Corona crisis in football: Bundesliga wants to continue the season - can only certain players get involved?

The corona virus has forced football to take a break. The first European league has canceled its season. The Bundesliga absolutely wants to play again.

• The corona virus is spreading more and more in Germany, Spain, Italy and France.
• All European leagues are in the Corona break .
• The Premier League has a spectacular plan, La Liga suspends play indefinitely. The Serie A threatens an incredible loss of millions

Update from April 4: The Bundesliga absolutely wants to resume its season - also because numerous clubs are threatened with bankruptcy if they are canceled due to the media partners' lack of payment.

But future games could also be difficult as ghost games. The virologist Ulf Dittmer expects problems with regular corona tests for the players to prevent them. In the WAZ , the expert said: “We are pretty much at the limit of the laboratory capacities in Germany. I don't know which laboratory will then be available to test healthy Bundesliga professionals, although we urgently need these tests for seriously ill people . "

The MDR had reported plans to have the players tested every three days and, in the event of a positive finding, only to quarantine the infected . The DFL only said that "all official requirements" would be met.

Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit from the Bernhard Nocht Institute in Hamburg brought up another proposal. The virologist would “test all players for antibodies to find out who has carried the virus and who is immune . Only these players should then be allowed to play. ”The squad would be thinned out significantly, which would result in a distortion of competition . According to the MDR report, teams would have to compete if 13 field players and two goalkeepers were available.

However, it would be questionable whether every club has enough playable professionals. The MDR had reported that the teams will have to play a game if they have 13 field players and two goalkeepers.

April 2 update: bang in Belgium . The Jupiler Pro League ends its season immediately. It is foreseeable that the season will not be finished before June 30, which is not a desirable scenario, the league said.

Jupiler Pro League ended due to corona pandemic: First league canceled

Many associations are certainly thinking about a possible termination of the season , so Belgium has now taken action for the first time. The question that most bothered the fans was answered very quickly .

Who will be champions after the premature end? The most obvious solution was chosen in the Belgian Pro League: the current ranking determines the placement.

Corona virus in football: Belgium is breaking off the season - pioneering decision for all of Europe?

Club Brugge can thus be happy about the title, even if the cheers will probably be limited. Only the license commission could veto.

Will the decision lead the way for the other leagues? Not be ruled out. Because the deadline, June 30 , applies everywhere. Then many player, coach and sponsorship contracts expire, a disaster in the ongoing game.

Corona crisis in football: Serie A sets two major goals

March 26 update: Italian football wants to end the Serie A season currently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and seek support in the face of revenue shortfalls. The FIGC association and the 20 top clubs with government representatives wanted to agree on these two goals at a meeting on Thursday. But it's not about money, emphasized President Gabriele Gravina on Radio Marte . Rather, think about reduced player salaries, suspended rents for stadiums or betting shops as sponsors - the latter was previously prohibited by the clubs.

Italy's football expects losses of up to € 700 million if the season is not over. This could be reduced to 100 million euros if the games are resumed. The Italian state is reportedly considering helping the clubs, which bring in about a billion euros in taxes annually

Corona virus in series A: "We have to think positively"

Serie A still has twelve complete match days and four newly scheduled games. In addition, the semi-finals and the final in the cup as well as games of some Italian clubs in the Champions League and the Europa League are pending.

"I am aware that it is too early to think about a date to resume," Gravina told the radio station. "But we have to think positively and hope that the situation can be ended as early as possible."

The last Serie A game so far took place on March 9th - without spectators. Subsequently, Italy imposed extensive barriers in view of the rapidly increasing number of infected and dead people. So far, more than 7,500 people have died in the country after infection with the virus, more than anywhere else in the world. More than 74,000 were infected with the virus, which can cause Covid-19 lung disease.

No football for the time being: La Liga suspended indefinitely

Update of March 23: No football in Spain until further notice: The game operations in La Liga are suspended indefinitely due to the corona pandemic . This was announced by the Spanish elite class this Monday.

