Could they void the PL due to the Coronavirus? | No | Resuming June 17th

So three players of german team Cologne have tested positive to Covid-19.
Should they play without them - is that fair?
In isolation, this is just not a problem at all. Players get sick and injured all the time, this wouldn't be any different.

There's a lot of sensible arguments why they shouldn't restart the league, but this one is just silly.
 
Bundesliga: Koln announce three people at the club have tested positive for coronavirus

Cologne have announced three people at the club have tested positive for coronavirus - yet training will continue ahead of the Bundesliga's return.

The German top flight looks set to become the first major league to return to action as the world continues to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Clubs are back in training with a mid-May resumption on the cards, but Cologne's arrangements have received a setback.

The club, 10th in the Bundesliga, said that "after three positive tests, three people at FC Koln are now in quarantine" - but also that "the group training can continue".

In a statement, Cologne said: "FC Koln had the entire team and coaching staff, along with the backroom staff, tested on Thursday for Covid-19. Three people tested positive, all are symptom free.

"After an assessment of the cases by the responsible health authorities, the three people who tested positive will go into a 14-day quarantine at home. FC Koln will not confirm any names out of respect for the privacy of those affected.

"FC Koln's training can continue as planned, according to the hygiene and infection control measures that have been in place since April 6 in group training.

"The prerequisite for this is that the relevant group of people are tested further, as stated for in the medical concept of the 'Taskforce Sports Medicine/Special Game Operation' from the DFL."

The procedure discussed on Friday with the taskforce's chair Professor Dr Tim Meyer, medical director of the Institute for Sports and Preventive Medicine at Saarland University, and Professor Dr Barbara Gartner, specialist in microbiology and infection epidemiology.

Meyer said: "We now see in everyday life that our concept recognises and reduces risks at an early stage.

"We will always be in close contact with the responsible health authorities and medical experts.

"We are convinced that with our concept, we can enable players to practice their profession with the best possible protection against infection."

Cologne managing director Horst Heldt: "The health and private sphere of players and staff have priority above all else.

"The previous measures, as well as the strategy of regular tests, have proven themselves so that we can now react with individual solutions."
 
In isolation, this is just not a problem at all. Players get sick and injured all the time, this wouldn't be any different.

There's a lot of sensible arguments why they shouldn't restart the league, but this one is just silly.

So this is just silly?!

Can Koln play without the two players?
What if more test positive and also in other teams?

Feck football - lives are more important presently.
 
Cologne haven’t announced the identity of the 3 infected for their privacy. That’s going to be a little difficult to maintain when the league gets going and players are mysteriously missing from the matchday squads.
 
So this is just silly?!

Can Koln play without the two players?
What if more test positive and also in other teams?

Feck football - lives are more important presently.
Yes, teams play with less than their full squad all the time. The idea that when one player is unable to play the whole competition is unfair is very very silly.

I specifically said that there are other factors in play and I'm only disputing this one specific silly argument. I'm not sure how this suddenly equals the death of society or whatever.
 
Yes, teams play with less than their full squad all the time. The idea that when one player is unable to play the whole competition is unfair is very very silly.

I specifically said that there are other factors in play and I'm only disputing this one specific silly argument. I'm not sure how this suddenly equals the death of society or whatever.

What about if they have 7 people infected with CV?
 
Yes, teams play with less than their full squad all the time. The idea that when one player is unable to play the whole competition is unfair is very very silly.

I specifically said that there are other factors in play and I'm only disputing this one specific silly argument. I'm not sure how this suddenly equals the death of society or whatever.

It's your prerogative if you just can't see the implications but that's up to you.

When NORMAL injuries happen it follows that teams play without their players.
But this Covid-19 is not NORMALITY and the rest of the season will not be played in a normal scenario but just to appease Sky and BT and some other teams who we all know.

If you can't see that then you're being silly not my argument.
 
What about if they have 7 people infected with CV?
That's a whole other argument all together with the contagiousness of the virus and the lack of completely 100% reliable test.

I'm specifically talking about the idea that one missing player would threaten the integrity of the competition which is demonstrably wrong.
 
That's a whole other argument all together with the contagiousness of the virus and the lack of completely 100% reliable test.

I'm specifically talking about the idea that one missing player would threaten the integrity of the competition which is demonstrably wrong.

The question you answered specifically stated two players. I’m wondering what your cut off point is.
 
