Why the Premier League shouldn’t return to closed stadiums with fans locked out

Everyone is in the same boat, yet some are paddling with their hands, while others are gripping two oars with an iron grip. You might be confused for thinking that we’re talking of the Ironborn from Game of Thrones instead of the various football authorities around Europe. But after the spread of COVID-19 reached pandemic proportions and football – along with virtually every other sport – was closed down, some competitions took the news better than others.

Is it better to look good on sitting the shore, or throw yourself into the water and start swimming? The Premier League has been accused of the latter when it comes to pushing for an end to the hiatus. With football officially on lockdown until “at least” April 30th, there are myriad tournaments that are either in hiatus or won’t take place for downwards of a year.

Euro 2020 has become Euro 2021. The Nations League may not even take place at all. The F.A. Cup, Champions League and Europa League may be reduced to smaller, single-attendance tournaments to bring them back in line with a timeframe that looks tight even if football were to return in May, which currently seems unlikely at the very least.

The Premier League, however, are still pushing for the season to be completed.