In that weird way that a news item leads onto different things, I have been listening to talk about the viral nature of the Corona Virus and thinking about the overwhelming number of players that rinse their mouths out and let it run onto the pitch or share water bottles, and the wholesale spitting onto the pitch. Whilst top players are probably (hopefully) being closely monitored to ensure they are free of flu, the same cannot be said for players in lower leagues who emulate their heroes, spit for spit! Apparently the virus can survive outside a host for up to a day, so even on a cold pitch or a plastic bottle other players would be at risk all match. Is it time for top players to set an example? Is it perhaps time for the FA to enforce a spitting ban? Should players have their own, dedicated, bottle? What do you think?
Last Edit: Feb 14, 2020 13:14:54 GMT by kingfisher
Post by northwesthoop on Feb 14, 2020 14:12:55 GMT
It is a foul habit and I've never, every understood why players feel the need to do it. It should be banned, but it is incredibly hard to police. Would the authorities have to go through the video tape like VAR and ban offenders? I can't see how else a referee could keep on top of it during a match.
Players having their own water bottles would be easy to implement though.
3 x Sampdoria league games cancelled today because of the COV-19 virus. Now that we have outbreaks in Italy, Japan, Korea and Iran it is going to be a major threat to gatherings such as football games....