Football's response to coronavirus has been shocking and dangerous | OneFootball

We’re living in almost unprecedented times.

COVID-19 is spreading across the globe and, at the time of writing, has taken 4,012 lives.

Italy is in lockdown, thousands of new cases are being reported every day and yet here we are watching 22 men kick a ball around.

Not only has football’s response to the coronavirus outbreak been shockingly inadequate, it’s been potentially dangerous too.

According to the World Health Organisation the source of the virus is believed to be a ‘wet market’ in Wuhan, China, which sold both dead and live animals including fish and birds.

From there, the virus has spread and has now reached more than 80 countries from Russia to Australia, Canada to Brazil.

In Europe, Italy has been the country most badly affected so far with nearly 10,149 cases, as of March 11.

Much like cold and flu bugs, the virus is spread via droplets when a person coughs or sneezes. Other people then catch the virus when they touch their infected hands to their mouth, nose and eyes.

Right now there is no specific treatment although the WHO say that doctors are trialing drugs used for existing viruses like Ebola and HIV.

Schools, offices, cinemas and other public spaces have been shut down on the peninsula while large public gatherings of more than 1,000 people have been banned in France and parts of Germany.

Right now, it looks as if things will get worse before they get better and it surely can’t be long before travel bans are put in place Europe-wide.

Which brings us back to the football.

Tuesday saw a huge spike in clubs reacting to the virus, with teams from all over Europe seemingly implementing their own procedures at will.

Bayern Munich confirmed that their Champions League game with Chelsea would be behind closed doors, while RB Leipzig went ahead and faced Tottenham in front of supporters.

Liverpool will play Atlético Madrid in front of 50,000 people tonight. Paris Saint-Germain will have no one watching their game with Borussia Dortmund.

There is a travel ban between Italy and Spain, yet Napoli are going to play Barcelona next week.

The Premier League have banned players from shaking hands before games, and yet sweatily running into each other, or hugging after a goal are all OK.

The there were the farcical scenes in Serie A this past weekend where Parma and SPAL players were gathered in the tunnel for an hour because league authorities had called for a strike … only for the match to then go ahead while others were postponed.

How is any of this right?

Wolves play Olympiacos on Thursday in the Europa League, and yet the Olympiacos owner admitted earlier this week that he has contracted coronavirus.

In what world is it right that Nuno’s side have to travel to Greece and put themselves in potential danger, just to play some last 16 European tie?

There are things that are bigger than football and your own personal health is one of them.

As the Portuguese tactician admitted himself

Getafe meanwhile are threatening not to travel for their game against Inter Milan, because of course they are!

Milan is being quarantined because of how widespread the virus is there and yet Uefa may end up punishing the Spanish side for not fulfilling their fixture.

Of course there are going to be ramifications for moving games later in the year but but peoples’ lives are worth more than any amount of money you will lose because of delaying tournaments.

So what if the European Championships has to be moved next year?

So what if the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, LaLiga and Ligue 1 have to finish later?

You’ve managed to move domestic seasons around for the winter World Cup in 2022, but apparently can’t because thousands of people are dying due to one of the most contagious viruses we’ve ever seen.

Football’s governing bodies should be hanging their heads in shame and have to halt all football now before it’s too late.