EX-ARSENAL and England physio Gary Lewin has pointed out the mental toll that the coronavirus-enforced suspension of football could be having on footballers around the world.
In unprecedented circumstances, the Premier League has been suspended until at least April 30, with players currently having to adhere to the government’s three-week lockdown.
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Gary Lewin revealed some of the strains that will be put on ‘institutionalise’ starsCredit: Football Ramble Daily
While clubs will have sent their stars strict training regimes to adhere to, the lack of normal routine could have a big effect on “institutionalised” players.
Speaking to the Football Ramble Daily Podcast, Lewin said: “I’ve heard the phrase institutionalised used and it’s not wrong.
“Players, their whole lives are geared around performance and getting ready for the next game, and we’re now in the business end of the season, the last 10-12 games of the league, the final stages of all cup competitions and suddenly that’s stopped.
“This will be unprecedented. Players sometimes stop through injury, players sometimes stop through illness, or they stop because they’ve been dropped from the team, but the matches still go on.
“Turning the telly on at the weekend and there’s no Match Of The Day or live reporting of any sport anywhere – it’s a massive void.
“From a sports perspective, the adrenaline rush that they get two or three times a week, the competitive urge they get on a regular basis is now being withdrawn.
Gary Lewin was speaking to Jules & Andy on Football Ramble DailyCredit: Football Ramble Daily
“That would come into some of the thinking of the support staff in clubs if they’re doing group fitness sessions with players from home – to make it competitive and give a competitive edge amongst the squad.”
As well as the sudden lack of competition, players, used to the high pressure of taking to the pitch in front of thousands, will now be feeling fear of a different kind.
Lewin continued: “You’ve also got the mental wellbeing aspect that players are scared. This is a virus that can affect anybody in their day-to-day lives.
“You’ve already seen instances of managers and players around the world that have been infected.
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“Although the experts are telling us that young, fit people may only get a mild dose of it, you are still hearing stories of other people that are relatively fit and healthy that have still been affected in a really bad way.
“So the players are scared. They’re scared for their families. They don’t want their families to become ill.
“There’s a lot of pressure on everybody, but with regard to footballers, not only about the lack of football, but also what’s going on in everyone’s lives day to day.”
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Champions League and Europa League finals suspended indefinitely with no new dates set due to coronavirus pandemic
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
