Football without fans is nothing
As European Leagues ready themselves to restart following the Coronavirus outbreak, the players will be cheered on by silent stands
The Bundesliga kicked off this month in front of very few live spectators. Borussia Dortmund's 81,000 capacity stadium, Signal Iduna Park had an attendence of just 300 for a derby against their fierce rivals, Schalke.
The major leagues in Spain, Italy and England will recommence in the coming weeks.
'Project Restart' is the nickname given to the Premier League's attempt to complete the 2019/2020 season after all matches were suspended indefinitely on 13 March following Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta testing positive for Covid-19. However, all the games will all be without the most important factor: the fans.
That is certainly the view of former Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Swindon player Micky Hazard. He is critical of football restarting behind closed doors, as he insists that fans are the lifeblood of football and sport.
“I think it’s very sad. Throughout history, football and fans go together. They have together won trophies, league championships, titles, FA Cups, Champions Leagues,” he said. “So, do I agree with playing behind closed doors without those fans? No, because I’m one of those people who believe that fans are football.
“I don’t like it; I don’t want it to happen. It is a big moment in the history of football. In the future they are going to want to rely on fans. They want fans to float back into the stadiums. Yet the first crisis and we’re going to complete it without fans.”
Hazard won the FA Cup in 1982 and the UEFA Cup in 1984 with Tottenham, the former being in front of a crowd of 100,000 people at Wembley Stadium.
“Ultimately, the most important thing in all of this is that we’re toying with people’s lives”
He believes playing in front of empty stands will be an unpleasant experience for players once the games get back under way. Hazard played at White Hart Lane while the West Stand was being redeveloped between 1980 and 1982, meaning the stadium was a quarter empty every time he played a home match.
“Believe me, it was the eeriest, most horrible feeling as a footballer I’ve had in terms of playing in front of a crowd. It was absolutely horrible; I would think that playing without any fans at all would be a million times worse. One of the most uplifting things you ever get as a player is when you do something special, and the fans go crazy and it’s just wonderful.”
In a poll taken on social media, 57% of people do not want English football to return from behind closed doors.
In a poll taken on social media, 57% of people do not want English football to return from behind closed doors.
The restart has been met with criticism from many high-profile players, including Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Chelsea’s Tammy Abraham and England left-back Danny Rose. Watford captain Troy Deeney has refused to train due to safety concerns.
Hazard, who suffered with Covid-19 and was taken to hospital and put on oxygen, is concerned that the health and safety of the players is not being considered.
“Ultimately, the most important thing in all of this is that we’re toying with people’s lives,” he said. “It would be catastrophic for football to make such a decision to come back and play games and put one of the young player's lives at risk. I would dread the impact it would have on football if one of the footballers died as a consequence of coronavirus because of a poor decision.”
“The best case scenario is that we lose this season. We’re in that territory now.”
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 28, 2020
“It’s inevitable a player will get Infected.”
“If something dreadful happens, what then? Corporate man slaughter?”@SJOpinion10 explains why the Premier League season should be voided. ❌ pic.twitter.com/7fcIErXuaQ
Despite Hazard’s view, there are people who would like the Premier League to return as soon as possible.
Among them is Tottenham Hotspur’s match day compere, Paul Coyte.
The TalkSPORT 2 breakfast show host would love football to return, even though it would mean he would not be working the job he loves on matchdays because there would not be any fans.
“I miss it terribly. I really miss it. It is the most ridiculous job for any Tottenham fan to do, and I never ever take it for granted,” he said. “It’s going to be a really weird thing, but I think everything will be televised, which is good. We are just going to have to go along with it.”
Coyte said that home fans in stadiums make a huge difference for the players on the pitch.
“I can’t even tell you the amount of players I have asked about the story of the crowd being the ‘12th man’. I’ve asked them, ‘is it true? Is there really something in it? Can you actually feel it?’”
“They say it absolutely does make a difference, as does those silences where crowds are edgy.”
The former breakfast presenter on Capital Gold Radio was against the proposal of neutral venues even if games are behind closed doors. He wanted the games to be played in home and away venues, as even without fans it will make difference to the teams.
He said: “Neutral venues are going to be just as hard, if not more difficult than playing at home grounds. It makes it easier for the integrity of the league itself.
“When it finishes, home and away, whether anybody says there’s crowds there or not, it does tend to make a difference. The stats show playing at home makes a difference.”
Only Crystal Palace won more games away from than at Selhurst Park last season.
Only Crystal Palace won more games away from than at Selhurst Park last season.
Home advantage is clearly a factor. Of the 11 ever-present teams in the Premier League since 2014, home form is superior to away form.
Home advantage is clearly a factor. Of the 11 ever-present teams in the Premier League since 2014, home form is superior to away form.
The football world will be taking notice of how the Bundesliga fares during its first few weeks of relaunch. There is an understanding from many that football needs to resume sooner or later.
However, it will become quickly apparent that stadia without supporters are soulless bowls. Matches will lack the same intensity that is driven by crowds joyously cheering on their team while also shouting vehement abuse at the opposition team.
There is potentially a Premier League clinching Merseyside derby left, the first ever North London derby at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. There are still relegation battles, promotion races and cup finals still to be played. No celebratory bus parades, no half-time beers or full-time tears. Every fan will have to do without their own special pre-match superstition.
They will all be played without the people who make football special. They will be reduced to glorified training matches as you will be able to hear a pin drop from your television when the best thing in football happens, which is when the ball hits the back of the net.
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