As parliament here in the UK hold another meeting about Covid-19 today, Donald Trump has placed a ban on all Europeans entering the USA from tomorrow. Those travelling from the UK and Ireland are exempt from the ban. A tough yet understandable stance.
People here are being encouraged to be careful when making their choice of places to visit too which in all honesty, shouldn’t need to be said.
The human race does sometimes surprise me though because despite all the warnings and news updates, we still like to ‘mingle.’ It’s simple really, if you don’t have to go out, don’t. This Covid-19 isn’t a game. It’s a killer.
Football is expected to be on the agenda at today’s COBRA meeting and it’s widely anticipated that stadium doors will be closed to fans. If the virus spread rate increases, I’d imagine football and all other sports will cease to take place. Yes, that sounds drastic but I know if I was a season ticket holder, there’s no way would I travel to by train, or use the tube and then mingle amongst 50,000 odd other people when I haven’t a clue where they’ve been over the last few days. Same goes of course for any large event planned for the upcoming weeks and months.
Ending the football season now would cause real problems. Clubs would have to refund the fans, television broadcasters would take a financial hit as would the travel companies along with others who benefit from the game. Then there’s the Champions League places being fought for, Europa, the relegation and promotion places throughout the leagues below which again have a financial impact on those clubs fighting for or against either. But if that’s what the government decide, then I’m in total agreement. After all, what’s money compared to life?
Until such a decision is made, containment is the most practical way through this battle against Coronavirus. Play all the league matches behind closed doors with fans staying at home. Sky Sports cover all the matches anyway for their Saturday night ‘match choice’ programme, the BBC too for Match Of The Day so if the cameras are in place, just show the matches live. I know there’s a ban on Saturday 3pm fixtures being broadcast here in the UK, but that ban could surely be lifted for the next three months. I doubt the football clubs would object because it’s not like they’d be losing extra money.
The thought of Liverpool celebrating their first League title for thirty years in an empty Anfield stadium does bring a bit of a smile to my face.
Finally, according to France Football, we’re chasing PSG left-back Layvin Kurzawa. His contract with the French club expires this summer. If true it must mean the club are planning to move Kolasinac on, or they have concerns over Tierney’s injury problems. Hopefully it’s not the latter.
Catch up in the comments guys.
Hi Rico I recon if the officials take any action we should just cancel all matches for 2 or 4 weeks,
I understand why they say play behind closed doors to protect the players but what I don’t understand is what have they put in place to make sure that the officials like refs, coaching staff, players and even ground maintenace staff have not gone out during the week other than straight to training and back home
Afternoon Rico/everyone ?
It’s amazing how quickly things are moving.Its beyond belief that 3000 fans from Madrid were allowed to travel to Liverpool for last night’s game, and presumably move around the city,visit bars/restaurants etc.
And now the spanish F.A have suspended matches because of the virus at Real Madrid .
Excellent read, Rico 👍
Brenda said some of his players are displaying symptoms and are being kept away from the rest of the team… only a matter of time before the football is stopped surely?
The thought of Liverpool celebrating in an empty Anfield – only brings a bit of a smile to your face, Rico? I’m like the chesire cat haha!!
Completely agree Rico, but I`m wondering if they play behind closed doors then the fans will congregate in pubs etc which will be worse than being in an open stadium, so my thought is just completely stop the season now, no playing behind closed doors and this season will be a write off and start again a new season in August when hopefully everything will be OK and Liverpool will not have one the league. I think they need 3 wins to guarentee being champs , so the powers that be need to stop the season now and although my comment might sound in jest it is not and it is something that is rumoured may happen in the Italian league.
Sport is great, but death isn`t!
Afternoon Limey, all.
Off to catch up with the comments. 😂😂
That didn’t take long….. lol
Numbers will be smaller though Lc and less people frequenting the loos etc. Plus, if the television companies get involved, more people might be inclined to watch the matches at home.
Sue, hysterics really, honestly I’d love it.
I personally dont watch games in pubs, the last one was when Germnay beat England in the WC…..the one where Lamlards shot went over the line by a country mile!
Watching a game live with an empty stadium means you will hear the manager shouting, you`ll hear the ball hitting the back of the net, you`ll hear Mike Deans ego escalating, you`ll hear the sound of a crushing tackle and best…………..you`ll hear the despairing groans and crying of Spud players when they lose!………………….should be a new entertaining experience! hahaha
I can’t recall the last time I watched a game in the pub either. Not my thing these days,.
I don’t like watching in the pub, have tried it, would much rather watch at home.
Haha Mike Dean’s ego escalating… definitely have to mute it!!
