This meant that some kind of “social distancing” would be applied, along with protocols on coughing and sneezing, for instance, which people, regardless of their standing in the community or sporting world, would observe and comply with.
I was glad that the Football Association in England came out very quickly to throw cold water on this idea. Heaven knows that match officials have enough to do without this extra burden. The understanding was that, for games to proceed behind closed doors, the players would play by the new government guidelines.
And, while I’m on a rant, how is it that some players are allowed to tackle and push each other, particularly in the penalty area, when a free kick or corner kick is about to be taken, while substitutes on the bench are all observing the 2m rule?I did notice one player in a recent Premier League game putting out his hands asking his team-mates not to approach him after he had scored a goal. It lasted all of five seconds before he was swamped by his team-mates.