Suspension of Turkish football season leaves Australia to soldier on alone, for now

Istanbul (AFP) – Turkey’s decision to call a halt to its football season due to the coronavirus pandemic on Thursday means the sport has now been suspended in all of Europe, and practically the entire world, with Australia the exception.

Despite the government in Ankara closing its land borders with Greece and Bulgaria, suspending air links with 20 countries and closing schools across the country, the Super Lig season had looked set to carry on behind closed doors.

However, with three people having died and almost 200 cases reported in Turkey, the country’s sports minister said on Thursday that the football season would stop after the Turkish Football Federation came under fire for insisting games go ahead.

“All football activities in Turkey have been suspended until further notice because of the continuous spread of coronavirus,” said a statement from the TFF. 

After their 0-0 derby draw with Istanbul rivals Besiktas behind closed doors last Sunday, Galatasaray players and staff hit out at what they called “a shameful evening”.

“They took the decision to play behind closed doors,” said Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. “But what about the players? Do our lives not matter?”

The club’s coach Fatih Terim added: “All the leading leagues around the world have been suspended. The truth is that this is about our lives. Everyone’s life is in danger.”

Sports daily Fanatik reported that Besiktas had to persuade two of their foreign players — French forward Georges-Kevin Nkoudou and the American Tyler Boyd — to come to training on Monday.

– Obi Mikel leaves –

Meanwhile, former Nigeria international John Obi Mikel, once of Chelsea, quit Trabzonspor after saying he did not want to play on as the virus spread worldwide.

“There is more to life than football. I do not feel comfortable and don’t want to play football in this situation,” Obi Mikel wrote on Instagram.

Back in his homeland, the Nigerian season had been going on, with matches played on Wednesday, but the Nigerian Football Federation has now shut down all activities for at least the next four weeks.

Action in Argentina, Mexico and Russia has stopped in the last couple of days too, with all sporting fixtures in Russia off until April 10.

– ‘Right thing to keep going’ –

However, there is set to be some soccer played this weekend, in Australia’s A-League, where fixtures are scheduled to go on, albeit behind closed doors.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2Urtf18