Virologists, public health doctors and epidemiologists are queuing up to urge football’s governing bodies to crack down on Covid rule-breakers who celebrate goals in tight-knit huddles.
The experts claim the players are setting a bad example to the nation and risking the a disastrous shut down in the national game.
Government has warned 'the optics' of players breaching social distancing rules coupled with a rampaging virus and high infections rates make it harder to justify the continuation of elite sport.
And now a series of urgent meetings have been set up between the Premier League, captains and managers to address the new Covid protocols - amid fears that continued non-compliance may trigger government intervention.