AC Milan midfielder Lucas Biglia has backed River Plate for their decision not to play a recent game due to fears over the COVID-19 outbreak.
The pandemic continues to sweep across the globe and Italy have been particularly badly affected, with the Serie A season suspended until at least April 3, as is the case with a lot of other European leagues.
As per the BBC, the three EU countries who have been hit hardest by the outbreak of coronavirus all recorded their highest death tolls for a single day on Sunday.
Italy saw 368 deaths bringing its total to 1,809, and the country is essentially on lockdown as they look to stop the spread and try and move back towards normality – something which seems far away at present.
The virus is also wreaking havoc elsewhere though, and Biglia – interviewed by CNN – expressed his concern regarding the moment we find ourselves in.
“Football is a world sport, full of economic interests. But there are other priorities,” he said (via MilanLive).
“For example the health of football players. Nobody is immune, not even us. We must preserve ourselves to the maximum.”
River Plate decided not to play against Atletico Tucuman to avoid contagion, something that the 34-year-old believes was the right choice.
Responding to the notion that River could be punished for their decision, he said: “I prefer to lose points than life.”
Biglia also criticised the country where he plays for not taking the pandemic seriously: “In Italy they have not only underestimated it, but they have not followed the rules as they have requested.
“It has come to a collapse where today doctors work non-stop. Not only that people die with the virus, but people die with others pathologies for not having adequate assistance. Because of the coronavirus, other people are left aside.”
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