This is what it has come to.....

[WindChimeTinkle]

So, so, so depressing.

Photo by Reuters

At least they are able to get into see a game!

I’m not sure how that photo is any more depressing than images of people queuing for a pharmacy or stories of labouring women being prevented from having their birth partner with them. I mean, it’s a football match and they’re a couple of seats apart. It’s not a hardship.

Yes I don't see how it's so depressing. Much more depressing images at the moment 🤷‍♀️

In terms of depressing Covid restrictions related things I'm afraid that would be way way waaay down my list.

Not sure what is depressing about this? They obviously aren’t in the same household or would be sat together so is there really anything wrong with not sitting close to a stranger?

Oh well.

Oh dear. How sad. People can't watch other people kick a ball around...

I think there are many worse hardships people are facing at present.

I personally think it's pretty depressing. It's not a hardship but the point of going to a match isn't to sit alone to watch the football - you can do that via the streaming services or on TV. It's about the atmosphere and the camaraderie and the spontaneity of the crowd. I'm especially missing the romance of the midweek evening games this time of year.

Bloody football. Who gives a stuff. There are much worse things in life at the moment.

they are THERE doing something!!

how is this depressing in any way? its encouraging if anything.....they've found a safe way to continue with something they love

It's such a shame.
Compare that to fellow islands, Australia, New Zealand, and the Isle of Man.
It's all largely normal there.

@WindChimeTinkle fans enjoying a football match is depressing?

I am no football fan but I agree it’s depressing.
It’s not either or, just because there is serious tragedy going on doesn’t mean socially distanced football matches aren’t sad!

I'm finding the 367 deaths reported today significantly more depressing that social distanced football watching if I'm completely honest.

Actually if I'm completely honest I couldn't care less if people are able to watch a load of over paid, over privileged men run around a piece of grass kicking a ball.

If people had followed the rules better, this wouldn't be the situation.

I agree Op, it is depressing.

I couldn't give a hoot. Much more frustrating that elderly people are queueing down our village high street in the pouring rain.

I couldn't give a flying fuck about shitball!

The women going through maternity, labouring and recovering with zero support is far more depressing!

Don't want to turn this into a pissing contest tbh if this is something you find upsetting OP then thats fair enough. But in the scheme of things its not a huge deal.

I find putting my disabled child onto her school transport and wondering if this is the day she's going to catch it fairly depressing so can't get wound up about this. A sign of the times though certainly

People are receiving terminal cancer diagnoses completely alone and that's what bothers you?

Of all the depressing shit that's going on right now, thats the least of it. On the plus side, much less chance of violence, hooliganism and other nasty football related stuff.

Anyone else thinking football rattles could make a come back?

Surely we are allowed to find mundane things depressing at the same time as being even more depressed at the utter heartbreak this virus has caused/is causing people.

Sorry I didn't realize there was a oneupmanship of what is more depressing. I'm not interested in football at all, it was the image that I found so unhuman. We are social creatures not designed to sit 6 feet apart with masks on. But hey, they are lucky not to be dead.....fucking mumsnet

Yep it IS depressing. The whole point of going to a football match is to enjoy the crowd and the atmosphere. My husband and sons are really missing it. Yes there’s other hardships going on but so what? Didn’t realise it was a competition.