Clubs told to avoid celebrations... did you miss the warning, City?
PREMIER League players have received their starkest warnings yet over the importance of avoiding group celebrations, only for many of them to appear to completely ignore the guidance last night.
Almost the entire Manchester City team crowded around Phil Foden after his winner in their 1-0 victory over Brighton.
Their actions came after Premier League chief executive Richard Masters wrote to clubs, reiterating the importance of adhering to new, stricter coronavirus protocols if the league is going to avoid another shutdown, saying ‘the eyes of the world are on us’. Players have been told to avoid hugging, handshakes and swapping shirts as the coronavirus protocols are strengthened in the wake of several outbreaks at clubs and postponed matches.
The letter says ‘handshakes, high fives and hugs must be avoided’, adding the league was ‘fortunate to be able to continue to play and bring our competition to fans’.
Sports minister Nigel Huddleston threw his support behind Masters’ warning.
‘Everyone has had to change the way they interact with people and ways of working,’ he tweeted. ‘Footballers are no exception.
Covid secure guidelines exist for football. Footballers must follow them and authorities enforce them.’
Asked yesterday whether players should avoid hugging and kissing each other when they score a goal, England’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said: ‘Every close human contact that is avoidable should be avoided because one in three of us will get the infection and have no symptoms at all. So on the football point, on the sporting point, I do agree with you.’