Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PREM CLUBS WARNED: PLAN TO PLAY BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
PREMIER LEAGUE clubs have been told to steel themselves to play games behind closed doors.
There is a growing feeling the top flight will end up playing in empty stadiums to combat the growing menace of coronavirus.
And last night Wolves fans were scuppered when UEFA announced their Europa League match against Olympiakos in
Greece on Thursday night will go ahead behind closed doors. Some supporters had already started their journey.
Football bosses attended yesterday’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport coronavirus meeting in London.
There is no immediate threat to games in England – but they have been told to make sure they are prepared.
The Premier League’s top brass, FA and LTA were summoned, among others, along with broadcasters.
They discussed playing behind closed doors, limiting fan numbers and also stopping over-70s from going to games because they would be more vulnerable to coronavirus.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said there was “no reason” to shut out spectators at this stage.
But the DCMS later said the meeting put forward proposals about how staging games behind closed doors “could work in practice”.
Several clubs have banned players attending community events, signing autographs and taking selfies – while both the Premier League and the EFL have banned pre-match handshakes.
Jamie Murray (above) questioned if the French Open and Wimbledon will go ahead after the cancellation of the Indian Wells Masters due to coronavirus.
Murray tweeted: “Doesn’t bode well for the tour if IW cancelled for one confirmed case in Coachella Valley.”
Golf’s US PGA could be moved from San Francisco to Florida in May because of the spread of the disease.
The PGA of America said last night: “We are carefully monitoring the rapidly evolving situation.”