‘Test all players for virus’ before English season restart

A general view of the Etihad Stadium is pictured following the postponement of the day’s Premier League Manchester City versus Burnley football match due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, in Manchester on March 14, 2020.  (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

League Managers Association chief executive Richard Bevan said Friday that the English season can only be restarted if all footballers are tested for coronavirus.

“Tests must be made available first to National Health Service (NHS) workers and patients,” Bevan told the BBC.

“Once that’s happened, by all means let’s access it in sport.”

Football has already been shelved for a month due to the virus which has killed nearly 9,000 people in Britain.

Football League chiefs believe they can finish the season in 56 days once it is safe to resume.

“We’re not really going to see more accurate forecasting about when we can get on the pitch until the end of April,” added Bevan.

“In Germany, if you look at discussions about coming back in May, that’s probably a direct result of some very clear thinking from their government because they’re doing 50,000 tests a day.

“In this country we’re doing 10,000 per day, although the government are targeting 100,000 each day by the end of the month.

“Our managers do not want to be back on the pitch unless the players have been tested.”

Clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two were sent a letter by the Football League this week revealing that the governing body hope to complete the season this summer despite the on-going pandemic.

But Bevan insists bosses should have been consulted.

“You’re going to have to get the support of the coaches and managers. You do not do that by not talking to them,” Bevan.

“You’re going to have to get the goodwill of the players because you’re going to have at least three weeks of training to get back on the pitch at least.

“The most important thing guiding every principle is health, and getting back on the pitch without ensuring fully-fit players is a very big call to make.”