As the coronavirus situation worsens around Europe, there are growing concerns about the international break being given the go-ahead at this juncture.
October and the autumn were always signposted as a time when the Covid-19 situation could worsen after a bleak spring, and worsen it has.
Across Scotland, Rangers fans are getting used to the notion that they’ll be locked out of the pubs for the Old Firm match with Celtic, along with everyone else in the country.
Cases are rising in the UK, France, Spain and all across the globe as the situation surrounding the virus remains exceptionally difficult.
And yet, UEFA, FIFA and national associations from across football have their players flying across the globe to play with new groups of people in new environments.
How can any footballer be expected to maintain a bubble if the authorities are actively asking them to pierce it?
There’s a genuine feeling of insanity attached to getting the world’s footballers to zig-zag across each other’s paths and then expect them to return to club duty unscathed.
Across the city, Celtic have already been hit twice by the situation concerning the coronavirus.
There is confusion over whether or not star striker Odsonne Edouard can play in their upcoming match with Rangers after testing positive for Covid-19.
Some reports are claiming Edouard has to self-isolate for seven days in France, and a further 10 when he returns to the UK after picking the virus up on international duty [Daily Record].
First-team midfielder Ryan Christie is also set to miss the match as he must self-isolate for reportedly playing the PlayStation with Southampton’s Stuart Armstrong whilst with Scotland [Scottish Sun].
The ex-Celtic midfielder himself has tested positive for the virus.
But ignoring the fact this is a potentially deadly unknown virus – something which is pretty hard to do – and that this directly affects Celtic ahead of an Old Firm – again, this is pretty hard too – this is something which could easily affect Rangers.
Players are potentially joining up with another 30+ new people from all over the continent to live, work and play in close quarters.
What’s worse is that should they play they’ll be doing the same with another group of 30, not once, but twice, in a matter of days.
All whilst globetrotting to stadiums around Europe.
We all want football to be played but given the tight restrictions placed on players on domestic soil, is it genuinely worth risking them for the international game?
UEFA clearly think so.
