The Premier League is Falling Apart: Coronavirus cases rise as the season continues
In his typical blunt fashion, Tottenham Hotspur manager Jose Mourinho called the Premier League “unprofessional” in front of reporters after the league postponed Spurs’ match against Fulham, which was originally scheduled for December 30. That day, Tottenham waited with uncertainty as the league mulled over whether the game would take place, as Fulham suffered a COVID-19 outbreak. Four hours before the match, Mourinho, frustrated, posted on Instagram a picture of his squad waiting in the stadium and a caption that sarcastically declared the Premier League as the “best league in the world.” Just minutes later, league officials notified Spurs that the match had been postponed.
The same week, five Manchester City players also contracted COVID-19, worsening the situation for English football. Even with the outbreak and calls for the league to pause the season, the Premier League said that it has “full confidence” the season will continue as planned. However, with late-minute postponements, coronavirus-rule breaking by players, and increases in cases, the league has seemingly lost control of the situation. Under its current state, the league cannot continue without jeopardizing the safety of its personnel and players.
Since Christmas, the EPL recorded 18 cases and called off three games—Everton vs. Manchester City, Fulham vs. Tottenham, and Fulham vs. Burnley. The pandemic in England has worsened. In the last three days of 2020, England saw an increase in cases to 50 thousand per day. On New Year’s Eve, the country hit a record of 55, 892 cases. Seeing a rise in cases in England, last Wednesday, the EPL banned fans from attending games after they were allowed to return at the beginning of December. This decision, however, will likely not impact the current outbreak at several EPL clubs since the league imposed stringent restrictions to prevent fans from coming close to the players. Instead, the league will have to solve another problem: players violating coronavirus protocols.
Recently, photos of Spurs players Erik Lamela, Sergio Regulión, and Giovani Lo Celso and West Ham midfielder Manuel Lanzini—all maskless—at a London Party on Christmas surfaced on social media. The UK government prohibits people in different households from interacting indoors in London, which is currently labeled as a Tier 4 area of lockdown due to a spread of a new coronavirus strain. Spurs and West Ham publicly criticized the players, and Mourinho specifically pointed out Reguilion, who lied to the club that he would spend Christmas at home on his own. Though the clubs turned to public shaming, they do not seem to be taking the situation seriously, either. Spurs, in a vague statement, said that the players would be disciplined “internally.” West Ham, on the other hand, said that they “ strongly reminded [Lanzini] of his responsibilities.” The EPL has taken no action on the matter, and it appears that these four players will neither be fined nor suspended. For now, the league has favored using harsh words over imposing actual consequences.
To prevent further rule breakage, the EPL should impose a minimum three-day matchday ban without pay for those caught violating protocols. Since the pandemic began in March, players have continued to break the rules repeatedly. With a financial incentive to behave, players will start choosing the paycheck over the party. As a result, the league will be able to improve contract tracing and better control the outbreak. It’s time for the Premier League to start taking serious precautions if it wishes to continue the season. It’s time to become professional.
