‘With everyone stuck in their houses, you have got to be reflective of how everyone sees you’
Hawks boss has reminded players of their responsibilities after Premier League and EFL warned clubs against overdoing the celebrations ...
Hawks are continuing to do all they can to limit the spread of coronavirus while 'elite' football continues - and that includes keeping goal celebrations to a minimum.
Former Pompey administrator and current EFL chief executive, Trevor Birch, this week reinforced the message for clubs still playing to carry on adhering to Covid-19 protocols put in place.
At Premier League level, teams have also been told 'handshakes, high fives and hugs must be avoided'.
It's a similar message to what Hawks boss Paul Doswell will be relaying to his squad as they prepare to return to National League South action this weekend.
The club, who host Eastbourne Borough at Westleigh Park, were only back in training this week following a second 10-day coronavirus isolation period in a matter of weeks.
Hawks have been hit hard in the pandemic with a number of players and staff contracting Covid-19 in recent weeks. Kitman Richard Pope spent time in QA Hospital, after testing positive before Christmas, but is now recovering at home.
Hawks squad have been reminded about their responsibilities.
Doswell said: ‘We’ve had sit downs with Tim Mellor (Hawks vice-chairman), who is a doctor giving us advice, his wife (Lynn, also a doctor), Stuart Munro, who is the CEO, myself - we’ve addressed the players.
‘We’ve said it’s for their safety, the players’ safety.
‘There’s no food at the ground, we’re not eating at the ground anymore, we’re not using the showers in the next couple of weeks.
‘We’re just turning up and training.
‘We got absolutely soaked at training (on Thursday) as it was pouring down for an hour-and-a-half and we’re all going home drenched in the car, but that’s where we’re at.
‘Whilst emotively, of course, if you score in the last minute I’m sure someone might jump on someone.
‘With the rest of the country stuck in their houses, you’ve got to be a bit reflective about how everyone is seeing you.'
Hawks began the first round of what will now be weekly testing on Thursday with all staff and players returning a negative result.
But they will be without Sam Magri, Theo Widdrington, Godfrey Poku and Oxford United loanee Leon Chambers-Parrilon as all four remain unavailable having contracted Covid-19.
Doswell’s comments come after the chair of the key parliamentary sports committee branded players who continue to breach protocols by hugging and kissing after goals as ‘brainless’.
Manchester City and Fulham players crowded together after scoring in their respective matches on Wednesday, in spite of reminders from the Premier League to strictly observe protocols on the avoidance of unnecessary contact amid a worsening of the pandemic.
City boss Pep Guardiola defended his players, saying: ‘Sometimes the brain is a sub-conscious one and you are just there in the moment, you are not thinking.’
But Julian Knight, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, fumed: ‘Some of the scenes we have seen have been brainless and give out an awful message.’ Captains and managers attended a series of virtual meetings in the week to talk through the changes to the Covid-19 protocols, but it is understood these are not in reaction to the breaches witnessed over the last two nights of Premier League action.
Clubs are expected to investigate protocol breaches themselves, with the Premier League able to come over the top if it feels not enough has been done.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has written to the clubs outlining the changes to the protocols and the need to continue to
We’re all going home drenched in the car, but that’s where we’re at
Hawks boss Paul Doswell
double down on following the existing ones.
‘We are fortunate to be able to continue to play and bring our competition to fans at home and around the world, ‘ he remarked. ‘This brings justified additional scrutiny and the Premier League must take the lead in setting the right example to follow.
‘The FA has written to all clubs remaining in the FA Cup on similar terms, after disappointing and concerning scenes at some third round FA Cup matches.’
Birch, meanwhile, has warned EFL clubs they were ‘under the microscope’ as never before after professional sport was given Government go-ahead to continue despite many other areas of life being placed under heavy restrictions in the third national lockdown.
‘Throughout the pandemic, football has provided a glimmer of hope for many millions of people affected by restrictions but we all understand the scrutiny the game remains under and we will come under extreme governmental pressure if we continue to flout the rules,’ he said.
‘While football is permitted to continue the actions of all participants will be clearly under the microscope, whether this be in technical areas, dugouts, or in relation to general behaviour and interaction between players on the pitch and staff off it.’
Guardiola again went on the defensive yesterday, insisting footballers should not be held responsible for fuelling infections because of how they celebrate.
The Spaniard, whose mother died in April after contracting coronavirus, said everyone at the club is doing all they can to follow the protocols at a time when many areas of life are hugely restricted due to the latest national lockdown.
But he insisted the behaviour of footballers would not have any influence on the progression of the pandemic.
‘A lot of people are dying, unfortunately, every day and a lot of people are being infected,’ he said.
‘We are going to do our best to follow the new rules from the Government. The scientists, (they) inform us what we have to do – but please, the situation that is happening in the UK is not due to football players.’
While the protocols exist to prevent the spread of the virus among Premier League players and staff, much of the criticism has centred around the optics of the celebrations, and the example they set to society at large.
However, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp believes people are intelligent enough to understand that just because footballers, who are tested two or three times a week, hug each other after a goal is scored, it does not give them the licence to do the same.
‘People are smart enough to make the difference between people who are constantly tested and not tested,’ he said.
‘If we thought we threatened one or two of our teammates we would not do it, it would just not happen. This is the only safe place we have out there on the pitch, outside it is not as infectious. Inside, nothing like this happens.’
Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho said perhaps it was possible for a goalscorer to ‘express the emotion of the team by himself, alone’ but his fellow Portuguese, Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, was less confident.
‘We speak with the players saying (about the protocols) – but I don’t see it coming. It’s too emotional not to touch your team-mate when he scores a goal.
‘I don’t see it happening.’
This is the only safe place we have out on the pitch, outside it is not as infectious Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp