EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by PETER POWELL/NMC/EPA POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682795bq)
Kevin De Bruyne (L) of Manchester City and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (R) of Arsenal in action in front of empty stands during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC in Manchester, Britain, 17 June 2020.
Manchester City vs Arsenal FC, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
I am looking forward to finding the U.S. airings of these matches. Golf without spectators was surprisingly fine, but I wonder if soccer will be bizarre. I suspect there are some sounds of the game that we are not expecting. Besides which, I wonder if it affects player energy at all to have ZERO people in the stands.
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Mandatory Credit: Photo by PETER POWELL/NMC/EPA POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682795h)
Manchester City fans are displayed on a screen ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC in Manchester, Britain, 17 June 2020.
Manchester City vs Arsenal FC, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
But they did have a giant tablet with some Zoom fans! The other match put them up on the Jumbotron. (I don't know if WE ARE NOT REALLY HERE up there is an intentional thing or if it's just a hilariously timed ad for something else.)
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by SHAUN BOTTERIL/NMC/GETTY IMAGES POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682746e)
Journalists keep social distance on the media tribune prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park in Birmingham, Britain, 17 June 2020. EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United, Birmingham, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
This is how they handled the journalists who were there to cover the game.
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by CARL RECINE/NMC/REUTERS POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682746ad)
Players of Aston Villa (L) and Sheffield United (R) kneel down in front of empty stands ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United at Villa Park in Birmingham, Britain, 17 June 2020.
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United, Birmingham, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
Players in both games did a moment of silence before the whistle to honor the Covid victims (and, the Aston Villa manager's father -- once a groundskeeper there -- died of Covid, and they laid out a lone groundskeeper jacket there as tribute). Then, after the whistle, they and the referee took a knee for a moment in honor of Black Lives Matter.
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by DAVE THOMPSON/NMC/AP POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682792am)
Raheem Sterling (L) of Manchester City celebrates with teammate Riyad Mahrez (R) after scoring the 1-0 lead during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC in Manchester, Britain, 17 June 2020.
Manchester City vs Arsenal FC, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
The jerseys looked great. Apparently once the 12 games are up, they'll keep a BLM patch on elsewhere.
Tyrone Mings of Aston Villa
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by PAUL ELLIS/NMC/AFP POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682746p)
Tyrone Mings of Aston Villa wears a shirt reading 'Black Lives Matter' as he warms up ahead of the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United in Birmingham, Britain, 17 June 2020.
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United, Birmingham, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
Yep.
Manchester City v Arsenal
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Magi Haroun/Shutterstock (10682210x)
disinfecting the goal posts before the match
Manchester City v Arsenal, Premier League, Football, The Etihad Stadium, Manchester, UK - 17 Jun 2020
"And I will clean off with a sponge // the germs from goalpost-lickers' tongues // 'til the day my life is through, this I promise you."
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by PETER POWELL/NMC/EPA POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682795aw)
A staff member disinfects a corner flag before the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC in Manchester, Britain, 17 June 2020.
Manchester City vs Arsenal FC, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
"We've switched the flag man's usual disinfectant spray with new armpit-scented Axe Cleaning Spritz. Let's see if he notices."
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Thompson/AP/Shutterstock (10682855c)
Member of the ground staff cleans the ball before the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, . The English Premier League resumes Wednesday after its three-month suspension because of the coronavirus outbreak
Soccer Premier League, Manchester, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
"This is our time, buddy. This is it. You are gonna shine."
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by CARL RECINE/NMC/REUTERS POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682746ar)
Jack Grealish (L) of Aston Villa and Chris Basham (C) of Sheffield United in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United in Birmingham, Britain, 17 June 2020.
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United, Birmingham, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
"It is very hard to complete a physically distanced tackle but I think we're doing it, mate. WE'RE DOING IT."
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by CARL RECINE/NMC/REUTERS POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682746bk)
Oli McBurnie (L) of Sheffield United and Tyrone Mings (R) of Aston Villa in action during the English Premier League soccer match between Aston Villa and Sheffield United in Birmingham, Britain, 17 June 2020.
Aston Villa vs Sheffield United, Birmingham, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
"Is it still safe for you to crack my back while we're here?"
Manchester City vs Arsenal FC
EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by PETER POWELL/NMC/EPA POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682795bi)
Rodrigo of Manchester City wearing a protective face mask warms up during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal FC in Manchester, Britain, 17 June 2020.
Manchester City vs Arsenal FC, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
If they're going to the trouble of making goalies wear masks, they MIGHT want to have them pull them up all the way. (The security guards in some cases ALSO had them on over their mouths only.)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Thompson/AP/Shutterstock (10682855a)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola stands of the pitch before the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, . The English Premier League resumes Wednesday after its three-month suspension because of the coronavirus outbreak
Soccer Premier League, Manchester, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
This man has sassy hips.
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Dave Thompson/AP/Shutterstock (10682855ad)
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola touches the head of Manchester City's Sergio Aguero as he prepares to send him into the match during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, . The English Premier League resumes Wednesday after its three-month suspension because of the coronavirus outbreak
Soccer Premier League, Manchester, United Kingdom - 17 Jun 2020
"Don't worry, I sanitized my hands first."
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Mandatory Credit: Photo by LUKAS BARTH-TUTTAS/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (10682890i)
A steward stands between empty seats during the German Bundesliga soccer match between FC Augsburg and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in Augsburg, Germany, 17 June 2020.
FC Augsburg vs TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Germany - 17 Jun 2020
"All BYYYYY MYYYYYYseeeeeellllf..."
[OK technically this is in Germany, but it felt like the right ending.]
