Topic: The Impact of COVID 19 on Sport...

[killer-heels]

Not really.

Delay it a year, I dont really understand why it's not doable. They have 80% public opposition to the games and no ones allowed in or out the country, it's the Olympics in name only.

They surely cannot delay it again? Would only leave two years until the next one.

[Crosby Nick]

It's going to feel very sad watching the Athletics, the crowd always adds to the tension of the short races in particular.

There is plenty we probably won't notice though. The olympic village might be a bit more tame this time round.

Those poor swimmers.

[Kashinoda]

They surely cannot delay it again? Would only leave two years until the next one.

These are extraordinary times though, what's another year?

You could push the next one back a year so there's 2x 3 year gaps before normal service resumes.

[killer-heels]

These are extraordinary times though, what's another year?

You could push the next one back a year so there's 2x 3 year gaps before normal service resumes.

Maybe. 6 years is a huge gap in a Olympians career and possibly needs to happen for them than anyone else.

[Elzar]

Those poor swimmers.

It's even worse for the "Swimmers" it seems.

Don't worry mate, the athletes still getting their box of condoms.

[Kashinoda]

Maybe. 6 years is a huge gap in a Olympians career and possibly needs to happen for them than anyone else.

Very true, I'm thinking about it a bit selfishly but god damn I look forward to the Olympics more than any other sporting event in the summer. 2012 was incredible.

[redgriffin73]

The Birmingham goalie Neil Etheridge is in hospital with Covid.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57833334

[rafathegaffa83]

First COVID case at the Olympic village

AFP News Agency@AFP
#BREAKING First case of Covid-19 in Tokyo Olympic Village:

[killer-heels]

First COVID case at the Olympic village

AFP News Agency@AFP
#BREAKING First case of Covid-19 in Tokyo Olympic Village:

Kill it with fire.

[BobPaisley3]

From August 16th, will we be in a situation where a covid case within a squad just means the effected individual misses out?

[Dave McCoy]

With the NFL's announcement today it wouldn't surprise me if the rest of the sporting world follows suit:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/31863308/nfl-warning-teams-covid-19-outbreaks-unvaccinated-players-lead-forfeited-games

Due to the way NFL contracts work it also means the players wouldn't get paid.  Doubt that applies to PL contracts but could make for an interesting situation to say the least.

[rafathegaffa83]

The Athletic has a revealing piece about the current battle going on in the background between clubs, players, player unions and ancillary organizations like Kick It Out over vaccination with some players outright refusing to get vaccinated (including one anonymous player who had a rather severe case and one of his relatives has been shielding for 18 months, who still won't get it )

One interesting item that is brought up that seems to have been largely unspoken is what happens when a country imposes regulations requiring all players/staff coming in for a EL/CL match to provide proof of vaccination. An agent also suggests a few transfers will collapse over players refusing to be vaccinated

[rafathegaffa83]

Rob Harris@RobHarris
UEFA decides players who have been fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 won't now need to be tested to play in its matches anymore. Decision made ahead of the CL, EL & ECL group stages. Testing could still be required to enter countries for games per national laws

[jonnypb]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58469827

Manchester United will introduce Covid-19 spot-checks on matchdays at Old Trafford, starting with Saturday's game against Newcastle.

It is not yet a mandatory requirement to enter Old Trafford.

However, the club say they expect proof of full vaccination to become mandatory in the Premier League from 1 October.

Fans aged 18 and over are advised to prove that they are double-jabbed or have had a negative lateral flow or PCR test within 48 hours of the game.

In July, Prime Minister Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson announced there was a plan to mandate certification at venues where "large crowds gather", including sporting venues with capacities of 20,000 or more.

United are the latest team to introduce spot-checks under the Premier League's matchday protocols for the 2021-22 season, which state fans "must be prepared to prove" they are fully vaccinated or have had a negative Covid-19 test in the previous 48 hours.

In a statement, the club said: "The Government has indicated that Covid certification checks are likely to be mandatory for those attending large events from 1 October 2021.

"In line with Premier League guidance, this is expected to apply at all Manchester United matches at Old Trafford."

Brighton, Chelsea and Tottenham have already introduced mandatory checks for supporters attending games at their stadiums.

[swoopy]

Leicester also doing spot checks this weekend

[killer-heels]

Chelsea must be lying. Loads of their nutter right wing fan base must be unvaccinated.

[jlb]

Bundesliga: German crowds to be reduced after Covid-19 restrictions reintroduced

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59510506

[killer-heels]

Bundesliga: German crowds to be reduced after Covid-19 restrictions reintroduced

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59510506

Europe is not in a good state at all.

[Dave McCoy]

Europe is not in a good state at all.

Spain looks like it's going to be just fine and Italy's numbers are no where near that bad so I wouldn't say "Europe" as a whole.  But yeah Central and Eastern Europe look like they're going to get hit hard.  I could ask why Germany and the low counties are so bad at this but then I'm an American so yeah, whatever.....

[redgriffin73]

Vaccine passports at the match from 15th December. This could be carnage getting in unless they can sort something online.

Coronavirus: Fans will need to show vaccine pass to attend top-level sport in England - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/59575982

[Fromola]

Vaccine passports at the match from 15th December. This could be carnage getting in unless they can sort something online.

Coronavirus: Fans will need to show vaccine pass to attend top-level sport in England - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/59575982

Need to learn from the pre-season games where it was chaos getting in. Long queues in August is one thing but in freezing winter weather people will be less accepting and also less likely to want to get in early.