Shame we’re not playing tonight ☹
Evening All, Thanks for good read again Rico.
Crikey ! Looks like we’re stuck with this poxy virus for months to come.
I always thought it would be great to watch a game of football in a pub…………..What a waste of time I hated it !
Much prefer to watch it on the TV……My Sons and I share the cost of BT and Now TV . Makes it less depressing if we lose if I haven’t payed the full price.
Spuds being out of every competition will mean their stadium will feel like playing behind closed doors anyway!
Thanks Mike, May apparently, that’s when it’s expected to peak. Not good at all..
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8103661/Emmanuel-Adebayor-sent-KARATE-KICK-playing-Paraguyan-Olimpia.html
Euros have been called off, as have all La Liga fixtures.
Stat……………………………Arsenal are unbeaten in 23 games when playing on a Saturday at 3pm, the current longest run.
Fingers crossed for number 24.
Bloody hell that was a hell of a karate kick, Rico! What was he thinking? Eric Cantona? 😄
The Mancs won 5-0!! Don’t want them winning it……
My son was meant to be going to LA next month for Coachella festival, but it’s postponed until October…. I wonder if things will be different by then?
Olympiacos are down to 10 men……
Not the best attempt at a tackle Sue. What a buffoon…
I bloomin hope things have calmed down by then..
Arteta positive for covid 19. Shit!
Club in shutdown
Training ground closed all staff sent home, including players.
Mikel won’t be the only one to test positive, I wish him and any others a swift and complete recovery.
Saturday’s match must be in doubt.
The full squad in isolation according to Sky so match has to be off .Apparently there are 3 At Leicester and 1at City If Arteta got it from Olympiakos ,Wolves are there today !
Don’t bode well for the season.
No players for Saturday, all squad isolating, things getting worse every hour 🙁
Sky news at 11.00 will be watching although golf appears to be overrunning
Our London Colney training centre has been closed after head coach Mikel Arteta received a positive COVID-19 result this evening.
Arsenal personnel who had recent close contact with Mikel will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines. We expect this to be a significant number of people from Colney, including the full first-team squad and coaching staff, as well as a smaller number of people from our Hale End Academy which we have also temporarily closed as a precaution.
We expect those who did not have close contact with Mikel to return to work in the coming days. In the meantime our Colney and Hale End training centres will undergo a deep clean and our other club sites are operating as normal.
Managing director Vinai Venkatesham said: “The health of our people and the wider public is our priority and that is where our focus is. Our thoughts are with Mikel who is disappointed but in good spirits. We are in active dialogue with all the relevant people to manage this situation appropriately, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows.”
Head of football Raul Sanllehi added: “Mikel and the full first-team squad, players and staff, will be fully supported, and we look forward to getting back to training and playing as soon as medical advice allows. Obviously Mikel’s full recovery is the priority now for us all.”
We will work with Public Health England on the next steps in regard to our facilities and staff, and with the Premier League, Football Association and relevant clubs around our forthcoming matches in the Premier League and Emirates FA Cup.
It is clear we will not be able to play some fixtures on their currently scheduled dates. We will update supporters who have tickets for forthcoming games with more information as soon as possible.
We are now working to trace any other people who have had recent close contact with Mikel. We will let them know what has happened and they should follow the NHS guidance which is likely to recommend self-isolation.
Mikel said: “This is really disappointing but I took the test after feeling poorly. I will be at work as soon as I’m allowed.”
Get well soon Mikel…..
Brighton game called off. No surprise.
UEFA are to hold a video conference meeting later today to discuss the possible postponement for one year of Euro 2020. to allow leagues time to complete their seasons following outbreaks of Covid 19 at various clubs.
Wow, all this started from that food market in China…..
Hi Sue,
The last thing you’d find in that market is good lol
Hiya Scott…😂 to us it isn’t food, to them it’s probably a bleedin’ delicacy! Evil b******s!!!
Sue, I’ve no doubt many eat whatever they can find and I get that, but the fact is we are all suffering to some degree because of it.
Exactly that, Scott… why eat a bloody bat?? Why can’t they just leave them be? So the whole world is suffering because they can’t stop themselves from torturing and eating poor defenceless animals!! I believe in karma!
Makes me so angry… I’m sorry, you probably think I’m mental, but animal cruelty is something I detest…all these illnesses seem to start over there…..
Yet none of our nations leaders have the balls to call China out on anything.
‘morning Sue, Scott, what’s all this about eating bats?
New post up now
Hello Cicero… the source of all of this was from a back street ‘food’ market in China, bats…..