The Football League is facing two months of uncertainty as a growing number of fixtures are postponed as a result of soaring infection rates.
That’s according to Portsmouth chief executive, Mark Catlin, whose table-topping side have had to call-off their next two League One games as a result of five members of the playing staff testing positive for Covid-19.
The south coast city is currently under Tier 4 restrictions, along with a great many other areas which are home to clubs in the EFL.
And Catlin believes that football has difficult times ahead as we move into 2021.
“The last few days have been traumatic if I’m honest,” he tells i.
“There were times in November when I thought we were over the worst. We were getting fans back in December and there was light at the end of the tunnel.
“That has now been dashed. Different areas of the country are at different stages of the cycle in regard to Covid. But this isn’t isolated to just football – the sport is a reflection of what’s happening in society in general.
“I know at least a couple of people of the club who are self-isolating because family members have tested positive. It’s the wider implications of living in an area where current infection rates are high.
“Good luck to clubs if they’re in areas where the rates are still relatively low and they’ve managed to stay clear of Covid infections within their squad. If they can continue playing then I’m massively in favour of that.
“But there is a danger that this escalating situation is going to hit the majority of clubs across the football pyramid.”
Catlin refused to be drawn on whether the season should be suspended until infection rates are under control.
With six Boxing Day across the Championship and League One already being postponed, it’s clear that the increase in infection rates across the country is already causing massive disruption.
At present mandatory testing is only available to clubs in the Premier League. And although Catlin would support its introduction in the EFL, he believes that the cost of implementing such a programme means it’s a non-starter for the majority of the 71 clubs below the top flight.
“In any industry, whatever that may be, I couldn’t see why you wouldn’t want mandatory testing but it does come back to cost,” he says.
“If you told anyone in society that they could pop along to the end of their road and get a test two or three times a week, then their hands would be up in a shot.
“I think everyone would be much happier if that was the case. But it’s a very expensive, with clubs already struggling for revenue then that cost would be prohibitive.
“From our experience of coming back and playing our play-off matches back in the summer, you are talking to mid to high tens of thousands of pounds, just for a two or three month period.”
Follow i sport on Facebook for more football news, interviews and features
More on football
- Sam Johnstone tells Sam Cunningham why he is finally ready to become a Premier League star
- The making of Timo Werner: How his father’s motivation and ‘scary’ power meant Chelsea star was always destined for the top
- Eric Dier reveals why he stormed into the stands to confront an abusive Spurs fan
- Daniel Storey: How to lose supporters and alienate Messi, by FC Barcelona
- An apology to Man Utd’s Jesse Lingard
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3aAnTu0
Post a Comment