[rafathegaffa83]

Rob Harris@RobHarris
Significant spike in coronavirus cases in the Premier League - 42 positives over the last week among players & club staff after 12 were reported the previous week

Highest amount since May 2020

[buttersstotch]

I find it mad that less than 24 hours before the Brentford-Utd game, the Premier League still haven't made a decision. Problem we're gonna have is clubs are going to try and postpone games with 3-4 cases. Feel the Premier League are going to have to put some guidance in place for clubs otherwise this could get messy really quickly.

[Pistolero]

Bitters already clambering for a season cancellation......

[Fromola]

It's all a bit March 2020 with the scale of the spread and the disruption it's causing again. It's starting to rip through dressing rooms.

The problem is you can't have games getting called off every week because there's nowhere in the calendar to play them. Especially if one of the teams are in Europe. However, if you end up with teams putting reserve sides out then it makes a mockery of the league.

[Dave McCoy]

Omicron seems quite different from previous waves.  It's early still and things can change but so far it's way less virulent and possibly prone to burn out quicker.  I wondered in the Spurs thread if it would possibly lead to a change in the protocols if the symptoms from Omicron are "mild" as it seems they are.  Since this is about Covid-19 and Sport I'll stick to Sport in that if the numbers bear true on Omicron the 10 day quarantine/isolation seems totally unnecessary and any postponements should just be a bump in the road.

[Fromola]

Omicron seems quite different from previous waves.  It's early still and things can change but so far it's way less virulent and possibly prone to burn out quicker.  I wondered in the Spurs thread if it would possibly lead to a change in the protocols if the symptoms from Omicron are "mild" as it seems they are.  Since this is about Covid-19 and Sport I'll stick to Sport in that if the numbers bear true on Omicron the 10 day quarantine/isolation seems totally unnecessary and any postponements should just be a bump in the road.

The players may well be asymptomatic for the most part but if they have to isolate for 10 days off a positive test - and Omicron is more contagious, plus time of year - then it'll make the season a write off if you've got games getting called off every week and half a dressing room having to isolate.

[Dave McCoy]

The players may well be asymptomatic for the most part but if they have to isolate for 10 days off a positive test - and Omicron is more contagious, plus time of year - then it'll make the season a write off if you've got games getting called off every week and half a dressing room having to isolate.

That's the point though in that they need to change the protocols.  This isn't Delta, you shouldn't need everybody to isolate.  Here's the current fatality rate in South Africa, nobody is dying (relatively speaking) from Omicron but everybody is getting Omicron.



Without changing this to a general Covid discussion this is more of an issue for health workers as Omicron is highly contagious so most will get it.  Even boosted you're only ~70% protected so for them it's almost a fait accompli.  You then are going to have to shut everything down.  I'm guessing as the numbers bear out they'll change this as they'll have no choice and it makes sense.

Edit: Forgot my normal reminder to please go get your Booster.  Best thing everybody can do to make sure we continue to see LFC on the field.

[Fromola]

That's the point though in that they need to change the protocols.  This isn't Delta, you shouldn't need everybody to isolate.  Here's the current fatality rate in South Africa, nobody is dying (relatively speaking) from Omicron but everybody is getting Omicron.

Not going to happen for a while though. The NHS will be up shit creek in January in particular, so they won't be making exceptions.

You can hardly enter March with teams having 5 games in hand.

[Dave McCoy]

Not going to happen for a while though. The NHS will be up shit creek in January in particular, so they won't be making exceptions.

You can hardly enter March with teams having 5 games in hand.

As I just noted to have NHS around they need to change the protocol anyway as otherwise they'll all be isolating as well.

I very much doubt what you're saying is going to happen, most games will go forward just it will be harder than it should have been but that goes for most Covid things.

[El Lobo]

Happy Christmas Fromola

[Ghost Town]

Happy Christmas Fromola

[Jambo Power]

Rob Harris@RobHarris
Significant spike in coronavirus cases in the Premier League - 42 positives over the last week among players & club staff after 12 were reported the previous week

Highest amount since May 2020

There were hardly any positives when it came back. The highest before today was in Jan of this year.

[Fromola]

There were hardly any positives when it came back. The highest before today was in Jan of this year.

There's no avoiding it with Omicron. Especially while everything else is open. It's easier to contain in lockdown like in Jan.

The good thing is if it's just mild cases, particularly with vaccines, but a case is a case. Footballers have to isolate for 10 days and it only takes one to get it for it to spread.

It's going to.be challenging for football to work around it.

[elsewhere]

is there a certain % of cases  to get a match suspended?

[red_Mark1980]

is there a certain % of cases  to get a match suspended?

No it's all down to how much each team cries

[Dull Tools]

No it's all down to how much each team cries

It is crazy that there isn't a solid rule. Arsenal had to play the first game of the season with loads of cases but today United seem to have barely any and their game is off.

[redgriffin73]

It is crazy that there isn't a solid rule. Arsenal had to play the first game of the season with loads of cases but today United seem to have barely any and their game is off.

There's a pretty solid rule in place that if your team is from Manchester you get to decide what you're doing.

[Uncle Ronnie]

Premier League measures are ramping up even further: daily lateral flow tests and two PCR tests per week coming in - to be signed off at PL meeting today.

Players have to wait in their cars for results after taking tests. @TheAthleticUK

[Crosby Nick]

It is crazy that there isn't a solid rule. Arsenal had to play the first game of the season with loads of cases but today United seem to have barely any and their game is off.

Against Brentford who have been without their main goal threat the last two or three games and also had Pinnock off with Covid last game.

It is a tricky one. Without knowing the full details. In reality does anyone really want to call a game off if they can help it? I wouldn’t want any of ours going. We’re still in the League Cup, still in Europe...there’s not many spare weeks to cram postponed fixtures into if we can help it.

Difficult times though, will just have to see where things go from here.