'Pull your head in': Phil Gould under fire over bizarre coronavirus rant
Phil Gould was trending on Twitter on Monday afternoon - but for all the wrong reasons.
The NRL commentator was widely slammed by social media users after a bizarre rant about coronavirus and climate change.
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Gould angered a number of followers by claiming Australia is “only mildly exposed” to the virus, while also questioning why nobody is talking about climate change at the moment.
“People coming out now on coronavirus saying Australia should’ve had this, should’ve done that, behind rest of world on this and that,” Gould tweeted.
“Where was all this advice two months ago? You weren’t saying it then. Aust still only mildly exposed at present. Our containment methods will be positive.
“If I remember rightly, in January we were dealing with devastating bushfires and drought. World about to end due to climate change.
“Don’t hear anyone on climate change now. I certainly didn’t hear anyone banging on about coronavirus two months ago. All experts in hindsight.”
If I remember rightly, in January we were dealing with devastating bushfires & drought. World about to end due to climate change. Don’t hear anyone on climate change now. I certainly didn’t hear anyone banging on about #coronavirus 2 months ago. All experts in hindsight.
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) March 22, 2020
People coming out now on #coronavirus saying Aust should’ve had this, should’ve done that, behind rest of world on this & that. Where was all this advice 2 months ago? You weren’t saying it then. Aust still only mildly exposed at present. Our containment methods will be positive
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) March 22, 2020
The Channel Nine commentator copped a flood of replies, with many condemning his views.
you're still not out of the doghouse for sacking Ivan in 2015 mate, pull your head in
— Alex McKinnon (@mckinnon_a) March 23, 2020
With the greatest respect @PhilGould15 our current levels of exposure aren’t the issue. It’s the trajectory. Ramping upwards rapidly.
Many thousands of undiagnosed cases also feeding in.
Strong arguments for a very strong lockdown now to try and drive them down https://t.co/WR6jKhdfJV— Adam Spencer (@adambspencer) March 22, 2020
More wisdom from the NRL branch of Mensa 🤯 https://t.co/4u0xzYqAUh
— Nathan Templeton (@nathantemp7) March 22, 2020
Is Gus the secret source of scientific and medical advice being relied on by the NRL to justify keeping playing?
— Dr Darren Saunders (@whereisdaz) March 23, 2020
“The whole time your house has been on fire, you’ve been awful quiet about the dry rot problem.”
Please keep rugby league going if only to keep this guy busy. https://t.co/rtXJNOwypO— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) March 23, 2020
Sad to see coronavirus has turned Phil Gould’s brain to mush.
— Tim @ beermovie.net (@beer_movie) March 23, 2020
Hey @PhilGould you have been schooled all day on how wrong you were, and how you missed all the alerts, alarms being rung by experts, reports and data. At least correct the record - you have a public platform. Use it. Umpire has spoken - you were offside. https://t.co/Bdn4T4jT22
— Collette Snowden (@collettesnowden) March 23, 2020
Great to get the opinion of a highly qualified Scientific mind - one deeply immersed in all reputable news & Journalism! Unfortunately this isn’t Phil Gould . https://t.co/v16CmW7ZmG
— 💧jchimself (@jchimselfbigpo2) March 23, 2020
Phil Gould proving he truly has a two-dimensional mind where only one crisis can happen at a time. https://t.co/hLMXpXyY0u
— Anthony Sherratt (@AnthonySherratt) March 23, 2020
Gould can’t see all NRL clubs surviving
Later on Monday Gould warned he can't see all 16 NRL clubs surviving the suspended season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
All 16 clubs have woken to a new reality on Tuesday, with no football in the foreseeable future and a significant hit to their bottom line.
Several clubs made moves to stand down staff or place them on annual leave on Monday night, with no-one safe as the clubs searched for ways to save money.
The impact of the coronavirus on clubs who have previously walked the financial tightrope in the past could be dire.
Without games being played, there will be no gate takings, corporate boxes sold and a significant dip in merchandise sales.
Nine separate clubs also have links to leagues' clubs, which were indefinitely closed from Monday due to new laws aimed at preventing the spread of the virus.
"Clubs won't survive."
Gus predicts no more footy this year, and maybe the end of some clubs.
100% Footy | @Channel9 #9WWOS #NRL pic.twitter.com/qkfaNZHjbL— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) March 23, 2020
Sponsorships could also take a hit without games being played and a number of businesses doing it tough, while the NRL's losses could also impact on grants.
And Gould, who most recently filled a role as general manager at Penrith, admitted he feared for several clubs' futures.
“I can't see every club surviving,” Gould told Nine's 100% Footy.
“If this competition doesn't get back on the field this year, and there is no broadcast income coming into the game, I don't know how clubs are going to survive.
“Unless the criteria is so small next year to come into the competition, that they somehow find themselves in it.
“It depends what the funding arrangements are going forward. What the competition and salary cap looks like going forward.”
with AAP
