Ofir: Panic stations in Scotland as fears grow
BY ALAN MARSHALL
HIBS keeper Ofir Marciano claims Scotland is starting to “panic” amidst the coronavirus crisis as he faces up to being in footballing limbo.
The Easter Road star was due to be lining up for Israel next week in the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Scotland at Hampden. But he’s now self-isolating with his family and wondering what the future will hold for him in Edinburgh.
And Marciano admits he has found the whole experience very odd.
He said: “Last Friday at Hibs we were getting ready for our game but there was a feeling something strange was happening.
“We saw the league had been cancelled so we stopped training.
“We spoke to the staff and they told us to go home for 10 days.
“There’s a feeling here games won’t take place but you have to try to motivate yourself because it’s your livelihood. There is also nothing official about the league’s return, training or any direction at all.
“Panic has started here. Initially, they adopted a different approach but now they seem to be lining up with the rest of the world.
“They are starting to close the pubs, restaurants and entertainment venues.
“We do not want to leave the house. We rarely go out and if we do it’s only to the park. We don’t want to be too close to people. We are following the advice issued by the Israeli Ministry of Health about life here.
“The economic side of this could be very heavy.”
Marciano, in an interview with an Israeli publication, admitted he knew their clash against Scotland would be KOd.
He said: “Even before the official announcement we received messages that the game would not take place.”