AFL could be forced to play games in empty stadiums because of coronavirus
The AFL has contingencies if the coronavirus threat continues to escalate but that may not be enough to prevent matches from being played behind closed doors, or cancelled altogether.
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The AFL has declared it will be ready for any potential curveballs the coronavirus throws at the upcoming men’s season, including the possibility for staging closed games.
With just a fortnight remaining until the 2020 premiership season begins, sporting events and competitions across the globe have been disrupted and cancelled.
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Serie A and European matches in Italy have been played in empty stadiums.
League general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld said the AFL would remain in close contact with health and government authorities as the virus continues to spread, and while contingency plans are not yet required, the AFL would not be caught out.
“For the information we have at hand now, and we’re being urged by the federal government and the health authorities to go about our lives and our business as normal … as we speak today, that’s what we’re doing,” Auld said.
“We’re opening the season in two weeks’ time and hopefully in front of really big crowds on the Thursday night in our opening match. If that information changes, then our fans should feel confident and assured that we’ll be well prepared for that.
“There’s some uncertainties, and all we can do is best plan for what we know right now.”
The league on Wednesday took the unprecedented step of moving its Shanghai game back to Melbourne.
Italy barred fans from attending recent Serie A and Europa Leaguematches, with the games played behind closed doors.
The NBA sent a memo to teams on the weekend, advising players to opt for fist bumps over handshakes and not borrow pens from fans to sign autographs as health officials desperately try to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The Italian government is also reportedly considering a suspension of all sporting events for a month.
The International Olympic Committee maintained again that planning for the Tokyo Olympics was continuing.
Auld said it may not be up to the AFL whether drastic measures such as closing games to crowds or even cancelling games occurs.
“Some of these decisions aren’t in our hands,” he said.
“We are reliant upon the advice — in this case of the federal government and the health authorities and we are in regular contact with them.
“The hypotheticals, I don’t know the answer to. We haven’t thought through those as much as that, but we’ll continue to communicate with the relevant authorities on a regular basis and take their guidance.”
Victorian Minister for Sport Martin Pakula said “everything is on the table” when it came to managing mass gatherings of people with the virus still spreading.
“They are not ruling out any potential reaction to the possibility of a more widespread coronavirus outbreak,” Pakula said.
“At the moment, there are no current plans for there to be lockouts or bans on mass gatherings, but that’s not to say that it’s impossible as we move throughout the year.
“We will take the advice from the medical experts. Chief health officers around the country will be making the call on things like that, and we will just need to adapt to those circumstances if they emerge.”
Auld said the league was still working through the financial impact of shifting the Shanghai clash between St Kilda and Port Adelaide to Marvel Stadium, but remained committed to football in China.
“(Taking) a long-term view is that you enjoy the good times but you also ride through some of the tougher times,” he said.
“This is an issue that’s much broader than just a game of football.
“The best we can do at the moment is get the game back to Melbourne and do what we can to support the local Chinese communities here.”
TAXPAYERS TO FUND CHINA GAME SHIFT
Victorian taxpayers will part-fund the AFL’s shifted Shanghai game as a celebration of Melbourne’s Chinese community as it continues to suffer the economic effects of the coronavirus.
The AFL took the unprecedented step of moving the Round 11 fixture between St Kilda and Port Adelaide to a Round 12 timeslot at Marvel Stadium.
It was also revealed that the state government had dipped into its pockets in order to ensure that the match was played on Victorian soil after an attempt by the Queensland government to snatch the game to Cairns.
But while Victorian Minister for Sport Martin Pakula would not be drawn on how much the government had contributed, he maintained that it would be a worthwhile spend.
“It’s been well-publicised that there may have been an offer from the Queensland government, so this is something where there was a degree of competition,” he said.
“And we don’t want to reveal our hand in regards to how we secure events in Victoria. In the scheme of things it is a relatively modest sum.
“But we wouldn’t want to give (a figure) … as much as we like to be collegiate with our friends in other states and territories, there is always an element of competition and we don’t want to give our competitors a leg up.”
He said he anticipated that Port Adelaide fans would travel to Victoria for the clash, which will be played at 5.40pm on the eve of the Queen’s Birthday public holiday.
“They’re always here in great numbers in Victoria,” Pakula said.
“We don’t want to see a great AFL fixture between the Saints and Power played in Cairns, where for a modest investment, not only can the game be here, but we can have a great celebration of our Chinese community and get a whole lot of South Australians over … staying in our hotels, and eating in our restaurants.”
Travis Auld, the league’s head of clubs and broadcast, said that to have proceeded with the game “would be placing our people at an unacceptable risk”.
“It’s a time to support our Chinese community,” he said.
“They require our support more than ever, and on behalf of the AFL, that is our intention now and through to the game and beyond.”
League chief Gillon McLachlan said the virus outbreak had been monitored closely and that the match would provide a strong boost to the Chinese community.