FOREST Green Rovers chairman Dale Vince claims it is a mistake for football's governing bodies to shut down the game in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a Facebook post, Vince said he believes football chiefs should play the remaining 10 games behind closed door in an attempt for this term’s league programme to be completed.

He said: “I think the shutdown was a mistake. We could have rescheduled to play every Saturday and Tuesday to end the season, behind closed doors if necessary, and the season could have been almost finished.

“Not ideal but very doable, the lay-off just pushes the issue into what will surely be a more difficult time with more limited options.

“I was surprised when football’s government bodies announced the shutdown.

“The virus had affected a small number of teams in the Premier League, with precautionary self-isolation more than confirmed cases – and surely postponement of a few fixtures, would have been a more appropriate response. It’s not like players don’t get sick or injured during any given season.

South Wales Argus:

“Quite what happens next in the world of football is hard to predict,” added Vince.

“The lay-off puts us in limbo – at the end of that it seems most likely that the coronavirus will have a greater grip on our country than it does now.

“The Euros being cancelled will make room to extend this season but the public safety issue will almost certainly mean behind-closed-doors is the only option.

“That wouldn’t be the worst outcome. The live streaming ban on games could be lifted in response to that and we may need something to watch while we self- isolate en masse.”

Vince, a ‘green energy’ industrialist, may be able to cover the losses that would result from playing behind closed doors. But League Two rivals, including Newport County AFC, are not in favour of games going ahead without spectators.

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