No football in La Liga for the time being: FC Barcelona versus Real Madrid.

© dpa / Manu Fernandez

The decision was valid until the Spanish government and the general administration of the state decided that the competitions could be resumed without any health risks, according to a statement.

The Spanish Football Association (RFEF) and the League expressed their greatest thanks to those "who make every effort to provide essential services to the Spanish people". They also sent "a warm hug from the world of football to the many families that loved ones have lost".

Corona in football: Premier League plans to tighten emergency game plan

Update of March 22nd: Professionals who play in the Premier League are used to a tight schedule. But what the league is now planning should push even the toughest players to the limits.

The business is still dormant due to the corona pandemic, but apparently it is planned to continue the season on June 1st. The Premier League is said to be completed within just six weeks.

Liverpool are facing a mammoth program.

© dpa / Peter Byrne

That would mean that the clubs would have to play nine match days alone. For some clubs there would be games in the FA Cup and in the European Cup. The goal is to end the round on July 11th and start the new season on August 8th after a shortened summer break. The problem with the plan: the contract terms. Contracts usually end on June 30, but the league is confident of being able to agree with professionals and FIFA on this matter, writes the Telegraph (restricted access).

Update of March 19, 4:26 p.m .: The Turkish Super Lig also stops playing due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We made the decision to suspend the soccer, basketball and volleyball championships," said Minister of Sport Mehmet Kasapoglu on Thursday after meeting with the heads of the associations concerned.

The length of the break is still unclear, the sports newspaper Fanatik writes of a one-month break.

The Süper Lig had played as one of the last European football leagues so far, the game day last weekend had been held in camera. The pressure on the league had recently grown significantly. Nigerian football star John Obi Mikel, for example, had prematurely terminated his first-division contract with Trabzonspor after he raised concerns in social media that the league would continue to play despite the health risks.

Corona virus: Premier League extends the corona break! Game operations are suspended for months

March 19 update: The Premier League extended the corona break until April 30 . The Dailymail reports this before the official confirmation of the FA followed a little later.

"The evolution of COVID-19 remains unclear, and we can assure everyone that the health and well-being of players, staff and fans are our priorities," the release said. "We will continue to follow government advice and work together to keep an eye on the situation and review all available options so that we can find ways to resume the season as soon as conditions permit."

The FA said that it had collectively supported UEFA's decision to postpone the 2020 European Championship to make room for the remaining games next summer, so that national and international competitions could be completed and “the integrity of each competition was preserved ".

10 p.m .: Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, CEO of FC Bayern Munich , is concerned about the smaller clubs in the Bundesliga and the 2nd division because of the economic consequences of the corona virus.

BVB boss Hans-Joachim Watzke also spoke up - and spoke of the greatest crisis in the history of German professional football.

Corona virus: international match between Germany and Italy canceled - FIFA with logical consequence

9:55 p.m .: The city of Nuremberg had expressed its concerns about the international match classic Germany against Italy in the past few weeks and ultimately made it a ghost game. But now the Franconian metropolis prohibited the DFB from hosting the match that would have taken place on March 31 at the Max Morlock Stadium. The DFB announced this on Twitter. The city has informed the German Football Association "about a city order that prohibits the implementation (...)."

City of Nuremberg prohibits international match against Italy.

Today, Friday evening, the city of Nuremberg informed the @DFB of a city order prohibiting the international match against Italy on March 31. #GERITA pic.twitter.com/wbAwPlLPqS

In the wake of the Corona crisis, the world football association FIFA also recommended that international matches be postponed and, as a result, lifted the obligation to leave clubs. "FIFA believes that hosting the games under the current circumstances not only poses a potential health risk, but also undermines the integrity of the competition as some teams cannot compete with their best team," said the association.

Coronavirus: Swiss leagues will rest for a month longer

8:07 p.m .: The Swiss Football Association SFV is stopping its entire game operations for another month due to the spread of the corona virus.

