LAUSANNE (Switzerland): FIFA welcomed the decision to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics amid efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
“FIFA firmly believes that the health and well-being of all individuals involved in sporting activities should always be the highest priority, and as such we welcome today’s IOC decision,” a FIFA statement said.
Citing the need to safeguard health, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) issued a joint statement with Japanese leader Shinzo Abe postponing the Games until next year.
“Further to the IOC’s decision, FIFA will work with relevant stakeholders to address all key matters related to this rescheduling,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has called on football to show solidarity and unity in the fight against the coronavirus.
He was speaking at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters here following the launch of the latest WHO-FIFA awareness campaign which is led by world-renowned footballers.
We’ve one big opponent, it is coronavirus: Infantino
“These are difficult days, it is a difficult time, and we have one big opponent, it is coronavirus, it is COVID-19,” Infantino said after attending a video conference alongside WHO Director-General
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“In these times, football has to show solidarity and it has to show unity. We have to show that we are working together, that we are a team.”
The FIFA President stressed that, for the first time, the world needs to consider the globality of the coronavirus, but that health comes first. “This is a global problem…and global problems require global solutions, just as exceptional situations require exceptional measures,” he said.
“We have to pull all on the same side. We have to work together. We have to fight the coronavirus, this is the first priority, and everyone has to realise that this is serious. Football comes second. First we have to win this match against coronavirus and then we will deal with football matters.”
