Linfield FC midfielder Jordan Stewart believes football should take a back seat during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Irish Premiership has been placed on hold since Friday 13 March, with the last league match being played on 7 March and over a month later, it is still unclear when we will see a return to action.
Amidst this aura of uncertainty, we could see the league action suspended for the first time since 1940 when the season came to a halt due to a different kind of action, the Second World War, and this could be a real possibility according to Stewart.
“If there is no resolution in the next few weeks it would become increasingly difficult to see how the league could continue” he said. “It’s a horrible situation for the organisers of the league to be in.”
“The longer this is prolonged, the more difficult it will be to resume the current season” Stewart added.
“I’m not sure when the league will return or if the current season will even finish. So, it will be interesting to see how things will be adjusted if or when the season returns.”
Nowadays football is more than a game, football is a business and as with any business during these times of uncertainty, the Irish League will be hit financially.
“I can imagine it is extremely difficult and challenging for most clubs, especially clubs further down the league, to cope with finances now without the gate money coming in each week” said Stewart.
“I would imagine some of the clubs in the league could massively struggle without some sort of financial help from the league or some sort of funding and that could affect the league as a whole.”
As players are pawns in the game of chess that is football business, they too will face financial struggles and will be left wondering what their next move will be.
“It also leaves players in the same position financially, as they are unsure of their future or how long a club can continue paying their wages for” Stewart said.
“You always have that thought in the back of your mind that if this continues to go on for a long period of time, everyone’s future may become uncertain, especially players who are now coming out of contract in the next month or two.”
An un-named Linfield player was diagnosed with Covid-19 in the early stages of the crisis in Northern Ireland, meaning players at the club were informed on the status of their jobs for some time before matches were officially postponed.
“I can only really comment on matters at Linfield, but the club have been reassuring us that in the short-term we will be fine” said Stewart.
“There is still that air of uncertainty as to what will happen in the long-term because as I already mentioned, it is unclear how clubs will be able to cope with the financial issues that come with a lack of football and the revenue that comes with it” he added.
However, with the devastation the Covid-19 crisis is having throughout the world on a human level, perhaps football should be the last thing on people’s minds and despite being directly affected by the issues facing football, Stewart believes football should be put to the side until we weather the coronavirus storm.
“Football is a very short career and to be missing any amount of football is not ideal, but it is not the main priority” he said.
“Times like these make you realise that football is only a small part of life and the health of everyone and their families is what is most important.”
Former Northern Ireland Under-21 International Stewart has struggled for game time this season and despite the harm a lack of football may have on his career, it is just a dip in the road and football cannot drive us towards a solution in these times.
“On a personal note, I have struggled this season and last season sue to injuries and football has been postponed just as I have got back in the team. So, it is not ideal, but the health and safety of each individual is far more important than a game of football” he added.
“Obviously for my career it’s not ideal with us being in lockdown, but people’s lives have to come first.”
Photo credit: Lana Connoly
Daniel Noble Sports 