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'I don't get it' - Wayne Rooney weighs in on Championship restart debate
Wayne Rooney has claimed that Leeds United and other English clubs are being pushed to return to action “too soon”.
The 34-year-old, who currently plies his trade in the Championship with Derby County, has stated that he believes players should be given more time before they are asked to train properly and play matches again.
The government have set a date of June 1st for professional sport to make a comeback in England.
The Sun journalist Alan Nixon also put a tweet out on Sunday suggesting that the Championship are just waiting for official approval to push ahead with plans for a comeback.
But Rooney is not in favour of the idea.
Writing in a column for the Sunday Times, he said: “I’m desperate to train and play again but it feels like football in England is being pushed to return too soon.
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“Our government says people can return to work but only with social distancing in the workplace and that does not work in football.
“So I don’t get it: until the government gives the green light to have physical contact, we can’t train or prepare properly.”
While Rooney is well within his right to express his opinion on the matter, you would have to say there is no real reason why football shouldn’t return at the beginning of next month – provided the relevant authorities deem it safe to do so.
With full testing, a painstakingly sterile environment, and a work space that is predominantly outdoors, players would arguably find themselves in a safer position than many other members of society who are returning to work.
In fact, as pointed out by Robbie Savage, the only real alternative to going back at some point in the near future is to not go back until a vaccine is developed.
That could end up being 18 months away, or perhaps even longer.
Football would be ruined by that point, and the sooner that we get up and running with a new, safer version of normality, the better for everybody.
In other Leeds United news, MOT View: Leeds must resist call from local outlet to pursue potential deal for 22y/o PL striker.