In the Super League and the Challenge League should not be played until at least April 30, as the association announced on Friday. So far, a break had been announced until the end of March. The stop now applies to all games of all categories and ages.

"However, it is still a clear goal to finish the season by summer," it said in the message.

The planned meeting of the national team at the end of March will also be canceled after the two test matches in Qatar against Croatia (March 26) and Belgium (March 30) have been canceled. An EM test against the German national team is planned for 31 May in Basel - so far.

Coronavirus: Game operations in Bundesliga and 2nd division interrupted

17:56: The DFL put a role backwards in the cancellation of the games in the Bundesliga and 2nd division - metaphorically speaking.

But did the German Football League not even negligently jeopardize the health of the players through the original decision to play? A comment.

4:40 p.m .: Actually, the federal leagues should only take a break from Tuesday due to the corona virus, but now things turn out differently. The DFL has stopped playing with immediate effect . The 26th matchday is therefore also canceled - in the 1st and 2nd leagues.

According to current developments in connection with the # Corona virus: #DFL decides to move the 26th match day of the #Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga ➡️ https://t.co/1YLxW9rcco pic.twitter.com/9jJaADVEtC

2:24 pm: The friendly matches of the Danish national team against the Faroe Islands and against England end of the month.

It is regrettable that the games cannot be played, said the director of the Danish Football Association, Kenneth Reeh. At the same time, you don't want to risk that the new corona virus spreads to players, coaches and others.

No cancellations due to corona virus: Bundesliga players covet

2:04 pm: The ghost games at the weekend and the suspension of play only in the coming week have caused the first reactions from Bundesliga players and coaches.

Union Berlin goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz wrote : "Footballers are treated like monkeys in a circus in this situation." FC Bayern's Thiago Alcanatara tweeted to the DFL: "This is crazy. Please stop fooling around and arrive in reality. Let's face it, there are more important priorities than sport. "

This is crazy. Please stop fooling around and land on reality. Let's be honest, there are much more important priorities than any sport.

Wolfsburg coach Oliver Glasner also criticized the planned implementation of the match day this weekend. "It's a very bizarre situation. We are now the only league in Europe that is still playing. So I don't think that's the most consistent solution, ”said the Austrian in a conference call with journalists on Friday.

"If you say: We're going through this matchday, then you have to think ahead: What happens if a coach or a player becomes infected? Therefore, it would have been most consistent in terms of civil courage to cancel the entire match day, ”Glasner continued.

On the other hand, Paderborns Uwe Hünemeier on Twitter expressed understanding: "It is not the time to waste time !! The priority is solely the health of everyone."

Coronavirus: Bundesliga game Werder Bremen against Bayer Leverkusen is canceled

13:05: The Bundesliga will pause anyway from next Tuesday. But a game does not take place at the weekend. That is now clear. The game between Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen , which was originally scheduled for Monday, has been canceled. This was announced by the city of Bremen. The reason: Despite the planned ghost game, at least 2000 to 3000 people are expected around the Weser Stadium.

Meanwhile, Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has defended the start of the FCB game in Berlin.

12.13 p.m .: Also in England there is no more playing for the time being. The Premier League announced . After several prominent Corona cases, the elite league has suspended the season until at least April 3.

The Premier League, FA, EFL and WSL have collectively agreed to postpone the professional game in England

Full statement: https://t.co/XcDyzBp4Ol pic.twitter.com/cmYjoY3LRR

The English FA and the English Football League (EFL) with the second-rate championship as well as League One and Two (3rd and 4th league) followed this decision, as did women's football on the island.

Update from March 13, 10.40 a.m .: Game cancellation in the 2nd Bundesliga : The game between Hannover 96 and Dynamo Dresden will not take place on Sunday at 1.30 p.m. That announced the DFL. The reason for this is the second player with the corona virus in Lower Saxony. In addition to Timo Hübers , Jannes Horn is also ill. All professionals from the 96s were sent to home quarantine.

