Raheem Sterling and Danny Rose Raise Legitimate Concerns over Project Restart

Raheem Sterling & Danny Rose raise legitimate concerns about player welfare & Project Restart.

Their issues is best highlighted on conditions to be played and how the testing and possible spreading to family members if not sequestered at hotels.

Rose, for his part said

“Football shouldn’t even be spoken about until the numbers have dropped massively” and he is right... to an extent.

Sterling, similarly said,

“From the moment we got told we were off I knew this was very serious. I’ve had friends whose grandma’s passed away, I’ve had family members as well that have passed away. You’ve got to be wise and take care of yourself and those around you.

“The moment we do go back it just needs to be a moment where it’s not just for footballing reasons, it’s safe for not just us footballers but the whole medical staff, referees.

“I don’t know how that’s going to work, but I feel like once that side of the people’s safety and the player’s safety is secured and their wellbeing is looked after then that’s the right time to go back in.

“Until then, I’m...how can I say...not scared but reserved and thinking what the worst outcome could be. At the same time I’m looking forward to it and I really want to get back but hopefully it will all be well when we do get back.”

All this follows comments from Sergio Aguero among other notable footballers expressing safety concerns over restarting. The reception on social media has been not so kind.

The players of course have their right to voice their concern and I agree with them.

The players are people first and foremost and deserve to return safely to work as the rest of us. How they differentiate from the rest of us is they are entertainment.

Still, it seems the Premier League is letting its greed get the best of it. The cases in England have been higher than elsewhere in Europe and getting the TV money seems to be the only deal of importance for the league.

That is clearly shown in the ideas of sequestering players in hotels for months on end, neutral grounds, no fans and more risk for the players who, believe it or not, have family.

We’ll have to wait and see how the league takes these players concerns. One could guess they will just push straight through.