Friday. 29.03.2024
CORONAVIRUS

Swedish Prime Minister says starting football season is irresponsible

On Thursday, the Nordic country reported 130 more deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,333. Even though schools, bars and restaurants are open, Swedish PM thinks starting football season may spread Covid-19 even more.
Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven (R) speaks at a joint press conference with Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Photo: Paivi Anttikoski/Vnk/Filed.
The Prime Ministers of Finland and Sweden, Sanna Marin and Stefan Löfven. Photo: Päivi Anttikoski/Vnk.

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven does not like that football sub-series will start in the Stockholm area next weekend.

Löfven talked to Aftonbladet and said, “I think it’s irresponsible and unnecessary.”

The sub-series in the Stockholm area will start on Friday. These are divisions 3 to 5 for women and 4 to 7 for men.

Löfven is annoyed by this because he thinks the coronavirus would spread. 

And it would do so at a time when the number of infections is increasing. On Thursday 16 April, the Nordic country reported 130 more deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities to 1,333. And Stockholm is a particularly affected area.

“I love football and want to watch it as often as possible but right now is not the time,” said Löfven.

The Swedish Prime Minister thinks that playing for children and young people is fine, but for adults to play matches during the ongoing corona epidemic, he strongly opposes.

“Everyone who has ever played knows that at the latest a minute after the game, the first close contact starts. There you can infect each other but also hurt yourself and thus occupy a place in the hospital that someone else would need,” he says.

Many teams oppose the decision

Löfven does not want to say that the federation should withdraw its decision. This is something that the federation must do itself. But according to SVT, many teams have opposed the start of the season.

The Swedish government has refused to adopt tough measures, similar to those imposed in other European countries, to curb the epidemic. On the contrary, Sweden has been facing the global spread of the coronavirus with open schools and crowded streets.

Swedish Prime Minister says starting football season is irresponsible