Players urged not to sign waivers

Premier League footballers have been urged not to sign waivers that could affect their rights if they become ill.

Brendan Schwab, the chief executive of the World Players’ Association (WPA) that supports about 85,000 athletes in 60 countries, has called for more to be done to protect long-term health.

‘Signing a document does not manage risk – it just moves the risk somewhere else,’ he told the Daily Mail. ‘We have to be serious here. A month ago we were saying “beware of waivers. There are gaps emerging in the system and we have to guard against passing the risk on to athletes. From the moment the pandemic stopped sport, there has been a strong desire to resume as soon as possible.

‘The focus of most protocols are on preventing the spread of the virus and then on quarantining and other measures in the event someone contracts it. That is necessary, but it is not just about preventing spread of virus but on treating, healing, and protecting the economic and sporting interests of anyone who may be sick. 

‘There is still a lot to nail in terms of the impact of the virus on an elite level of health.’ 

 

About Sean Whetstone

I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball, I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh. Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons! Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter