PREXITEERS
FANS are split down the middle over football’s return during the coronavirus pandemic.
A survey by Daily Mirror publishers Reach plc has revealed 48 per cent of supporters who responded to a nationwide online questionnaire opposed the restart, with 47.7 per cent in favour.
But fans were united in their sympathy for players reluctant to return for health reasons, with almost 90 per cent saying they backed their stance.
Fans appeared to strongly sympathise with players – particularly those from a BAME background – who are worried about endangering their families. Overall 87 per cent said they would support any player who refused to come back.
Reach surveyed more than 14,000 fans across its national and regional titles in England and Wales and unsurprisingly Liverpool supporters were found to be most in favour of football restarting.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are on the verge of winning their first title for 30 years and 90 per cent of Reds fans want the action to resume with just eight per cent against.
Their enthusiasm is not mirrored by fans from the other clubs near the top of the Premier League.
Manchester City had the strongest objection, with 80 per cent of supporters against restarting.
City trail Liverpool by 25 points and their opposition perhaps reflects the feeling among their fans that their two-year reign as champions will soon be over once the season resumes.
Sixty-three per cent of Chelsea fans, 61 per cent of Tottenham and 60 per cent of Manchester United were also against football’s return.
More than three-quarters of Everton fans opposed coming back, with
76 per cent saying they were against the Premier
What should happen if the season is curtailed?
Why do you want football back?
Which fans are most opposed to football returning?
League’s Project Restart. This opposition extends to the clubs at the bottom of the Premier League fighting relegation, with 65 per cent of West Ham fans and 61 per cent of Aston Villa supporters saying they do not want to see football come back this season.
Leeds fans were second to Liverpool in their enthusiasm for football to restart, with Marcelo Bielsa’s Championship leaders well-placed to end the club’s 16-year Premier League exile and 76 per cent of their supporters are in favour.
Reach titles are seen by more than 22million fans every month and the survey offers a
When should football return?
1.Nullandvoid .................................. 38%
2. Decide final placing on points per game . . . . . . 36%
3. Base final positions on standings as they are. . 26%
1.June ......................................... 27% 2.July .......................................... 14% 3.August ........................................ 13% 4.September ................................... 19% 5.Laterthanseptember ........................ 26% 6.Didn’trespond ................................. 1%
fascinating snapshot of the football public’s mood ahead of the game’s resumption on June 17.
Nearly three-quarters of fans are in favour of relegation and 95 per cent of Leeds supporters are adamant the bottom three teams should go down from the Premier League.
Unsurprisingly, 58 per cent of Villa fans, whose side are second from bottom in the table, and 53 per cent of West Ham supporters, whose side are fifth from bottom, do not think there should be any relegation this season.
Null and void came out top with 38 per cent as the best option if the season cannot be finished, with points-per-game on 36 per cent.
Matches will be played behind closed doors for the foreseeable future and 65 per cent of fans say they would be happy to return to stadiums when they are told it is safe to do so.
Are you in favour of neutral venues?
1.No ............................................ 56% 2.Yes ........................................... 28% 3.Don’tcare .................................... 16%