Premier League coaches namely Jurgen Klopp, Frank Lampard, and Jose Mourinho are not completely excited about the proposed reopening of stadiums for fans after December 2.
Recall that the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, recently announced that stadiums in the country will be grouped into three tiers. Stadiums that fall under tier one and two will be allowed to host maximum spectators of 4000 and 2000 respectively when the ongoing coronavirus restriction in the country is lifted on December 2.
Those stadiums categorized under tier three will not be permitted to host spectators as they will be mandated to play behind closed doors until further notice.
Though this proposed system which will lead to the reopening of stadiums for spectators, has been applauded by a couple of football stakeholders because of the financial implication of having some fans at match venues, many think that the proposed system will lead to unfair competition.
This argument is based on the fact that those clubs that play in stadiums that will be categorized as tier one and two, will have the advantage of having fans to cheer them when playing a home game but those that their stadiums will fall under tier three will not have such an opportunity.
COVID WINTER PLAN
— Oliver Dowden (@OliverDowden) November 23, 2020
Sports fans back in stadia from 2nd Dec
4️⃣K or 50% of capacity in Tier 1
2️⃣K or 50% of capacity in Tier 2
A big step forward for fans as we work towards fuller capacities
Thanks to pilot hosts & fans for showing this can be done safely@HuddlestonNigel pic.twitter.com/YKJnc7JAx0
In his reaction to the proposed reopening of stadiums, the manager of Liverpool football club, Jurgen Klopp, says he does not understand the proposed system and argued that those who came up with the system didn’t think it through.
“I don’t understand why you can put 2,000 people in a stadium with 60,000 [capacity], and 2,000 people in a stadium when 9,000 people would fit in,” Klopp said. “I don’t understand it.
“I don’t think it’s unfair, it’s just the situation,” he added. “It’s the world at the moment and we cannot change these kinds of things.”
While Chelsea manager Frank Lampard feared that the system might not encourage a level playing field since fans will not be allowed in all the stadiums. He however added that the decision to allow some stadiums to host football fans is a positive step.
“If it feels safe and we can start somewhere I think that’s the most important thing,” he said.
On the other, the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, Jose Mourinho, argued that the new system has nothing to do with financial benefits but emotional benefits for football fans who have been craving for the opportunity to cheer their favorite teams from the stands.
“Looking at the economical perspective it is not good news for any club, but for the passion of the fans, to be able to open the door to some of them, for the happiness of every player, not just those playing at home,” Mourinho said.
“The best of all is that it is probably the start of it and progressively we can go [towards a] situation closer to what we wanted.”
