The Premier League’s bid to restart the season in June is in danger of being derailed by a heated debate between players about the risks of playing amid the coronavirus crisis.
While Premier League chiefs believe completing the campaign is essential to safeguard the financial and sporting future of the game, some stars are not so convinced.
AFP Sport looks at both sides of the row:
Watford captain
Troy Deeney has been one of the loudest voices against returning to the pitch
so soon.
Although the
Premier League has agreed to fund regular testing for players and staff, there
is no guarantee of keeping the virus at bay while vaccine trials remain in the
early stages.
Adding to Deeney’s
concern, black and ethnic minorities are statistically more at risk of dying
from the virus, leaving him adamant he will not gamble with his family’s life
just to satisfy the desire for football to resume.
“I’m not even
talking about football at the moment. I’m talking about my family’s health,”
Deeney said on Instagram.
“I’m not going to
put my family at risk. What are they going to do, take money off me? I’ve been
broke before so it doesn’t bother me.
“They’re talking
about not playing in front of fans until 2021. So if it’s not safe enough for
fans to be inside a stadium, why should it be safe for players to be in there?”
Critics of Deeney’s
view have noted that Watford were just outside the relegation zone on goal
difference when the season was halted, so his club would clearly benefit from
the season being abandoned.
But Manchester City
stars Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling have also raised concerns about
restarting, while Newcastle’s Danny Rose, on loan from Tottenham, launched a
furious rant about the situation.
“Government is
saying ‘bring football back’ because it is going to boost the nation’s morale.
I don’t care about the nation’s morale, bro, people’s lives are at risk,” he
said.
“Football shouldn’t
even be spoke about coming back until the numbers have dropped massively.”
Like Deeney and
other Premier League skippers, Norwich captain Grant Hanley took part in a
conference call with the Premier League this week that reportedly saw numerous
disagreements.
“I think the
overall feeling is that players have got concerns. There’s just so much
uncertainty,” Hanley told Sky Sports.
“Every team and
player has got different views on it. Ultimately it’s putting your family at
risk that is the main concern.”
“Looking forward to
playing again”
In contrast to the
anger expressed by some of his peers, England captain Harry Kane has preached a
more moderate attitude.
Tottenham striker
Kane is ready to restart as long as player safety is the highest priority.
“I think the
majority of players are looking forward to playing again as soon as possible
but we know we want it to be as safe as possible too,” Kane told British
daytime TV show, Good Morning Britain.
“Me personally, I
am happy to start training in small groups if that is allowed and just trying
to get back to some normality as soon as possible. I guess everyone is
different and has their own personal view.”
Even those willing
to play, like Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, have given their support with
caveats.
Abraham’s father
has asthma and the England international does not want to put him in danger.
“To go out on the
pitch is a big thing for me. But my dad is asthmatic and the last thing I need
is to catch the virus myself or be in contact with anyone with the virus,”
Abraham said.
“The Premier League
and the Government have to come to a decision on whether or not it’s safe
enough to play again and we take it on from there. I am ready to play tomorrow
if it is safe.”
Encapsulating the
split in the ranks, former Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton claimed
Deeney is acting out of self-interest.
Barton, who is
manager of League One side Fleetwood, tweeted: “If Troy doesn’t want to play or
doesn’t feel safe enough to, then that’s his choice.
“Let’s not kid
ourselves about what is going on. Big money to be had in the Premier League,
who wouldn’t want another year of that towards the end of your career? Got to
admire the opportunism.
“Squad on huge
bonus for survival. No wonder they want it null and voided.”