FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v AFC Bournemouth - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - February 22, 2020 Bournemouth's Simon Francis looks dejected Action Images via Reuters/Molly Darlington EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details./File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v AFC Bournemouth - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - February 22, 2020 Bournemouth's Simon Francis looks dejected Action Images via Reuters/Molly Darlington EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details./File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v AFC Bournemouth - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - February 22, 2020 Bournemouth's Simon Francis looks dejected Action Images via Reuters/Molly Darlington EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details./File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Burnley v AFC Bournemouth - Turf Moor, Burnley, Britain - February 22, 2020 Bournemouth's Simon Francis looks dejected Action Images via Reuters/Molly Da

Bournemouth captain Simon Francis worried about risk of players spreading coronavirus


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Bournemouth captain Simon Francis is concerned by the Premier League's plans to resume its 2019-20 season due to the risk of players spreading the coronavirus.

Football in England was suspended indefinitely last month due to the pandemic, which has caused more than 26,000 deaths in Britain, and games are likely to be held without supporters once the season resumes.

England's top-flight clubs will meet on Friday to discuss ways to finish the season.

"My head's saying that I would love to see football restart, to play the remaining games and finish the season; my heart is saying we shouldn't be putting football, or economics, before anyone's health and safety," Francis told The Times.

Several Premier League clubs, including Bournemouth, have reopened their training grounds for individual sessions.

"I understand how much of a boost the return of football would provide: I'm still a fan myself – to be able to watch a game on TV again would be amazing. But there's no doubt about the risks involved," the 35-year-old said.

"A friend's wife contracted the virus recently. She had no underlying health issues but was in a really bad way, bedridden for over a week.

"And that has really made me think. Footballers are healthy athletes, and the risks to us, statistically, are low, but the prospect of bringing the virus home to my family isn't something I want to think about."

Francis said that there were several players at Bournemouth who had major concerns.

"We have three or four players who have family members with underlying health issues. One player is back in his home country with his partner, who just had a baby," he said.

"Diego Rico is back in Spain with his family. Would they have to be quarantined when they returned? When would it be safe to see their families again?"

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Top scorers for 2019/20 season

  • Harry Wilson, Bournemotuh, seven goals. Reuters
    Harry Wilson, Bournemotuh, seven goals. Reuters
  • Ayoze Perez, Leicester City, seven goals. EPA
    Ayoze Perez, Leicester City, seven goals. EPA
  • Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City, seven goals. EPA
    Riyad Mahrez, Manchester City, seven goals. EPA
  • Alexandre Lacazette. Arsenal, seven goals. Reuters
    Alexandre Lacazette. Arsenal, seven goals. Reuters
  • Sebastian Haller, West Ham United, seven goals. Reuters
    Sebastian Haller, West Ham United, seven goals. Reuters
  • Jack Grealish, Aston Villa, seven goals. EPA
    Jack Grealish, Aston Villa, seven goals. EPA
  • Callum Wilson, Bournemouth, eight goals. Reuters
    Callum Wilson, Bournemouth, eight goals. Reuters
  • Neal Maupay, Brighton & Hove Albion, eight goals. Reuters
    Neal Maupay, Brighton & Hove Albion, eight goals. Reuters
  • Roberto Firmino, Liverpool, eight goals. Reuters
    Roberto Firmino, Liverpool, eight goals. Reuters
  • Jordan Ayew, Crystal Palace, eight goals. Reuters
    Jordan Ayew, Crystal Palace, eight goals. Reuters
  • Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur, eight goals. Reuters
    Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur, eight goals. Reuters
  • Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, nine goals. Reuters
    Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City, nine goals. Reuters
  • Son Heung-min, Tottenham Hotspur, nine goals. Reuters
    Son Heung-min, Tottenham Hotspur, nine goals. Reuters
  • Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City, 10 goals. EPA
    Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City, 10 goals. EPA
  • Richarlison, Everton, 10 goals. Reuters
    Richarlison, Everton, 10 goals. Reuters
  • Chris Wood, Burnley, 11 goals. AFP
    Chris Wood, Burnley, 11 goals. AFP
  • Raheem Sterling, Manchester City, 12 goals. EPA
    Raheem Sterling, Manchester City, 12 goals. EPA
  • Teemu Pukki, Norwich City, 11 goals. Reuters
    Teemu Pukki, Norwich City, 11 goals. Reuters
  • Anthony Martial, Manchester United, 11 goals. EPA
    Anthony Martial, Manchester United, 11 goals. EPA
  • Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur, 11 goals. Reuters
    Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur, 11 goals. Reuters
  • Raul Jimenez, Wolves, 13 goals. EPA
    Raul Jimenez, Wolves, 13 goals. EPA
  • Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton, 13 goals. Reuters
    Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton, 13 goals. Reuters
  • Tammy Abraham, Chelsea, 13 goals. AFP
    Tammy Abraham, Chelsea, 13 goals. AFP
  • Marcus Rashford, Manchester United, 14 goals. PA
    Marcus Rashford, Manchester United, 14 goals. PA
  • Sadio Mane, Liverpool, 14 goals. Reuters
    Sadio Mane, Liverpool, 14 goals. Reuters
  • Danny Ings, Southampton, 15 goals. Reuters
    Danny Ings, Southampton, 15 goals. Reuters
  • Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, 16 goals. EPA
    Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, 16 goals. EPA
  • Sergio Aguero, Manchester City, 16 goals. Reuters
    Sergio Aguero, Manchester City, 16 goals. Reuters
  • Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal, 17 goals. Reuters
    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal, 17 goals. Reuters
  • Jamie Vardy, Leicester City, 19 goals. AFP
    Jamie Vardy, Leicester City, 19 goals. AFP