BRUSSELS (Belgium): Belgian football club giant Anderlecht fired assistant coach Par Zetterberg to save money as the coronavirus lockdown started to take its toll.
The Brussels club said at a press conference on Sunday they fired the 49-year-old Swede due to major revenue losses since the championship was suspended because of coronavirus.
“Professional football, as with many other economic endeavours, is faced with major challenges by COVID-19,” Anderlecht told local media.
“It is having a major economic impact on the club,” said Anderlecht, who won their last three league games and sit eighth in the suspended league.
“So that is why we are arming the club in the short term to better defend itself against major losses due to the championship being put on hold.
“That’s why we had to part with Par Zetterberg who will be remembered as a giant here,” the club said.
Zetterberg, a former Sweden midfielder, played almost 300 games for the Brussels club in two stints.
The Covid-19 outbreak has hit hard on the world of sports particularly the major leagues in Europe.
Liverpool offers stewards to local supermarkets
The chief executive of English football giants Liverpool has offered the club’s stewards to local supermarkets as customers clamber for goods amid the cornavirus outbreak.
“Message to supermarket managers here on Merseyside,” wrote Liverpool Football Club chief executive Peter Moore on Twitter.
“Our stadium stewards here @LFC are offering their time and expertise in volunteering to help with crowd control, queue management, parking control, assisting the elderly and infirm taking their groceries to their cars, etc.
“They are truly the best in the business and would be delighted to help in whatever way you would deem appropriate (and safe) on your premises. Please DM me so that I can put you in contact. #YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone),” he added, referencing the Liverpool anthem.
