Coronavirus: Rooney's crack against English football for not suspending leagues earlier: “We have been used as guinea pigs” | Premier League 2019

Wayne Rooney, player and assistant of Derby County, has criticized that soccer players have been used as “Guinea pigs“in the UK in the face of the spread of coronavirus.

“All other sports, tennis, Formula 1, rugby, golf and soccer in other countries had stopped and we were being told to keep going,” Rooney said in a column in the Sunday Times.

“I think many footballers were wondering.” Is this related to the money that has been invested in this? Why did we have to wait until Friday? Why did we have to wait for Mikel Arteta to contract the disease to do the right thing?”

“After the emergency meeting last Friday the right decision was made. Until then it seemed that footballers in England had been treated like guinea pigs,” added Rooney.

English football only decided to stop its competitions after Arteta tested positive for coronavirus.

“If someone in my family gets it from me because I have had to play when it is not safe … and they get really sick, I would have to seriously think about whether to play again. I would never forgive the authorities”

On how to deal with the rest of the season, Rooney added that he would be willing to play until September if it is safe.