PREMIER LEAGUE stars are “sitting ducks” for in terms of catching coronavirus, according to former Chelsea doctor Eva Carneiro.
Dr Caneiro – who infamously took Mourinho to court on “discrimination and victimisation” claims – has revealed all about why footballers are more susceptible to the killer bug than many others.
Carneiro has revealed footballers are ‘sitting ducks’ for coronavirus
She claimed the physical strain of training, travel and things like sharing water bottles carelessly thrown to the side of the pitch make footballers a hotbed for spreading viruses.
Carneiro told the Mail: “Professional players have been shown to be regularly immunosuppressed.
“This has been demonstrated by both blood tests and the rate and incidence of upper respiratory tract and other infections, which is how a virus like this starts.
“That’s due to the amount of sport they play.
“The physical activity, playing at a professional level, with games sometimes every 72 hours, as well as training creates a strain on the body.”
Carneiro went on to claim the continuous travel – particularly by plane – has a negative effect on a player’s health.
She continued: “It means they have to enter an airport even though they might be travelling by private jet.
“Travel can also mean a change in sleep patterns, arriving back in the early hours of the morning, creating a fatigue which again can make players susceptible.”
Carneiro also went on to claim the close bond between team-mates makes it difficult for them to go into isolation.
The ex-Chelsea medic said: “Culturally, it can be hard to persuade players and staff to change the behaviours which cause the spread of infection, like hand-shaking and hugging,
“Though you might want a player to go into isolation, this is poorly tolerated and there’s a natural desire from others not to want the individual to be isolated.
“That requires supervision and negotiation.”
Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi recently revealed he had tested positive for coronavirus, just hours after Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta’s diagnosis.
And a host of stars in Europe, including Daniele Rugani, Patrick Cutrone and Manolo Gabbiadini have also been struck down by the nasty bug, with most sport across the globe cancelled.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
