PFA remind Premier League, EFL players not to hug when celebrating goals during the Covid pandemic
ByReuters
Updated 08/01/2021 at 16:06 GMT
Footballers have been caught breaking Covid-19 protocols in recent weeks. With the FA Cup third round set to get underway, PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor says players have been reminded of the responsibilities that come with playing during the Covid-19 pandemic which includes thinking about how they celebrate goals.
Marcus Rashford (L) Paul Pogba (C) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (R)
Image credit: Getty Images
The Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) has reminded players to embrace a sensible approach to celebrating goals amid the Covid-19 crisis and refrain from hugging or getting too close to each other, The Times newspaper reported.
Four Premier League games and over 50 games in the English Football League - which governs the three divisions below the top flight - have been postponed this season with some FA Cup ties this weekend in doubt.
"We've sent a message to all our members saying, 'you have done a great job, you've kept the game going and you deserve a lot of credit, but it's important you keep to the protocols," PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor told The Times.
"Always abide by what you're being told by doctors and medical staff with regard to the protocols about keeping your distance and the hygiene that's required.
"I understand with the celebration of a goal it's difficult to just put the ball in the back of the net and act as though nothing has happened.
It's that adrenaline rush... that's what the game is all about, but that's part and parcel of the process, so they'll be reminded.
Declan Kidney, the director of rugby of London Irish, said players may resort to creative, choreographed celebrations after Premiership Rugby introduced similar protocols to combat the virus.
"You could see some ridiculous celebrations, but if they're safer, I'd prefer to see ridiculous and safe," Kidney said.
Several football players have also breached Covid-19 guidelines by attending events on New Year's Eve, including Fulham's Aleksandar Mitrovic who was rebuked by manager Scott Parker.
"He understands he's made a mistake," Parker said. "It was irresponsible. It's not acceptable. We've dealt with that as a club internally."
But Taylor said players "are human beings and this happens", adding that was the reason for the PFA's reminder on protocols.
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Premier League reminds clubs of responsibilities
The message from the PFA was also echoed by the Premier League, who wrote to clubs on Friday to remind them of the importance of the protocols set out before the restart of professional footballers last summer.
Despite calls, including from West Brom manager Sam Allardyce, for a two-week circuit breaker in the game, the Premier League is determined to continue, having avoided a shutdown of elite sports in the latest set of government regulations.
"It is vital to ensure public, government and stakeholder confidence in the training and matchday protocols that individual transgressions by relevant persons are appropriately investigated and sanctioned by clubs.
"Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action by the league individually against the relevant person, where appropriate (for example, where his or her conduct brings the league into disrepute) and/or against the club (where the relevant person's conduct constitutes a breach of the training protocol)."
The Premier League has also tightened protocols to attempt to stem the tide of cases. These include the introduction of compliance officers to ensure regulations are being followed, mandatory use of masks for all those inside stadia except players on the pitch and coaching staff and the use of three team buses to transport players to grounds.
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