It was the right time to call a halt

EVERYONE knew that football was going to come to a halt at some stage due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was more a case of when.

It looked as though this weekend’s fixtures would squeeze through following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s words on Thursday that mass-gatherings would not yet be curtailed.

However, the fact Arsenal manager

Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi both fell victim to the virus shortly after quickly turned the tide and more and more cases soon followed.

At that stage it was inevitable that elite level football wouldn’t continue and then came the news of the stoppage until April 3 at the earliest.

Clearly, it is the right call. While football is something everyone enjoys, the health of loved ones is more important and it is understandable that football will take a back seat for now.

Of course, it is sad for everyone involved, especially as we are now at the business end of the season. You have to feel for players, managers, staff, boards and fans after all the effort that has gone into the campaign so far.

Let’s hope the season can be finished off because everyone deserves that opportunity. We also hope that lower league clubs will be able to survive if they don’t get that crucial gate money they usually receive.

As our columnist Graham Westley says, it would be fantastic, and fitting, if the game’s fat-cats helped out their lower league brethren.

At tough times, there are often positive stories that come to the fore, and that would be something that shows that the football family really does exist.

When will football return? To tell the truth, no one knows, but everything should be done to complete this campaign, even if it does mean extending the season.

It’s only right that issues are decided on the park and not in the law courts.