England's Premier League football, with active prompting from the UK government, seems to be seriously looking at ways to restart the games in order to complete the current season!
Given the prevalent global pandemic, it seems a show of normalcy has become more important to the powers that be. A realistic assessment of the dangers faced by those involved is a prime necessity. And it needs to involve not only players but all present at the venue(s) including support staff for teams as well as ground personnel. Such a move could put to risk even the families and beyond.
The prompting or encouragement seems to have from across the pond with Nascar announcing races behind closed doors. Fair enough! Some Live sport for aficionados cooped up without their regular fix of adrenaline rushes!
If anything, auto racing is very different as it avoids need of direct contact among competitors! Even the team crew working on the race can afford minimal contact with each other. Plus the provisio for each team to provide test reports of all personnel likely to be at the race before they are allowed entry to the venue. Any positive test result for the dreaded Covid-19 virus means immediate withdrawal of the team from the competition for the next four weeks till each member has three straight negative results during that period, the last being not more than 72 hours old.
Sounds pretty complex, doesn't it? Well there are no simple solutions to this complex world pandemic.
Travel can be difficult in these times ... containment is the watch-word.
Even the offer of providing the iconic Wembley Stadium to hold more than one game each day may not meet the requirements. Clubs need to be live and train in London with players and staff mingling freely at sessions to keep the competitive edge. And then one mis-step is all it takes for the entire thing to blow up.
Social distancing on the pitch is not possible, nor would it be desirable if the stakes are as high as they are likely to be in a Premier League clash!
France has declared Paris-Saint-Germain as the Ligue One champions. Dutch Ere Divisie maintained status quo with no titles being awarded. Others are mulling similar options. But what Premiership is trying appears, without doubt, frightening to say the least.
Its like playing catch with a live hand grenade inside a crowded trench! Danger far outweighs the benefits!
Given the prevalent global pandemic, it seems a show of normalcy has become more important to the powers that be. A realistic assessment of the dangers faced by those involved is a prime necessity. And it needs to involve not only players but all present at the venue(s) including support staff for teams as well as ground personnel. Such a move could put to risk even the families and beyond.
The prompting or encouragement seems to have from across the pond with Nascar announcing races behind closed doors. Fair enough! Some Live sport for aficionados cooped up without their regular fix of adrenaline rushes!
If anything, auto racing is very different as it avoids need of direct contact among competitors! Even the team crew working on the race can afford minimal contact with each other. Plus the provisio for each team to provide test reports of all personnel likely to be at the race before they are allowed entry to the venue. Any positive test result for the dreaded Covid-19 virus means immediate withdrawal of the team from the competition for the next four weeks till each member has three straight negative results during that period, the last being not more than 72 hours old.
Sounds pretty complex, doesn't it? Well there are no simple solutions to this complex world pandemic.
Travel can be difficult in these times ... containment is the watch-word.
Even the offer of providing the iconic Wembley Stadium to hold more than one game each day may not meet the requirements. Clubs need to be live and train in London with players and staff mingling freely at sessions to keep the competitive edge. And then one mis-step is all it takes for the entire thing to blow up.
Social distancing on the pitch is not possible, nor would it be desirable if the stakes are as high as they are likely to be in a Premier League clash!
France has declared Paris-Saint-Germain as the Ligue One champions. Dutch Ere Divisie maintained status quo with no titles being awarded. Others are mulling similar options. But what Premiership is trying appears, without doubt, frightening to say the least.
Its like playing catch with a live hand grenade inside a crowded trench! Danger far outweighs the benefits!
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