THE international players’ union has backed calls for a TOTAL shutdown of football in response to the coronavirus.
Manchester City’s rescheduled Prem clash with Arsenal, due to be played this evening, was postponed shortly after midnight after Nottingham Forest and Olympiacos owner Evangelis Marinakis revealed he had contracted the virus.
The Gunners’ game with Brighton this weekend is still planned to go ahead as are the other scheduled Premier League games.
But with the number of European countries ordering games to be played behind closed doors increasing by the day, it seems inevitable that British football will follow suit, possibly as early as next week.
And now the international players’ union FIFPro has added its weight to calls from player organisations in Italy and other countries to place the entire game on hold until the virus is contained.
In a statement issued from their headquarters in Amsterdam, FIFPro said: “Cross-border travel and attendance at games create a high risk, affecting everyone from spectators and players to match officials and club staff.
“To provide a reliable and clear course of action which puts people and public health first we ask authorities and competition organisers to take transparent, reasonable and consistent decisions across the football industry based on government advice.
“Professional footballers, like other workers, are concerned about themselves and their families and friends being exposed to the coronavirus during their daily lives.
Arsenal stars in coronavirus quarantine as their Manchester City clash is called off after players met with Evangelos Marinakis
“For players their exposure could come during travel, training and match days.
“Any actions relating to these activities must be coordinated in close cooperation with players and their unions.
“We ask that employers and competition organizers respect the wishes of players to take short-term precautionary measures including suspending training or competitions.
“We support the players and their associations who have requested a suspension or postponement of football activities in their countries or regions.”
A Europe-wide shut-down would have huge knock-on repercussions for the game and the economic situation affecting clubs AND players.
And FIFPro called on governments and sports governing bodies tio intercede and ensure the footballing ramifications of a lock-down are not fatal to the future of smaller clubs in particular.
FIFPro added: “As an international industry professional football is heavily affected by this situation in multiple ways.
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“Matches behind closed doors and cancellations have a considerable effect on the revenue streams and cash flow of small and medium sized clubs.
“The football industry should therefore consider extraordinary solidarity measures to protect the industry and support clubs in need through, for example, financial assistance or advanced payments.
“As the situation changes, it is important to strengthen coordination amongst international football stakeholders, governments and public health experts in order to take the best possible course of action for our people and our industry.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
