Red Wings free agent signing Matias Brome spoke with Expressen’s Adam Johansson this morning, discussing his concerns regarding Sweden’s response to the coronavirus. Brome believes that Sweden’s extreme limiting of spectators at hockey games is unfair given that the Swedish government is allowing people to congregate at malls, bars and clubs.
Here’s a rough translation of his comments:
“So bad I do not know what to do”
Mathias Bromé is upset. Really.
He believes that the government and the Public Health Agency are abusing sports and culture.
“It’s awful!” he exclaims.
Örebro’s star forward wants to first and foremost emphasize the respect he has for covid-19.
“I understand the problems that coronavirus brings and how society is confronted with this. It’s awful how it turned out.”
There are other things he is upset about.
Like the government’s handling of the infection. Or rather, the injustice some sectors go through, according to Bromé.
“How ice hockey, sports, culture and theaters are affected … It’s so bad that I do not know what to do. When you watch movies from the pub with drunk people partying. Or that people are crowded inside the Mall of Scandinavia and Ullared. Or how it can be more than 50 people inside Ica.”
“Then at least I ask myself the question: But how can we not have more than 50 spectators at a hockey match? It does not even go together. It does not rhyme!”
“Can save some teams’ finances”
Mathias Bromé believes that a step in the right direction would be to allow a percentage of a spectators’ limit, instead of drawing the line at 50 spectators.
“Things have to start happening soon before teams go under. No matter how you twist and turn it, revenue is needed and people need sports and culture. 500 spectators at the Friends is a full chair and 99 empty, but if you go to the Mall of Scandinavia there can be 5,000 people there. Why then can you not go to a hockey game? How can you not get together?”
You think it is an inconsistent treatment of sports and culture.
“Absolutely. All leagues are extremely affected, think of the Hockeyallsvenskan and Hockeyettan. 500 spectators can save some teams’ finances. For us in the SHL, it would also be a signal that things will get better.”
What do you wish would happen?
“Look at Switzerland, they have 5,000 in the matches. Look at Finland, they have an audience. Look at Russia, they have an audience. How can they cope, but not us? Then we do not have very many cases of infection right now.”
“Then you should close down Ullared, Mall of Scandinavia and all shopping centers”
The Public Health Agency’s latest report, which was released on Friday, found 919 new cases, two of which died in the last 24 hours.
On Tuesday, new information is expected in which direction the infection has taken over the past weekend.
Bromé reiterates the respect he has for the virus, but still wants the positions of sports to be valued higher.
“The SHL has also presented a protocol for how things should go in a safe way, but they do not get a hearing. That’s my feeling.”
After all, there is a risk of a second wave in society and the opening of arenas could mean that the infection accelerates.
“Then you should close down Ullared, Mall of Scandinavia and all shopping centers. And only allow 50 people to stay in Ica. Otherwise it does not rhyme, or am I wrong?”
If 50 people were only allowed in these gatherings you mention, then you would have said what?
“Then it’s fair. Then I say nothing. But it is not possible to have a full house in a shopping center and then 50 people in a hockey arena, it does not go together.”
Society needs sports and culture”
He is not alone in the frustration Bromé feels about the laxity of nightclubs and restaurants regarding coronavirus restrictions.
After the congestion that prevailed at Stockholmskrogarna, the Environmental Administration has made 27 remarks , of which one restaurant had to be closed, during the past week.
Bromé has seen the videos from various clubs that have been cabled out on social media after the weekend.
“Of course you got really frustrated. Everyone needs income now, sports, theater, stand-up comedians and many more, but then it becomes such a slap in the face when some are allowed to be open, but not others. How can you allow a nightclub to be open but a large arena can not let in 500 people?”
Bromé hopes hat sports and culture will have the chance to prove that they can handle the infection issue in a safe way.
He himself is very worried about what might happen if the crowd relief continues to be lacking.
-“Society needs sports and culture, but they will perish if the audience is not allowed to return. And what is a society without theater, stand-up comedians, football and ice hockey? Nothing, nothing!”
