Burleanu's explanation about Mircea Lucescu's medical certificate obtained from a doctor in Belgium
The head of the Romanian Football Federation (FRF), Răzvan Burleanu, said in a press conference on Thursday that Mircea Lucescu, who died on April 7, presented, before the first Romanian national team match against Turkey on March 26, a certificate from a Belgian doctor certifying that he is medically fit, informs Agerpres.
Asked if he knew about Mircea Lucescu's complicated diagnosis and if he discussed the risks he is exposed to by participating in the match with Turkey, the FRF president answered: “The medical information we had access to was very fragmented. Because when we talk about the medical situation of any person, this information is confidential. At the same time, we, as a federation, said in February that we are working with several scenarios and that we are prepared for any scenario. And even I worked with a deadline of February 20, and on February 21 I had a meeting here with Mr. Lucescu and Mr. Stoichiță”.
“And Mr. Lucescu had a medical certificate obtained from a doctor in Belgium attesting that he is medically fit to continue his professional activity,” continued Burleaanu.
The FRF acted “correctly”, says Burleanu
The president of the FRF believes that the decision to continue with Mircea Lucescu on the bench of the Romanian national team at the tie with Turkey was the right one.
“I have recently seen certain reactions and I believe that the Romanian Football Federation acted correctly. And now I believe that if we had considered a dismissal of Mr. Lucescu or an encouragement for him to leave the national team, then the FRF would have been at fault from a professional point of view, but also from a moral point of view. It is very easy to be radical when you are sitting in the armchair, but I think that was the best decision. You can put yourself in my place and ask yourself what decision you would have made taken in my place, taking into account that I had at my disposal the most successful Romanian coach who wanted to be with the national team in its most important moment”, explained Burleanu.
The former great football player and coach Mircea Lucescu died on April 7, at the age of 80 at the Bucharest Emergency University Hospital.
Lucescu was urgently hospitalized on March 29 at the Bucharest University Hospital, after he was hurt during a technical session prior to a training session of the national football team, being affected by the failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, after the defeat against Turkey (0-1) on March 26.
Lucescu did not travel with the national team to Slovakia, as the Romanian team was led by second-half Ionel Gane in the friendly match lost on Tuesday with 0-2.
The FRF announced, on April 2, that coach Mircea Lucescu has ended his mandate as the selector of the Romanian national team.
Under the leadership of Mircea Lucescu, Romania managed an exceptional campaign in the League of Nations, after which the representative obtained the place in the play-off in March, for access to the World Cup this summer. His record on the national team bench during this period includes 11 wins, one draw and 6 defeats.
