[Official Site] COVID-19: EFL Open Letter

Im not talking about preferences for viewing. Im talking about whether the sport sees the fans engagement and involvement as a priority. I guess away games is no different as they could perhaps watch on iFollow or not at all. So my issue is why is it safe to host a game but not let people watch. Personally my issue is it doesn't feel right to finish games like this. NBA players already stated they wont play behind closed doors as they feel the game is for the fans. They too may be driven differently for commercial reasons.

i wonder if games will be televised free or on a discounted ST?

 

I'm not for a minute suggesting that football is in any way special, however if players and staff were tested every day or every few days, it would be possible to play matches behind closed doors safely. Scaling that level of testing for the public would be both uneconomical and not technically feasible (insufficient testing facilities). Football clubs could afford to do this, indeed the EFL (or whoever) could contract out all testing to one lab and it would be efficient and cost effective to do so.

 

It's a very dangerous precedent to play games behind closed doors and letting people watch 'live' on ifollow or whatever.

a. not everyone will have access
b. people will accept this as the norm for them and not bother turning up anymore

 

which raises the question, is testing for footballers and associated support staff a priority over other roles?

 

Logically it's a lot safer to have 22 fit and healthy young footballers coming into contact than 20,000 random people of varying fitness levels and ages doing so.

 

No it's not. But we are not using all our testing capacity currently, for whatever reason, I'd guess cost.

Edit: Therefore the additional testing would not impact on other testing for e.g. key workers

 

I think the letter is a fair assumption of where the ELF stands at the minute. I don't think that they have a timescale set but they undoubtedly will have an idea of how long it will take to finish this season and as such how this will impinge on the following season. With this in mind and the financial ramifications that come with that I am sure they have several alternative options up their sleeve. From a purely footballing perspective I personally would like to see this season finished before starting the next one and see where we end up. If the decision is that the league cannot be completed them in my opinion the season should be declared null and void and we start again when possible. If the powers that be decide that we can't finish the season and the league positions stand as they are now then we will just have to live with it.
However the one thing I totally object to is playing behind closed doors. Sport is for the fans and without them there is no sport. With this in mind to complete the season behind closed doors or to be pressured into relaxing the lock down criteria before it is fully safe would be placing a great burden on our NHS and other vital services and again in my opinion would be doing all those heroes who have paid the ultimate sacrifice whilst fighting the first stage of this pandemic an enormous dishonour.

 

At the point at which it's safe for all those people to get together in close proximity, it'll be safe for us to sit together and watch them. Unless footballers and the like get the vaccine ahead of others.
Just my opinion, but the behind closed doors idea sounds nonsense to me.

 

It's simple.. They can't come out and say we are cancelling the season which is the only viable way forward in my opinion
Numerous factors to be taken into account.. Re players contacts and the like against extending the season.. But due to the amount of money that sponsors would be able to claw back puts the FA and like in a precarious dilemma ..that's why for me they are running scared of making a decision and announcing that the seasons over....

 

There's a big difference between around 30 people coming into contact and 30,000
Mass gatherings will be either banned or discouraged for far longer than 30 people are stopped from contacting each other at Primark. That's just has to be the case. If we are banning all contact until the point that 30,000 can sit together then make are signing a death warrant for millions of otherwise healthy and innocent people. Innocent people cannot be deprived of freedom or income for long periods without accepting that large numbers of them will die as a consequence. That simply has to be resolved long long before mass gatherings

 

Just to clarify my earlier comment, I was meaning the playing behind closed doors part. I appreciate the season has to end, but as a fan, I'd like to see it live (home and away) not on the telly. #

 

I have no problem if they scrap the season (self preservation). But let's relegate the cheats. Oops , that'll probably leave only us and a couple of others.
I just want an end to the speculation. Scrap it then start anew.
Allows every club to prepare. Deal with out of contract players, Signing of new. Proper pre season. Although just a couple of weeks.
What happens to the transfer windows. Will clubs have to extend contracts. If so who in the lower divisions will want to keep unwanted players. Will out of contract players move on if other clubs interested. Would that mean finishing the season with depleted squads.
Does anyone think the EFL have covered all possible avenues. I've serious doubts. Lots of Players will be out of contract at the end of June.
How do clubs on the brink of bankruptcy bring players in. With no or very little income from such as ifollow.
Lots and lots of players are or will be furloughed. Some will probably never play again professionally as clubs will tighten budgets. If owt to budget on.
So yes I welcome scrapping the league based on not just as I previously stated. But to me it's also the only sensible thing to do.

 

I also appreciate 15,000 people can't just turn up when lockdown is over.

 

That's the thing, they can't. So with that in mind are people really saying that they would rather not see any football at all than to watch it on TV? I know which id prefer, it's why I, and millions of others have sky sports.

I've seen people on here outraged at the thought of having to watch a Barnsley match on ifollow. Claim it's disgusting and just a terrible idea that they would refuse to watch. I've also seen those same people asking for tips on how to watch Barnsley away games on ifollow a few months ago.

Go figure

Ps it's not everyone but certainly some

 

Spell it out for me. I'm stupid.

At what point does the risk to life become acceptable enough to risk a footballer's life, but not a supporter's?

 

Fair point. I've posted myself asking about links for an away match when I was working, but generally speaking I want to be there, especially home matches.

I'm only a part timer compared with some of the guys and girls who haven't missed a match (home or away) since the 90s though, and I also feel for them.

 

It's about probability. The chances of somebody having CV19 and therefore passing it on to people they come into contact are much greater if there are 30,000 people than 30 people. In a broader context there's a risk you might die when you drive or cross the road but I'm guessing you do it. You do it because those risks are very small and therefore you deem them acceptable.

 

Bloody hell... I go to all that trouble to put @SuperTyke on the spot and you've gone and answered it for him. I'll stick to Sudoku in future.

 

Sorry mate. I'll keep me big trap shut in future

 

I hadn't even seen that you'd replied to me until you mentioned me in this.

Its exactly as Plankton Pete says but also with two extra added factors.

One is that with the size of the gathering being smaller AND all known individuals then not only is the risk of coming into contact smaller but more monitoring and background checks can be done. They can keep an eye on the players for a few weeks prior to any games and monitor for symptoms. Isn't foolproof but it's something you can't do with big crowds. Take formula one for example (again) they could monitor the mechanics and teams and they did just that. They noticed that one of the mechanics had symptoms and immediately isolated all who had been in contact. They wouldn't have had any idea how many in the crowd had it so couldn't do the same.

The other difference is the fitness of those involved. On the pitch you have generally speaking men at the peak of fitness in their 29, all who have had regular medical checks for the last few years. In the stands you've got oaps with heart conditions.