Sudan national team coach Hubert Velud has clashed with the national federation after he left the country due to the coronavirus crisis.
Velud left Sudan for his native France as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted global sporting calendars. This move did not go down well with the Sudanese football federation and they have threatened to punish him.
The Frenchman was dismissive of the threats and dared them to take action on him.
“The federation will have to accept my decision to leave the country, otherwise, if there is a dispute, FIFA will decide. I don't want to be the coach who insists on continuing with the training and putting my players at risk," he said.
He adds that he felt it wrong for the federation to insist that the national team continues with the training in the wake of confirmed Covid-19 infections and deaths in the country.
"The players were all shaking hands. I greeted them from afar. I took care as much as possible, I observed social distance. When I told Sudanese players and journalists what was happening in France, they just smiled, they didn't believe me. They didn't realize the gravity of the situation," Velud told Le Monde.
Sudan suspended football activities after reporting two confirmed Covid-19 infections and one death. The national team was preparing for the cancelled 2021 African Nations Cup qualifiers and the sixth edition of African Nations Championship.
Source: Futaa.com