Behind Closed Door games

I said the same last week. Of course it'd increase risk. Liverpool winning the league after 30 years? Leeds going back up to the PL after 20? Theres no way that all those fans are going to obey social distancing rules. It's not necessarily a case of 50k turning up at the ground, but the amount of gatherings, house parties, pub lock ins etc would go up massively. Weve already seen that people are gathering for no apparent reason. Over 400 house parties in 4 days broken up in manchester.

It all needs to be factored in. And theres the indirect consequence too. How do you convince a self employed plumber that he has to keep away from work, racking up debt, when it's ok for footballer to go about their business? Not happening. In 2 months, people will be way more desperate than they are now, financially. I just dont see behind closed doors games working. Not unless there are other relxations of social distancing that negate risks like the ones above. Football just isnt that important.

 

Have to agree and it’s something I didn’t even touch on, sports people/celebs are going to have to lead by example on this one. No way can someone on £50k per week be allowed to continue on his work when as you say waiters, bar staff and small business owners and the like continue to struggle.
Just because we won’t necessarily have the same lockdown measures as we do now in a few months time doesn’t mean we’ll be anywhere near back to normal.
Most likely even in 2 months a hundred plus will still be dying everyday if not more, they won’t reduce social distancing rules something contact sport needs.
And we all need to follow the same rules, otherwise people will just say if footballers can touch each other why can’t we go within 2 metres of people and crowd on public transport, then you risk a new outbreak.

 

Agreed, this lockdown cannot continue for much longer. At some point they’ll have to allow life to start getting back to some kind of normality, whilst hoping the NHS is in a stronger position to look after anyone unfortunate enough to get seriously ill from the illness.

 

We need to be realistic about this, I like most other supporters would like to see the season completed, even if it was behind closed doors but I can't see it happening. The players would coming into close contact with each other, breathing heavily. What are they going to do, wear PPE?
They have all got families to consider and I can see a lot of them refusing to play.

 

I think mass testing of players would have to be done before any games take place.

However that will not stop a player getting it later and passing it on.

The tests take a few days to conclude so exactly how that would work if they play 3 games a week I don't know.

 

I don't think we can even assume that next season will go ahead. These are unprecedented times and I think seasons 2019/20 and 2020/21 will be remembered in future, just like the war years were.
It has just been announced on Look North that Norman Hunter has been admitted to hospital with Covid-19.

 

You can get results back quicker than that.

Plus you're thinking about now.

Some of you will be in for a massive shock if you can't figure things out when you go back to work. Might as well sign on if you are not going to sharpen up because companies will be wanting people that can get round things, solve problems and make money quickly.

If you think the footballing world isn't thinking about how to get back started ASAP like any other sport then you strongly need a word with yourself.

Behind closed doors football is already happening and other sports are planning on doing it.

 

I saw an interview with a medical professional earlier who stated that PCR laboratory takes about 2 days for results. That's the test to show if you're currently infected.

If a reliable antibody test is found then the results are largely instant. But it takes up to 28 days for antibodies to show up. So theres a big period where a test is meaningless and where you could still be infected and transmit the virus without it showing on an antibody test. I'm not sure that all the practicalities have been thought through. Unless games are played at a time where other social restrictions permit freedom of movement and working for groups of 50-100, I dont see how it can happen.

And not least, the footballers themselves will need to agree. They're still employees and they need to be sure it's safe to play, for the sake of themselves and their loved ones.

 

https://khn.org/news/what-takes-so-long-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-steps-involved-in-covid-19-testing/

But even for people who are able to get tested, there can be a frustratingly long wait for results — not just hours, but often days'

 

Hope Norman is okay. If this damn virus can floor someone as tough as old 'bite yer legs' Hunter, it can take anyone

 

Private tests are returning the results quicker than 2 days.

 

https://khn.org/news/what-takes-so-long-a-behind-the-scenes-look-at-the-steps-involved-in-covid-19-testing/

But even for people who are able to get tested, there can be a frustratingly long wait for results — not just hours, but often days'

Where have you seen that?

 

Well glad you're not running football or any industry sector.

Behind closed doors is happening and going to happen in other countries soon.

Mate, please understand that the world will be in operation soon and industries will have to figure things out to get round this virus. Expect change.

 

Nice one, cheers m8

 

See this https://www.10news.com/news/coronavirus/scripps-health-launches-5-minute-covid-19-test

 

Just to throw another inconvenient point into the mix. If the idea is that games will start in around 2 months, behind closed doors and subject to testing, it's almost certain that we wont have tested all NHS workers by that point. So we're testing footballers so they can play, but not NHS workers. That's the plan is it? Right. Yeah.

 

If that Scripps 5 minute thing really does work, I can see the FA/EFL contracting private companies to administer the testing.

 

Developments like that will be a big step forward. The underlying point for me, is that if we're testing footballers at the expense of key workers, and sending them back out to play before we do so with joe bloggs, then football can f**k off.

 

Love you mate!

Good point about the NHS but private kits are already available to buy. Chelsea FC must have some and Arsenal plus other clubs.

Hancock says testing will get to 100k by the end of the month and with that in made by the end of May you would like to think the NHS will be under control as let's not forget this is why we are in lockdown now.

The TV companies, Bookies etc will be desperate to get sport back on to and everyone will be working together to get sport back as soon as possible.

Also, in 2 months I would like to think more advice testing will be created and on the market.

 

Yes, I understand that if we are expecting the NHS to undertake it, that's why I think the FA/EFL and Prem league people will look at private contractors given the amount of money at stake from broadcasters and possible legal fights over that money.