{"id":550737,"date":"2020-05-01T13:15:28","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T17:15:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=550737"},"modified":"2021-12-29T19:52:44","modified_gmt":"2021-12-30T00:52:44","slug":"coronavirus-whatsapp-message-leaked-no-football-fans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/05\/01\/coronavirus-whatsapp-message-leaked-no-football-fans\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus: Leaked WhatsApp Message Suggests Fans Unlikely to Return Until Next Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

A WhatsApp message leaked from an EFL meeting suggests football fans may not return until the New Year due to coronavirus<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Coronavirus: Leaked WhatsApp Message Suggests Fans Unlikely to Return Until Next Year<\/h2>\n

Behind Closed Doors Until New Year<\/h3>\n

Various methods for completing the season have been speculated; the EFL are yet to confirm the outcome of the campaign.<\/p>\n

And football fans may have to wait until January 2021 before being allowed back into stadiums.<\/p>\n

The news comes after a voice message believed to be from Alex Rodman<\/a> was heard by Last Word On Football.<\/p>\n

In the leaked WhatsApp message, the Bristol Rovers<\/a> representative says the EFL would require 66,000 coronavirus tests if they wanted to resume playing anytime soon.<\/p>\n

Rodman is one of several player representatives working alongside the EFL, the PFA and club owners during the crisis.<\/p>\n

Speaking in the message, Rodman asks his team-mates to “vote” about severance pay in their contracts before discussing other topics.<\/p>\n

He says: “The chief executive of the EFL said it would be very optimistic to even be playing games in June, so he doesn\u2019t really think we\u2019ll be playing games then.<\/p>\n

\u201cGary Neville and one of the other club owners doesn\u2019t even think we\u2019ll be playing anywhere near then.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe definitely won\u2019t be playing any games with fans \u2013 that\u2019s come from the EFL \u2013 this year, they don\u2019t think. We\u2019ll be looking at January 2021 unless a cure pops up.”<\/p>\n

EFL Require 66,000 Tests Before Restarting Football<\/h3>\n

He adds that requesting thousands of tests would cause a publicity backlash; key workers are struggling to be tested in the current climate.<\/p>\n

Rodman says: “Given the NHS are struggling for tests and general people are struggling up to now for tests, from a PR point of view I don\u2019t think any of the football bosses could sell footballers needing to finish a season with that many tests.<\/p>\n

“Unless that changes drastically, they\u2019re talking about us not getting the season finished and the season being decided on sporting merit.<\/p>\n

“So three promotions from every league. The Premiership would have another three clubs and it would filter down the pyramid. No relegations, and that would obviously have to be absorbed the season after so there\u2019d be more relegations etc etc.”<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>