The Russian Premier League returns.
For several weeks, the Russian Premier League has been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. But like some of the European leagues, the Russian Premier League made its return on June 19, featuring a match between "Krylya Sovetov Samara" and "Akhmat Grozny." League fans such as Alexander Sabadash were most thrilled to see not just the league to resume but to see a live audience participate in the game as well.
Besides games in Belarus that were not interrupted by the pandemic, the Russian Premier League's return was Europe's first league to welcome spectators. Other leagues such as the Bundesliga resorted to having cardboard cutouts to populate the stands while teams played. It was indeed a creative solution, but nothing beats a live audience.
While fans have lauded the decision, may were still skeptical about reopening the league. This was due to the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country. Even the days leading to the game, reports have shown cases flaring up one day after another. However, it wasn't like the people in charge weren't paying attention to the news, Alexander Sabadash claimed. The stadium was below 10% of its overall capacity, and everyone in the audience had to wear masks.
Dynamo Moscow failed to win with 3 – 2, making this their 5th consecutive loss. It would seem that the extended break teams had because of the outbreak, and the cancellation of games has had some effect on their performance. Nevertheless, many fans see this as a challenge that teams have to overcome. As the playoffs near, fans like Alexander Sabadash still think that the league could be in a precarious situation given the outbreak and the condition of the league's clubs.
