Godin criticizes Serie A over timing of suspension

Uruguayan centre-half, Diego Godin does not believe the Serie A season was suspended early enough following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

The decision to suspend Serie A was announced on March 9 following a government decree announced by Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte as it was confirmed that the ‘red zone’ would be expanded to cover all of Italy, effectively putting the country into lock down.

Godin, who is currently in his home land Uruguay after the completing the mandatory isolation period said only the news that Daniele Rugani had tested positive to the virus after the contest involving Juventus and Inter on March 8 necessitated the decision.

Godin did not hold back in his criticism of the political and football institutions in Italy as he addressed the situation.

“Only Rugani’s positive test made them decide to stop the competition. We were exposed to the last moment, they continued to pull the rope to see if they could continue playing, until the situation was unsustainable and the health care system collapsed,” Godin told ESPN.

The Uruguayan then praised medical staff for their efforts in combating the virus as he discussed how he has been keeping fit amidst the unprecedented situation necessitated by the spread of the virus.

“The effort that doctors and people in the health service make is impressive, everything that can be paid to these people is not up to par, today they are really heroes: there is only to see the pictures of what they do, it’s really moving.

“We continued to play for several weeks, we continued training and played behind closed doors, until the positive test of Rugani was detected: at that point we and the Juventus players were put in quarantine and the championship stopped.

“Surely in that game there were other players who would have already been infected, so they put all in quarantine directly “.

“Government decided late” As for the spread of the virus in Italy, according to Godin “at the beginning it was thought that it was a Chinese problem and that it would not reach other countries.

“They took measures little by little, rather slowly: they warned us, but at the government level drastic measures have been taken to prevent what could have happened. ”

“It is difficult to train and stay fit. Keeping fit is not easy (in this kinds of situation)

“It is difficult to be at home every day and repeat the same exercises in a small space: and you have to be careful of food, being at home you risk putting on fat.

“We do not know if and when you will return to play: we will return to training, but it is difficult to predict when the stadiums will still be able to hold 70 thousand people.

“It is as if it were a mini-season for the teams: we have been home for a month without touching a ball.

“It is as if it were a vacation and as if we were in June-July. If we go back to playing, we will have to do it intensely and every two-three days: but with another 20-25 days I don’t know what can happen,” he said.