Free-to-air football can lift the nation but fans will need to be on best behaviour - Richard Caborn

Former Sports Minister Richard Caborn is calling for free-to-view TV football to help lift the nation’s mental health but warns that a mindless minority could spoil it for the many.
A camera crew member works in an empty stadium during a match between Flamengo and Potuguesa in Brazil in March. Photo by Bruna Prado/Getty ImagesA camera crew member works in an empty stadium during a match between Flamengo and Potuguesa in Brazil in March. Photo by Bruna Prado/Getty Images
A camera crew member works in an empty stadium during a match between Flamengo and Potuguesa in Brazil in March. Photo by Bruna Prado/Getty Images

Caborn believes the mental well-being of the country could be in the hands of a few fans if Sky, Premier League and EFL begin behind closed doors games to finish off the 2019/20 season.

The ex Sheffield Central MP believes that sport can help people with anxiety and uncertainty caused by Covid19 as the country contemplates a post-pandemic world.

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“If we can bring it back it will have a big impact on the mental well-being of the nation, sport, especially football, is a distraction from people’s worries and this is a worrying time,” said the Bramall Lane season ticket holder.

“Everyone knows that sport is not the most important thing but it can help us back towards something like a normal life if it takes a lead.”

Caborn believes that football - and the World Snooker Championship which could yet take place at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield this summer - with the right testing safeguards in place, should be aiming to play behind-closed-doors fixtures without playing on neutral grounds.

But he warns that football fans’ legendary loyalties cannot be allowed to over-ride restrictions on social distancing and crowd bans.

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“It’s unfortunate we have a very irresponsible group of fans that could jeopardise the restart with their behaviour,” he said.

“There is a danger that some will take no notice of restrictions and become a danger to themselves and others and deny their team the chance of playing on their own grounds by turning up at games instead of watching on TV.

“We can’t let the stupid few spoil it for the vast majority.

People are anxious about how things are going to turn out. I think Sky should get together with BBC and ITV to find a way of showing games free to air for everyone.

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“When I was sports minister and the Government banned England fans from an away game in Turkey we got Sky to do a deal with ITV to let them show the game with a two-hour delay.

“Testing is becoming more easily available, football has some fantastic medical systems and things like health passports and other apps are coming on stream.

“There has to be a way to get sport moving again.”