This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
Football Matches Amid COVID-19 Pandemic ¶
Published on May 6, 2020
While the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the suspension of many sports leagues around the world, some countries have found ways to continue staging football matches. In this article, we take a look at how some of these countries have managed to keep the beautiful game going.
Belarus, for instance, has reported over 19,000 COVID-19 cases and over 100 deaths, but the country's football league continues to operate. President Alexander Lukashenko has stated that there is no cause for alarm, and the health sector is well-prepared to handle any eventualities.
The Belarusian Football Association has implemented strict measures to ensure player safety, including temperature checks, disinfectant gel, and doctors at the entrances to take the temperature of all attendees. However, many fans have chosen to boycott the games due to fears of catching the disease.
"We fully trust our health care system and there are currently no reasons for stopping the league," said Sergei Zhardetski, the Secretary-General of the Belarusian Football Association. "The decision on whether or not to go to the matches must be made by the fans."
Other countries that have continued to stage football matches include Nicaragua, Taiwan, and South Korea. In Nicaragua, the Primera Liga de Nicaragua has been running smoothly behind closed doors, with passionate fans congregating on the grass banks next to the stadiums. In Taiwan, the baseball and soccer seasons got underway in the second weekend of April, with attendees limited to only 200 players, coaches, journalists, cheerleaders, and umpires.
South Korea, which has well over 10,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, has implemented strict health checks and hygiene measures to ensure player safety. Players have been asked to bow their heads from a distance and avoid close contact.
Meanwhile, Turkmenistan, which has reported no cases of the coronavirus, has allowed fans to attend football matches. Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov has stated that the country is not hiding anything and would immediately inform the World Health Organization if there was a single confirmed coronavirus case.
As the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, it will be interesting to see how these countries continue to stage football matches while ensuring player safety.
