In a heartfelt and sobering press conference, Sevilla manager Matías Almeyda voiced his deep discomfort with the world of football continuing as normal while wars rage on across the globe.
His comments, made ahead of a crucial league match, have struck a chord, reminding fans and officials of the world beyond the pitch.
Speaking ahead of the Barcelona clash, Almeyda did not focus solely on tactics or his team’s ambitions. Instead, he turned his attention to the contrast between the business of sport and the reality of human suffering.
He pointed out that while society is faced with the horror of war, the focus remains on scheduling games and continuing with entertainment.
“Today there are wars and we are talking about playing a game,” Almeyda said. “That means we don’t care about anything. That’s the sad part of this, that the business has to continue.”
The manager, who is preparing his team for a significant fixture at Camp Nou, admitted to feeling torn. On one hand, he is focused on ending a long-standing 23-year drought without a win at that stadium. On the other, he questions the importance of such a goal when set against the backdrop of international conflict.
“There is a war, and I’m breaking my head to go play [at Camp Nou] and end these 23 years of drought,” he explained. “We went from something beautiful to something almost inhuman.”
Almeyda’s remarks took a sharper turn as he addressed the vast sums of money spent on weapons. He highlighted the painful irony of nations spending fortunes on conflict while basic needs go unmet elsewhere in the world. He urged people to think about where priorities lie.
“Yes, every rocket they shoot is worth 50 million, but in Africa there is hunger,” Almeyda stated. “Why instead of throwing those rockets we don’t carry 50 million in rice or education.”