UEFA have confirmed it has invited representatives of its 55 member associations to discuss how football can respond to the outbreak of coronavirus.
The fast-moving infection has spread to more than 110 countries and has resulted in the whole of Italy going into lockdown, with various sporting events around the world being either cancelled or played behind closed doors without fans.
There remain doubts over the remaining European fixtures of the 2019/20 season and the summer’s pan-European Euro 2020, and UEFA have now confirmed a meeting will take place next week to discuss how the sport should respond to the outbreak.
In the light of ongoing developments in the spread of Covid-19, UEFA has invited various stakeholders to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak.
Discussions will include all domestic and European competitions, including UEFA EURO 2020.
Full statement: ?
— UEFA (@UEFA) March 12, 2020
A statement on their website ?reads: “In the light of the ongoing developments in the spread of COVID-19 across Europe and the changing analysis of the World Health Organisation, UEFA has today invited representatives of its 55 member associations, together with the boards of the European Club Association and the European Leagues and a representative of FIFPro, to attend meetings by videoconference on Tuesday 17 March to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak.
“Discussions will include all domestic and European competitions, including UEFA EURO 2020.
“Further communication will be made following those meetings.”
Champions League and Europa League games were played behind closed doors this week, while the fixtures between Inter and Getafe and Sevilla and Roma were postponed. Manchester City’s game against Arsenal, scheduled for Wednesday, was the first Premier League match to be pushed back.
?La Liga has been suspended for two weeks and ?Serie A will not return until April, but the ?Premier League is yet to take such decisive action. Three players from one unnamed team in the English top flight are ?awaiting test results amid fears they have may contracted COVID-19. Those results are expected by Friday.
It was revealed on Wednesday night that Juventus defender Daniele Rugani had contracted coronavirus, while ?Real Madrid’s players have been told to self-isolate after a member of the club’s basketball team tested positive for COVID-19.
For more information on which leagues, fixtures and clubs have been affected and the latest news regarding the coronavirus in football, see 90min’s live blog for the latest updates.
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