Corona virus: Second league game canceled for the first time - World Cup qualification also affected - First infection at VfB Stuttgart

10:25 p.m .: FIFA has heard the request of the South American confederation CONMEBOL and postpones the upcoming qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup . When the matches that should take place in the international match window from March 23 to 31 will take place is still open. The Copa Libertadores , the South American counterpart to the Champions League, has also been suspended for the time being.

6:46 p.m .: The Dutch football association KNVB has also stopped playing due to the spread of the corona virus . The measure initially applies until April 1, the association announced on Thursday. All games in professional and amateur football are affected. Planned games of the Orange team against the national teams of the USA and Spain could not take place as planned. The government in The Hague had previously banned all events involving more than 100 people.

17:12: The North American Major League Soccer is the next professional football league to be suspended due to the Corona crisis. As announced on Thursday, the season will be suspended for 30 days. "Our clubs agreed to temporarily suspend the season," said Commissioner Don Garber. Several leagues in Europe, including the Spanish Primera Division and the Italian Serie A, had already ceased to play.

Because of coronavirus epidemic: DFB cancels youth games

5.11 p.m .: Due to the coronavirus epidemic, the upcoming international match courses from the U15 to the U20 national team of the German Football Association have been canceled. The DFB said on Thursday that this was done in “close and careful coordination with the cities and health authorities of the respective venues and with the national associations involved”.

First Corona case at VfB Stuttgart

17:08: An employee of the stadium operator of the second division soccer team VfB Stuttgart has tested positive for the corona virus. "After the report by the employee himself, his direct professional environment was immediately sent to home quarantine, the competent authority was informed and all measures and recommendations of the Robert Koch Institute were implemented," said VfB board member Stefan Heim, according to a club announcement on Thursday. "We also informed the DFL directly about the process." The employee of VfB Stuttgart Arena Betriebs GmbH is said to have had no contact with the team.

1:41 p.m .: Hammer in the premier class! As the Spanish Marca reports, UEFA plans to suspend the club competitions in the coming weeks. It is not known whether the Europa League games on Thursday evening are already affected.

UEFA is said to officially announce the measure on Thursday afternoon. This would also affect the round of 16 second leg of Bayern Munich against Chelsea next Wednesday (March 18).

Coronavirus: Real Madrid under quarantine - Spanish league misses

12.18 p.m .: The corona chaos continues. As Real Madrid now officially announces, a royal basketball professional has been tested positive for the virus. For this reason, it was decided to "quarantine both the first basketball team and the first football team".

Comunicado Oficial. # RealMadrid

The two teams share facilities of the association. All employees should also be sent to quarantine. The basketball and football games planned for Thursday and Friday "will not be played," as it goes on to say. In response, the Spanish football league announced that it would be suspended for the next two weeks. Will the Euro 2020 also be postponed *?

Corona virus and football: ghost games! Premier League apparently follows suit - with special rules for fans

Update from March 12, 11:40 a.m . : The Austrian football association reacts curiously to the corona crisis .

The latter announced in an official announcement: "In view of the latest developments, the ÖFB and the state associations have made the decision to suspend all their gaming operations from now until further notice," says oefb.at. However, there are exceptions: "All games are affected, with the exception of those of the men's soccer Bundesliga and national teams."

Say: Everything below the 1st division is canceled, but in the Austrian Bundesliga the ball continues to roll.

Update of March 12, 11:36: The health department of the Erzgebirge district recommends that the home game of FC Erzgebirge Aue in the 2nd division against SV Sandhausen be canceled on Saturday (1:00 p.m.).

As the club from Aue announced on Thursday, the reason for the measure is that two fans infected with the coronavirus were in the stadium last weekend during the game against Dynamo Dresden .

One of the people was in the Auer fan area, the other in different audience areas. "In addition, the people concerned had traveled to the game with other fans," it said in the message.

