Supporters of Everton have been reacting to a club statement that was released to fans via the Toffees’ official Twitter account.
As revealed by the Merseyside club on Friday, the ‘club’s USM training facility has been closed as a precaution’ after ‘a member of the first-team squad reported a high temperature’ and is in ‘self-isolation’ (as per Everton), which left many worried.
Have the club made the right decision to have the squad and staff self-isolating?Yes, best way to stop the spreadNo, seems an overreaction to me |
? | Club Statement update.
— Everton (@Everton) March 13, 2020
Save Carlo that’s the priority
— tommy m (@tmutft) March 13, 2020
Stay safe all. A neighbour across the park said, ” football is a matter of life or death, I assure you, it’s much more than that”. No it’s not. Players, staff and fans health is paramount and should come before any game.
— Bluetoffee (@Bluetoffee10) March 13, 2020
Protect this man at all cost ?????? pic.twitter.com/HhRSUOSwgt
— ? carlo fantastico ??? (@_jennifer1878) March 13, 2020
The statement from the Toffees comes after, elsewhere in the Premier League, Arsenal manager and former Everton player, Mikel Arteta, was revealed to have contracted the virus (per Arsenal).
However, following Everton’s statement that the first-team squad and staff have been ‘advised to stay away from all club sites until further notice‘, supporters continued to air their well-wishes and concerns.
Get well and stay safe
— Marc Christopher (@MarcC856) March 13, 2020
Whole squad should be on lockdown.
— David (@David33135170) March 13, 2020
Check on Carlo. Thanks.
— Kenneth James (@KennyPowers316) March 13, 2020
Protect our manager
— James ?? (@JamesCox1878) March 13, 2020
What do we think?
As can be judged from the supporters’ responses, while the decision comes as a welcome one which many feel is the right thing to do, it has still caused some concern.
However, the precaution that the club is taking is in line with the NHS guidelines and seems very much the sensible thing to be doing in the current situation.