A lot of Crystal Palace fans are struggling to understand why the Premier League have banned handshakes between players, mascots and officials this weekend due to COVID-19 (Premier League).
The fans have gone to twitter to discuss the ban, with some emphasising all the physical contact that goes on in a football match whilst a few others have been mockingly asking if that will be banned too.
The virus has affected sport globally since the cases increased rapidly in Europe, most notably in Italy where the Government have ordered for all sporting events to be played behind closed doors until April 3rd (Sky News). They had previously postponed around 32 games in the Serie A and Coppa Italia, but these events will now be played behind closed doors in the near future.
Clubs in the Premier League, Southampton and Newcastle, have announced that they have taken precautions within their clubs in order to prevent the virus from spreading (BBC Sport).
Here are what Palace fans have been saying on the ban:
Stood in the wall? Physical contact
Jostling in the box at a corner? Physical contact
Challenging for a header? Physical contact https://t.co/TtUGnz6YtM
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) March 5, 2020
Do they change the ball whever there’s a handball now? Or rub it over with sanitizer
— Christian (@ChristianEagle0) March 5, 2020
Just wait for the players to start fake coughing at opposite players trying to mark them
— Jess Booker (@bookerjm82) March 5, 2020
In time if covid-19 cases keep on increasing, they will have to follow in Serie A’s footsteps and play in empty stadiums and eventually postpone matches.
— Vaibhav Gupta (@Vaibhav_MU) March 5, 2020
Its ok. As well as no handshakes the goals, balls, corner flags and the first 10 rows will all get sprayed in anti bac! This is ridiculous.
— Cathy (@KITTYKAT99) March 5, 2020
And what about those goal celebrations, hugging, kissing, laying on top of goal scorer….
— soulboy (@soulboy2013) March 6, 2020
Crystal Palace fans, what do you think of the Premier League’s new ruling? Comment below!
