England manager Gareth Southgate calls for unity and praises hospital 'heroes' amid coronavirus pandemic

England manager Gareth Southgate has urged football supporters in the country to ‘look out for each other’ and called for a united show of strength amid the coronavirus pandemic.
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Southgate has written an open letter to fans in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak, which has forced the suspension of all professional games in England until April 30 at the earliest and the postponement of this summer’s European Championships for 12 months.

In his letter, the 49-year-old wrote how the ‘primary focus’ was to ‘look after our families, support our communities and work together to come through what is clearly the most extreme test that we’ve faced collectively in decades’.

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He also praised the ‘heroes’ working tirelessly in our hospitals and medical centres.

England manager Gareth Southgate looks on prior to the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Bramall Lane last month. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)England manager Gareth Southgate looks on prior to the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Bramall Lane last month. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
England manager Gareth Southgate looks on prior to the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Bramall Lane last month. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Southgate wrote: “On behalf of all the team and staff, I would like to take this opportunity to send our sympathies to those who have lost loved ones already. Our thoughts are with you and with those who sadly will suffer similarly in the coming period.

“In the way you’ve all come together to support our team, we must now work together to combat a virus that is causing physical and emotional issues to so many.

“So, please continue to follow the guidelines for hygiene and also the sensible precautions put in place to control the spread of the virus in order to protect those most vulnerable to its impact. That responsibility lies with us all.”

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His England squad was due to meet this weekend for games against Italy and Denmark, but Southgate said ‘now is clearly not the moment for us to take centre-stage’.

“The heroes will be the men and women who continue working tirelessly in our hospitals and medical centres to look after our friends and families,” he said. “They won’t receive the individual acclaim, but we all know their importance is beyond anything we do on the pitch.

“When we play again as an England team, it will be at a time when not only our country but the rest of the world as well is on the road to recovery.

“Hopefully we will be closer to each other than ever, and ready for the beautiful distraction that football can bring.”