Footballers worried about infecting family with coronavirus if Europe’s top league rush back to action
FOOTBALL’S top stars fear a premature resumption could see them infect their families with Covid-19, according to the world players’ union.
Prem bosses are still pushing to return to action in June, although Italian clubs have been told to consider following France’s lead, in cancelling the season.
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It comes as the head of the organisation representing Europe’s major leagues, including the Premier League, suggested it would be better to sacrifice this term to ensure next season can be run in full.
But most critical was FIFPro general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann’s claim that players across Europe are SCARED of the consequences of playing too soon.
He said: “The players have real worries about infection risks. They are worried about what that means for their families and friends they engage with.
“They are worried that football may be resuming under poor conditions and lead to actions that are not healthy — because other people see them as an example.
“It’s really important that it’s safe and we mitigate the risk as far as possible.
“The worst thing would be to return too quickly and fail because the virus has not disappeared. Then we would have to stop again and not come back for even longer, when we should have waited.
“We surveyed players and anxiety and depression more than doubled since before the crisis. They are human beings too.”
Baer-Hoffmann’s words came as Lars- Christer Olsson, president of the European Leagues, warned the game has four weeks to decide if the season can be resumed.
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Olsson told a SIGA/Soccerex webinar: “It is so important to resume the current season if possible. I want to safeguard the financial situation of the current season but we have to decide by the end of May.
“Otherwise it will not be possible to squeeze everything in by the end of August.
“I would rather see a scenario where the current season is not finished than not kicking off next season.”
Premier League club chiefs will meet again to discuss their options tomorrow but decisions are being taken elsewhere.
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Spain’s LaLiga chief Javier Tebas criticised France’s “premature” decision to cancel the Ligue 1 season and ramped up plans to return to training next week and resume games on June 13.
But Germany’s potential May 9 Bundesliga return was put back a fortnight.
And Italian sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora, who branded Serie A’s resumption plans “not sufficient”, added: “I see resuming Serie A as increasingly unlikely.”
