Janne Andersson: "It feels weird"

Corona pandemic has put football on pause and for Sweden's federation captain Janne Andersson, who would have led Sweden during the European Championships, this has meant a changed existence.

- This is very different for me, just like many others. For me, this is not only a job but also my whole life as I have been doing this for so long. It feels empty and boring and really I would have taken out the EM squad today, says the associate captain Janne Andersson in the Morning Studio.

Denmark, Norway and Germany have been okay to resume the season. Sweden is still awaiting approval from the Public Health Authority. On Friday, SvFF and Swedish elite football have a meeting where they hope to get approval.

- I am not an expert on this and in Sweden I am not the one who runs the questions, but it is Håkan Sjöstrand (general secretary) and Swedish elite football. For me, Sweden has had an open attitude and it feels strange that leagues in Germany and Denmark, which have been much more closed, can open up, but we in Sweden would not be able to do so. It feels strange even though I'm not an expert, says Janne Andersson.

In order to get approval, the football team has developed medical protocols in which it is hoped to convince the authority that it is possible to play elite football safely during the pandemic.

Will this work?

- Yes, that is when you have a plan for it. As I said, it's not on my table, and I can't rate it that way. But if you want something, you make sure it is so. The authorities have expressed that we in Sweden are good at complying with the recommendations that will come and then we will be able to do so in football as well.

Football, like many other industries, is hit hard by the corona crisis. Janne Andersson believes that it can have major consequences if the football can not start again soon.

- Being able to play football games again, I hope we can do as soon as possible at all. It will have very harsh consequences otherwise. We do not only talk about elite sports but also sports in Sweden, breadth and elite are interconnected and interdependent. If we do not get started, I think there are a lot of clubs out there that will have a very tough future and all our children and young people in the next stage who have a huge importance not least for public health where the sport has a huge responsibility.