BARBER: WE’RE NOT STOCKPILING TESTS

BRIGHTON chief executive Paul Barber (right) has reassured the public that football isn’t stockpiling coronavirus tests at a time when not even the NHS has enough to go round. Albion announced this week that a second player at the club has been diagnosed with the virus, and there have been a string of similar announcements from clubs at all levels over recent weeks. It suggests that football clubs have ready access to testing kits,

even at a time when the government has been criticised for not ordering enough to test those on the front line.

Barber, however, insists his own club has only a small number and wants to alleviate pressure on the NHS, not add to it.

He said: “We were able to buy a very very small quantity which is why we’ve used them sparingly.

“We want to protect the NHS and don’t want to burden them with elite footballers. And we don’t want to use NHS resources if we have someone sick and needs testing.”