It's your prerogative if you just can't see the implications but that's up to you.

When NORMAL injuries happen it follows that teams play without their players.
But this Covid-19 is not NORMALITY and the rest of the season will not be played in a normal scenario but just to appease Sky and BT and some other teams who we all know.

If you can't see that then you're being silly not my argument.
Look you can either try to refute my argument or continue going on on unrelated tangents.
 
Honestly some of you lot should never leave your house ever again if this 'what if' game is your mindset. Weld your front door and be done with it because if you're looking for a world with literally no risk, there's not one part of the outside world that furfills that desire.

Eventually we have to coexist with this virus, yes people who test positive have to isolate and rightly so but isolating everyone they come into contact with was only ever a sticky plaster route while we played catch up. Say McDonald's open and one employee tests positive. Does that restraunt have to close alongside the workplaces of whoever came into contact with him? What if that covers half the town in questions high street? What if one of those places is an essential bank like Halifax?

Non essential businesses are starting to make plans to open up, none are totally risk free but all are taking the precautions to limit risk. McDonald's is opening up gradually, BBC want EastEnders to resume filming in June etc..

Not opening things up on the off chance isn't sensible, it's stupid, because you end up tanking the economy which will lead to inadequate funding of the NHS and ultimately end up costing most of the lives you think you're saving (plus excess). Restarting business with precautions is the happy medium between both ends of stupid (going back to complete normal and keeping everything shut until the virus is gone, to which point the virus would have long been the least of our worries).

Ultimately with all the precautions being taken (controlled, mass testing, BCD, distancing at every stage humanely possible) footballers will actually be much, much safer than they were in the few weeks leading up to footballs cancellation, when they were playing in full crowds and changing together despite the virus being on the ascendency.
 
The question you answered specifically stated two players. I’m wondering what your cut off point is.
I don't know what to tell you, is there a cut off point in fairness with injuries?

I don't have any answers regarding the potential comeback, I'm just pointing out that players being unable to play is not unfair, it's a thing that happens literally all the time.
 
Newly released study from Aarhus University shows that a risk of infection of Covid-19 is minimal doing outdoors sports as soccer. A soccer player will only spend an average of 1,5 minutes on the football field near another player: “The body contact is minimal and it should be safe to play”

Copied from reddit. So thats something
 
Yes, teams play with less than their full squad all the time. The idea that when one player is unable to play the whole competition is unfair is very very silly.

I specifically said that there are other factors in play and I'm only disputing this one specific silly argument. I'm not sure how this suddenly equals the death of society or whatever.
The only silly argument I see is the comparison between injuries and COVID-19. Injuries are non-infectious while COVID-19 is transmissible. When a player is injured, the rest of the team can train and play as usual; but when a player is diagnosed with COVID-19, those with close contacts including most of his teammates and opponents within the previous 14 days are subject to self-isolation and further testing. If, unfortunately, some of the previous opponents are tested positive, another set of players will be involved and the story will extend indefinitely. So this involves plenty of personnels and is not just about "one player unable to play". For your reference, the City vs Arsenal game was postponed before the lockdown just because some Arsenal players made contact with Marinakis, the Olympiakos owner.
 
I don't know what to tell you, is there a cut off point in fairness with injuries?

I don't have any answers regarding the potential comeback, I'm just pointing out that players being unable to play is not unfair, it's a thing that happens literally all the time.

Coronavirus isn’t an injury, it’s a global pandemic which is the entire reason they stopped play in the first place. If you're not able to suggest a fair arbitrary number of players out with coronavirus that would stop play, you're proving you don’t have any sort of understanding about the problem.

If one player is out, the entire squad should be quarantined.
 
You're always a fecked up away from having the whole team infected.

No, they tested the rest of the squad and only those 3 have tested positive so unless there is an off chance that they the virus is dormant in some of the players /coaches, the other people are free of the virus and should be able to continue.

They are testing players every 3 or 2 days I think so there is regular upkeep of who has the virus and should be quarantined, along with strict measures during training about sharing code space.
 
Look you can either try to refute my argument or continue going on on unrelated tangents.

You don't have an argument and i'll quote pexbo 'cause he spelled it out for you:

Coronavirus isn’t an injury, it’s a global pandemic which is the entire reason they stopped play in the first place. If you're not able to suggest a fair arbitrary number of players out with coronavirus that would stop play, you're proving you don’t have any sort of understanding about the problem.

