Premier League players should be given right to refuse to return to action, says Marvin Sordell

Sordell believes it must be a personal choice depending on a player’s individual circumstances

Players should be given the right to refuse to return to action even if football’s ‘Project Restart’ proceeds, according to former Watford forward Marvin Sordell.

The 29-year-old, who retired from the game last summer to help protect his mental health, believes it must be a personal choice depending on a player’s individual circumstances.

He told the PA news agency: “Every single person has a different situation going on at home.

“Some people will be living on their own and they won’t have any responsibilities in that sense, or those fears that they may pass the virus onto somebody else if they contracted it themselves. And that’s fine, they’ll be eager to play and they don’t have to worry about certain things.

“There will be other players who live with their parents, or they are their parents’ only means of being able to get food. Their partners might be pregnant or they might have young kids, and some might have underlying health conditions. Some players themselves might have underlying health conditions.

Retired footballer Marvin Sordell (Getty)

“I think all of those accounts need to be taken in, because you don’t need a situation where you’re forcing people to go back or they’re refusing to do things.”

Sordell recently welcomed the chance to “create a better environment for the beautiful game” after joining the Football Association’s inclusion advisory board.

Sordell has also been vocal on the issue of racism in the game, and joins the IAB along with another fellow former player in Liam Rosenior.

The former player tweeted on Friday morning: “I’m really excited to be a part of this board, and hopefully be a part of helping create a better environment for the beautiful game in this country.

“As I made very clear throughout the process (of joining the board), I’m not interested in politics, or building any sort of career in football. I only want to help make change.” PA