Viewers in the United States who want to watch football this fall could be in for a rude awakening.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading infectious disease expert in the U.S., warned on Wednesday that sporting leagues may not be able to return in 2020 without widespread testing with fast-paced results.
“Safety, for the players and for the fans, trumps everything,” Fauci told the New York Times. “If you can’t guarantee safety, then unfortunately you’re going to have to bite the bullet and say, ‘We may have to go without this sport for this season.’”
Fauci urged caution to fans eager to see their favorite sports back in action, suggesting that social distancing guidelines are difficult to preserve due to the nature of contact sports such as basketball, football, and hockey.
“I would love to be able to have all sports back,” Fauci said. “But as a health official and a physician and a scientist, I have to say, right now, when you look at the country, we’re not ready for that yet.”
Fauci’s warning comes only weeks after President Trump said he was hopeful to see sports stadiums full again by the fall.
