Why does Belarusian football not stop?

The world of sport is almost completely paralyzed. Almost, in fact. There are 5 currently unsuspended and ongoing football championships: that of Nicaragua, Turkmenistan, Burundi, Myanmar and Belarus (the only European championship). The crisis and psychosis caused by the coronavirus especially in Europe - the main world outbreak at the moment - does not frighten the Belarusian federation, which continues to compete in the most important sports championships in the country: ice hockey and football.

"Dear fans! The Belarusian Football Association invites you to the stadium to support the teams and enjoy the 2020 Super Cup with your own eyes. Admission to the game is free!"

It would also be a commendable marketing initiative to be undertaken by the organizers of the Belarusian Women's Super Cup. Except that the event will be held in the coming days, in full coronavirus emergency. What is it, then, that does not frighten the Belarusians and the leaders of the organizations that manage championships and sporting events? The answer has a name and surname: Aleksandr Grigor'evič Lukašenko.

The stories behind the Belarusian president are many and his closet seems to be chock full of skeletons dating back to the last 3 decades. He is considered by many to be "the last dictator in Europe" and the reasons are all here, on your screens. While on the one hand Belarus has just over 100 people infected with the virus that is scaring the world, it is incredible to see the nonchalance with which Lukašenko treats what he himself has called an invention "of those of the West Europe".

"The civilized world is going crazy," added the president. "It is absolutely stupid to close state borders. Panic can hurt more than the virus itself". Lukašenko's thought does not stop there, on the contrary he proposes an infallible cure: "You should drink 40-50 grams of vodka a day, go to a banya (the Russian sauna) two or three times a week and continue working on the farm, because hard work and a tractor can cure anything". In short, coronavirus is only a "psychosis" according to the Belarusian number one. Lukašenko's influence and charisma also persuades Federation President Vladimir Basanov, who called the pandemic "not critical at all".

We joke about Aleksandr Hleb, ex Barcelona and Stuttgart and today FK Isloch Minsk Raion players: "In Belarus nobody cares [about the virus], everyone here knows what is going on in Italy and Spain. It doesn't look any good, but in our country the people of the presidential administration believe that it is not as extreme as the numbers say. Maybe Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will come here to Belarus to continue playing".

The most daunting aspect concerns UEFA, an entity so important that, however, it has its hands tied on every federal decision. In recent days, an official note has been issued which clearly explains that "each national federation is autonomous and makes decisions regarding its national competitions based on the recommendations and decisions taken by the respective national authorities".