NUNO ESPIRITO SANTO has slammed football chiefs for allowing his side Wolves’ Europa League clash to go ahead while “people are dying” from coronavirus.
Nuno took aim at governing body Uefa for failing to cancel the first leg of his side’s Europa League Last 16 tie against Olympiacos.
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Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo watches on as his side play Olympicos in an empty stadium in the Europa LeagueCredit: Reuters
Although the game is taking place behind closed doors, Nuno expressed his view that it was not a strong enough measure given the current climate.
He spoke to BT Sport ahead of the game: “[We play] with a heavy heart because of the situation that is happening in the world.
“You play a game of football but you realise what is happening worldwide with all these people ill and dying and all these things and we are playing a game of football.
“It’s absurd.”
The game had been in serious doubt after Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis announced he had the virus.
Pedro Martins, the manager of Wolves’ Greek opponents, sympathised with their efforts to have the game postponed.
But Uefa refused and a number of Thursday’s Europa League fixtures went ahead.
The coronavirus pandemic has caused chaos across the world as countries are put into lockdown and sporting fixtures cancelled.
It has wreaked havoc with football across Europe as Spain, Italy and Portugal have all cancelled matches for the foreseeable future in wake of the deadly virus.
Uefa are set for a crisis meeting on Tuesday with Euro 2020 close to being cancelled in wake of the spread of Covid-19.
However, it appears that not only will English teams continue to play but thousands of fans will be allowed in the stands despite the preventative measures being taken elsewhere.
Earlier this evening EFL bosses said there was “no medical rationale” behind suspending matches after Thursday’s Cobra meeting.
Wolves earned their place in the Europa League last 16 after they thumped La Liga side Espanyol 6-3 on aggregate.
Despite going down 3-2 away in the second leg, the Premier League side eased into the next stage with a comfortable last 32 win over the two games.
Diogo Jota had struck a hat-trick in the first leg as Wolves thrashed their Spanish opponents 4-0 at Molineux to all but secure their qualification for the next round.
Nuno Espirito Santo has a go at reporter after misunderstanding a question post Man Utd v Wolves
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
