UEFA considers Champions League and Europa League suspension

UEFA is reviewing whether to suspend the Champions League and Europa League due to coronavirus.

Senior figures want the competitions suspended with the virus beginning to affect a number of the teams involved.

Real Madrid were scheduled to face Manchester City at the Etihad in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, but the fixture now looks unlikely with their first-team squad placed in quarantine.

The players will self-isolate for 15 days after a member of the Spanish club’s basketball team, who they share a training ground with, tested positive for the coronavirus.

Juventus confirmed on Wednesday that defender Daniele Rugani has tested positive for coronavirus. They were also set to play in the Champions League on Tuesday, against Lyon in Turin.

Wolves are in Greece to play Olympiakos on Thursday evening in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie behind closed doors after UEFA rejected their request to postpone the fixture amid heightened coronavirus fears.

The Premier League club insisted the game poses an “unnecessary risk” as cases rise across Europe, and after the Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis was diagnosed with coronavirus.

Manchester United are also scheduled to play on Thursday evening, against LASK in Austria behind closed doors.

Rangers are in action against Bayer Leverkusen, with ticket holders being allowed in to watch the game. It has already been confirmed that the return leg in Germany on March 19 will take place behind closed doors.

Coronavirus – key sporting developments

• Football postponements and latest across the leagues
• The NBA season has been suspended “until further notice” after an unnamed player from the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus, with the outbreak continuing to rip through the sporting schedule
• Lewis Hamilton has described the decision to continue as planned with this weekend’s season-opening Australian GP, despite concerns over the coronavirus, as “very surprising”
• Juventus centre-back Daniele Rugani has tested positive for coronavirus but said he “is fine”
• The Danish football federation expects the friendly against England at Wembley later this month will be cancelled. The Danish federation says all domestic football activity will cease until March 29 at the earliest
• La Liga have suspended football fixtures for the next two matchdays
• The Premier League and English Football League have continued to indicate that they will follow government advice when it comes to postponements or playing matches behind closed doors. Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Manchester City was postponed on Wednesday but the Gunners’ next game against Brighton – as well as other fixtures – are currently scheduled to go ahead as planned
• Sheffield Wednesday are understood to be in dialogue with the authorities over Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest, whose owner Evangelos Marinkis’ positive diagnosis. Forest have confirmed that all players, staff and officers have tested negative for coronavirus
• Wolves’ Europa League match against Olymiapkos is set to take place behind closed doors in Greece on Thursday night despite the Premier League club expressing their opposition. Manchester United’s trip to LASK will also take place behind closed doors
• Inter’s Europa League game on Thursday against Getafe has been postponed after the Spanish club said it wouldn’t travel to Italy. Sevilla vs Roma in the Europa League has also been called off. Serie A have advised the league’s clubs not involved in UEFA competitions to suspend training for seven days

(c) Sky Sports 2020: UEFA considers Champions League and Europa League suspension