Risk isn’t calculated simply as benefit of football vs cost, which is naturally causing everyone to turn their noses up because footballers with their Ferrari’s practically caused this virus. It is the benefit of ‘normality vs cost’ in this instance. The alternative isn’t as simple to me as not playing football, it is more a question of living in fear of human interaction for indefinite amount of time, and not.
I don’t say that footy is risk free completely, but do resent the dehumanising of everything football related. I don’t think footy is comparable to Supermarkets in significance, but as I’ve said, I do think that when people other than docs and check-out assistants can leave their homes - footballers should be allowed to play too. I appreciate that everyone doesn’t necessarily go body to body at work - but then they will not be policed to the same level of precaution either. You say they can wear surgical masks in a supermarket, but it isn’t a requirement. It isn’t a requirement for everyone in there to be tested, regularly, and their isolation when not in the supermarket is not Policed to the extent of the isolation camps being proposed for footballers. And why not? Is it because we are saying their lives don’t matter? Everyone now suddenly cares so much about the risks being posed to footballers - why are essential supermarket people not being protected in the same way? People are all touching the same surfaces in a supermarket, regardless of going body to body. Nobody is testing people at the door.
A footballer who is isolated in a camp and tested 2-3 times a week, I imagine, is less likely to contract the virus than the rest of the country is by simply shopping and using public transport daily. And again, I’m also a believer in managing/learning to live with the risks as opposed to just staying at home until it goes away, whenever that is.
And while the 300 are financially better off than hourly rare checkout assistants, after that group, they are the same as everyone else. People are so quick to say anyone footy related basically doesn’t need any money, but I reckon only a third at most of that 300 can afford to not work for a year. The footballers perhaps, coaching staff possibly, but probably not the rest. Not to mention the several others who make a living off the football business who do not need to be in the stadium, such as pubs, cabs, hotels, staff who work at William Hill or whatever.