March 16 – Former England captain Wayne Rooney says the government and football authorities have treated his profession as “guinea pigs” during the coronavirus outbreak by not acting as responsibly as other sports.
Nearly all football in Britain has been suspended until at least 3 April following an emergency meeting of those who run the game but Rooney says action should have been taken far earlier.
Writing in his column in the Sunday Times newspaper, the former Manchester United forward, who has just returned to England as player-coach with Derby County after a spell in the United States, said: “The rest of sport – tennis, Formula 1, rugby, golf, football in other countries – was closing down and we were being told to carry on.
“I think a lot of footballers were wondering, ‘Is it something to do with money being involved in this?’. After the emergency meeting, at last the right decision was made – until then it almost felt like footballers in England were being treated like guinea pigs.
“I know how I feel. If any of my family get infected through me because I’ve had to play when it’s not safe, and they get seriously ill, I’d have to think hard about ever playing again. I would never forgive the authorities.”
Rooney says there will have to be a total overhaul of the football calendar to allow fixtures to be fulfilled.
“We’re happy to play until September if the season extends to then, if that’s how it has to be. As long as we know we’re safe to play and it’s a safe environment for spectators, we’ll play.”
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