This is bigger than football. Why not stop?
NUNO: NO SENSE IN PLAYING
FOR Nuno Espirito Santo the global threat of coronavirus is far bigger than football.
To the Portuguese boss, health and safety means far more than the sport he loves and his Wolves team’s bid for Europa League glory.
Wolves have asked UEFA to postpone their last-16 clash at Olympiakos, which is due to be played behind closed doors tomorrow.
The plea came after the Greek club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis revealed he had gone down with coronavirus.
Nuno and his players will not defy the authorities if their request is denied but they will be extremely reluctant travellers.
“This is bigger than football,” he said. “Of course it is. It is a social situation and everyone is worried.
“I understand the decision of playing behind closed doors but what is the point?
“Football is entertainment and it does not make sense. It does not have to be this way.”
Nuno believes that football chiefs have to look for alternative measures in the face of potentially one of the gravest health crises of modern times.
In Italy, which has been hit hardest in Europe by coronavirus, all domestic sport has been suspended until April 3.
“I think something has to be done,” said Nuno. “Closing doors and stadia is not a solution. This is not normal. We are pretending to live normal lives when things are not normal.
“Is there another solution? Why not stop? Why not? Does it make sense playing a game behind closed doors when fans cannot attend.
“This is a danger that is worldwide. All these things are happening so maybe there is another solution in terms of football.
“Everyone must see what is going on. So, is football sending out the right message that we can still compete and have contact?”
Nuno says it is inevitable that with no sign yet of the virus being checked, the Premier League will soon be badly affected, just as leagues in Italy, France, Germany, Portugal and Spain already are. He added: “We have our obligations and I am an employee of a club and if we have to go there, we will go but we do not agree.
“I don’t agree with playing behind closed doors whatever the competition, whether is in Greece, Portugal or England. Football is entertainment so what is the point?
“It is time to think there must be another option because this is something that is developing and it
Valencia and Atalanta line up in a near-empty stadium for their Champions League clash in Spain last night eventually it will happen in the Premier League.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola agrees.
“It’s the health of the people – what is best for humanity,” said the Spaniard. “We have to take care of ourselves, not just one country, one city, it’s all around the world.
“It is now many cases, every day in England, in China, especially in Italy, the situation is unexpected.”
Guardiola, left, also believes that playing behind closed doors is an unsatisfactory response.
“I understand for the short-term – one game OK – but if it is longer, then football should be suspended,” he said. “There is no reason to play without the people. It is about the people. It’s like an actor in a theatre with no one there.”