it's money related in the same way that every single other person who is working or going back to work is doing so for economic reasons. Our society doesn't really function without money!

[Chloemol]

It’s going to be behind closed doors, but televised. For a lot of people it’s going to help their mental health, so I can’t get worked up about it

[zafferana]

Why?

£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

That's why.

[TerrapinStation]

£££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

Do you think that the garden centres that have been allowed to open this week are giving stuff away? Of course life starting to get back to normal is to do with money and the economy, some MNers have got the most bizarre attitudes to sport.

[ViciousJackdaw]

Liverpool supporter married to a Leeds supporter here, football can't start soon enough for us 💗💛💙

I suspect the majority of the outrage is coming from those who dislike their DH having any interests outside 'family life'.

[AgeLikeWine]

This is just about football, or the Premier League.

Professional sport and the media which covers it is a major industry in this country which supports tens of thousands of jobs, most of which are normal jobs for normal people, rather than multi-millionaire superstars. Sport is an important part of our economy. If the industry can operate safely, it should. Just like any other industry.

[squeekums]

Aussie rules footy was given it's return date today, I damn near cried with happiness. Then I got an newsletter from our team CEO, the ground staff were out painting the 50m goal lines on the oval, there were tears.
We had round 1 no crowds, it's weird, very weird. If your used to big loud crowds, your in for a shock.
But anything to watch the game I love lol

I don't get football from the UK, hell I still call it soccer but I get the love and passion people have for teams. The mental health release it provides. Aussie rules has a model in place regarding safety and I'd assume the soccer does too. It can be done. If the players happy to play, precautions taken why not?
If you don't like it, don't watch

[Likefootball]

As PP have already said money. (£4 BN for the TV rights alone )
Having said that I would be happy if we gave it a miss this year , we are living in unprecedented times , and I used to enjoy to watch it on Sky.

[MotheringShites]

As a family of Spurs fans we would have been happy for the season to be null and void 😂