Rochdale's club doctor calls for football to be STOPPED

‘It’s not the wisest thing for the season to continue’: Rochdale’s club doctor calls for football to be STOPPED with NINE games postponed due to Covid outbreaks tonight after Man City match was cancelled last night

  • Dr Wesley Tensel has spoken out about the pressures facing the Football League
  • Rochdale have been forced to postpone their next two games due to coronavirus
  • Tensel has said serious thought must be given as to why football is continuing 

Serious thought must be given to the idea of postponing the football season in England due to the current pandemic, one club doctor has said.

Manchester City were forced to call off their match against Everton at short notice on Monday evening, with the new strain of the coronavirus discovered in London and the South East of the country causing real concern and causing the number of cases to spike. 

Further down the league, there are nine fixtures postponed this evening due to the crisis, including seven in League One – including Rochdale’s clash with Crewe.

Rochdale have also been forced to postpone their next fixture against MK Dons, and team doctor Wesley Tensel believes serious consideration must be given to stopping the current campaign. 

Dr Wesley Tensel has questioned the wisdom of continuing the current football season

Dr Wesley Tensel has questioned the wisdom of continuing the current football season

Rochdale have been forced to postpone their next two matches in League Two due to the virus

Rochdale have been forced to postpone their next two matches in League Two due to the virus

 ‘These players are put under pressure to come out and perform when deep down they may have serious concerns – they’ve got young kids, they’ve got elderly family members,’ he told BBC Radio Five Live breakfast.

‘At the end of the day these players are human like everyone else and it sometimes begs the question, should the season still be going on?’

Testing at EFL clubs has not been as persistent due to financial restrictions, but clubs like Rochdale are doing all they can to ensure their players’ safety.

EFL MATCHES CALLED OFF DUE TO COVID 

December 29

CHAMPIONSHIP

Millwall v Watford 

LEAGUE ONE

Peterborough v Charlton

Accrington Stanley v Sunderland

Bristol Rovers v Portsmouth

Fleetwood v Doncaster Rovers

Hull City v Lincoln

Rochdale v Crewe 

AFC Wimbledon v Ipswich Town

LEAGUE TWO

Bolton v Morecambe  

However, as Tensel points out, it is almost impossible for the club to ensure there is no exposure to the virus for any staff or squad member.

‘It’s a very challenging time. It’s no different in the football situation. The virus is increasing sharply and it’s affecting everyone,’ he added.

‘The players are in a bubble, but obviously they have to go home. It’s not a proper bubble where they are together all the time. They’ll go home, they’ll have partners, some who work in the NHS or wherever who can potentially pass the virus on to them – especially this new strain which is more transmissible.

‘What we have to do is try and make it as Covid secure as possible and control the factors we can control. But inevitably there will be cases that occur away from the club and that will be brought back in, which appears to be happening up and down the leagues at the moment.’

Bolton's clash against Morecambe has been postponed in League Two on Tuesday evening

Bolton’s clash against Morecambe has been postponed in League Two on Tuesday evening

source: dailymail.co.uk