Donald Trump has contradicted US government medical advisor and senior immunologist Anthony Fauci about the start of the US football league NFL season.
“Tony Fauci has nothing to do with the NFL,” wrote the US President: “They are planning a very safe and controlled start to the season.”
Fauci said on Thursday that the possibility of a season cancellation for the NFL due to the coronavirus exist. “If the players are not in a bubble – isolated from society and tested almost every day – then it’s hard to imagine how football will be played this fall,” said Fauci at CNN.
Trump: “I will not watch!”
In addition, Trump was again critical of the “Take a Knee” movement. “If you don’t stand for our national anthem and our big American flag, I won’t be watching!” Wrote Trump on Twitter.
The 74-year-old had only suddenly turned around on Thursday as a fan of Colin Kaepernick. In September 2016, Kaepernick, who had fallen out of favor in the NFL professional league, initiated the “Take a Knee” movement as a sign of protest against racism and police violence in the USA.
During the national anthem, which is played before every game, the then star quarterback went down on his knees. He had caused a worldwide sensation. He hasn’t found a job in the NFL since the discussion about the gesture.
NFL chief doctor Allen Sills is also against Fauci’s proposal to play in a “bubble”. “We don’t think it’s practical or appropriate to construct a bubble,” said Sills. “Anyone who tests positive will be isolated until they are medically fit to return.”
So far, the NFL has been sticking to the planned start of the season on September 10th, and training camps are due to start at the end of July.
