Throw in the outbreak at Leyton Orient that led to their Carabao Cup tie against Tottenham being called off at short notice and it’s hard not to feel like, as far as football is concerned, the facade has cracked. Going back to work, eating out to help out, watching the Premier League on the telly: the whole nation has been lulled into a false sense of security. Football fans have always been uniquely susceptible to false hope, however, and it feels like that is now making way for angst.
The prospect of more games against the backdrop of empty seats and silent stands is depressing enough, but the financial implications are harrowing. While the Premier League is partly insulated by television money, lucrative sponsorship and commercial deals, even top-flight clubs cannot carry on forever without matchday revenue.
In a statement issued in response to the government’s decision to pause the phased return of spectators, the Premier League confirmed that clubs suffered £700m in losses last season and called the situation “unsustainable”. While there will be limited sympathy given the amount some clubs have spent on transfers and wages this summer, it should give us all pause for thought when even a corporate behemoth like the Premier League is warning of disaster ahead.