If one player is out, the entire squad should be quarantined.

Now can you understand this?
 
No, they tested the rest of the squad and only those 3 have tested positive so unless there is an off chance that they the virus is dormant in some of the players /coaches, the other people are free of the virus and should be able to continue.

They are testing players every 3 or 2 days I think so there is regular upkeep of who has the virus and should be quarantined, along with strict measures during training about sharing code space.

you can test negative today and be positive tomorrow.
 
There is literally going to be no integrity to any restart of the season. The conditions that the teams will have to work/play in are vastly different. That’s not to mention all the needless deaths. The clubs are investing in loads of tests-why the feck don’t they just hand over the money to the NHS and those who need it?
 

If one player is out, the entire squad should be quarantined.
?
Does that go for every walk of life?

If one person gets infected once McDonalds is open, does it shut again alongside the businesses who hold any employee that came into contact with him? What if that includes an essential bank? Or a supermarket?

Isolating mass people on one positive result was only ever a sticky plaster route while we played catch up, it's not sustainable long term.
 
This boils down also to the integrity of the rest of the season.

For example:
Can you imagine Liverpool without 3/4 key players playing City without 3/4 key players all because of Covid?
We're not talking about normal injuries here.
 
Reports emerging that clubs are preparing to play the entirety of next season behind closed doors as well as the remainder of this season if it even restarts.

Understandable given the situation but what a farce it will be. United would stand to lose out the most as we have the highest match day receipts.
 
Another very important issue which is cropping up this week is that the players themselves are afraid of playing.
Have you seen Aguero, Laporte and others stating they're afraid to play?
Aren't the players important?
 
Does that go for every walk of life?

If one person gets infected once McDonalds is open, does it shut again alongside the businesses who hold any employee that came into contact with him? What if that includes an essential bank? Or a supermarket?

Isolating mass people on one positive result was only ever a sticky plaster route while we played catch up, it's not sustainable long term.

I'm sorry, but what you just said doesn't hold water. If you let virus run rampant as you are suggesting, McDonalds is shutting down anyway. Nobody is going there as soon it is obvious there are COVID cases and nothing is being done about preventing it. Isn't it kind of how it broke out in Wuhan Seafood Market actually?
 
Another very important issue which is cropping up this week is that the players themselves are afraid of playing.
Have you seen Aguero, Laporte and others stating they're afraid to play?
Aren't the players important?

They are and a reasonable possibility the players scupper whatever plan the league have to resume by refusing to take part. What can the clubs do, sack them?

Simple equation for most of the players, they don't need the extra money so why bother taking the health risk? It's only a small risk of course, but they have no reason to take it given the financial position most of them are in.
 
(as someone pointed out earlier)


With the recent turn of events, I am sure Suzanne Collins will find enough inspiration to write a sequel to her The Hunger Games.
 
Does that go for every walk of life?

If one person gets infected once McDonalds is open, does it shut again alongside the businesses who hold any employee that came into contact with him? What if that includes an essential bank? Or a supermarket?

Isolating mass people on one positive result was only ever a sticky plaster route while we played catch up, it's not sustainable long term.
But then the entire team will probably get infected and that team can no longer play?

One player gets it then chances are another will, and don’t forget it can be symptomless and has an incubation period.

It can easily spread like wildfire across the teams and players which is why it would be sensible to wait a while to restart play.
 
Why would a footballer care if the season starts again?
Citeh can’t realistically win the league so might as well sit the farce out whilst on full pay.
Utd players want to secure CL qualification so will be more interested in restarting.
Each player and club will have their own political and financial agenda. Testing is not accurate enough and you will have staff/players sent to quarantine for a false positive test.
Its almost impossible to envisage how they can restart.
 
Does that go for every walk of life?

If one person gets infected once McDonalds is open, does it shut again alongside the businesses who hold any employee that came into contact with him? What if that includes an essential bank? Or a supermarket?

Isolating mass people on one positive result was only ever a sticky plaster route while we played catch up, it's not sustainable long term.
It's difficult to define "close contact", but it generally refers to face-to-face contact for at least 15 mins, so a few conversations in daily life are fine especially with surgical masks on. On the pitch, however, it's a different story. Players don't wear masks in a game and they could do all sorts of high risk behaviors, from whispering, hugging, to spitting, headbutting, biting, you name it.
 
I think it's crass that the premier league are rushing to get back during the Covid-19 pandemic.

