Ian Holloway fears ‘killing’ players if football rushes to return from coronavirus delay
IAN HOLLOWAY has warned that football could end up “killing” players if they rush back. And he reckons if players do not die, then it could kill the bus driver taking them to games. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus in sport live blog for the latest news & updates The Grimsby boss, who managed Blackpool and […]
IAN HOLLOWAY has warned that football could end up “killing” players if they rush back.
And he reckons if players do not die, then it could kill the bus driver taking them to games.
Read our coronavirus in sport live blog for the latest news & updates
The Grimsby boss, who managed Blackpool and Crystal Palace in the Premier League, says it’s “madness” to play matches with spit and sweat flying about.
Premier League action is pencilled in to resume on June 18 with the EFL still up in the air. But Holloway wants no part of it while the coronavirus is so bad.
He said: “You see a film about zombies and everybody runs away from them but if football kicks off too early we will be running straight at them.
“We go too early with this and players might end up dying.
“It’s madness to even be thinking about playing when the dangers — according to the Government — are as bad if not worse than when this all started. It’s not only players at risk.
“I don’t want to be responsible for the death of the bus driver taking us to a game.
“How would I be able to look his wife and family in the face? I couldn’t live with myself.
“They are talking about testing every player, every official, everybody who any of us might be in contact with.
“What if someone is asymptomatic and is carrying Covid-19 — what if the tests aren’t accurate enough?”
As revealed by SunSport, the Government is in talks with Prem chiefs because it feels football’s return is key to lifting the nation’s spirits.
RISKS TOO GREAT
Ollie added: “The dangers, the risks, are still too great to allow that.
“What if a player dies of Covid-19 after any restart? His club would likely face lawsuits from the family.
“I get it that football even on the telly would be good for the nation’s mental wellbeing because it would give millions a lift at this terrible time.
“Some of the people involved in the process of making decisions about when we start playing again terrify me.
“They do realise that football is a contact sport, right? All this talk about playing behind closed doors to protect the public.
“But that wouldn’t protect the people out on the pitch — players, referees, linesmen. Then there is the NHS.
“How would we be protecting NHS workers if we wilfully played football and some of us ended up in hospital when it didn’t have to happen?
“The whole situation is scary and the only solution for me is only allow football when fans can be there to watch.
“That way we’ll know that we are safe. The other way — nobody knows.”
World players’ union Fifpro says the return of football risks sending a “bad signal”.
General secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffman added: “There are logistical, medical and scientific questions on testing and protocols.”
Holloway also fears playing behind closed doors would not help clubs lower down the football pyramid.
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He added: “If League Two clubs are forced to play behind closed doors some of them will not survive.
“There will be no money coming through the gates and clubs that are already walking a financial tightrope will fall off for sure.”
His view is backed by Newport boss Michael Flynn who said: “Clubs like ourselves could go under without gate receipts. And what would happen to government furloughs?
“If we are training and playing then we are in work but that would mean getting no government support AND getting no income from supporters.”