Moyes hits out: “…it’s not right”

West Ham boss David Moyes has finally spoken out on the showing of West Ham’s game against Manchester City in a local Stratford cinema today.

In his early presser yesterday he held himself on a tight leash over the issue declaring only that it was best to let Government deal with things.

But he has finally got his true feelings off his chest and like the rest of those inside the club seems clearly annoyed  that the match will be shown in The Vue Cinema – a 12 minute walk away in Westfields whilst fans remain locked out.

We at CandH have put our own views on the record and frankly believe the situation to be farcical given that social distancing can be applied inside the stadium just as it can in a cinema.

Moyes’ outburst came at the same time as the Mail published a ‘splash’ story that focus groups are reporting that Dramatic evidence of a growing revolt against the coronavirus lockdowns has emerged. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8873731/Focus-group-reveals-voters-despairing-coronavirus-lockdown-measures.html

Whether any of this puts pressure on the government to alter its course remains to be seen but in the meantime the West Ham boss has made his view of the stadium v cinema scenario very clear.

He said: ‘I feel it’s not right. People going to watch a game in a cinema, close to here… why can we not be sitting outside in the open air doing it?

‘Maybe there are other reasons — maybe it’s the travelling on the Tube, the bus, maybe it’s the pubs. But if that is the case, please come out and give us an explanation as to why we can’t do it.’

In the last week, Bristol City and Middlesbrough have also televised home games from suites at their stadiums, with curtains drawn to block fans from any view of the pitch.

‘This clubhouse phenomenon illustrates the absurdity of it all,’ FSF chair Malcolm Clarke told Sportsmail. ‘It is totally illogical and bizarre.

‘Football clubs have done a great deal of work with the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to make sure grounds are compliant with the relevant health requirements.

‘Fans cannot understand how you can watch the game indoors in a corporate facility with a pint or a meal, but the moment you go the other side of the curtain it is suddenly unsafe, even though you are then outside?

‘It makes no sense and it shows that the rules are illogical and inconsistent.’