Bio-secure bubbles, every player vaccinated and ZERO Covid cases... how Indian league is virus-free

WHILE fixtures in the Premier League and EFL continue to drop at an alarming rate, English football could learn a lesson or two from India.

And the man to give us the lowdown on how well they are doing is Owen Coyle, the former Wigan and Bolton boss who has been over there managing, first with Chennaiyin and now at Jamshedspur.

The Indian Super League has reported ZERO Covid cases since it resumed in November 2020, with the second season now well under way from its base in Goa.

Admittedly, the games for India’s flagship football tournament are being played behind closed doors.

But the sacrifice of both the players and the staff in the hotels that have been a home-from-home for countless British players and managers over the past year has meant that not a single ISL match has been postponed.

Coyle has been there throughout. And, although staring at a pristine beach from your hotel room that you know you can’t set foot on comes with its frustrations, he has nothing but praise for the way the Covid crisis has been handled in a country which has suffered more than most during the pandemic.

He’s also surprised that the richest league in world football has been so hard-hit, with the Premier League recording 103 positive cases between December 20 and December 26.

“We’re probably playing in the most bio-secure bubble in any league in any sport anywhere in the world,” said Coyle.

“The I-League, which is the league below the ISL and is supposed to be in a bio-bubble in Kolkata, started on December 22. “They played one game before there were 10 cases announced this week. That’s now been postponed for a couple of weeks.

“I think that gives you an idea of just what a great job they’ve done with this league because we’ve had no cases since November 2020.

“You’re tested every day with both PCR and lateral flow tests.

“God willing we’re getting the football played although without any crowds inside the stadiums.

“I am surprised that there have been so many cases in the Premier League. But I’m also surprised to hear that the vaccine take-up is comparatively low as well, which obviously creates problems.”

The relatively low vaccine uptake across English football is an ongoing concern for the football authorities.

In contrast, the ISL’s bio-secure bubble required every player to be fully vaccinated before returning to Goa back in October.

So far the league has enjoyed an uninterrupted start to the season, while the Premier League has suffered a slew of postponements since the Omicron surge towards the end of the year.

“Imposing the kind of bubble we’re in here would have its challenges,” said Coyle.

“It’s not easy but it is what it is. “The league will finish in March so players, managers and support staff are in the bubble for five months for the season itself and for eight weeks for pre-season.

‘You’re tested every day with both PCR and lateral flow tests’