Spitting Athletes Are Helping To Spread Swine Flu

(Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

It may sound ridiculous, but spitting athletes are helping the Swine Flu virus spreading.

These alarming claims were made by the Health Protection Agency in the UK, after players from Blackburn Rovers contracted Swine Flu. Spitting may be a disgusting habit, but it is part of the game.

It is not just soccer that spitting takes place. We see it in baseball, hockey, football to name but a few. But can it really be spreading Swine Flu?

Three Blackburn players have contracted the disease, and there were concerns it could have spread to Chelsea players, who Rovers faced on Sunday. The Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti didn't seem too concerned about his players.

He told the BBC, ""The flu is not only on the pitch, it's everywhere. We take all the precautions and we want to think about playing, that's it."

The virus in thought to have infected five people at Blackburn, and Rovers manager Sam Allardyce has been 'unwell.' Bolton Wanderers have also reported players being unwell.

It is important to keep this in perspective. Football players are still human, and are just as likely to contract illnesses as the rest of us. Spitting may be disgusting and unhygienic, but it will remain part of the game.

Stopping players from spitting will not do anything to prevent the spread of swine flu, but will instead add to the panic. Players who may not feel 100 percent will worry they have Swine Flu, and are more likely to sit out a game if they are worried they may catch it.

Players are criticized for having bad work ethic and motivation, and worrying them about catching swine flu will only make this reputation a lot worse.

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