The ordinary Congress of the EFA – which was mainly focused on listening to reports and reforming the regulations, as we had warned – did not thoroughly address the issue of game schedules. It did not take into account the seriousness of the exposure to ultraviolet rays, nor did it reflect on the risks that experts in these matters warn can cause harm to those involved in a sports program, in this case football, including the audience. Only by knowing the arguments of the speakers who oppose addressing this issue will we realize how it was handled.
For example, they argue that it is pure regionalism and that the only thing the clubs from Guayas are trying to do is eliminate the tradition of playing at noon in the capital city. This, from now on, becomes a 'distinguished' phrase due to its irresponsibility and because it borders on ignorance and accommodating the convenience of those who defend the advantages of playing at noon, under the blazing sun, and at an altitude of 2,800 meters.
At the very least, the EFA's Medical Commission should have been listened to, supported by the opinions of expert dermatologists or oncologists who can demonstrate that the issue is not a mere regionalistic pretext, but rather that statistics speak of irreversible damage to the skin, with a high probability of developing cancer. It is our duty to raise the alarm, but also to make a new appeal to conscience in order to follow what is prudent rather than what is irresponsible.
The leader Esteban Paz has mentioned: "Regarding those complaints about the Sun, we should not pay attention to the whining by the Argentinians and Brazilians." I imagine he is referring to the cause that the Argentine Football Association, due to summer games, detailed the risks of exposure to the sun and high temperatures. They established schedules for the matches and managed to prevent football games from taking place between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM from November 17th to March 13th. As far as we know, it was not about "whining", but rather about a reasoned exposure of the risks. On the other hand, in our lands, the Footballer Association, vanished from the scene on this issue, has preferred to remain silent.
Everyone with their own responsibility. For now, the majority vote of the Congress prevailed against a proposal from Asoguayas, but what I know is that those who voted for the triumph of continuing to play at noon celebrated truncating that old coastal aspiration to change the famous schedule for the 14th consecutive time. As an anecdote, I remember that in 2012, when the coach of El Nacional, the Ecuadorian Sixto Vizuete, stated to a local print media that he would like to play against teams from the Sierra starting at 4:00 PM, to avoid affecting the players with the intensity of the Sun and the great effort that it causes, but that yes, against teams from the Coast at noon to take advantage of the altitude and the strong Sun.
Well, if that's the case, why ask for reports and statistics, or discuss it in any Congress if everything is based on the calculation of the cleverest, the astute. Very similar to those old tricks of putting itching powder in the dressing rooms, or painting the locker rooms a day before the competition, or setting off fireworks and making noise with chants during the gatherings so that the rival cannot rest. In that world, anything goes. What matters is to diminish the rival at any cost. It is always good to remember that fair play is not only the demand for loyal, sincere, correct, and fraternal behavior towards the opponent on a football field. Fair play also entails management legislation to create fair rules and achieve reasonable and preventive competition.
When Barcelona took the field at the Atahualpa stadium on October 22nd (photo), and their players displayed a banner that said: "Let's take care of our health! Playing under extreme solar radiation at noon is a risk to our health and that of the spectators," certain media outlets in Quito repeated that this protest was another move by the teams from Guayas to avoid playing at noon. And as a complement to that absurd discourse, a high-ranking AFNA official declared: "We have allowed freedom of expression for Barcelona to display the banner, but they do not have a say because the schedules are determined by the weight of the regulations, and we will see in the Congress if they have the votes." In the end, AFNA's manager, Nicolás Vega, warned it and achieved it, because their thesis won in Congress by the weight of the votes.
Some leaders, in order to exonerate themselves at the last minute, have recommended that since this is a matter for specialists to discuss, it should be investigated whether these rays are as bothersome as certain journalists paint them to be. If so, I spare them the trouble and allow myself to include the opinion of Dr. Enrique Úraga Peña, a distinguished Ecuadorian scientist, who gives us his version of the aforementioned issue.
"A person who engages in outdoor activities, whether for work, sport, or hobby, is going to have a high probability of developing moderate to severe skin cancer. And that's because between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM are the hours when we should avoid prolonged exposure (to the sun). Therefore, we must tell them not to train at that time, not to play at that time. You have from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM to train in the morning and can do it again after 4:00 PM, or at night, and of course play (during those hours)." That should be enough for a good understanding.
And as the Arab poet Mahmud Darwish says in his book Memory for Forgetfulness, when reasons are not considered and interests are imposed, "sores in the subconscious that the conscience does not heal" can be caused. Those who turn a blind eye to the issue can deal with it. At least some cannot. We wonder, is there enough forgetfulness in Ecuadorian football to be able to forget? (O)