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Liverpool And Bournemouth Players Ridiculously Lined Up Despite No Handshakes

Liverpool And Bournemouth Players Ridiculously Lined Up Despite No Handshakes

Coronavirus has forced the Premier League to stop handshakes before games but the players still did the 'Respect' line up for no reason.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Liverpool and Bournemouth players weren't allowed to shake hands before their match on Saturday afternoon but the players still did the 'Respect' line up, which looked particularly stupid.

The threat of spreading Coronavirus has forced football to be played behind closed doors in Italy. That hasn't happened in England yet but authorities have put in place some precautions.

Pre-match handshakes have been banned for now in the Premier League but rather than just take their places on the pitch Liverpool players still had to walk past their opponents. There was the occasional respectful nod and players cracking up.

Georginio Wijnaldum certainly found it hilarious that he was just walking past the opposition and not making any contact with them.

Image: BT Sport
Image: BT Sport

Ahead of the weekend the league put out a statement saying, "The Premier League fair-play handshake will not take place between players and match officials from this weekend until further notice based on medical advice.

"Coronavirus is spread via droplets from the nose and mouth and can be transmitted on to the hands and passed on via a handshake."

Before the weekends games fans weren't exactly taken with the ban. On social media many were questioning how it would help considering the fact that it's a contact sport.

One fan tweeted, "Stopping pre match handshakes is pointless for a contact sports like football. There are still going to rub all that sweat and saliva into each other's glands anyway."

Another said, "Funny old world. No handshakes in football but feel free to spend the next 90 minutes gobbing with impunity."

A third added "Football as a contact sport, are allowed to go on but prematch hand shakes have been banned. What's the point?"

As well as games in Italy being played behind closed doors the Coronavirus has also affected Champions League games as well as the Six Nations in rugby.

There could yet be more disruption to sport and big events if the virus continues to be a big threat to the public's health.

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