Virtual fans
For those of you suffering from soccer/football withdrawal, there is a cure. Just start following the Belarus Premier League or maybe you’d prefer the Football League of Tajikistan. While the level of play may not be up to the standard that you’ve become accustomed to, it is actually taking place in present time as the rest of the world battles the coronavirus pandemic.
The president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has dismissed concerns about the outbreak and the mass lock downs across the globe as “corona psychosis.” He has even suggested that taking shots of vodka and going to saunas will keep the disease at bay.
Adding to the insanity of this situation is the fact the league is allowing fans to attend the games.
One interesting result of being the only European league still operating is that the Belarus Football Federation has secured broadcasting deals with sports networks in 10 countries since the onset of the virus. The list includes Russia, Israel and India. Here in the states you can try and find some action on the Belarus Premier League You Tube channel.
Fans in Belarus
One of the Belarusian clubs, Dynamo Brest FC, have been selling “virtual” tickets to foreign fans. The club then places cardboard cutouts of the faces of new supporters on mannequins in the stands during matches.
Another league carrying on business as usual is the 10-team Tajik league which kicked off its new season earlier this month. All matches are being played behind closed doors without fans in attendance. The World Health Organisation has warned that people should avoid crowds, even in Tajikistan which has not announced a single case of the virus.
Current champions Istikol are managed by Vitaliy Levchenko. In his most recent press conference he stated:
You know that the championships are stopped in almost all countries because of the coronavirus pandemic. Thank God, there is no coronavirus in Tajikistan and the new football season begins in the country.
Action from the Tajik League
Pardon me for being a bit cynical but I find it hard to believe that this virus which has infected every corner of the globe has mysteriously skipped Tajikistan. Time will tell if any of the players end up getting sick, but in the meantime the games will go on.
To that point Khujand's Uzbek keeper Mamur Ikramov said, "My soul is anxious, I worry bout my compatriots, my family and my relatives. You know there are 205 coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan” (the neighboring country).
Hopefully we’ll get our favorite sport back soon, but maybe Belarus and Tajikistan can fill the void in the meantime.