Chief football writer for The Times, Henry Winter, held a webinar for us to discuss the situation facing football during the Coronavirus pandemic. Here are the stories that we gathered from his discussion.
Covid-19: I’m proud of the way football has helped during lockdown, says leading sports writer.
by Ffion Wynne
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Football has a significant role to play for communities during the coronavirus pandemic in the UK, says The Times football writer Henry Winter.
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Throughout the crisis, there has been heavy debate amongst players, pundits, and the public about when or if professional football should continue. Manchester United’s pre-lockdown Europa League fixture against Lask was played behind closed doors, but since then all forms of the game have been postponed throughout the country.
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Although football in some countries has never stopped during the pandemic, the football world casts its eyes to Germany this Saturday as the Bundesliga is set to make its return. The games will be played behind closed doors, but some clubs will have cardboard cut-outs of fans in the stands.
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Despite the uncertainty surrounding the leagues in England and Wales, Winter strongly believes that football is still contributing significantly by offering support during the Covid-19 crisis and that he is proud of the effort clubs and players have been displaying to help their communities.
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‘It does make me quite proud of football, seeing how much clubs and some individuals do,’ Winter says. ‘There’s a certain amount that they’re contractually obliged to do, but I know so many players that go beyond that with their work and their foundations, just take Didier Drogba and Craig Bellamy for examples.’
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The actions of some footballers have gained more coverage in the media than others, an example being Gary Neville’s generosity of opening his hotels in the North of England to NHS staff.
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But Winter says there is so much work behind the scenes from the players that the media often doesn’t see, from visiting hospitals and care homes alongside significant charitable donations.
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The debate around footballers’ salaries has been topic of discussion for many years, and whilst Winter acknowledges that there are always some players and clubs that could do more with their money, he says that most are always willing to help those less fortunate and use their platform for the good of society.
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‘The work that they do changes lives,’ says Winter. ‘It is a sad indictment on society that we rely on football as a safety net to help people, but I’m so proud what it does around the country and in the community.’
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Alongside the contributions from players, clubs and managers to the ongoing crisis, football – and sports in general – will be instrumental in resuming some sense of ‘normality’ and wellbeing for fans once it is safe and sensible to continue, even if they are unable to physically attend for a while.
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When questioned on the role of football in boosting morale and restoring a sense of identity for fans when the game is able to return after such a difficult period, Winter references the financial collapse of Bury FC and their removal from the English Football League in 2019 when stressing the importance of football in communities.
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‘Talking to fans outside that ground, as it seemed they were heading into oblivion, they were just heartbroken,’ says Winter. ‘Anyone who’s been to a community that’s lost its football club, it’s like its lost its religion or its heartbeat. Clubs have always understood that, and you can see that when you look at their community work.’
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He admits though that football as we know it won’t be the same for a long time yet: he doesn’t foresee fans being allowed back in stadiums until January at least, but that doesn’t dampen his enthusiasm for its comeback.
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Winter is confident that football will return successfully, and that the passion and obsession from fans is still there despite the postponement of leagues and games.
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He stresses that safety of players, staff and fans is the most important guarantee, but whether it’s watching Premier League action or local sides gathering on a Saturday, one thing is for certain: football is – eventually – coming home.
Football won’t be the same when it returns, says top sports journalist
Like pretty much everything at the moment, the future of football is uncertain. But with large crowds, physical contact and travel making up the core of the industry, will football ever return to the way it was? Henry Winter, chief football writer at The Times, doesn't think so.
Speaking to BBC Wales Apprentices, Henry Winter said: “Football will eventually return, but it will be different.”
The UK Government is keen that the season resumes as soon as June 8th, to give the nation something to look forward to. However the fact all four countries in the UK are handling Covid-19 differently, might make things more difficult.
Top-flight clubs have 92 matches left to play in the Premier League. So, should the campaign restart? Winter thinks it should.
“I want Liverpool to be crowned by events on the pitch, not just handed the trophy” he said.
He also pointed out the vast amount of jobs that rely on the broadcast of football, and said people would lose their jobs if these games don't get played.
Henry Winter talked to BBC Wales apprentices about the future of sport
According to Winter, the return of the Premiere League will present many issues, including not only the safety of the players, but everyone else involved. As well as this, managers may have the issue of safely preparing players after such a long break.
He said: “It’s going to be a slightly difficult look if players are charging around a pitch without social distancing.”
There is also a more ethical side to the debate - the football journalist of more than 30 years pointed out the high profile parading of a “£100m player” could cause controversy even more than usual during this crisis, especially in comparison to the earnings of NHS front line workers.
It seems the path back to anything near “normal” is not going to be straightforward.
Although he doesn’t know exactly yet how football will be carried out safely for everyone involved, Winter says that giving up now would be like surrender and insists: "we shouldn't walk away.”
There is no doubt that if football was to make a return to our screens in the near future, it would not be as we know it. Winter acknowledged we would not be getting a super league any time soon but said: “There will be so much hunger to go back to our domestic leagues, and just enjoy and celebrate them.”
It’s also pretty clear that” stadiums won’t be packed with thousands of enthusiastic fans in the coming months, and Winter says he can’t see spectators being back in the stadium before January, although he described watching a game without them as a “soulless experience.”
Eventually though, the football journalist explained that in some way, and in some form, football would return to our lives: “Football as a business has got to come back, like every other industry.”