Not a good Luk – Palace captain Milivojevic should have paid heavier price for flouting Covid-19 rules

BY SAM SMITH

While Luka Milivojevic and Aleksandar Mitrovic were being filmed celebrating the turn of the year at the Crystal Palace captain’s home, surely there was a point when it must have clicked that some outrage would follow?

The pair’s actions were reckless and put people at risk, not least because Mitrovic’s Fulham had December 30 and January 3 fixtures postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the west London club.

They were not alone – joined by other adults, who were similarly as thoughtless, and young children – but as footballers their high-profile status comes with a privilege. In the images of the pair posing together and the video of them jokingly grappling, they apparently fail to realise this fact.

Upon viewing the footage, both clubs should have issued a full condemnation. Each player should have been forced to self-isolate.

Fulham have officially condemned Mitrovic. At the time of writing, Palace’s acknowledgement of the incident has extended to Roy Hodgson’s post-match media duties after the 2-0 win against Sheffield United.

This is not a case of individuals being innocent until proven guilty. This is a matter of public health and no risks should have been taken.

So to see Milivojevic not only be involved in Palace’s game against the Blades last Saturday, but for him to captain the Eagles was a slap in the face to all those who have made huge sacrifices.

That a video in which Milivojevic urged viewers to “follow the regulations” was released just hours before kick-off made it even harder to swallow.

It does not matter that Milivojevic tested positive for Covid-19 in November because there is little knowledge of how long immunity lasts, if at all.

Palace boss Hodgson confirmed that Milivojevic had tested negative in the time between the party and the game against the Blades – and therefore the club had followed Premier League guidelines.

But it is difficult not to question whether Palace should have taken a lead and treated this as a special case rather than following the league’s blanket protocol.

There is no harm in being completely risk-averse, but there is in exposing someone possibly carrying a potentially deadly virus to other people.

Hodgson was also wrong when he suggested that Palace fans would not want to see repercussions for Milivojevic. He felt they would simply be happy that he contributed to a 2-0 win.

That subscribes to a theory that people are football fans first, and human beings second. It lacks an understanding of the wider world beyond football’s bubble.

Those same Palace fans will have spent the last nine months adhering to strict guidelines that restrict their lives. Those same Palace fans may have lost their jobs, they may not have seen family members for months, and – even worse – they may have lost loved ones.

They might even be frontline NHS workers who have spent nine months saving the lives of people who may have contracted the virus after coming into contact with individuals who displayed similarly thoughtless behaviour as Milivojevic and Mitrovic.

Many will have spent Christmas alone under the government’s tier four restrictions in London and the South-East. While Milivojevic and Mitrovic partied, many saw through the turn of the year without company – purely because in doing so they were keeping people safe.

Those individuals can be forgiven for feeling let down.

That anger directed at Milivojevic and the club was not an agenda against the player. People simply ask that high-profile individuals, particularly those who carry a leadership role, realise their privilege and set an example. Not doing so should come with consequences.

Palace have largely performed admirably during the pandemic. This is the first negative mark against their name.

Early in the first national lockdown, club staff spent time calling elderly supporters who may be vulnerable to loneliness. Hodgson has spoken well about the work of the NHS, and in fairness his post-match comments were the first time he has been wide of the mark.

The Eagles have generally stuck to the rules, while other clubs have had regular disciplinary issues. Entry to Selhurst Park for media is limited – journalists must fill in a questionnaire and pass a temperature check before entering.

I have twice missed fixtures when experiencing mild symptoms – but have done that to protect colleagues, some of whom return home to vulnerable family members.

But being risk-averse should come with consistency. Even the most minor of breaches of the government and Premier League guidelines should come with some form of punishment.

Milivojevic finally issued a statement on Wednesday night in which he apologised for his actions.

“I am making a donation to the local NHS service to help them continue their incredible work in our community fighting this virus,” he said.

High-profile breaking of rules since March have infamously undermined the huge national effort to fight coronavirus. A role model such as Milivojevic must be made an example of.