Sporting events in Italy – including Serie A, Champions League, and Europa League matches – must take place behind closed doors for the next month, the Italian government announced Wednesday, according to The Associated Press’ Daniella Matar.
The measures will kick in Thursday and last until April 3, at the earliest.
Twelve Italian football matches have already been postponed due to the spread of the coronavirus. More than 100 people have died from COVID-19 in Italy, where more than 3,000 people have been infected by the new virus.
The government’s ruling applies to all areas of the country instead of just the north, where the majority of COVID-19 cases have cropped up. The provinces of Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, and Veneto have been hit the hardest, with nearly 90% of infections reported in those regions.
It’s unclear if Serie A will stage games without fans. Italy’s sports minister, Vincenzo Spadafora, previously gave the league the option to play behind closed doors. But last weekend, it decided to postpone fixtures in vulnerable areas, including the Derby d’Italia between Juventus and Inter Milan in Turin.
Arrangements will also have to be made for Champions League and Europa League fixtures involving Juventus, Inter and …read more