Belarusian football league kicks off despite coronavirus pandemic
While the rest of Europe has hung up their boots until further notice, the Belarusian football league kicked off on Thursday after consulting with UEFA.
BATE visited Energetik in the opening match of the league, which features sixteen teams in its top division.
Last week, Cup matches with spectators had already been played in the country, which has recorded 51 cases of COVID-19 so far.
The Belarusian Football Federation explained that the decision to start the championship as scheduled was made during a video conference on Tuesday with UEFA.
In addition, they added that the federation is monitoring the epidemiological situation in the country daily and will take the necessary safety measures if needed.
"Many championships have been suspended, but our season has just begun, as we play on the spring-autumn system. This week we played the first matchday," said Alexandr Aleinik, press officer for the federation.
The clubs have gladly accepted the decision and plan to play their matches with spectators in the stands, at least during the first matchday.
The Dynamo Brest won the league title last season, although the previous thirteen belong to the all-powerful BATE, who won them consecutively.
A different situation
To contain the pandemic, Russia closed its border with Belarus this week. Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko has recommended that the population go to the sauna, drink vodka, and work hard to kill the virus in their organism.
Previously, the Russian and Ukrainian federations suspended their championships, while the Turkish federation will continue the competition like the Belarusian, but behind closed doors. EFE