Burnley's Sean Dyche: Footballers should get Covid vaccine to divert testing money to NHS

The manager of Burnley Football Club has said that vaccinating football players against coronavirus could mean the money that's currently being spent on testing be diverted to the NHS.

Sean Dyche was speaking ahead of their match against MK Dons on Saturday, which is currently going ahead despite "a couple of cases" at the club.

He stressed that he did not believe footballers should "be put in front" and take priority over key workers, the vulnerable, and the elderly - but believes that when the time is right, vaccinating footballers would be a chance to save money on testing, while continuing the football fixtures which boost the mental health and morale of fans all around the UK - adding "the payback would be enormous".

The Premier League is currently testing players and staff twice a week

Dyche said "The amount of money being spent on testing in the Premier League, if that was channelled back into the NHS and into the vaccination system, surely that's a better place to be than continually testing footballers?"