Watford's Deeney concerned for minority players as restart vote awaits

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Watford captain Troy Deeney is voicing concerns over the safety of minority players as the Premier League's Project Restart pushes for the completion of the 2019-20 campaign amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published data last week showing that black men and women in England and Wales are four times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white people.

"You've got a government statement saying that for BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) players, people of mixed origins, you are more likely to have long-lasting (problems) or die from COVID, yet nothing more is in place for black people or people from mixed backgrounds within any of the structures that they are talking about," Deeney said on Instagram, according to the Evening Standard.

"So when you ask that question and no one can answer the question, why are you going to keep taking the risk?" Deeney added. "What are they going to do, take money off me? I've been broke before, doesn't do anything to me."

Socioeconomic conditions like wealth, education, health, and living situations play a part in the spread of COVID-19, according to the ONS' study. However, even when there's an adjustment made for sociodemographic characteristics, black men and women are still nearly twice as likely to die of the virus than white people.

"These results show that the difference between ethnic groups in Covid-19 mortality is partly a result of socioeconomic disadvantage and other circumstances, but a remaining part of the difference has not yet been explained," the ONS said.

Deeney represented Watford during Wednesday's talks as part of the Project Restart initiative, and several team captains raised concerns over the availability of testing while frontline workers await checks. Deeney will now hold discussions with Watford teammates and coaches to provide further clarification before teams vote Monday on Project Restart.

Deeney is the latest Premier League player to express worries after Newcastle United full-back Danny Rose said earlier in the week "I don't give a f--- about the nation's morale. People's lives are at risk."