Mason Mount facing possible Chelsea fine after leaving self-isolation for park kickabout with pal Declan Rice — reports

According to the tabloids this morning (all of course claiming exclusives), Mason Mount went for a park kickabout with friends, including West Ham’s Declan Rice, on Sunday.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a huge deal — though professionals paid to play a sport should not participate in such recreational athletic activities regardless — but Mount, like the rest of the Chelsea squad and staff, is supposed to be in self-isolation still following Callum Hudson-Odoi’s positive COVID-19 diagnosis last week. To be clear, that means no (or minimal) contact with the outside world.

An eye-witness account, complete with a picture blurry enough to be surprisingly from this decade, accompany the report, which does raise the question of what were all those other people doing there? With practically the entire western world in various states of lockdown and isolation, should anybody willingly and voluntarily congregate in such places as playgrounds and field? But we digress.

The Mirror’s report claims that the club “have reminded Mount of his responsibilities” following this incident, while the Star’s report claims that he could facing a possible fine from the club as well. Mount didn’t break any laws per se — strict quarantines and martial law have not (yet?) been imposed — but he should be expected to lead by example at all times as a professional footballer for Chelsea Football Club.

Let’s do better, Mason and all of us. He might not have the virus or be showing any symptoms of the disease, but he could very well be a carrier or, by exposing himself to others, become one. Same applies to Declan Rice, even if West Ham are not self-isolating at this time (although their manager, David Moyes apparently is?).

We’re all trying to “flatten the curve” and everybody needs to do their part. It’s easy; you don’t actually have to do anything. Just stay home.