I like those odds!
See, it's this blind fear of HIV that people need to get their heads around. It's dangerous, yes, but unless you're talking open wound to open wound, drinking the others blood or possibly gallons of their seamen or saliva, do you realise how hard it would be for someone to contract HIV from someone they play football with? Christ, even if they did skin their knee, the chances of cross-infection are pretty slim frankly.
You might say, "I don't want to take even that tiny risk", but don't think about other potentially fatal diseases and illnesses that can be spread far more easily because they don't carry the stigma of HIV.
Aside from that, honestly, how many blood-wounds do you see in football now anyways? :shrug: Not that many and, seeing as any blood injury appears to warrant being removed from play until it's cleaned up now, what's the harm??
Lets not start knee-jerking at HIV sufferers just because we're concerned about something that might happen, following a series of other possible occurances - christ, we might all get wiped out by a massive, AIDS infested labrador army by the end of the year, who knows? It's always a risk...
I'm sure those 6 footballers are rationalising those odds too in their attempt to get a nights sleep .
Whether the experience will be enough to persuade them to modify their behaviour for any length of time is another matter .
Stupidity is a universal human failing .
Those unfortunate enough to contract HIV may decide to withdraw themselves from contact sports because they view the risk to others as being unnacceptable .
I wouldn't want to be using a tape gun with a serated cutting edge with itinerant intravenous drug using co-workers like I did for seasonal work 20 years ago . Not just for HIV , as I understand it Hep B is far more transmissible .
Unless all players are forced to undergo tests for blood transmissible infections then it's a risk players and their families have been living with and will continue to live with .
Very true but, considering again the stigma surrounding HIV compared to Hep B, if a player says he has HIV then so many issues would be raised. Player says he has Hep B, sympathy is piled on, they take some time out until they're used to their meds and everyone forgets about it.