WORLD SERVICEof football is both a morale boost and a health risk.
Indeed, one of the big headaches caused by
the coronavirus in South America is the difficulty
of social isolation in an environment where people
are often packed tight together.
One of the directors of Bolivia’s FA, Adrian Monje,
made this point to explain why there is as yet no
restart date for the local championship – even
though Bolivian clubs will be involved in the Copa
Libertadores from the middle of September. With
the health protocols in place, he could be sure that,
like Europe, players will have very limited contact with
other people. “But in our domestic football only about
20 per cent of players have their own cars. The rest
use public transport, taxis, and the youngest take
micros.” Tiny buses where passengers are crammed
in, where the coronavirus can spread unchecked.Palmeiras party...Luiz
Adriano celebrates
after a late equaliser
against early pace-
setters InternacionalOutspoken...Ex-Bahia
coach Roger Machado