The corona crisis reached top-class sport. A game of Borussia Dortmund is kicked off in front of empty ranks, the first ghost game also threatens in the Bundesliga.
- The corona virus is spreading more and more in Germany.
- Virologists recommend drastic measures.
- A Champions League game by Borussia Dortmund takes place in front of empty ranks, fans in the Bundesliga must also stay outside.
Update from March 10, 11:22 p.m .: Apparently the Revierderby between Borussia Dortmund and Schalke 04 will also take place without spectators. The television station n-tv reports that the game will take place on Saturday (3.30 p.m.) as a ghost game .
Coronavirus / Bundesliga: First ghost game confirmed - apparently also the Revierderby without fans
Update of March 10, 9:33 a.m .: The corona virus continues to occupy the Bundesliga - now there is apparently the first ghost game . According to information from n-tv , the catch-up game between Borussia Mönchengladbach and 1. FC Köln (Wednesday, 6.30 p.m.) will take place in camera. According to n-tv.de , there should be an official confirmation at a press round at noon.
Bergamo professional Robin Gosens will also experience this scenario on Tuesday evening. The Italian legionnaire has now given interesting insights into his everyday life.
Corona virus: ghost games are piling up - Serie A is suspended for several weeks
Update of March 10, 7:08 a.m .: Two more Europa League games will take place on Thursday due to the spread of the novel corona virus without an audience. The clash between Olympiakos Piraeus and the Wolverhampton Wanderers will also be played without fans, as will the match between Sevilla FC and AS Roma . This was announced by the European Football Union (UEFA) and the Andalusian authorities. Previously, a spectator exclusion had already been arranged for the game between Inter Milan and Getafe .
Corona virus: First BVB ghost game confirmed - Serie A will be suspended until April
Update of March 9, 10:47 p.m .: Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has turned the whole country into a restricted area. The Italian football league Serie A is now having a bad impact.
All games are suspended until April 3rd. That was decided by the National Olympic Committee (CONI). International competitions such as Champions League or Europa League as well as national team games are not their responsibility.
Update 3.15 p.m .: Borussia Dortmund will reimburse its fans for the tickets for the round of 16 second leg of the Champions League at Paris Saint-Germain . "Dear BVB fans, it really hurts us that we have to do without you at #PSGBVB! We will of course reimburse the purchase price for the ticket, ”the association tweeted:“ We are currently writing to everyone and informing them about how and how this will be done. ”
Dear BVB fans, it really hurts us that we have to do without you at #PSGBVB! We will of course refund the purchase price for the ticket. We are currently writing to each individual and informing them about how and how this will be done.
- Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) March 9, 2020Update 12:08: Now it's official - the game between Paris St. Germain and Borussia Dortmund takes place on Wednesday due to the corona virus in front of empty ranks . This was announced by the police prefecture of the French capital.
In contrast, the duel between RB Leipzig and Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday (from 9 p.m. in the live ticker) will allow spectators to enter the stadium as usual. This was decided by the Leipzig Health Department in an interview with RB officials on the corona crisis , as city spokesman Matthias Hasberg said. This decision was based on several points: Great Britain , where the guests come from on Tuesday, is not a Corona risk area . The game is also an open-air event - and the recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) would still differentiate between indoor and outdoor events. In addition, the time factor spoke against a cancellation or a ghost game without a spectator.
The first measures are also being taken at TV broadcaster Sky because of the corona virus.
Update 10:48: Borussia Dortmund could face two ghost games in the coming days. In addition to the district derby against Schalke 04 on Saturday, this scenario also threatens in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 at Paris St. Germain on Wednesday (from 9 p.m. in the live ticker), as reported by French media.
The sports newspaper L'Équipe reported that under normal conditions, the kick-off would become "increasingly hypothetical" due to the spread of the new corona virus . The paper speculates that a decision will be announced this Monday. A shift of the game seems impossible due to the tight schedule.
UEFA has since confirmed that there will definitely be no mixed zone with the opportunity for journalists to talk to players after the game in Paris. Interviews will only be carried out by the TV channels approved on the sidelines.
Poll: What do you think of possible ghost games?
Corona virus in Germany: Bundesliga threaten ghost games
First report from March 9, 9:59 a.m .:
Berlin - cancel Bundesliga matches? In view of the corona crisis in Germany, politicians now think this is possible. Health Minister Jens Spahn recommended that events with more than 1000 visitors be canceled. NRW Minister of Health Karl-Josef Laumann (CDU) said on Sunday evening in the ARD program "Anne Will" that the country would implement Spahn's recommendation - "tomorrow or now, absolutely clear".
"From Bielefeld to Cologne", the NRW Minister of Health wants to ensure that there are no football games with the public. In his opinion, it was also important that not individual clubs were affected by ghost games, but everyone, Laumann emphasized in "Anne Will".
According to Laumann, this applies to the Bundesliga derby Borussia Mönchengladbach against 1. FC Köln on Wednesday (6.30 p.m.). The game was canceled due to a storm storm in February and would now take place as a ghost game based on these plans.
The weekend is the 26th matchday, including the derby between Borussia Dortmund and FC Schalke 04 .
Ghost games over corona virus in NRW - who can enforce?
"If we now say very clearly that we no longer want to allow events (with) more than 1000 people in North Rhine-Westphalia, then this is a recommendation from the State Health Minister to the lower health authorities." But he was sure that there was now a uniform implementation. "In truth, it's like an order."
As in other European countries and worldwide, Sars-CoV-2 is spreading rapidly in Germany. At the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) 902 infections were recorded by Sunday afternoon, although not all evidence from the federal states had already been registered there. Most cases in Germany are recorded in North Rhine-Westphalia, Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.
The World Medical Association welcomed Spahn's recommendation as "completely correct". "You can't have football games with 35,000 visitors as if nothing had happened," said Frank Ulrich Montgomery, head of the World Medical Association, the editorial network Germany (RND, Monday).
Is VfB Stuttgart a ghost game against Arminia Bielefeld?
It is still unclear whether Arminia Bielefeld will host a ghost game on Monday (March 9, 8:30 p.m.) with the league favorite VfB Stuttgart. The game takes place in Baden-Württemberg. Each federal state must enforce the recommendation itself.
The corona virus also affects football. Several top matches have been canceled. FCB player Goretzka: "Gives more important than ..."
Corona virus: The isolation of metropolises such as Milan and Venice shows how controversial the situation is now. Commentary from Merkur editor-in-chief Georg Anastasiadis.
FC Augsburg pulls the ripcord in the sporty downhill run and separates from coach Martin Schmidt.
Three German clubs are involved in the round of 16 of the Europa League - we accompany the games in the live ticker.
dpa / ml
List of rubric lists: © dpa / Christian Charisius