Football and covid

[rosecott]

Is anyone surprised that covid seems to be rife in and around professional football. I know everyone concerned in matches gets emotionally involved, but surely there can be some recognition that a bit more than lip service to social distancing outside of the actual game would be a very good idea. I know it's very much a contact sport but all the hugging and handshaking doesn't seem sensible and doesn't give a good message to the fans.

 

[ColchesterFC]

Is anyone surprised that covid seems to be rife in and around professional football. I know everyone concerned in matches gets emotionally involved, but surely there can be some recognition that a bit more than lip service to social distancing outside of the actual game would be a very good idea. I know it's very much a contact sport but all the hugging and handshaking doesn't seem sensible and doesn't give a good message to the fans.

I did think this yesterday watching John Terry hugging (what I presume were) Chelsea backroom staff from when he was at the club. Yes it was only a brief contact but surely enough for the virus to be transferred on to Terry and then on to the next person the hugged. This isn't having a go at Terry per se as I'm sure there are more than just him doing it but he was the most recent example I've seen.

Also not surprised that Kyle Walker tested positive as he hasn't exactly been following the rules so far.

Inconsistent messaging from the Premier League isn't helping either. Everton v Man City called off due to positive tests but Burnley v Sheff Utd allowed to go ahead despite positive tests.

 

[pokerjoke]

I believe football will be stopped after tomorrow’s games.
Totally believe it should be suspended.
And it’s boring as hell without supporters.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Rumour has it the Spurs v Fulham game is in doubt as there is Covid in the Fulham camp. I don't know if its worth carrying on if more and more sides are being infected.

 

[Tashyboy]

Just read on Manchester evening news there’s talk of 2 week break from football due to the Covid. Part of City's problem was because of the rammed fixture list. That aside,7 games from div 1 cancelled tonight due to Covid. Struggling to see how it can continue

 

[KenL]

No surprise at all.

I'd go further and say there's an argument for stopping football completely until vaccination has the virus under control. It's always going to be an excuse for people to gather either at the grounds when significant events occur (Liverpool and Celtic being the biggest examples so far) or in homes/pubs to watch. I know that up here at least there's a big risk of mass celebrations at the end of the season as whoever wins the league it's going to be blown out of all proportion.

Agreed. Stop the league and declare Rangers champions. ?

 

[SteveW86]

It is appearing that football isn’t COVID proof, should probably be stopped in the grand scheme of things.
I can see it being a long few months ahead.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

How long before the PL buy a batch of vaccines? Vaccinate whole squads, staff etc.

It would not be palatable at this point but at some stage...............

 

[ColchesterFC]

How long before the PL buy a batch of vaccines? Vaccinate whole squads, staff etc.

It would not be palatable at this point but at some stage...............

As a non PL fan that would finish PL football for me. If the PL was able to use their financial muscle to jump the queue for vaccinations that would end my interest in it. And this would equally apply to Championship, League 1 or League 2. If League 2/Colchester were to announce that they had been able to pay to get their players/squads/backroom staff vaccinated I wouldn't give them another penny of my money. Out of principle I wouldn't pay to attend another home match if they did this.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

How long before the PL buy a batch of vaccines? Vaccinate whole squads, staff etc.

It would not be palatable at this point but at some stage...............

Don’t even think the Prem would stoop that low

 

[fundy]

Don’t even think the Prem would stoop that low

was going to post something similar, id certainly hope its the case, somehow im not convinced though

 

[ColchesterFC]

Don’t even think the Prem would stoop that low

was going to post something similar, id certainly hope its the case, somehow im not convinced though

With the amount of money involved I wouldn't put anything past them.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

With the amount of money involved I wouldn't put anything past them.

If the Vaccines become available from those Companies producing them on to the private market, why shouldn’t they? Surely it’s only wrong if they took vaccines away from the NHS.

 

[IanM]

Why would we think that this group of 20 somethings should behave any better than any other community of 20 somethings?

I've no problem with Football continuing if they keep it from being a conduit for the virus.

But, without fans in the ground, it feels a bit pointless

 

[fundy]

Why would we think that this group of 20 somethings should behave any better than any other community of 20 somethings?

I've no problem with Football continuing if they keep it from being a conduit for the virus.

But, without fans in the ground, it feels a bit pointless

its not the 20 something year olds that will be making the decisions but the 50,60,70 year olds that run the game

dont expect them to behave any better either though

 

[ColchesterFC]

If the Vaccines become available from those Companies producing them on to the private market, why shouldn’t they? Surely it’s only wrong if they took vaccines away from the NHS.

It's not just taking them from the NHS, it's taking them from other countries. Assuming the Oxford vaccine gets approval, why should a super fit 25 year old PL footballer get the vaccine ahead of a 60+ year old in a poorer country in Asia or Africa just because the PL has the money to pay for it and jump the queue? I'm going to risk getting political here, but I'm a small C conservative, and we hear a lot from those on the left about a more equal society. It can't possibly be "more equal" if those with more money can jump the queue to buy the vaccine ahead of those that are more in need.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

It's not just taking them from the NHS, it's taking them from other countries. Assuming the Oxford vaccine gets approval, why should a super fit 25 year old PL footballer get the vaccine ahead of a 60+ year old in a poorer country in Asia or Africa just because the PL has the money to pay for it and jump the queue? I'm going to risk getting political here, but I'm a small C conservative, and we hear a lot from those on the left about a more equal society. It can't possibly be "more equal" if those with more money can jump the queue to buy the vaccine ahead of those that are more in need.

In principle I totally agree, but surely if a manafacturer makes them available for purchase, then it’s open to anyone who can afford it.

 

[rudebhoy]

Agreed. Stop the league and declare Rangers champions. ?

You seem to have forgotten the desperate attempts from some quarters to get last season declared null and void with a handful of games to go

 

[ColchesterFC]

In principle I totally agree, but surely if a manafacturer makes them available for purchase, then it’s open to anyone who can afford it.

Yes it's open to anyone that can afford it but that seems slanted towards more developed countries. The whole affordability model seems to discriminate against the poorer in the world. The UK could possibly be in a position to buy 500 million doses at £3 per dose (of the Oxford vaccine as they seem to be making it available at cost price) while Nigeria (as a random example) could be in a position to buy 10 million doses. The PL could step in and say that they will buy 10 million doses at £3.50 per dose to outbid the Nigerian offer. Would you rather the 10 million doses go to the PL or to Africa?

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Yes it's open to anyone that can afford it but that seems slanted towards more developed countries. The whole affordability model seems to discriminate against the poorer in the world. The UK could possibly be in a position to buy 500 million doses at £3 per dose (of the Oxford vaccine as they seem to be making it available at cost price) while Nigeria (as a random example) could be in a position to buy 10 million doses. The PL could step in and say that they will buy 10 million doses at £3.50 per dose to outbid the Nigerian offer. Would you rather the 10 million doses go to the PL or to Africa?

Mate, you are not living in the real world, rich people will only be able to buy it in 2 ways, Black Market (immoral, disgusting, agree with you).

The manafacturer makes it available to private companies or individuals.

If a company has orders for 500 million doses for Countries around the World at £3.00 and then produces 1 million more at £300.00 to sell on the private market, then the moral dilemma is on the manafacturer, not the purchaser, lets remember these manafacturers probably need to sell their products on the open market to keep their shareholders happy and fund other research etc.