The national team doctor on the criticism: "It really is to take in too much"

2020-11-12T20:27:26.753Z

Critical voices have been raised against football matches being played in Europe at the same time as corona infection is increasing in several places. But national team doctor Anders Valentin does not think the matches should be canceled. - It really is to take in too much. This is the safest environment imaginable, he tells SVT Sport.

Sweden's national team captain Janne Andersson is in home quarantine after having tested positive for covid-19.

The training international match against Denmark yesterday was surrounded by corona chaos and, among other things, the Danes were forced to start with their fifth goalkeeper.

At Saturday's opponent in the Nations League, Croatia, midfielder Domagoj Vida played yesterday despite being infected with the virus.

When his positive test result came, he was then replaced at half time.

"These are low virus levels"

In many places, criticism is now directed at the football international matches that are currently being played around Europe.

However, national team doctor Anders Valentin does not think that the matches need to be canceled.

- Now they have found a positive case in Croatia, but testing positive is not the same as being infected.

If you have high virus levels, you become infected, but it is often a fairly short period just before or after symptoms have broken out.

These are such low levels that he probably has not infected anyone in the rest of the squad, says Valentin.

- He was picked out at half time, they removed him immediately, and hopefully he has not infected anyone else.

It takes a few days before it shows up in that case.

"It does not get safer than that"

Should one play football in Europe in these times?

How safe are the players?

- In the environment we live in, it is thorough and regular testing.

We are in a bubble and do not meet any outsiders.

It's distance and everything.

It does not get safer than that.

It is the safest environment imaginable, says Anders Valentin.

Sweden meets Croatia at Friends Arena at 20.45 on Saturday.

SEE ALSO: Ekdal: "No time to whine when there are those who are much worse off"

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The national team doctor on the criticism: "It really is to take in too much"

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