Secret Footballer

The Secret Footballer gives thoughts on the slow return to football in Germany and South Africa.

Initially my perception was that all the Leagues were halted because the associations had to understand the coronavirus situation better before resuming. They had to know very well all the dynamics around it, the risks and the precautionary measures that are required before continuing.

It was more about, in general, trying to understand what is the virus about, how can it be avoided and all these unknown issues around it.

In Germany they got to the point where they felt they understood it and came to a decision based on the findings and the confidence that they would be able prevent spreading it from one participant to another.

Based on the confidence they have, they have decided that their league would resume. They will be taking very strong precautionary measures to ensure that they don’t put people at risk. Personally, I don’t see a problem with that decision because we understand the virus better now and how it is transmitted, and we know what to do try to prevent it from spreading.

Football, being a contact sport, they will use certain tools to prevent ways that might put people at risk.

In France, the league has been ended, and in other countries if that same decision was taken, I don’t think clubs would have a choice. Obviously, some clubs would have grievances about it.

At the end of the day, whatever decision is taken by the executive, teams would have to adhere to that. They wouldn’t have a choice. But it’s tough because you can’t declare champions and relegated teams at this point because in some countries, they still have seven or eight matches remaining.

A lot of could happen at the top, bottom, or the middle of the league. It makes it a very tricky situation.

If you are Kaizer Chiefs and declared league champions before the season is completed, would you feel full worthy of that crown? I don’t think so. You wouldn’t be satisfied.

As far as supporters are concerned, either way this will have a negative impact on the revenue or just the league in general for matches to be played behind closed doors.

For example, in Germany, their league is one of the top five in the world in terms of excitement and support from fans.

And their standard and marketing is of high level and those are things that will be affected. TV will be problem even though matches will be broadcasted.

Do they want to sell the product in a way that brings full value to people? I don’t think sponsors will get their full value when matches are played behind closed doors. They bought into a product with certain specifications and fans, and that vibe is also part of the game and what the product is about. It will affect them a lot because playing behind closed doors is very tricky.

A lot of teams rely heavily on their supporters in terms of how they perform on the day. When you play against them in their own back yard you would feel that you are playing away, and the opponents would be motivated, and the energy level will be high.

So now when matches are played behind closed doors, those factors are taken from the game and it weakens the teams. Imagine Borussia Dortmund without their fans at their stadium? Now it’s just going to be player versus player. It will come down strictly to that.

In South Africa, playing the remaining matches without supporters might not be a

“I DON’T THINK SPONSORS WILL GET THEIR FULL VALUE WHEN MATCHES ARE PLAYED BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.”

bad decision. But we need to be ready and understand what measures we are going to take in order to ensure that there is not even a slight chance of the virus transmission during matches. If they can be 100 percent sure of that, then it’s fine because you can’t take chances with something like this.

If that can be done, then I will support going back and playing behind closed doors. As for players, this is an abnormal season and players know that. It will take them at least two weeks before they are ready to play but it will have an impact on the fitness level and mentally.

It will take very strong personalities to cope under these circumstances.