With the coronavirus reaching global proportions and football all around the world is halted to help curb the spread of the virus, a European nation seems to have completely ignored the call for isolation.
The Belarusian Vysheyshaya Liga is currently the only European football league that has not been postponed, with fans continuing to attend matches.
Belarus FA chief Vladimir Bazanov questioned why the league should be stopped.
"For what reason should we not start it? Is a state of emergency declared in our country?" he said, as per the Daily Mail.
"There is no critical situation. So we decided that we are starting the championship in a timely manner. Today."
Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko has also had his say on the matter, saying that people ought to simply take caution and not panic.
"If you have a cough and a running nose, stay at home, do not spread the infection. This is the essence. Many countries have been imposing the appropriate tough measures," he said.
"People must learn self-responsibility and also to take care of those around them.
"Everybody here knows what's happened to Italy and Spain. It doesn't look good."
The president then added bizarrely that, as people work on the fields, they will heal and no quarantine measures will be needed.
"It's nice watching television: people are working on tractors, no one is talking about the virus. There, the tractor will heal everyone. The fields heal everyone," he added
"Maybe Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo might come to the Belarus league to continue. You know?
"It's the only place in Europe you can play football. At least then the people of Belarus will be happy."
To date, Belarus has had 152 reported COVID-19 cases, with no deaths.
