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The Premier League will resist calls for a pause/'circuit-breaker' because the safety of players and staff is not an operational priority for the league. Outbreaks at Newcastle, City and Fulham are proof of the holes in the Covid-19 protocols https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/29/premier-league-on-alert-after-record-number-of-positive-coronavirus-tests-football
PL statement says it has “full confidence in its protocols and rules, and the way in which all clubs are implementing them." The problem is not implementation, the problem is the rules do not prevent outbreaks in clubs. This is manifestly obvious.
Of the more than 10 individuals who tested positive at Newcastle last month, two players - Lascelles and Saint-Maximin - now have long Covid. Everyone should read these quotes from their manager, Steve Bruce:
Next Monday the EFL restarts (!!!) mandatory testing on Championship, League One and League Two - plus third round FA cup testing - think that will reveal the worrying state of transmission outside the PL: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/29/premier-league-on-alert-after-record-number-of-positive-coronavirus-tests-football
If anyone wants to argue with my claim that the English footballing establishment doesn't care about player welfare, Id invite them to look at its stance over the last decade on racism, concussion protocols, mental health, youth welfare, homophobia, retired players...
Any rise in cases nationally was always going to expose the holes in the safety protocols - I've been highlighting these since they were announced during project restart. The Premier League got lucky, then got cocky, and is now refusing to deal with the disaster its created.
What's happening with football and Covid-19 is not about the ignorance of the authorities. They have been told this would happen. This is about divergent interests, wilful negligence and 'acceptable' sacrifices.
This is an important question. In May, Udo Onwere, partner at Bray and Krais Solicitors said: 'it appears clubs are trying to exclude themselves from being liable. Variation on contracts that exclude death or personal injury are not enforceable.' https://twitter.com/AydenCallaghan/status/1344311983257096192
Some of the players were worried that the agreements they signed during Project Restart were liability waivers, though the Premier League strongly denied this: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8298691/Premier-League-gives-players-staff-Covid-19-forms-Project-Restart-ball-rolling.html
I know for a fact that the Premier League were advised not to go ahead with Project Restart by at least one legal authority and various scientific experts. https://twitter.com/anoamymous/status/1344292721343803392
