Coronavirus: All Games Off

From the Discussion

• BO Bonzodog 6 Mar 2020 · 7:04pm

  With the DCMS department due to meet on Monday to discuss banning of mass public events. Does anyone else think they won’t see anymore football at the Mad Stad this season and the rest of the season played behind closed doors. It’s happening in Italy and they only had 11 cases 2 weeks ago. Alternatively the matches continue without restrictions but with considerably reduced attendances.

• WI windermereROYAL 6 Mar 2020 · 7:43pm

  Italy is till the first week in April at the moment, I would guess there will be restrictions here, but maybe only top flight games to start with.

• BO Bonzodog 6 Mar 2020 · 7:49pm

  Can see anomaly’s here by restricting games at say Bournemouth but not at Leeds or West Brom.

• SC SCIAG 6 Mar 2020 · 10:07pm

  The impression I get is that there will be no restrictions. Not only is Johnson fundamentally terrified of doing anything that might make him unpopular, but several people with his ear have said that playing matches behind closed doors is probably counter-productive as germs don't spread very well at stadiums but do spread very well in pubs.

• LW Lower West 6 Mar 2020 · 11:19pm

  Outdoor events must be considerably safer than say travelling on the tube. Those most likely to be affected should self isolate as much as possible as well. Spring is nearly here. Hopefully a spell of good weather will stop it spreading too widely across the UK.

• HO Hound 7 Mar 2020 · 6:02am

  Plenty of jokes I can’t be arsed to make about our home attendances and mass gatherings Not sure tbh - can see them closing the doors for a few games. It could spell trouble for a few clubs financially if they do I reckon

• SN Snowball 7 Mar 2020 · 6:41am

  No actual info on this but just to say I travelled to Sicily via Milan on Monday There were just TEN passengers on our plane counting seats I think the capacity was 120-150. 2+2 seats wide. From Milan to Catania we were on a much bigger plane (3+3 wide) and there were just 12 passengers. Then we were told our flight back was cancelled and we would need to return much earlier (effectively losing us a day) but we managed to switch to a later flight back via Rome. At Catania (returning) they were cancelling the vast majority of planes then packing “1 in 10” (like the Rome flight). Our flight had about 8 different airlines switched to… More →

• SN Snowball 7 Mar 2020 · 6:44am

  In Sicily everyone playing things down as much as they could but again very quiet and tourism badly hit. Travel prices dropping through the floor. Great time to book!

• ST Stranded 7 Mar 2020 · 7:19am

  Tend to agree but issue not the stands but additional public travel to and from. Concourses etc. Still don't think they will look to ban yet though.

• SN Snowball 8 Mar 2020 · 10:01pm

  Monday I went London City > Milan > Catania (Sicily) Thursday my Milan flight cancelled, came back Catania > Rome > London Heathrow. I've had sore throat and a headache since mid-afternoon Thursday, now, very "chesty" - and get tested11 AM tomorrow in Thatcham! PS I look after two teenage asylum-seekers and, although technically they COULD go to school, as I haven't yet be diagnosed with novel Coronavirus, Social Services have asked them to stay home until I get a diagnosis either way. JOY!

• ZI Zip 8 Mar 2020 · 10:08pm

  Bloody hell Snowers. Hope you get the all clear. We have held back from booking our holiday to Lucca and Bologna. Will see how things pan out but this virus isn’t going away any time soon.

• BI Bigtimmeh 8 Mar 2020 · 10:09pm

  My understanding is that it is more of a dry rather than a chesty cough - hope it's ok (and that you have someone looking after the kids while you jetset to Italy!) I think most teams are expecting some matches behind closed doors towards the end of the season, but not yet. Any restrictions on matches would have to be introduced as part of a wider package which restricts travel generally and bar/resturaunt opening hours else it would be pointless. So I think it will happen at some point but not for a few weeks... But who knows..especially with Johnson and Cummings who tend to do their own thing anyway..

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