Agyemang Badu backs Italy’s decision to play football behind closed doors

Ghana International Emmanuel Agyemang Badu has backed the decision of authorities in Italy to ban supporters from attending football games in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak that has hit the European country.

Badu is part of a large pool of Ghanaian footballers plying their trade in Italy and claims life has not been the same since the deadly disease broke out in the country.

Over the last several weeks, Italy has had to take some drastic measures to reduce the alarming spread of the disease.

Latest reports indicate that more than a quarter of Italy’s population has been forced to live in isolation with football games and all sporting events, including games in the top division, Serie A expected to be played behind closed doors until 3 April due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.

Large gatherings of any sort have also been discouraged in a desperate effort to arrest the situation.

Badu who plays for Hellas Verona in Italy says it is a scary time to be in the country he has known for the best part of his playing career.

Speaking to the BBC, Agyemang-Badu who was part of Ghana’s 2009 U-20 World Cup-winning team said, “I was expecting this because it's really spreading so fast, so we needed to take the decision - although playing without supporters in the stands is a bit strange for us.

But we can't risk anything, because the virus is spreading very fast now.

So, there are two options - either we suspend the league, or we play without supporters. We can't risk lives”.

The former Asante Kotoko midfielder says while he is concerned about the safety of his friends in Italy at the moment, it is not lost on him the damaging effect of the disease in other parts of the world, especially in China which has been described as the epicentre of the virus.

“I’m worried because I live in Italy, where it is spreading a lot. I have friends in China and they can't go out at all.

I have friends in other parts of Italy too. We are all a bit worried - but we can't do anything. It's something where we just have to take good care of ourselves.

They have given us the advice on what we need to do to avoid coronavirus - we just need to read it and abide by it.

I'm someone who doesn't go out a lot anyway, but I'm a human being and we all need to go out sometimes - just to go to the mall, or a restaurant to eat, or to do the laundry, or do some window shopping.

Right now, all that has changed. Most places have been closed down.

Even going to safe places, you need to be very careful. To avoid coronavirus, I can only go to training and then go straight back home.

This is how I can save myself from getting it. The virus is really spreading. We can't risk lives - that is the first thing we have to think about.

I think playing behind closed doors for three weeks or a month is the action we have to take. We need to understand whatever additions to the law are brought out, and go with it”.