A leading epidemiologist believes that there won’t be mass sporting events until a vaccine has been produced for the coronavirus.
With leading opinion believing this could take between 12-18 months it will leave supporters wondering about next season, let alone this one.
Whilst the comments – made by Epidemiology PhD and Emory University lecturer Zack Binney – come from America, it’s hard to imagine that there won’t be a similar scenario across Europe.
Binney also talked down the idea of playing matches behind closed doors such is the logistical nightmare surrounding the entire thing.
“We will not have sporting events with fans until we have a vaccine,” says Binney [Sports Illustrated].
“The idea of a quarantined sports league that can still go on sounds really good in theory.
“But it’s a lot harder to pull off in practice than most people appreciate.”
According to the Sports Illustrated article, closed-door matches won’t be immune to the social distancing or screening processes of the rest of the world.
Before football, or any sport, was to return every single person – from the ballboys to the cameramen to the players to the cleaners – would need to be tested.
They also claim that every single person would need to self-isolate for up to two weeks beforehand to ensure no virus could enter the ground.
SI suggests that stadium employees would need to be paid appropriately for spending time away from their families, not to mention put up in accommodation if required.
The multiple and regular testing which would be required is also unfeasible due to a scarcity of tests.
The report also claims that players on benches would need to be sat apart, whilst high-fives and unnecessary physical contact banned.
So, whilst the row rumbles on about what happens in Scottish football this season, there’s no guarantee it’ll return in time for the next campaign.
