English League Managers Demand COVID-19 Test On Players Before Matches Resume

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, Sports News Saturday, April 11th, 2020

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Chief Executive of the League Managers’ Association (LMA), Richard Bevan has advised that the football season in England should resume after all players have been tested for coronavirus.

Bevan said “tests must be made available first” to NHS workers and patients. Once that’s happened, by all means let’s access it in sport,” he stressed.

Professional football has been postponed indefinitely because of the pandemic.

Bevan has criticized the English Football League (EFL) for failing to consult his members over an estimate that the season could be completed in 56 days once it restarts.

This week, letters were sent to clubs in which the EFL said it was “hopeful” of a conclusion in the summer months.

Bevan described the proposed schedule as “amazingly tight”. He disclosed had asked the EFL to discuss the restarting of the season with the managers from each league.

“You’re going to have to get the goodwill of the players because you’re going to have at least three weeks of training to get back on the pitch at least.

“The most important thing guiding every principle is health and getting back on the pitch without ensuring fully-fit players is a very big call to make. I would like to see more debate.”

“We’re not really going to see more accurate forecasting about when we can get on the pitch until the end of April” he said.

Bevan added: “In Germany, if you look at discussions about coming back in May, that’s probably a direct result of some very clear thinking from their government because they’re doing 50,000 tests a day.

“In this country we’re doing 10,000 per day, although the government are targeting 100,000 each day by the end of the month.

“Our managers do not want to be back on the pitch unless the players have been tested. But at the same time the government must confirm that is OK, because the tests must be made available first – if there’s a shortage – to care workers, patients, NHS staff and their families.”