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Graeme Souness Reveals He Would Hide Covid-19 Positive Test If He Was Still Playing

Graeme Souness Reveals He Would Hide Covid-19 Positive Test If He Was Still Playing

The Sky Sports pundit was talking about the possibility of players lying about positive tests when the Premier League returns.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Graeme Souness has confirmed fears that players or teams could lie about positive Covid-19 tests when the Premier League returns, by claiming he would do the same if still playing.

On Monday the Times reported that there are concerns in the league that clubs could lie about positive tests when Project Restart is underway.

That's because the league will only be informed how many players from each club have tested but not which players, meaning clubs could lie.

Souness, talking on Sky Sports' The Football Show, has revealed that he would certainly consider lying in order to play, if he wasn't showing symptoms. "If I test positive and a manager is pushing me to play, yeah I'd possibly go for it," the former Liverpool boss told the show.

"You might call me irresponsible but if I was a player now, I'd be desperate to get back playing.

"Footballers have a social responsibility, but on the other side of it, football can do so much good. To answer your question, I think I could be persuaded to play if I felt fine and I tested positive, but that's just me."

The issue could come when it comes to clubs battling for European places and those trying to avoid relegation play against each other in big fights.

Some will think that club's competitive edge will lead them to risk the health and safety of their players, the opposition players and other working on the game, in order to play a key player who has tested positive.

A Premier League executive told the Times, "Some players have been asymptomatic after testing positive, and our worry would be how a club might respond to that situation if the stakes are particularly high."

Several players have spoken out about being worried that they're being rushed back into training and playing whilst it still isn't safe for them to do so.

Substitutes and coaches social distancing during the game. Image: PA Images
Substitutes and coaches social distancing during the game. Image: PA Images

The Bundesliga was the first major league to return to action on Saturday and even they have had their issues with positive tests and players breaking protocol.

Players at Dynamo Dresden in Bundesliga 2 tested positive last week, causing their team to isolate, and Union Berlin's manager couldn't take charge of his team against Bayern Munich on Sunday after having to break quarantine following a family bereavement.

Salomon Kalou was suspended by Hertha Berlin after breaking protocols and filmed himself interrupting a teammates Covid-19 test.

Do you think the Premier League should return in the next month? Let us know in the comments.

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Topics: Liverpool, Football News, Project Restart, Premier League, Sky Sports, Coronavirus, Graeme Souness