- Title: England soccer fans react to Premier League suspension
- Date: 13th March 2020
- Summary: LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND, UK (MARCH 13, 2020) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF LIVERPOOL STORE / EXTERIOR OF ANFIELD STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN LIVERPOOL FAN BILL THOMPSON, SAYING: "I guess I don't know the whole situation on the coronavirus. Up to now, I've been thinking everybody's overreacting. Wash your hands and stay home if you don't feel good. In America, we've got 5,000 people dying of gun violence every day or every week, here it's 4,000 people in the world. Are we overreacting? On the other hand, I guess I can see people saying 'better safe than sorry'.†(Q: "Do you think the coronavirus can stop Liverpool winning the Premier League title?") "It sounds like the kind of thing that would happen to Liverpool. Every year (we say) 'this is the year'. This is the year! And now this! What are they gonna do? 'Well, you're going to get the title because you were close'. No, they're going to say 'No title that year!'. We'll find out. Time will tell won't it." (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL FAN MATT, SAYING: "They've got to do it haven't they. There are people's lives at risk and things. It's a sensible decision, it's just 30 years we've been waiting for this and let's hope they make the sensible decision that 25 points ahead we've won it." (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL FANS CRAIG, JOHN, GRANT AND STEVE (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT), SAYING: (Steve) "It's not going to be just 2 weeks, it's going to be at least 4 because there'll be outbreak after outbreak with this virus going on. So it's not just going to be two weeks, it's going to be at least a month, which then the league is going to run into June. You can't play the Euros straight after the league season, you've got to give the lads a rest for their own health as well. So if they postpone (the Euros) until next year, I think that's the only way of doing it at the moment. Run the season on until June, maybe July, give them a rest and then start next year." (SOUNDBITE) (English) LIVERPOOL SEASON TICKET HOLDER PAULINE, SAYING: "As a season ticket holder, I'm absolutely fuming over it. I am actually better placed really that it's been postponed rather than being played behind closed doors, 'cause that is ridiculous. You can't have footy without the fans, that's the real thing that bugs me. Suspending it (I don't know), but what's going to happen then? I just think there's dark forces around because of Liverpool title win! I know that's ridiculous but that's the way I sometimes think about it. But the whole thing just drives me insane in that I feel like I'm in some sort of Hollywood apocalyptic film, expecting to see dead bodies everywhere and I just think it's scaremongering by the media. I just think that if people just follow basic hygiene, none of this would've happened, and it pees me off completely that football gets involved again." MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK (MARCH 13, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY FAN TONY, SAYING: "I think it's the correct thing to do. You've got to take people's health into it, that's the important thing - people's health. That's the way I look at it, and they've made the right decision." (Q: "So what should happen now with the football season?") "I think they should just postpone it for a few months, at least four weeks, 'cause if after the two weeks or whatever we postpone, the players need to be training again don't they. So at least a month, maybe six weeks and then start the season again. If the season runs into the summer, then so be it." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER CITY FAN TONY, SAYING: "I wouldn't want it to fizzle out. There's just too much at stake and you can't finish the season part way through, it would be wrong. We need Liverpool to actually be crowned champions, they deserve it, even though I'm a Manchester City fan." (SOUNDBITE) (English) MANCHESTER UNITED FAN JAMES, SAYING: "Obviously from a football perspective gutted, but I think for anyone (human) life is a priority and that needs to be done in terms of making sure that everyone is safe, everyone is feeling well. So it's just one of them, has to be done." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOCCER FAN, ADEL, SAYING: "I think it's the right decision to make, most sporting events have been cancelled, the grand prix's been shut off, so I think it's the right way to go. I think it's pointless playing football with no spectators 'cause the game's ultimately about spectators and playing football in an empty stadium, you're still putting lives at risk, so I think it's a great move that they decided to do." (SOUNDBITE) (English) NORA SMITH, 74, SAYING: "No, I don't think so. I'd rather them not suspend it. Get on with it, that's what I say, get on with it. Unless you get somebody who's actually in a bad way."
- Embargoed: 27th March 2020 17:57
- Keywords: COVID-19 Coronavirus Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Premier League
- Location: LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK
- City: LIVERPOOL AND MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, UK
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001C4W0M6F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Fans of English soccer largely welcomed news that the Premier League is suspending the season amid the coronavirus outbreak until April 4 at the earliest.
Fans in Liverpool and Manchester voiced understanding of the Premier League's move to halt play while fans of the league leaders also voiced their anxiety over what will happen to the current season - a potentially record-breaking season that seems to have all but sealed their first league title for 30 years.
Fans appeared fairly united in their preference for public health to come before sporting spectacle and many said they preferred a league suspension rather than a continuation of the season behind closed doors.
UEFA also announced that all next week's Champions League and Europa League games had been postponed.
(Production: Mussab Al-Khairalla) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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