Football Exempt From Covid Restructions.

[Sunk]

While travel between tiers is banned for us mere mortals, elite footballers can visit tier 4 when everyone else is forbidden for safety reasons.

Now, after a visit to London, several Manchester City players have tested positive for covid and their game tonight has be postponed.

// City played Arsenal in the EFL Cup at Emirates Stadium on 22 December, by which time London had been put in Tier 4, and City have been told positive cases have subsequently been reported at the hotel they were staying in. //

Time to close this loophole ?

[New Judge]

It isn't a loophole. The Coronavirus legislation provides a specific exemption for "elite sportsmen/women" to take part in their sport. There have been only a very small number of outbreaks associated with sport since it resumed in the summer.

[ummmm]

A test result comes back in 40 minutes. They all could be tested before each game.

[Maydup]

There have been enough outbreaks for a number of matches to be postponed each week. Heads are in the sand over this.

[gness]

That’s great, Roy. Well done you. If you need any knitting tips.......

[andres]

I don't care how ''elite'' they are considered to be ,the virus doesn't make exceptions. Nor should we.

[Maydup]

Five of the twelve league one matches due to be played on Boxing Day, were postponed due to Covid-19. How can that be considered very small numbers?

[starmack]

Maybe if players respected rules re contacts after they score. Sets poor example in a worldwide pandemic for younger fans.

[New Judge]

//I don't care how ''elite'' they are considered to be ,the virus doesn't make exceptions. Nor should we.//

Best close all the supermarkets, then.

[gness]

Bit of a beneath you remark, NJ...I mean I won't go hungry or have to start cutting up squares of the Radio Times if football is put on hold.

[jno]

the supermarkets are open because of people's regrettable need to eat. Football isn't on quite the same level of human necessity.

Has the New British Covid been affecting footballers any less than anyone else? As it seems to have been behind the imposition of stricter lockdown across much of the country.

[bobbinwales]

Apart from tier 4 areas shops have been packed for the last 2 days with people looking for "essentials" like designer trainers, new iphones discounted wrapping paper for Christmas and wallpaper and carpets. Although its my area of work am sure we could manage without supermarkets for a couple of weeks, but foodstuffs and medicine are more important short term than other shops.
But do we really want a world where all TV broadcasts and sporting events, schools and everything else is shut down completely for another few months?
A dont remember calls for Strictly to be stopped when there was a corona case or for Parliment to shut when Boris's friend had it

[ichkeria]

“ There have been enough outbreaks for a number of matches to be postponed each week”

Indeed: the tests come through and the games are postponed and it keeps going.
The fact that the games are quickly called off is a Good Thing.

[ichkeria]

I’m sorry but this does smack of “nasty footballers are allowed to do this and that why can’t I”
Just as “the local clothes shop is closed so why should other shops be allowed to sell clothes”
In these situations we are NOT all equal. It’s how it is

[Maydup]

Yes I do want schools to remain shut
Yes I do want flippin Poundland and The Range to shut
Yes I did want Strictly cancelled
Yes I do want only simple broadcasting that requires a socially distanced team rolling out repeats. or single newsreaders keeping us up to date
Yes I do want parliament to work from home and meet via video conferencing

We cannot keep making exceptions.

[bednobs]

ick its more like i cant do it so why can they. Which is a very valid point imo

[gness]

Well what a disappointing post from you, Ich. That is not at all what I am saying. If that is what you’re offering as your contribution no more is to be said.

[bobbinwales]

Fair enough Maydup. Tier 4 for everyone plus a lot more restrictions. Do you want taxis to be stopped too and tubes /buses/trains to be stopped /virtually empty. And supermarkets to be only allowed to sell a very limited range of absolute essentials- like what?? And people like nailit being banned from sharing a car/van and almost everyone stopped from going to work? And all news broadcasts and TV filming to stop. Petrol stations shut?

[ichkeria]

“ ick its more like i cant do it so why can they. Which is a very valid point imo”

Same thing :-)
And it’s not a valid point at all: what matters is the extent to which this activity is affecting the general diras if the virus and I’d say “not at all”
41-odd thousand tested positive most recently asand I’d be astounded of a significant per cent age of their contacts are ever traced. Professional footballers test positive as they are tested regularly unlike most of us and their contacts are traced and games called off.
It’s ruthless and decisive unlike in the “real” world”.
Yes it’s preferential treatment but for a good reason

[ichkeria]

“ That is not at all what I am saying. If that is what you’re offering as your contribution no more is to be said”

You might not be saying it but a couple of others are.
And didn’t you make rather a condescending comment about footballers?

[bobbinwales]

On this am in agreement with ickeria. ELite athletes like footballers are in an artificial world, a bubble, just like am sure the Beatles and Elvis were, transported form place to place, movements strictly controlled- plus for corona regular testing, probably every few days. If there football were cancelled they'd more likely be having parties or similar