FANTASTIC FANS
ROBERT J WILSON SAYS RECENT EVENTS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED JUST HOW IMPORTANT SUPPORTERS REALLY ARE
The impact they have
THE swift spread of the coronavirus has had a terrible effect on our world. The lethal impact of the highly contagious virus has, sadly, resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide.
Taking that into account, football isn’t important. Of course, we all missed it and couldn’t wait for its return but the safety and health of supporters and anyone connected with the game was absolutely paramount.
Precaution has been imperative because people are dying and those measures have, of course, applied to football.
Aside from testing, high levels of hygiene and social distancing, one of the main consequences for football has been that matches have had to be played behind closed doors.
And if there is one thing that’s taught us, it’s that football as a spectacle is nothing without the fans.
Bill Shankly, the legendary Liverpool manager, once famously claimed, half in jest, ‘that football is more important than life and death’.
Of course, football isn’t more important than life itself, but supporters have a massive passion for the sport and some treat it like a religious experience. To many, football is all they have.
One thing is for sure, football is redundant without fans inside a stadium. This terrible situation has proved it.
Yes, television plays its part. There are more armchair supporters around the globe than genuine die-hards and television has made our football more accessible than ever.
It has helped transform the sport and the game and take its brand to an extraordinary level – but the television companies still need fans inside the stadia.
That is why Sky continue to press home to the Premier League that ticket prices have to remain as realistic as possible - to encourage those die-hards to travel and generate an atmosphere to accompany their coverage.
Television is important in reaching the masses - but it is those incredibly loyal supporters who make football the wonderful spectacle it is.
I don’t know about you but I don’t think there is any worse sight in football than a match being played without the backdrop of supporters there. It becomes almost soulless. Remember that playing behind closed doors is usually seen as a punishment by UEFA. It is one of the strongest sanctions imposed on a club when their staff or supporters have misbehaved.
The decision to play without fans seen as a severe punishment because are no home fans to inspire their team,
What is happening in the world right now, quite rightly, puts football into real perspective - but it also goes to show how much we take the loyalty and spectacle we all love for granted.
That is what makes it the most popular and entertaining sport in the world and why we miss it terribly when it’s put on hold.
The sooner the fans can return, the better.