Football in Burundi to continue until virus spreads further

Burundi’s Football Federation (FFB) has said domestic competitions will continue until the coronavirus spreads further.

The news comes after the FFB introduced fresh measures to ensure the season is finished despite the pandemic.

After a meeting with clubs on Sunday, players were told not to celebrate goals with one another and to keep their distance from referees.

Players have also been told not to shake hands with match officials or members of the opposition, and to wash their hands before all their games.

“If there are signs the virus is spreading, we will stop the championship”, FFB’s president, Ndikuriyo Reverien, told reporters.

“We are going to play but at the same time we will constantly stay in touch with the Health Ministry”.

With a total population of 10 million, Burundi has so far only recorded three positive cases of the coronavirus.

Burundian politician Ndikuriyo Reverien, who presides over the country’s senate, said that for the time being, he could see no reason to stop the league.

“Until now, the three identified cases and all the people who have been in contact with them are geographically located and monitored by the Health Ministry”, he said.

“We know that in many countries the health situation is catastrophic, but there we have two cases which came from abroad and one case of local contamination (that person was living with one of the two).

“We don’t see the use in stopping when all activities in the country are still going on as usual”.

Burundi is one of only four countries globally not to suspend their domestic football league -  along with Belarus, Nicaragua and Tajikistan - with all 16 first division teams in action over the weekend.

Reverien added that the number of fans allowed to each game would be reduced, but did not specify by how many.

“We are going to take a decision on the number of spectators. We are waiting until Friday for the ministry to give us the health situation regarding the spread of the virus”.

He says the league is set to resume for round 28 of 30 on 18-19 April, with a cup replay scheduled for next weekend when a quarter-final clash between Musongati and Vital'O could attract a crowd of 12,000.

Vital'O, the only Burundian side to ever reach an African club final (in 1972), are the record 20-time champions of Burundi but off the pace in the league.

Musongati - with a game in hand - are four points off the league leaders, 2018 champions Le Messager Ngozi, with three rounds to play.

Photo: BBC Sport