NEGRI HOPES HIS HOMELAND CAN RECOVER
by ourselves. It is completely locked down. But that is the way we can fight the virus. I don’t think it’s a big thing for the normal people, for lucky people, to stay at home.
“So many people are contagious. A lot of people are contagious and don’t have the symptoms. If they go out they can infect other people, including older people, people who have heart problems or diabetes.
“I fully understand the situation. If I can do just a small thing to help – which is to stay at home, to stay safe – then I will. It is a tough rule, but it is a simple rule, don’t take a risk.”
Many Italian footballers have contracted coronavirus, including the legendary AC Milan and Italy defender Paolo Maldini. Negri, who played for Serie A clubs Cagliari, Udinese and Perugia as well as Rangers and faced “Il Capitano” on many occasions, believes that shows nobody, no matter what their age or medical condition, is safe.
“It is not a flu, it is more than a flu,” he said. “It is something much worse. Paolo Maldini has been infected. He has tested positive for coronavirus. He spoke to the newspapers about how tough it has been. He had four or five days of high, high fever, a lot of coughing. He is a strong, healthy man.”
One theory put forward by scientists for the high death toll in Italy is the ageing population there. Negri is naturally concerned for the wellbeing of his elderly mother, who is confined to her home in Genoa around 200 miles away.
“I keep in touch with phone calls,” he said. “I am just hoping for some good news. She is okay. She has been receiving help from the people who live around her. She is 80 and was due to get a knee transplant. Now that has been postponed. But she understands she has to stay home.
“She grew up in the postwar generation. Our parents and our grandparents went through a war. We are just being asked to stay home. There is a big difference. I don’t see any problem.”
The World Health Organisation has expressed a belief that coronavirus is set to peak in Italy and Negri is praying along with all of his compatriots that their calculations are correct.
“It looks like in the next few days the curve will go down, the peak will be reached maybe today or tomorrow,” he said. “We hope the lockdown is working. Freedom is the best thing we have got in the world. But 14 days, maybe a month, of staying home, staying safe, is a small price to pay.
“I know freedom is very nice. But the sooner everybody understands what we have to do the sooner we can return to our everyday lives, to football, to the Old Firm, to supporting Rangers. If we have enough positive people we can stop this.”
I really hope it doesn’t happen in your country
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay is postponed after the Games themselves were pushed back to 2021 on Tuesday.
Tennis player Thiago Seyboth Wild reveals he contracted the virus and has been in self-isolation for a week.
The suspension of Japan’s J.League is extended into May, along with the associated cup competition.
Brighton announce they will donate 1,000 tickets for future matches to frontline NHS workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic and encourage other clubs to follow.
Bournemouth join Brighton’s initiative with a similar promise to provide tickets for
NHS staff.
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says he hopes the Tokyo Games can be staged by the summer of 2021 at the latest and does not rule out staging the event in the spring.
British Swimming confirms the FINA Diving World Series set for London has now been cancelled, along with all end-of-season domestic championships. The FINA event had originally been postponed from the end of March.
Unicef’s Soccer Aid fundraiser, scheduled to take place at Old Trafford on June 6, is postponed.
Tottenham reveal they will take part in the Clap For Our Carers campaign, which asks people to applaud the efforts of the NHS at 8pm on Thursday.
Roger Federer and wife Mirka announce they will donate 1million Swiss francs to vulnerable families in Switzerland (£858,645).
The National League announces it has asked the Football Association to help end its season “as soon as possible” due to the coronavirus in a statement issued to clubs, published by Boreham Wood.
Former world lightwelterweight champion Amir Khan offers his newly-refurbished wedding venue to the NHS to help people affected by coronavirus.
National League Hartlepool announce they have asked staff and players to take a 20 per cent pay cut for March as well as terminating the contracts of “a small number” of members of staff.
London Irish become the latest Gallagher Premiership club to cut the wages of players and some staff by 25 per cent.
The Professional
Footballers’ Association calls for urgent talks with the Premier League and the EFL following reports some players had been asked to take wage deferrals.
The RFU reveals its executive team will take a pay cut of more than 25 per cent as part of efforts to mitigate the effects of heavy losses over the next 18 months.