Når man er i chok, træffer man irrationelle beslutninger – UEFA burde have insisteret på at aflyse kampen.
That match should never have been resumed.
When in shock, you make irrational decisions – UEFA should have insisted on canceling the soccer game.
Dressed in red and white, we sat ready in front of the screen. We live in Seattle and should see the match staggered. The phones were put away, we did not want to hear any results from friends in Denmark. After the national anthem, which I sang with a trembling voice, I posted on Facebook a picture from us in the US, we were ready – now my kids should have a shot of Danish culture and an insight into what football means to Denmark.
We watched the match via ESPN and when the camera zoomed in on Christian Eriksen, a shock went through me. There he lay, completely lifeless. Before anyone in the family reacted, I turned to my husband and said, “What’s bad, something’s completely wrong!”
Tears welled up, my system was catapulted back to the time I identified my little brother after the accident at Roskilde Festival. I had to leave the living room at the same time as I tried to calm the kids at 11 and 13, respectively, one with chills all over his body, and the other hugging a sofa cushion.
Everyone who has seen the match has an opinion on whether the match should have continued.
At the time the accident at Roskilde Festival took place, and 9 people, including my little brother Lennart, died – the festival continued. Back then, the same arguments sounded: This is what people need.
But is it like that now? Or are there other interests at stake that obviously outweigh ethics, respect for the injured party and the relatives.
It obviously takes a lot more before financial and personal interests are set aside and one does the morally right thing.
And no, you can not count on the proposal that the players came up with in terms of wanting to continue the match. They are professionals, they are trained to keep going no matter how they feel. And then they’re in shock. That combination does not necessarily yield the best decisions.
It was disrespectful to Eriksen and his family to continue. And then it casts a shadow over a tournament that should help unite the nations but instead is about economic interests and a competitive edge that trumps any integrity.
The players, of course, were not able to play the match they wanted. It would almost have been creepy too. UEFA and coach Kasper Hjulmand should have stepped in and prevented them from being put in that situation at all.
My thoughts go to Eriksen and his relatives, and then I actually completely do not care if the match schedule is followed, and how many millions are at risk of being lost – as well as how many teddy bears, the spectators and viewers who obviously have no problem with to continue the fight do not get to chuck one bear after another.
(Google translate)
Danish-American Eyes on Society 