The Norwegian government does not want to let its national team travel to Romania

Norway is due to play Romania tomorrow, but the game is in the air. The Nordic team has postponed their trip. The country's government has refused to allow them to take a plane, even under control, and travel to play against the Romanian team. The order comes from the greeting ministry because of its particular protocol to fight the spread of the coronavirus. The expedition was already on the plane to leave when the ministerial order arrived not to take off. Norway has two games pending in this break, against Romania and Austria, but right now they are in danger.

The decision has been very bad for the Norwegian expedition and the players and the federation are trying to convince the authorities. So much so that players like Odegaard have taken the floor. The Real Madrid footballer leads the talks along with two other teammates, Stefan Johansen and Joshua King. All three have written a letter on behalf of the team.

“The entire group of players is deeply desperate because the Norwegian authorities refuse to travel to the two decisive Nations League matches against Romania and Austria. We were in Gardermoen, the plane was loaded and was about to take off when the message arrived. We have complied with strict UEFA protocol. We did crown tests before traveling to Norway and after our arrival we have been checked five more times. After a positive was discovered, all players and support staff tested negative twice, “they explain in the letter sent to the Government and published by the Norwegian Federation.

The players complain bitterly and ask to be allowed to play. “We live in quarantine in the hotel, we have our own dining room and meeting room where social distance is maintained and we are separated from everyone else. A doctor is with us at all times,” they say. The players insist that they will fly in a private plane, as opposed to the flights that have taken them to Norway, explaining that UEFA protocol will be followed. “The Norwegian authorities have accepted the UEFA protocol, but when an infection occurs, it does not apply unlike all other countries. In the last days 43 matches have been played. None have been canceled despite cases of infection in various nations. The background is the strict UEFA protocol that makes playing safe, “they argue.

Norway is playing for promotion in the League of Nations in these two commitments and they do not want to miss the opportunity. “For four years we have worked very hard to optimize our chances of qualifying for the championship and we have advanced more than 40 places in the FIFA rankings. We can move to Group A in the Nations League, we can qualify among the 20 best nations in Europe that would allow us to get into the second-best seed level before the World Cup qualifiers. Not playing international matches against Romania and Austria can quickly crush our sporting ambitions both in the short and long term, “they argue. The solution must come today, because the game is on Sunday.