Coronavirus continues to take its toll on football, with several competitions coming to a halt due the vastly-spreading pandemic. The likes of La Liga, Serie A, and the Portuguese top-flight have suspended all matches in an attempt to battle the spread of this virus and UEFA are the latest to take action.
The World Health Organization recently declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, with the number of infected growing at alarming rate. No one is immune to this virus, with several figures in the beautiful game contracting the disease such as Juventus' Rugani, Chelsea's Hudson-Odoi, and Arsenal's Arteta. As a result, UEFA have decided to take action to protect the safety of the players, the fans, and the general public by postponing all scheduled matches for March 17, 18, and 19.
In the light of developments due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and related decisions made by different governments, all UEFA club competitions matches scheduled next week are postponed. #UCL and #UEL quarter-final draws have also been postponed.
— UEFA (@UEFA) March 13, 2020
Full statement:
This includes matches from the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Youth League. Furthermore, the Champions League and Europa League quarter-final draws initially scheduled for March 20 have now been postponed.
FAQ - How is the UEFA Champions League and Europa League dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic
When will the UEFA Champions League and Europa League return to action?
As of now, it remains unknown when the UEFA Champions League and Europa League will return to action. In the statement released by UEFA, they said "further decisions on when these matches take place will be communicated in due course". European football's governing body has given priority to the domestic leagues in order to wrap up their season. Rumor has it that these two European competitions are aiming to conclude in late August but nothing is confirmed as of now.
Will any games be played behind closed doors?
No. Initially, several games were announced to take place behind closed doors but not all. Liverpool vs Atletico, PSG vs Dortmund, LASK vs Man United, and Olympiakos vs Wolves were played in empty stadiums but the likes of Liverpool vs Atletico and RB Leipzig vs Tottenham saw fans pack the stands.
However, given that the virus has found its way to some players, such as Chelsea's Hudson-Odoi and Juventus' Rugani, the upcoming games have now been suspended until further notice.
Who will win the league if the 2019-20 the UEFA Champions League and Europa League seasons are canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic?
This remains unclear. Unlike the domestic top-flights, where it has been suggested that the league could crown the champions based on the current standings should they be unable to complete the season, this is not possible for the Champions League and Europa League.
This is a knockout competition and only Atletico, RB Leipzig, Atalanta, and PSG have confirmed their spots in the quarter-finals. None of the last-eight have been decided for the Europa League.
What are some of the top games not being played in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League after this decision was made?
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Juventus vs Lyon on March 17, 2020 (UCL round of 16 2nd leg tie)
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Man City vs Real Madrid on March 17, 2020 (UCL round of 16 2nd leg tie)
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Barcelona vs Napoli on March 18, 2020 (UCL round of 16 2nd leg tie)
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Bayern Munich vs Chelsea on March 18, 2020 (UCL round of 16 2nd leg tie)
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Roma vs Sevilla on March 19, 2020 (the 1st leg of this UEL round of 16 clash did not even take place)
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Getafe vs Inter Milan on March 19, 2020 (the 1st leg of this UEL round of 16 clash did not even take place)
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Man United vs LASK on March 19, 2020 (UEL round of 16 2nd leg tie)
Follow LiveSoccer TV for further updates on how all leagues in the world will deal with the coronavirus pandemic, and when they will return to action if that ends up happening.
