Suspending EFL season ‘inevitable’, says Rochdale CEO
06 January 2021 | Sports
NAMPA / REUTERS
League One (third-tier) side Rochdale's CEO David Bottomley said the English Football League (EFL) will be forced to halt matches temporarily due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Several outbreaks have led to more than 50 matches being called off this season and Bottomley believes the EFL - which governs the three divisions below the Premier League - must take action.
A total of 34 League One matches have been called off so far, including Rochdale's previous two matches.
British prime minister Boris Johnson announced a new national Covid-19 lockdown on Monday, but elite sport will be allowed to continue in England.
"Surely just for a month until the vaccine starts to get rolled out, we could have a break," Bottomley told the BBC.
Human life more important
"(Suspending the league) is inevitable. Hospitals across the United Kingdom are being told they are to face a massive surge in cases, so who are we in football to be trying to add to that situation?"
"My fear, in common with that of a number of other League One chief executives... is there will be so many players testing positive that we'll almost have to suspend the season. Human life is far more important than whether we play matches."
The United Kingdom has had more than 2.71 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and has recorded over 75 000 deaths.
League One (third-tier) side Rochdale's CEO David Bottomley said the English Football League (EFL) will be forced to halt matches temporarily due to a surge in Covid-19 cases.
Several outbreaks have led to more than 50 matches being called off this season and Bottomley believes the EFL - which governs the three divisions below the Premier League - must take action.
A total of 34 League One matches have been called off so far, including Rochdale's previous two matches.
British prime minister Boris Johnson announced a new national Covid-19 lockdown on Monday, but elite sport will be allowed to continue in England.
"Surely just for a month until the vaccine starts to get rolled out, we could have a break," Bottomley told the BBC.
Human life more important
"(Suspending the league) is inevitable. Hospitals across the United Kingdom are being told they are to face a massive surge in cases, so who are we in football to be trying to add to that situation?"
"My fear, in common with that of a number of other League One chief executives... is there will be so many players testing positive that we'll almost have to suspend the season. Human life is far more important than whether we play matches."
The United Kingdom has had more than 2.71 million confirmed Covid-19 cases and has recorded over 75 000 deaths.
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