Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa assesses call for football season 'circuit breaker'

The resurgence of coronavirus is causing havoc with the game with Aston Villa's FA Cup tie against Liverpool going ahead on Friday night despite nine players and five members of Villa's staff understood to have tested positive for Covid-19.

West Brom boss Sam Allardyce said after his side's 5-0 defeat at home to Leeds that the "right thing would be to have a circuit breaker" though the Baggies boss has since said his words were misconstrued with the 66-year-old saying that "if the science was right then it would be a good thing".

Allardyce said after the Leeds loss that the country's battle against Covid-19 had him concerned for himself and football in general and Bielsa said he saw the logic in the Baggies manager's thinking.

"I understand the comment that Sam Allardyce made," said Bielsa, asked how much of a concern the battle with Covid was on a personal level and if he would be in favour of a circuit-breaker.

"It's an absolutely logical thought.

"It's a thought that gives consciousness to the problem we're going through.

"With regards to the question about the circuit breaker, I think those who are in charge, the authorities of the competition and the government, I don't think they will take any risks with a small population of the country, in this case professional football.

"It's a segment which is a small one, but a privileged one, everyone who has this problem lives it individually regardless of the segment of the world you belong to.

"I trust that the decisions being made are being taken with reflection, with consideration."

Asked given the rising infections around the country if it was morally right football continues at the time being, Bielsa said: "It's a very difficult question.

"To give you an answer on the morality of a decision, I don't feel capable of doing it. It’s very difficult to say it is wrong, but it is also very difficult to say it's correct.

"And it’s even more difficult to then link it morally with the answer you're looking for.

"To give you an example, in one case it is good football continues because you're giving entertainment to those who are affected in the population or maybe they’re not affected to have some sort of entertainment.

"But you can also say, for example, one of the children of a football player becomes infected because we continue to play football.

"That's why the authorities who are responsible for all the segments in the country are responsible for making these decisions.

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Thank you Laura Collins