Coyle: India bio-bubble is way forward
ENGLISH football could learn a thing or two from India, as fixtures here continue to drop like Tory support in a swing seat.
And the man to give us the lowdown on how well India is doing is former Wigan and Bolton boss Owen Coyle, who has been managing there, first with Chennaiyin and now at Jamshedpur.
The Indian Super League has reported zero Covid cases since it resumed in November 2020, with the second season well under way from its base in Goa.
Admittedly, games are behind closed doors but the sacrifice of both the players and the staff in the hotels over the past year has meant 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 cannot set foot on comes with its frustrations, he has nothing but praise for the way the crisis has been handled in a country which has suffered more than most.
He is also surprised that the richest league in world football has been so hard hit, with the Premier
League recording 103 positive cases between December 20-26.
“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 game’s authorities.
In contrast, the ISL’S biosecure bubble required every player to be fully vaccinated before returning to Goa in October.
So far the league has enjoyed an uninterrupted start, while the Premier League has suffered a series of postponements since the upsurge in cases following the discovery of the Omicron variant.
“Imposing that kind of bubble would have its challenges,” added Coyle (left, posing for a selfie with a fan). “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 preseason. That’s a long, long time.”