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FifPro hit out at Belarus Premier League for continuing amid coronavirus crisis: ‘It is frankly not comprehensible’

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has refused to bring in social distancing measures as the Premier League remains the only competition in Europe still being played

Wednesday 01 April 2020 07:46 BST
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Coronavirus: How has sport been affected?

The head of the global football players' union FifPro has said it is "frankly not comprehensible" that football is continuing to be played in Belarus despite the coronavirus crisis.

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has vowed to resist social distancing measures despite the country reporting its first death from the virus on Tuesday, and a surge in confirmed cases to 152.

FifPro general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann said: "We're appealing for it to be taken with the same cautionary measures that have been taken in the rest of football.

"It is frankly not comprehendible how this could be going on.

"Why those standards there would be looking so much different from just across the border, I don't think anybody can explain. So everything in common sense tells you that they need to apply the same standards and we will be lobbying to that effect.

"Yes, there are players who are reaching out who are concerned."

A full Premier League programme was played in Belarus last weekend and the next two matches are scheduled to take place on Friday in Minsk and Bobruisk respectively.

The Belarus Premier League is the only Uefa-sanctioned league still being played in Europe, with a capacity crowd of 3,000 fans watching the weekend's derby between FC Minks and Dinamo Minsk.

Lukashenko played in an ice hockey match last week and reportedly claimed drinking vodka and taking a sauna was a way to beat the virus that has now killed over 40,000 people worldwide.

PA

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