Rangers aren’t the only club which will have been left scratching their heads after players from across the global game were encouraged to travel abroad for internationals.
With Euro 2020 playoffs to play, you can sort of understand why some players had to be called away, but the idea teams had to play UEFA Nations League matches is a harder sell.
Let’s not start on the ridiculous notion that teams are actually playing international friendlies right now.
Football clubs across the continent will be counting down the days until this latest international break is finally concluded, nervously anticipating the return of their players.
But for some players and some clubs down south, the pandemic is already beginning to take its toll.
The English Premier League conducted 1207 tests of players and staff between November 9th and November 15th with a record-breaking 16 positive tests [Premier League].
The highest number of positive tests returned before this period was 10, between September 21st and September 27th [Sky Sports].
With cases on the rise around Europe, why ask players to break their bubbles to play international fixtures which are – especially in the case of friendlies – utterly pointless?
With the club game desperately trying to keep itself Covid-free as football looks to serve up a glimmer of hope in a potentially spirit-crushing period, this feel like a slap in the face to supporters who’ve spent hundreds and thousands trying to keep the game afloat.
Rangers have had their own Covid scares so far in this break with Borna Barisic escaping any self-isolation orders after a teammate tested positive.
Colombian striker Alfredo Morelos was also on the pitch with Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez after he tested positive for the virus last week.
Hopefully, this time around Rangers can continue to evade issues – but Steven Gerrard won’t be the only club manager celebrating come to the end of this tedious, nervous fortnight.
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