That other pandemic that postponed a Betis game

Influenza A, also called influenza, killed more than 18,000 people worldwide between 2009-2010. Then classified also as a 'pandemic' by the World Health Organization, influenza did not paralyze Europe the way the coronavirus is doing, but Betis suffered it in their meats in a direct way as it is happening this time with all teams in all competitions.

The verdiblancos were active in the Second Division, a category to which they had dropped a few months earlier. On October 30, 2009, the Competition Committee of the Royal Spanish Football Federation accepted his request to postpone the league match against Villarreal B due to influenza A suffered by thirteen of its footballers. The Betic medical services had confirmed through tests that Sergio García, Arzu, Sunny, Carlos García, Nelson, Juande, Damiá, Nano, Caffa, Pavone, Emaná, Fernando Vega and the then-still-youth Israel Bascón were infected.

As an insulation measure, Betis had already decided to suspend all training that the Verdiblanco team had to do during that week. In these days of coronavirus, the Heliopolis club has taken the step of not training until Monday and therefore evaluating the possibility of extending that time without meeting. In any case, the verdiblancos soccer players have the recommendation not to leave Seville.