Not a level playing field... what’s new?
A handful of fans at Carlisle in September – some clubs will soon be allowed small numbers again
WE ALL know only too well that coronavirus recognises no borders. There is also little evidence it cares about celebrating Christmas.
So it is hardly a surprise its sheer nastiness has also helped to damage the sporting integrity of our leagues.
From finishing Leagues One and Two early last season, to allowing five substitutes, to the fact some clubs will now we able to play in front of small crowds and some will not, Covid-19 simply isn’t fair.
Proof the virus knows nothing about the tier system came with the news that not a single English league club will be able to take advantage of the 4,000 capacity fig leaf given by the government to clubs in a tier one area.
But when fans are first allowed back in next Wednesday there will still be a two-tier system. EFL chairman Rick Parry had indicated clubs may move Tuesday games back 24 hours to take advantage of the new rules but of the scheduled Wednesday hosts in the Championship, only Luton and Wycombe can welcome fans while Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday cannot.
In League One, Charlton and Shrewsbury can, while Bristol Rovers and Hull cannot. In League Two, Cambridge and Carlisle can, Walsall can’t.
It is an inequality sure to be picked on by those clubs – particularly with the number of home wins having gone down and away wins up across all three EFL divisions this season compared to last, with matches behind closed doors.
But will 2,000 socially distanced fans wearing masks really swing the difference back towards the home team?
At a club like Bournemouth with a compact ground they might. The 2,000 MK Dons fans who will be allowed to rattle around Stadium MK less so.
But football often isn’t fair and we might have to accept this season it will be even less fair than usual. The fact some fans will be able to see their team in the flesh again is the first step to better days ahead.