Dubai: Al Wasl coach Gabriel Calderon said he fears someone will die on the pitch if league organisers don’t adjust the schedule to avoid playing in the heat of summer.
The Argentine manager was speaking after his side’s opening 2-0 Arabian Gulf Cup win at home to Al Shaab on Friday, which kicked off at 5.55pm and was played in 40 degrees Celsius heat and 80 per cent humidity.
“I’d like to know which person decided that we should play in this weather,” said Calderon, who didn’t even mention the game, which was won with goals early and late in either half from Edgar Bruno and Yassir Salem. “Do we have to wait for a player or referee to die to bring about change?
“After our league opener last week away to Al Jazira [which Al Wasl won 2-1], one player [Hazza Salem] was in hospital for 24 hours. Please don’t wait until a player or referee dies in the field,” he repeated. “You have 14 teams and all year to play this competition, so why start now?
“We needed to start in September as it’s not possible to do so before due to the weather. It’s impossible to start now. This is no weather for playing football. It’s dangerous, God forbid anything will happen.”
Al Wasl’s next match away to Al Nasr in the Arabian Gulf Cup on September 4 kicks off at 5.45pm, a time that Calderon now wants changed on grounds of health and safety. “It’s crazy. Why not put it on another day or schedule all the matches for 8.45pm? For me, there’s no need to play now. The people who had this idea of a 5.45pm kick-off don’t play football.
“You have to protect the lives of the players and the referee. You have a big responsibility when it comes to protecting people’s lives,” he said in reference to league organisers. “TV and organisation is more important than the lives of the players and the referee? I’m fighting for fair play, the protection of peoples’ lives and the opportunity to play good football, and only that.
“To the people with responsibility, I urge you to change the kick-off time. It’s possible to change it as you have the time. Please don’t endanger the lives of the people,” he added. “You have a big responsibility.”
