EMPTY FEELING

• Rangers’ Europa League tie away to Leverkusen to be played behind closed doors • Euro 2020 play-offs may also be hit as coronavirus crisis sparks football turmoil

RANGERS’ Europa League clash with Bayer Leverkusen in Germany next week will be played behind closed doors as the coronavirus continues to tighten its grip.

The teams meet at Ibrox in the first leg of their Europa League tie tomorrow night, with the return clash in Leverkusen seven days later.

And last night the Bundesliga club confirmed fans will be shut out of their 30,000-seater BayArena after authorities ruled that events with more than 1,000 expected visitors should be cancelled or played behind closed doors.

The North Rhine-Westphalia region, which includes the city of Leverkusen, is the worst-affected in Germany with more than 500 confirmed cases and the country’s first two deaths.

A statement on Leverkusen’s official website last night confirmed: ‘In order to slow down the spread of the coronavirus, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has decided to cancel all major events from 1,000 spectators until further notice.

‘However, there is the possibility of holding these events without audience participation. This applies to both the Werkself Bundesliga away game at Werder Bremen on Monday, March 16, and the

second leg of the Europa League round of 16 on Thursday, March 19, at the BayArena.’

The decision was forced on the high-flying Bundesliga side after the regional health minister announced a crackdown on large events in public spaces. Karl-Josef Laumann said: ‘The virologists I spoke to recommend we avoid large crowds wherever possible.

‘We, therefore, have to think very carefully about what we can do without. I believe that school classes or public transport, for example, are essential. That would paralyse our social life.

‘But we should initially cancel large trade fairs, congresses, concerts or sporting events.’

The Norway-Serbia Euro 2020 play-off will also now be played behind closed doors — with a potential Norway-Scotland final also likely to be played without fans in attendance.

And reports last night claimed some of Europe’s top leagues are also pushing for the Euro 2020 finals to be postponed for a year to allow them to play domestic leagues to a finish this summer, although UEfA denied this last night. Glasgow is one of the 12 host cities for the competition spread across Europe to mark the tournament’s 60th anniversary.

But, with the Women’s UEfA finals and the fIfA World Club Cup already scheduled for next season, sources have told

Sportsmail that a year-long delay is unlikely.

Other European ties this week have also been affected. The first leg of Manchester United’s Europa League last-16 tie at LASK tomorrow night will be played behind closed doors due to coronavirus concerns.

Wolves’ first-leg match at Olympiacos will be played in a near-empty stadium after the English club asked for the game to be postponed, while Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 tie at Bayern Munich will also have no spectators in attendance.

Sporting events in Europe have been ravaged by the spread of the virus, with games being played without fans or postponed altogether. This weekend’s final card of the Six Nations has been decimated, with only Wales versus Scotland going ahead.

Scotland’s authorities, meanwhile, urged clubs to check their insurance policies in case matches need to be played behind closed doors or are cancelled.

The SfA and SPfL Joint Response Group continue to insist it is business as usual after the UK and Scottish governments advised there was ‘no rationale’ yet for closed door games or postponements.

The latest official figure shows 23 people have tested positive for coronavirus in Scotland, all of whom have travelled or are linked to other people who have travelled from affected sites.

Preparing to act on government advice, the SfA and SPfL joint response group will authorise closed-door games if necessary. As Sportsmail first revealed, however, a last-resort option exists to end the season prematurely and declare Celtic champions, with relegation settled by the position of clubs in the league, if the virus reaches club dressing rooms. SPfL sources have already confirmed that the season will not be rendered void in any event.

In a joint statement, SfA chief executive Ian Maxwell and his league counterpart Neil Doncaster, said: ‘The SPfL and Scottish fA are continuing to work together in the face of the coronavirus threat.

‘The Joint Response Group, including the Scottish fA’s chief medical consultant, Dr John MacLean, is meeting on a daily basis to consider briefings from the World Health Organisation and to respond to the developing situation across the UK.

‘We are aware of the decisions being taken elsewhere in Europe to cancel sporting events and/or hold them behind closed doors.

‘However, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport announced yesterday that, as things stand, there is ‘no rationale’ for closing or cancelling sporting events in

Britain because of coronavirus. This has been echoed in conversations that we have had with the Scottish Government.

‘While it is a fast-changing picture, and we will continue to be guided by the most up-to-date, advice, we are continuing to prepare for matches as scheduled.’

Preparing for an English Premier League clash with Arsenal tonight, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes it is only a matter of time before matches are affected in the UK.

Insisting it makes more sense to suspend the season than play to no fans, Guardiola said: ‘If it’s a short time, one game, then okay, but if it’s longer it must be suspended. We play for the people. If they can’t be there, then it (makes) no sense.’

With Scottish clubs three times more reliant on gate receipts than the European average, the financial repercussions of closeddoor games in the SPfL would be severe. Bayern Munich and Manchester United have confirmed they will refund ticket holders for forthcoming games to be played in empty arenas. Barcelona’s Champions League date with Napoli will also be held at an empty Nou Camp next Wednesday, while the prospect of City’s last-16 second leg against Real Madrid taking place behind closed doors the day before remains.

The next two rounds of Spanish La Liga matches will be played with no fans in attendance, while Italy’s Serie A has been suspended until April 3 and france’s top two divisions until April 15.

And french sports daily L’Equipe reported last night that Paris Saint-Germain’s World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe was being tested for the virus having missed training with a sore throat.

Everton have closed their finch farm training base to visitors. The first-team squad continue to go about their business but those not required to be on the premises have been asked to stay away.

Elsewhere, Northern Irish club Linfield confirmed one of their players has tested positive for the virus.