An epidemiological threat to the new coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, which was first reported in China in November 2019, has disruptive effects on Europe’s’ football activities. It is reported to have caused thousands of deaths, with new cases being reported daily.
It is said that the outbreak is the world’s “most pressing uncertainty.” While the exact effect of the coronavirus is unknown and unknowable, it is clear that it poses tremendous risks. Football is a sport that brings people together, ranging from the players to football fans has faced enormous challenges for a better part of the year 2020, leading to stringent measures being taken by relevant stakeholder. The effects the pandemic has on the European football leagues include the following:
- The European football leagues canceled indefinitely
As a measure to help reduce the spread of the virus, Italy, Europe’s worst-hit nation was forced to call off its national league. Consequently, other European nations followed suit bringing to a standstill world most watched football leagues across the globe. As a result, there is a disruption in the football calendar of European countries, posing a challenge of how the winners of the leagues will be identified.
- Loss of revenue
Revenue is generated in the different means by the football clubs and federation governing the operations of the football leagues. Following the cancellation of the leagues, revenue generated in the form of sale of merchandise, tickets, and television coverage will be lost. Over the coming years, most football clubs will be unable to finance bills for their daily operations such as payment of players, servicing of the football stadiums, and payments to the club officials.
- The potential loss of sponsors
Cooperate, and multinational companies that play a vital role in financing the football clubs are likely to incur huge losses during the period the coronavirus pandemic is on the rise. Among those are casino online which engage in online sport betting activities. Due to the possibility of a recession, sponsorship from organizations is likely to be cut off; hence the European leagues will face substantial financial turmoil. This resulting in many likelihoods of many giant football clubs pulling out.
- Loss of life of football stakeholders
Coronavirus is responsible for the loss of many lives across Europe for the short duration it has been in existence. Some players across the European continent have tested positive of having COVID 19 virus. Football club managers have not been spared either, with some coaches being found to be Covid 19 positive. The coronavirus possesses a significant threat to the future of the stakeholder involved in the soccer industry including casino online across the European continent. Some may perish with their careers still young and not yet fully utilized.
Conclusion
There are substantial side effects that have consumed with the latest coronavirus pandemic across the European continent as it relates to their football leagues. As a result of this outbreak, we have witnessed complete lockdown in the hard-hit nation with football sporting activity coming to a stand. casino online firms engaging in sport betting activities are not spared either since they will be forced to scale down their operations.