NHS support as Portadown’s Matthew Tipton backs ban on live sport

The Ports face a blank Irish League fixture list until 2021 following Thursday’s strict post-Christmas Stormont restrictions and confirmation of a postponed game in line with the NIFL Covid Case Policy.

Crusaders and Portadown - who met last weekend in the Danske Bank Premiership - both submitted requests to officials following the former club’s announcement of two positive coronavirus test results.

The Northern Ireland Football League moved to cancel Friday’s game between Carrick Rangers and Crusaders plus the Ports’ match with Larne as part of Saturday’s programme.

This marks the second occasion this season Portadown have been involved in fixture postponements under the NIFL Covid Case Policy and Tipton admits he is still suffering the impact of his illness following November’s positive test.

However, his support of the enhanced regulations which include a ban on all sport from December 26 to January 1 - a timeframe which covers Portadown’s festive Boxing Day showpiece against Glenavon and a trip to Coleraine - centres on fears outside the direct coronavirus pandemic.

“We are in a situation that can only be described as desperate and any measures to help those on the health frontline must be taken seriously, we cannot ignore the added pressure put on our NHS staff and resources,” said Tipton. “We have heard awful stories of people having to face delays on operations because the coronavirus pandemic is demanding priority attention.

“Already this season I have had multiple players require hospital treatment, unrelated to coronavirus, for injuries like a suspected broken leg or head wounds only picked up because of playing football.

“I struggle to now justify potentially adding to the drain on NHS resources by sending players out on the pitch in a contact sport that could result in further hospital treatment.

“I was a massive advocate of the benefits of a return to football earlier this year and appreciate the positives for us all who love the game.

“No-one will miss training and games as much as me but the issue is bigger than that and our duty, specifically for the next few weeks, goes beyond individual needs.”