BLUES OFFER REFUNDS AMID VIRUS FEARS
CITY TO REIMBURSE FANS WHO DON’T WANT TO WATCH MADRID GAME OVER VIRUS FEARS
CITY are offering full refunds to any fans who feel unhappy about attending the Real Madrid clash – or any other game – during the coronavirus crisis.
The Blues have already told a ‘relatively small’ number of supporters that they can have their money back after fears were expressed about going to the Champions League last-16 second leg at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday.
The game is still scheduled to go ahead, although in a fast-changing situation, it cannot be ruled out that the game could either be played behind closed doors or postponed entirely.
Some people have expressed concern that around 2,000 fans from Spain are expected at the game, and with a spike of 782 cases reported in Madrid alone, the Spanish capital has shut down nurseries, schools and universities for two weeks.
As it stands, there are no restrictions on travel from Madrid, and the government has expressed its comfort with outdoor sporting events going ahead, as their health advisers have suggested the virus does not thrive in such conditions.
But the postponement of City’s Premier League clash with Arsenal last night has focussed minds on the subject, although that was a question of Gunners players self-isolating after coming into contact with the Olympiakos owner, who has been found to have the virus.
City have confirmed they have had several requests from people not happy with attending the game next week – and say it is club policy to refund.
As things stand, Saturday’s league game against Burnley is also set to go ahead, although the club is waiting on the government or the Premier League to take a lead on whether games should be played behind closed doors, or not be played at all. There has been at least one case where a fan with a ticket for the Real game was told he could not have a refund, but the club says that was a mistake and he has since been offered his money back.