PANIC ATTACK Now Champions League is in peril
EUROPEAN football has been plunged into chaos after the Champions League was hit by the coronavirus crisis.
It has led to doubts over Chelsea’s trip to Bayern Munich next Wednesday, while some ties will be played behind closed doors and there are growing fears about the entire competition.
The list of sports affected is growing, with France’s Six Nations clash against Ireland – due to be played on Saturday – postponed.
There is also doubt over Wimbledon, with LTA chiefs invited to yesterday’s Government meeting at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the same day the two-week Indian Wells tournament in California was axed.
There was also initial confusion over Wolves’ Europa League tie with Olympiakos on Thursday.
The Greek government said at the weekend the game should be behind closed doors but UEFA did not confirm this until last night, with Wolves frustrated at the lack of information.
Some fans had left for Athens before the news came through.
PSG’S return tie with Borussia Dortmund tomorrow will be played behind closed doors.
And in Italy sporting activities at all levels have been suspended except Italian clubs or national teams involved in international matches.
The government has put the whole country in lockdown meaning all Serie A matches have been cancelled until April 3.
Atalanta’s Champions League second leg in Valencia tonight is going to be played with no fans and UEFA have banned the media from the match, while Juventus and Napoli face return games despite large parts of Italy being under lockdown.
That has also thrown doubt over England’s Wembley friendly with Italy on March 27, while the clash with Denmark there four days later is also in the balance.
Tottenham’s match with RB Leipzig tonight does go ahead, with 2,000 Spurs fans expected in Germany, but only after top-level talks gave the game clearance.
German health minister Jens Spahn recommended all games have a maximum of just 1,000 supporters, which could yet threaten Chelsea’s trip to Munich.
Leipzig officials insist England is not a high-risk country.
Ligue 1 games in France are due to be played without fans – or a maximum of 1,000 – until April 15 and several Premier League clubs have cancelled summer trips to the Far East as concerns grow that the Tokyo Olympics will have to be postponed.