Why Tottenham find it so difficult to adhere to Coronavirus guidelines

Moussa Sisoko and Serge Aurier, when the latter posted numerous videos on Instagram of the pair training together, were the latest Tottenham members to flout the government’s social distancing guidelines. 

The fact that Aurier flaunted it on social media is highly disconcerting, as it emboldens his indifference to the strict, yet necessary, policies. If the pair was hellbent on training in tandem, you would think they’d at least keep it on the down low, making sure it stayed between them. Instead, Aurier haughtily posted the interaction on social media for millions to see.

I’m not sure which is worse: Either he didn’t see anything wrong with the transgression or he did, and decided to broadcast it anyway.

Frankly, this has become an embarrassing trend in north London. It’s Tottenham’s fourth coronavirus-related infringement, third of which since the lockdown commenced. The first and second incident happened on the same day, when Jose Mourinho held an unofficial, off-the-books training session with Tanguy Ndombele. That was accompanied simultaneously, if unrelated, by Ryan Sessegnon and Davinson Sanchez’s tandem jog. And of course there was Dele Alli’s coronavirus video to friends well before the lockdown took effect. 

So what makes Tottenham feel like they’re above the law, with certain factions acting with impunity and impertinence?

Large portions of society, whether we like to admit it, still haven’t truly come to grips with the sobering gravitas of the current crisis.

Most of whom are of a younger demographic. We must remember that many professional footballers are still in the early-to-mid-20s. At the risk of generalizing, a large proportion of the younger generation have trouble coming to terms with the potential consequences of their actions.

Large swaths are impressionable, unfledged men trying to navigate the terrain as forced role models, many of whom clearly aren’t ready for their influential positions in society.

That’s not to say these auspicious millionaires aren’t fully accountable for their actions, because they are. Aside from Aurier, who is a loose cannon at the best of times, much more is expected of these individuals.

That interpretation, however, doesn’t let Jose Mourinho off the hook.

Our actions are quite often the direct result of those who influence us, those in powerful, authoritative, leadership roles. As the frontline leader of a prestigious football club, Mourinho’s decisions have an all-encompassing, widespread impact not only on his players, but on greater society too.

When he decided to disregard government regulations and train individually Ndombele, he condoned others in his close cohort to do so, even if he showed a semblance of contrition in the aftermath of the folly, though never offering an official apology.

Seeing players in his side replicate the gaffer’s poor decisions a few weeks on shouldn’t then come as a surprise.