Inviting Messi And Ronaldo To Belarus, Hleb's Way Of Satire The Government Of His Country
JAKARTA - Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo can move to Belarus to continue playing football in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic or the corona virus. This is a joke made by former Arsenal and Barcelona star Alexander Hleb.
COVID-19 has disrupted sports around the world, with the Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 postponed. Meanwhile, Euro 2020 and Copa America 2020 were suspended for a year.
However, the new Belarusian Premier League season starts on Thursday and fans will be sure to be at the stadium.
Former Belarusian national Hleb tried to clarify the situation when he called his home country a possible destination for Barcelona star Messi and Juventus superstar Ronaldo.
"The whole world is now watching the Belarusian league. Everyone has to turn on their television and watch us," Hleb told The Sun via Soccerway, Wednesday, March 25.
"When the NHL (world hockey professional league) closed its season, many ice hockey players went to Russia to play. Maybe Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could come to the Belarusian league to continue their football. You know?
"This is the only place in Europe where you can play football. At least the Belarusians will be happy."
In Belarus, there have been at least 81 cases of coronavirus but no deaths. Globally, COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 16,500 people from more than 378,900 cases.
Hleb added: "The coronavirus has stopped the Champions League and Europa League. This is good, because you have to stop it. UEFA has done the right thing.
"But in Belarus, I don't think anyone cares. Incredible. Maybe in a week or two we will just stop. Maybe our President is still waiting for what this virus will do to our country.
"Everyone here knows what happened to Italy and Spain. It doesn't look good.
"But in our country, people in the presidency believe it is not as extreme as the news says.
"A lot of young people and students here think like this. I stay at home with my family. But when I go out, the streets and restaurants are still busy."