Perhaps the greatest irony in football is that for an industry so synonymous with ceaseless speculation and tempestuous hindsight, the history books only recognise absolutes: winners and losers. For the first time in living memory, however, this is no longer the case.
It is possible that Liverpool will not win one of the most one-sided title races in Premier League history. Leeds United may not return to the top flight at the sixteenth time of asking. Manchester City’s greatest ever European scalp might not reach its conclusion. If any of those scenarios evoke an unpleasant sensation in the pit of your stomach, it’s probably fear and that’s definitely fine.
We are living through an international crisis of unprecedented proportions; loved ones have been lost, livelihoods are under threat and our hopes and dreams are on hold. All things considered, losing sleep over the destiny of domestic league positions can seem like an act that is every bit as crass as it is inappropriate. It’s an easy conclusion to come to. It’s also a lazy one.
Throughout this challenging period, football vloggers, in particular, have been quick to appropriate any chatter of a sporting nature with a guilt-laden acknowledgment that “health and safety comes first” and “football isn’t important”.
Whilst these sentiments resonate with the present narrative, they are both flawed. Firstly, who among us truly believes the wellbeing of the most vulnerable in society is anything less than paramount? Secondly, football is important.
Football is companionship for the lonely. Football is routine for the overwhelmed. Football is escapism for the crestfallen. It is a creator of jobs, unlikely relationships and lifelong memories. At its thrilling best and crushing worst it remains all of those things and none of that changes because the self-righteous Piers Morgan says so.
