Let's take a look at how the Coronavirus pandemic affected football so far, and what to expect going forward.
Let's take a look at how the Coronavirus pandemic affected football so far and what to expect going forward.
For some people, being a football supporter is a way of life and often started by a family member. In some cases, rebelling against favoured choices and going with outsiders.
As they get older, some people begin to get interested in football for other reasons than just supporting. They take their knowledge and passion for the game of football and try to boost their earnings through having a bet on the games. This makes it much more exciting and interesting to watch, and you might just make a few quid.
But then the pandemic happened.
Have a look at a few things that happened with football during this time.
Was the English Premier League affected?
Everyone who is a football fan loves the Premier League. Globally, in terms of both finance and levels of support, this is the big one. The clubs in the EPL lost hundreds of millions of British pounds, with the two Manchester clubs hit the hardest. People were saddened but understanding when the season was postponed last year due to the pandemic. The world had bigger problems to worry about.
But its return has pleased many people, fans and bettors alike. It is a sport that is missed like no other, a topic of fierce debate and controversy on the internet. With the closure of the pubs and bookmakers, watching football and betting from the comfort of your own home has kept people entertained, yet also safe.
The Lack of Fans
The raw energy and screaming of the supporters inside the ground, demanding more from their team's players, cannot be replaced. Some stadiums have introduced artificial crowd noises and even pictures of fans on seats. This cannot compare to the real thing but will have to do for now.
As the pandemic took hold, there was a severe lack of football taking place. Without their usual favourite sport to bet on, many fans may have turned to online kaszinó to fill the void. With the huge choice of games such as poker, blackjack, and roulette available, it is a convenient way to find entertainment when there is no football available.
Did the Pandemic break affect the Teams?
Leeds Utd, promoted to the Premier League at the end of last season, was said in some quarters to have benefitted from the break that Covid brought about. Some felt Leeds, who had been performing well most of the year, were beginning to wilt in their pursuit of promotion. However, the pandemic gave them a break to recharge and focus on their promotion charge.
At the time of the break, Premier League leaders Liverpool were running away with the league and aiming to win it for the first time in 30 years, which ultimately they did by an impressive margin.
However, at the time, they were very worried that the league would be cancelled, and they would end up with nothing to show for their huge efforts. Meetings between all the clubs put their fears to rest, as they were determined to continue the season, no matter how long the delay.
Did the Pandemic affect other Tournaments?
Hopefully, this will now happen in the summer of 2021. Some people are even questioning if it will take place at all. Is it prudent to have a football tournament like this amid a pandemic? Only time will tell if it will even go ahead.
If it does, options like having only one host country have been mentioned. With England highly rated for its infrastructure, both travel-wise and stadia-wise, this would avoid multi-country travel for different games.
Last season, both the Uefa Champions League and Europa League competitions were both delayed, with finals taking place months later than usual. One-off ties were contested instead of the usual two-leg home and away system. These were played in neutral venues, depending on the Covid rules of the countries at that time.
Presently, the World Cup 2022 qualifying is taking place. To be hosted by Qatar in the winter of 2022, there are no plans to change this as of yet.
Player Transfers
As uncertainty filled the game, the finances of the clubs started to slow down. Players that seemed destined to move cubs suddenly saw their careers stalled or unable to move as clubs were unable to fund their purchase. It may be easier to play slots or roulette than guess when or where the next mega-money transfer will take place.
If you do fancy your chances at guessing who will move, then you can use online sportsbooks and casinos to place a bet on who will be on the move this summer.
Highly coveted youngsters like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Braut Haaland look likely to stay rooted at their respective clubs for the coming season at least. Even respected established strikers like the ever-improving Harry Kane, who is rumoured to be angling for a move, may find himself priced out of the market.
Summary
Sadly, due to Covid-19, some things may never completely return to normal, but postponements and restrictions that affected the Premier League are slowly but surely being resolved. While it may be a long time until stadiums are full again, games later in the year are to have bigger crowds than previously allowed.
Competitions will hopefully go ahead as planned, and fans can continue to enjoy betting on football without interruption. If you feel you or any of your friends have developed a gambling addiction through football, please do not hesitate to contact Gamstop.