I can also imagine players going on strike over this, if they feel their health is being gambled with.
 
If one person gets infected once McDonalds is open, does it shut again alongside the businesses who hold any employee that came into contact with him? What if that includes an essential bank? Or a supermarket?

Does working at McDonald's, a bank or a supermarket require one man to barge into another repeatedly? Make hundreds of intimate contacts during the mere matter of an hour? Literally breathe down someone else's throat?

Physical distancing is impossible in contact sports like football. Impossible. It is shocking to see the lack of insight when you attempt to make parallels.
 
In isolation, this is just not a problem at all. Players get sick and injured all the time, this wouldn't be any different.

There's a lot of sensible arguments why they shouldn't restart the league, but this one is just silly.
Its not silly. They are being put an undue risk by the league. With how contagious it is, and the 14 day quarantine period, Its not comparable to an injury at all
 
If Premier League footballers - the biggest "role models" around (especially amongst young people) - are allowed to play a contact sport then that's social distancing over with. If they can do it, then people will think they can do it, getting together in mates' houses to watch the games on TV and have a few drinks. And who can blame them? Can't be having one rule for multi millionaire footballers and another rule for the rest of us.
 
Honestly some of you lot should never leave your house ever again if this 'what if' game is your mindset. Weld your front door and be done with it because if you're looking for a world with literally no risk, there's not one part of the outside world that furfills that desire.

Eventually we have to coexist with this virus, yes people who test positive have to isolate and rightly so but isolating everyone they come into contact with was only ever a sticky plaster route while we played catch up. Say McDonald's open and one employee tests positive. Does that restraunt have to close alongside the workplaces of whoever came into contact with him? What if that covers half the town in questions high street? What if one of those places is an essential bank like Halifax?

Non essential businesses are starting to make plans to open up, none are totally risk free but all are taking the precautions to limit risk. McDonald's is opening up gradually, BBC want EastEnders to resume filming in June etc..

Not opening things up on the off chance isn't sensible, it's stupid, because you end up tanking the economy which will lead to inadequate funding of the NHS and ultimately end up costing most of the lives you think you're saving (plus excess). Restarting business with precautions is the happy medium between both ends of stupid (going back to complete normal and keeping everything shut until the virus is gone, to which point the virus would have long been the least of our worries).

Ultimately with all the precautions being taken (controlled, mass testing, BCD, distancing at every stage humanely possible) footballers will actually be much, much safer than they were in the few weeks leading up to footballs cancellation, when they were playing in full crowds and changing together despite the virus being on the ascendency.
Non essential business are in no way comparable to contact sports.

Its a ridiculous argument your making.
 
If Premier League footballers - the biggest "role models" around (especially amongst young people) - are allowed to play a contact sport then that's social distancing over with. If they can do it, then people will think they can do it, getting together in mates' houses to watch the games on TV and have a few drinks. And who can blame them? Can't be having one rule for multi millionaire footballers and another rule for the rest of us.
Said this about 50 pages ago.

People wont listen to any social distancing advice if they see 22 players x 10 matches x twice a week not doing it
 
Lot of unhappy people on this planet mate. Lots of them have been unhappy and isolated for donkeys years, and are now finally feeling 'normal' because the entire world has been drawn down to their level. So of course, these people have a vested interest and desire to want this shit to continue indefinitely - they finally don't feel alone or weird, because everyone else is in the same position.

After this shit ends, which it will MUCH sooner than most realise (and by end, I mean the world keeps ticking, rather than the virus goes away), a LOT of people are going to need medication to even leave their gardens to get food. It's terrifying really, a lot of people are going to be destroyed mentally by this because right now they're being told that opening their front door means a 50/50 chance of dying and they believe it.
The first part of your post is total nonsense and as someone whos brother suffers from loneliness and depression and has attempted suicide in the past, quite frankly, your an absolute prick
 
Does working at McDonald's, a bank or a supermarket require one man to barge into another repeatedly? Make hundreds of intimate contacts during the mere matter of an hour? Literally breathe down someone else's throat?

Physical distancing is impossible in contact sports like football. Impossible. It is shocking to see the lack of insight when you attempt to make parallels.
@Brightonian made detailed posts a few days back that basically counter everything you said and explains in detail why inclosed working is actually more risky than controlled environments like BCD football.

I hope for the sake of consistency you display similar outrage once Rugby announces a return.