It seems the self interest of football is not only confined to this country but Italy as well!
After politicians, former players and fans piled in on the wealthy players after PFA chief had pulled back from agreeing an immediate pay cut came news from Italy that one club was taking a very different view of things indeed.
According to the Mail on line, Brescia president Massimo Cellino hit out at his fellow Serie A chiefs who just like Premier League chairmen are insistent on resuming the current campaign.
Italy is the worst affected country in the world by the outbreak, with 13,155 deaths so far and 110,574 cases recorded to date.
And in a in a fierce interview with ‘Gazzetta dello Sport’ Cellino, who spent a spell as Leeds owner between 2014 and 2017, lashed out against the possible restarting of the championship.
He said: ‘This Serie A season no longer makes sense. We have stopped, no team will return as before, the stadiums would play matches behind closed doors, there is also a risk for the health of the athletes.
For me, going back to work is pure madness. If they force us, I am willing to withdraw the team and lose matches 3-0 without appearing on the field out of respect for the citizens of Brescia and their loved ones who are no longer there.’
Now whilst we applaud the passion and spirit f the remarks there is perhaps just one little problem – Brescia currently sit at the bottom of Serie A with 16 points, nine points from safety.
Meanwhile, the growing row over some clubs failing to reduce the wages of their multi-millionaire players before using the government’s furlough scheme for their non-playing staff is growing in a big way.
While the programme sellers and stewards are taking 20 per cent wage cuts and being bailed out by the government, top stars are still earning hundreds of thousands a week, and have been urged by the PFA to not accept cuts to their pay.
ClaretandHugh says: Football is in big trouble courtesy of those chairmen and players who are putting their self interest before the worst health crisis the world has seen. To be focused on cash when the lives of many are being lost is about as hideous as it gets. And as a result there may be fans who will turn away from supporting the Premier League and instead, perhaps turn to their local non league side. We are not for a minute suggesting we can or should turn our back on our clubs – in all honesty how could we? But there’s a limit to the immorality that can be accepted and we have no problem with calling it just that. Gordon Taylor in particular should be holding his head in shame and any player who fails to do the right thing too. Get on with it all of you and stop the non stop moan-up
Perfectly put kcockayne.
My comment was lost in the re-writing, but I will try to repeat it. These people can say whatever they like but, the season will be lost. No ifs & buts. It could be played out before next season starts. But, when will that be ? The bottom line is that we are facing a complete social & economic disaster. That is ALL that matters. Football, & who wins or loses what, who gets promoted or relegated, is of NO importance. Whatever you might think, the football season IS over. When we finally beat this scourge & have got back to something resembling normality, then we can start to think about football again. Until then we all have far more important things to think about.
Football will never be the same again post Coronavirus.
As Lemmy aptly suggested let’s “Eat The Rich”
Where is my comment ?
I wrote it about midday,absolutely ridiculous you have to wait this long to be published.
Headline was wrong. Binned and comments lost with it as a result. Ridiculous or otherwise in the current circumstances there may be delays. Perhaps a little tolerance understanding and moderate questioning may be the best way forward
So i wrote a long reply in which i put a lot of heart into it and you just casually say “i binned it”….Thanks hugh.
Cannot be bothered to write it again.
Oh for God’s sake I said the bloody headline was wrong by me and in binning the story and re-headline the comments get lost as well. It’s the way WordPress works. Don’t be so precious. I had to write the entire story again. Thanks Hammer_Rite. I know we are all under the cosh But REALLY! When you see the number of stories we write and comments we try to deal with a little more patience may be a decent way forward
Okay hugh realised i had a bit of a hissy fit……apologies.
Forgive me too mate. It’s self isolation you know LOL
You could say that it’s in his interest to end the season Hugh but it also makes sense. Liverpool would want the season to carry on as others at the top of the pl but all because of self interest only. For the sake of the health of all though seasons must end null and void all over the world as we see common sense like Wimbledon tennis has done and all sports should follow that lead until this virus has been conquered end of. Money and loss of it can be sorted when this period ends, it’s too serious to even think of alternatives imo