Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola said football must accept its fate if lockdown extends to professional sport for a second time in England amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Guardiola expressed a concern that many businesses are under threat at a time when football, albeit without fans, may get a special pass from the UK government.
Prime minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday that the Premier League would be allowed to continue behind closed doors, during a four-week national lockdown that will see business such as non-essential shops close their doors, along with pubs and restaurants.
Guardiola, who was speaking after a win at Sheffield United on Saturday, “It’s difficult,” he said.
“I know the prime minister is taking the decision because the situation is getting worse. It happened in Spain, Germany and France. Everywhere.
“So the virus is still there. Maybe people say it is stronger. I think the world of football cannot be an exception in what is happening in society.
“So if we have to play, we will play. But we don’t want to be different from the rest of society when they have to close restaurants or close whatever.
“It’s a position in which I am not involved. I want to be safe. I want to keep well for myself, for my family, my friends, for all England, all of the UK. But honestly I don’t know.”