With football on lockdown due to coronavirus, clubs are set to fill the time with a new competition - in the FIFA 20 videogame.
In a bid to stop the virus's spread, there will be no more professional football in England until at least April 4.
There have even been suggestions that the current season could simply be abandoned altogether - although the prospect of legal action from clubs means this is seen as less likely than reconvening to play the remaining matches at a later date, perhaps even behind closed doors.
But in the meantime football is on hold - and that means a lot of players and staff with a lot of time on their hands.
COMMENT: What next for Oxford United and the EFL during coronavirus outbreak?
So step forward Leyton Orient, who are leading the way on a competitive e-sports alternative to stave off the sport's collective cabin fever.
They mooted the suggestion on the club's Twitter account on Sunday night:
🤷♂️ Sure, connect four is cool but we’ve got a better idea!
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) March 15, 2020
We need 63 other teams to enter a knock-out FIFA 20 tournament.
To enter, all we need is the club to RT this tweet.
We will host a live draw this Tuesday…
🙏 for an away day to @ManCity #UltimateQuaranTeam #LOFC pic.twitter.com/7aycsrn48r
United were quick to accept the challenge.
Go on the, we’re in! 😊
— Oxford United FC (@OUFCOfficial) March 16, 2020
Who wants to represent, #OUFC?
💛💙 https://t.co/CKLGOgpbuT
Confirmed entrants include teams from across England's top four divisionns, including reigning League champions Manchester City, and sides from across the globe.
We’re in @leytonorientfc 😏 https://t.co/BBDVVtBBva
— Man City Esports (@mancityesports) March 16, 2020
By Monday morning Orient were oversubscribed for the 64 slots in the conntest and announced they were doubling the size of the competition to 128 teams.
🙌 Good morning everyone!
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) March 16, 2020
Early this morning, we hit the 64 mark, as reigning Premier League champions @ManCity registered their interest!
Since then, we've had 5 more teams try to get in...
So we have two options for you to decide where we go next with this...
👇 pic.twitter.com/QeEL8WAOJN
That prompted another flood of entries from teams around the world, including and this season's Premier League surprise package, Sheffield United.
Let’s ‘av it 👊 https://t.co/WIKozy7ZTs pic.twitter.com/C6rzAwNf0n
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) March 16, 2020
Too late for the party ? 👀 pic.twitter.com/gAhoRQphCX
— Hamilton Accies FC (@acciesfc) March 15, 2020
Can we play ? 😅 pic.twitter.com/u1EULFTBVJ
— Amiens SC (@AmiensSC) March 16, 2020
pic.twitter.com/frIlDdBvLf
— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) March 16, 2020
🎮😏 pic.twitter.com/YRm42a0pLe
— Willem II (@WillemII) March 16, 2020
Are we late? pic.twitter.com/6Ycy1rGN6u
— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) March 16, 2020
And veteran TV commentator Guy Mowbray has even offered his services to commentate on any live stream of the event.
pic.twitter.com/frIlDdBvLf
— AZ (@AZAlkmaar) March 16, 2020
Apparently the idea is each club will play as the licensed virtual version of themselves in the 'Ultimate QuaranTeam' tournament, with the first round draw set to be made on Wednesday.
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