Farcical scenes as Benfica play against nine men due to COVID-19!

Absolutely shocking scenes in the Portuguese league. Due to several COVID cases in the Belenenses squad, the team went out on the pitch with just nine players for the league game with Benfica. 

The Belenenses line up had just nine players in it. Filipe Candido decided to use another goalkeeper as a defender. In addition, seven are players who belong to the under 23 sides. It is a surreal situation for a top flight football match and it went viral on social media.

Despite the large number of players out, the Belenenses president did not want the game to be postponed so the hosts had to go out to play.

Being two players short was a problem for them from the off. Eduardo Kau scored an own goal in the first minute and Seferovic made it 0-2 in the 14th minute.

New variants and the increasing number of COVID cases in Europe is seeing coronavirus hit European football again. A clear example is that of Belenenses who had to play the match with nine players.

 

November 27, 2021