WATFORD CAPTAIN TROY Deeney has outlined his personal reasons for refusing to resume training – including concerns over his young son and unanswered issues around BAME players (those from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background).
An agreement between the 20 Premier League teams will see small group training back on the agenda from Tuesday, with a further discussion scheduled for 26 May to debate contact training.
Deeney suggested he plans to stay at home having failed to receive the reassurances he had been seeking.
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“Within the meeting I asked very simple questions. For Black, Asian and mixed ethnicities, they are four times more likely to get the illness and twice as likely to have long lasting illness: Is there any additional screening? Heart stuff to see if anyone has a problem?
I feel that should be addressed. I can’t get a haircut until mid-July but I can go and get in a box with 19 people and jump for a header? I don’t know how that works. No one could answer the questions – not because they didn’t want to, because they didn’t have the information.
“I just said ‘If you don’t know the information, why would I put myself at risk?’.”
'When people can't answer the questions, you start to panic and worry.'
Watford captain @T_Deeney, whose son has breathing difficulties, says he is worried that there aren't clear and safe measures to protect footballer's families if they return to playing football. pic.twitter.com/6ubgo973w0
And it is not just himself that Deeney is concerned. Expanding on his previous reticence about getting back to work, he added: “It only takes one person to get infected. I don’t want to bring that home – my son is five months old and he’s had breathing difficulties.
I don’t want to come home and put him in more danger. You’ve got to drive back in the same dirty kit – if I’m putting my clothing in with my son’s clothing or my missus’ clothing it’s more likely to be in and around the house.
“I’ve lost my Dad, my Gran, my Grandad…I’ve lost more or less everyone that I care about. So that, to me, is more important than a few quid in my back pocket.”
Originally published at 09.26
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'Why would I put myself at risk?' - Watford captain refuses to return to training amid Covid-19 concerns
WATFORD CAPTAIN TROY Deeney has outlined his personal reasons for refusing to resume training – including concerns over his young son and unanswered issues around BAME players (those from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background).
An agreement between the 20 Premier League teams will see small group training back on the agenda from Tuesday, with a further discussion scheduled for 26 May to debate contact training.
Deeney suggested he plans to stay at home having failed to receive the reassurances he had been seeking.
“Within the meeting I asked very simple questions. For Black, Asian and mixed ethnicities, they are four times more likely to get the illness and twice as likely to have long lasting illness: Is there any additional screening? Heart stuff to see if anyone has a problem?
“I just said ‘If you don’t know the information, why would I put myself at risk?’.”
And it is not just himself that Deeney is concerned. Expanding on his previous reticence about getting back to work, he added: “It only takes one person to get infected. I don’t want to bring that home – my son is five months old and he’s had breathing difficulties.
“I’ve lost my Dad, my Gran, my Grandad…I’ve lost more or less everyone that I care about. So that, to me, is more important than a few quid in my back pocket.”
Originally published at 09.26
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Covid-19 troy deeney Unanswered questions Watford