Frederic Kanoute says football leagues will be better prepared to handle emergencies in future

La Liga ambassador can't wait for resumption of season in Spain on June 11

Frederic Kanoute, pictured in Dubai in 2017, says he has a special connection with Sevilla. Antonie Robertson / The National

Frederic Kanoute, the former Tottenham, West Ham and Sevilla striker, believes major football leagues in the world will be better prepared to handle a pandemic like Covid-19 in the future.

Football, as well as other sporting events, came to a complete standstill following the coronavirus outbreak but things are beginning to return to normal after more than three months of a global lockdown. And Kanoute is hopeful about the future.

“It wasn’t only football that suffered but it affected life in itself worldwide,” Kanoute, now the La Liga ambassador, told reporters in a video conference on Monday.

“The world will be more cautious and prepared in case it happens again. But of course, football will remain football and overcome this kind of challenge, as it has in the past.

“We may think in the next month or two football is going to change without fans in the stadiums. In that perspective, it will change, but I hope it won’t be for long.”

Kanoute believes football authorities will be better prepared in case of another pandemic.

“The approach to combat such things will change in the future with better preparation, plans and through new technologies in place to handle such challenges,” the Mali international pointed out.

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Barcelona train for Mallorca clash

Barcelona midfielder Arturo Vidal during a training session at Joan Gamper sports city on Monday, June 1. EPA

Barcelona players Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets during a training session at Joan Gamper sports city. EPA

Barcelona players Clement Lenglet and Sergio Busquets during a training session at Joan Gamper sports city. EPA

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen during a training session at Joan Gamper sports city. EPA

Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti during a training session at Joan Gamper sports city. EPA

Barcelona of players Jordi Alba, Ansu Fati, Lionel Messi, and Ivan Rakitic during a training session at Joan Gamper sports city. EPA

Barcelona manager Quique Setien leads his team's training session at Joan Gamper sports city. EPA

Barcelona manager Quique Setien leads his team's training session at Joan Gamper sports city. EPA

Barcelona players during a training session at Joan Gamper sports city. EPA

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The La Liga resumes with a derby clash between Sevilla and Real Betis derby on June 11.

This game will be the first of the 110 matches left to play during this campaign with broadcast innovations that include virtual stands, virtual fan audio and new camera angles.

Kanoute believes it is the best possible start to the La Liga with one of the greatest derbies in the world.

“It is the best derby in the world, at least the best derby I played,” Kanoute said.

“I have played many derbies in London. The passion around a game like this one for Sevilla, I never felt elsewhere.”

“I’m glad La Liga resumes with a game like this, which for me is exceptional.”

Barcelona are on 58 points and head the La Liga table by two points from Real Madrid with Sevilla (47) in third.

“It’s very difficult to compete with the top two clubs in the La Liga,” Kanoute said.

“Real and Barcelona have big budgets and they have bigger squads and high quality players where they can rotate. So at the end of the season they arrive fresh.”

Kanoute hasn’t played many games without an audience but he did so once when the match between Sevilla and Real Betis in 2007 saw crowd trouble and the remaining 20 minutes were played behind closed doors.

“I didn’t play in that 20 minutes but I felt really strange,” he said. “I think the older players loved being in front of an audience so it was a little more difficult to find the motivation.

“But this will be compensated in modern times with the present generation of professional footballers. So there’s no excuses.”

Spanish clubs on top 

With a sizeable number of European League titles – nine – in the last 15 years, Kanoute said Spanish clubs were the strongest in the continent.

“The EPL is a very strong league as well,” he added. “Liverpool won the champions league last year and I think it will be a tough competition this year.

“Personally, I love the La Liga because of the style of football they play. That’s the reason I moved there 15 years ago.

“There is something special about the La Liga because they emphasise on a style which is a little bit to dominate possession and a little bit more to be technical, and be less straight forward.

“The EPL is also now taking more and more of this type of play where you have to be a little more clever on positioning on the pitch and the possession of the ball as well.”