With no games being played, recent sports headlines have centered around hopes and dreams – namely, the uncharted path leagues and teams must navigate to return to competition in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Virtually all leagues talk publicly about their desire to return before summer. But behind closed doors, they are hatching different potential plans: all 30 MLB teams playing in Arizona; home run contests to decide tie baseball games; the NHL’s Stanley Cup being hoisted in an empty arena that neither participating team calls home; end-of-season soccer standings decided by vote; college football games next spring.
Over the past week, The Associated Press spoke to more than two dozen policymakers, coaches and players across the globe to get their candid assessments of plans to return from the stoppages caused by the new coronavirus. The conclusion: While it’s critical to put optimistic restart scenarios in place, there is no certainty any of these plans will work without politicians on board and an OK from players and medical experts. Underpinning it all would have to be a drastic ramp-up in testing, a vaccine or treatment breakthrough, or some other solution.
In short, the return of any sports, no matter how innovative the plan, will be risky and uncertain for the rest of this year and even into 2021.
“It’s not about 22 players walking onto a pitch and throwing a ball out,” said FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani, whose concerns about restarting soccer mirror those of all sports worldwide.