Stars could refuse to play

LIVERPOOL’S former doctor is confident the Premier League season can be finished behind closed doors – but warns that some players may be too anxious to take part.

Peter Brukner, who also worked with the Australian cricket team, was at Anfield between 2010 and 2012 and could never have imagined the scenario that is facing his former club.

And although he believes that thorough testing should ensure the players’ safety is assured if they return to action, he also wouldn’t be surprised if some thought that finishing the season wasn’t worth the risk.

“If they do resume the season then players are going to be tested very regularly,” he said. “For the season to finish, you’re probably going to be in some kind of hub with the team and the staff so they’re going to be pretty isolated.

“The risk of transmission on the field is pretty minimal.

“If you’re going to isolate a group then you’re pretty safe too, the only real worry is the people coming in and out of that group. “You’re going to be in more danger in a hotel than on the field as you can be pretty certain that the people you’re playing against will have been tested in the previous 24 or 48 hours.” The Australian, 67, added: “In that regard I think footballers will be okay but not all of them might accept that risk – and you can’t blame them.

“These guys are going to be away from their families, away from their support systems.

“That’s going to cause a huge amount of stress and there are different levels of anxiety around the virus situation.

“Sports people are no different to the rest of society and some will decide not to play.

“They can exercise that right because they’re concerned about their health and about their family’s health. They will be too anxious to play.

“That’s why it’s so important that everything that can be done to reassure the players, is done.”