Mario Balotelli agrees with the Players’ Association that football should stop in Italy until the Coronavirus is under control. “Money isn’t worth our health, we have to wake up.”
The situation is spiralling out of control, particularly in the Lombardy region, where by far the majority of the over 5,000 cases are based.
Mario Balotelli agrees with the Players’ Association that football should stop in Italy until the Coronavirus is under control. “Money isn’t worth our health, we have to wake up.”
The situation is spiralling out of control, particularly in the Lombardy region, where by far the majority of the over 5,000 cases are based.
There have now been 233 deaths in Italy from the highly-contagious illness, an increase of 36 from Friday, and another 567 in intensive care.
Balotelli posted the message from President of the AIC Damiano Tommasi, which was calling for football to halt during this unprecedented crisis.
“I agree with you 100%,” wrote the Brescia striker. “Money isn’t worth our health, we have to wake up. Don’t write rubbish to me like: But you are protected! What difference does it make if you play or not? Nothing happens to you behind closed doors! Don’t take away the only fun that people have at the weekend in the red zones!
“I LOVE FOOTBALL MORE THAN YOU… but playing means travelling by bus, train, aeroplane, sleeping in a hotel, in any case entering into contact with other people outside of your working environment…
“I already don’t get to see my children because of this damned Coronavirus, because as you know they do not live in Lombardy, so it’s already infuriating and sad.
“I certainly don’t want my mother, who I see and eat with almost every day, to catch anything from me. She is not the same age as me and as much as I love football (which I owe everything to), I won’t risk her getting ill!
“Why would I? To entertain someone else? Or to stop them losing money? Don’t be ridiculous! GET OVER YOURSELVES, WE’VE HAD ENOUGH NOW. Guys, you can’t joke around with health.”