Life has changed around the world for the last few months and someone needs to hit the reset button on 2020.
A virus, 125 nm in diameter, has placed most of the world on lockdown. It has affected people physically, mentally and financially already, and there are no real signs of it being a ‘problem of the past’ any time soon. As a result, we have all done our best to adjust to a fairly new and digital way of living. Screen-time is at an all-time high as we make full use of FaceTime, Zoom and online resources to work and study from home.
We miss our family and friends, the pubs, our favourite restaurants, but most important of all – we miss FOOTBALL.
I know I don’t just speak for myself when I say that football is a huge part of my life and it feels like there is a football-shaped gap in my life at the moment. Consider how much of your life may revolve around a weekend of football. Going to the pub to catch the 5:30 kick-off, placing your bets, going to the games, seeing your mates. It’s not just a hobby for 90 minutes of a day, it’s a constant in our lives. To have that suddenly taken away for a long time can be difficult.
No matter what I have going on, whether it’s university assignments with deadlines creeping up on me and causing significant stress or other personal matters, I know there will be a game coming up to allow me to escape reality for 90 minutes and have a well-deserved break. I have realised how much this has helped me get through things now more than ever. (I hate to say it, but I’ve even missed VAR a little).
I’m not saying there aren’t much bigger things than football going on right now, of course there are, but only people who have truly been through the challenging times and used football as a support will know how much it would mean for it to return when it is safe enough to do so. Football has this magnificent ability to take away your troubles and allow you to get lost in the game, no matter what else you have had eating away at you.
No-one has or will ever say that football, or any sport, should be played when there are significant health risks but there will come a time where the UK lockdown comes to an end, hopefully when there are rarely any new cases emerging, and the return of Premier League football in any capacity should be welcomed.
Last weekend we saw the return of the Bundesliga in Germany, where lockdown restrictions have been eased but social distancing remains in place, and I thought it was great to just be able to watch something other than highlights, as much as I’ve enjoyed watching that Barcelona game. As a football fan, I’m sure many would agree that we would take absolutely any form of football on TV right now, even if it means hearing every word they say and hearing the sound of the ball being kicked around on the pitch.
It is true what they say though, ‘football without fans is nothing’.
But it’s still more than fans without football.
Some expressed their loss of interest in the games due to the lack of crowd noise – that must be something the Premier League take into consideration as games are most likely to be resumed behind closed doors. Suggestions of playing crowd cheers and songs through stadium speakers seems a reasonable alternative. Others simply struggled to take interest in the German league and let’s be honest, nothing rivals the Premier League, but I think the return of other European leagues can set an example to the FA of the pros and cons involved in bringing back the beautiful game (hint: there are far more pros).
If you are a Liverpool fan anticipating the FA finding a reasonable solution to initiate ‘Project Restart’, you will be accused of bias, just wanting whatever is best for Liverpool to end the 30-year wait for a league title. There is no denying that this year was meant to be “our year”. Coming off the back of Liverpool’s sixth European Cup, then becoming Super Cup champions, to eventually conquering the world thanks to Bobby Firmino, the Reds were destined for success this season to prove that hard work really does pay off.
It’s not over yet. With nine games remaining in the Premier League, the Reds are just two wins from mathematically securing their nineteenth league title. Nobody on this planet can refute the sheer domination by Liverpool this season, they have put on some extraordinary performances to amplify their lead at the top of the league to a title-worthy 25 points.
My personal opinion on restarting the league is ‘just do it’ (hello soon-to-be sponsors, Nike 👋🏽).
It shouldn’t make much of a difference how long the FA and Premier League choose to wait before continuing with the end of the 2019/20 season, it seems far more logical to complete the unfinished season before starting the next season from scratch. This would eliminate many disputes which have substantial financial repercussions on clubs including broadcast rights, relegation and promotion, Champions League and Europa League spots, as well as complicated contract issues.
The ultimate decision will have an impact on so many aspects involved in a football league – it is not one to be made in haste.
As players returned to training earlier this week following testing, it seems more and more likely that games will return behind closed doors to end the season.
Sorry, null and voiders.
If all goes well, and players and staff are able to adhere to social distancing and quarantine guidelines that the Premier League will inevitably put in place, we should soon be able to celebrate the newly crowned league champions and life without football will be a thing of the past. Only time will tell…
In the meantime, please stay home where possible and stay safe! ❤️
roopavyas 
I was so lost without sports at this time! However, not only are they fully returned now, but I think it won’t be long before fans will be back in the stadiums. I can’t wait!
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