The Premier League has announced that it will start to vaccinate its players against a number of viruses, including hepatitis and HIV. In doing so they have drawn comparisons with the NFL in America who introduced such measures last year. However some players are reportedly not happy about having their privacy invaded by these new rules..
Players’ worries about their well-being should be heeded, according to the PFA’s president.
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) chief executive, Maheta Molango, has warned against a “overly simple” response to players who refuse to get vaccinated.
On Monday, the Premier League said that 84 percent of players have begun their “vaccination journey.”
Molango claims that the PFA is attempting to assist athletes in making the “best” selections.
“There is no question that as a union, we understand and support the vaccine rollout,” Molango said.
“But, as we’ve seen, it’s not as easy as saying it’s all about the immunization. That is merely a part of the picture.”
“We have to be cautious with over-simplistic interpretations of events,” he said, acknowledging that athletes may have “genuine reservations” about vaccinations.
The vaccination rates in the Premier League are comparable to similar age groups throughout society in the United Kingdom.
However, there is a case to be made that unvaccinated athletes, who are unable to participate due to a 10-day isolation period that would not apply if they had been vaccinated, should not be classified as a Covid absence when it comes to postponement decisions.
Unvaccinated players may also be compelled to travel and practice separately from their teammates, according to reportsexternal-link.
The Football League said last week that 25% of its players would refuse to get vaccinated.
“Always remember that players are people,” Molango concluded. “They’re the same individuals that were instructed a few months before, when I was at home and most people were at home, to go out and play without immunizations, that ‘no worries, you’ll be OK.’” That is the situation.
“We’re attempting to assist gamers in making the best decision possible based on science. They must pay attention to specialists, but we must also realize that some individuals may have reasonable concerns.”
‘Players are also humans who have families.’
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson expressed his worry for his teammates on Tuesday, amid a crowded fixture slate and a quickly growing number of adverse tests.
The Premier League and the English Football League have both elected to continue their seasons, despite the temptation to suspend the season or skip a round of matches.
As a result, several Premier League teams will play twice in three days, whilst the EFL will play two complete rounds in four days.
“No one truly takes player welfare seriously,” adds Molango, echoing Henderson’s assertion.
“When I went to see all the teams in the summer to discover what actually important to them, fixture congestion was their number one issue,” he said.
“The players aren’t trying to dodge reality.” We all recognize the significance of continuing to play. We all realize that if games are postponed, time must be found to play them in an already jam-packed schedule. The players are aware of the difficulties that come with delaying or canceling games.
“However, we would have wanted to be a part of the discussion to ensure that all perspectives were covered and that the players’ welfare was considered.”
“The participants are all individuals with families, yet some choices are made without their being taken into account.”
Henderson’s comments drew some online criticism, with some equating the plight of a well-paid professional player to that of NHS personnel battling the infection.
“We are incredibly proud of the NHS and the people who continue to support us all throughout this tough time,” Molango added.
“At the same time, I am extremely happy to be the CEO of a union that represents people like Jordan Henderson, who spearheaded the initiative to support the NHS with all the captains.”
Henderson was named an NHS Charities Together Champion in January and was later granted an MBE for his work in generating donations for the NHS.
“I am really pleased of Marcus Rashford, who utilized his position to bring about change and assist individuals who were suffering to obtain what they deserved,” Molango added.
“I am pleased of Harry Maguire, who has shown his dedication to his community. I am happy of Raheem Sterling, who has received royal recognition for his contributions to society.
“Being balanced and understanding the larger picture are always important in life. The players have shown their commitment to the cause by demonstrating how much they care.”