"We currently do not know whether and with whom the people concerned were still in contact. Against the background of this new state of affairs, we as an association cannot assume any responsibility for the spectators, our guests, our employees and our entire team, "said Aues Managing Director Michael Voigt:" Following the recommendation of the Health Department, the game against Sandhausen is played out from ours View irresponsible. "

According to the Auer, the German Football League has already been informed of the current status.

Corona: DFB even considers abandoning the entire season - "Without ifs and buts"

Update from March 12, 11.30 a.m .: Due to the spread of the corona virus, the DFB is also dealing with an early termination of the current season. Secretary General Friedrich Curtius wrote this in a guest post in the Thursday edition of the kicker .

“At the moment nobody can foresee the full extent of the consequences of the corona virus for football. We have to deal with all scenarios in order to be prepared if the event should occur, that the game operations should be interrupted or the season should even be ended prematurely, ”wrote Curtius. The goal, of course, remains "to end the season in a regular sporting manner".

The 43-year-old Curtius called for prudence. The associations said that "no actionism, but sensible and decisive action," said the official. Follow the instructions of the health authorities "without ifs and buts, then we consistently organize the organization of the game operations, which is the core task of the DFB and its associations".

Corona: ghost games! Premier League apparently follows suit - with special rules for fans

Update from March 12th, 10.37am: In Germany, only ghost games will take place in the 1st and 2nd leagues this weekend. In the 3rd division, the two match days were completely canceled and postponed.

In order to prevent the spread of the corona virus, one takes drastic and logical measures in sports Germany. Now the Premier League also seems to be following suit.

As the Times reports, all games on the island should take place in camera, but not postponed. This decision was made early Thursday morning. A crisis plan for football is to be presented shortly.

The British government also wants to ban fans from following the games in the pubs. Instead, all season ticket holders should be able to watch the games live and free of charge on TV. In Germany Sky has now decided to show the conference in the 1st and 2nd league on free TV.

Corona: alarm in the 3rd league! The next two game days are officially canceled

Update of March 12, 7:20 am: Concerns about the further spread of the corona virus have led to the cancellation of a preparation tournament for the European Football Championship (June 12 to July 12). As announced by the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) on Wednesday, an invitation tournament was held in Qatar (March 26 to 30) with the European Championship participants Belgium, Vice World Champion Croatia, European Champion Portugal and Switzerland "due to the current world situation" the World Cup host country of 2022 canceled.

Qatar had reported 262 cases of Covid-19 by Wednesday. On the same day, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease a pandemic. Since the beginning of the year, more than 120,000 people in 113 countries have been infected.

Corona virus and football: alarm in the 3rd league! The next two game days are officially canceled

3:48 pm: Now it's official too! The next two matchdays in the 3rd league were completely canceled by the DFL. As a follow-up appointment is planned "at the earliest in early May".

The DFB announcement also says: "The question of how to proceed due to the corona virus from matchday 30 in the third division will be resolved next Monday. On this day, the DFB invited the committee and all 3rd league clubs to an extraordinary meeting in Frankfurt am Main. "

DFB general secretary Dr. Friedrich Curtius: "Health is paramount. It is also clear that we want and have to live up to our responsibility for the clubs. Against this background, the DFB (...) requires sensible and decisive action." https://t.co/d2CPWoU4nA

Coronavirus: 3rd league probably postpones games

3:23 pm: Apparently German football is still feeling the effects of the corona virus. According to information from Sport1 , the next two games of the 3rd league will be canceled. The game days 28 and 29 affected by the postponement are to be rescheduled after Easter.

2:55 p.m .: Sports Director Jörg Schmadtke from the Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg is expecting ghost games without spectators until at least the end of March. "Then you might be able to reassess the situation," said the 55-year-old a day before Lower Saxony's first knockout round first leg in the Europa League on Thursday against Shakhtar Donetsk.

This game is already played without a spectator. The former Bundesliga goalkeeper does not even consider it impossible that professional football comes to a complete standstill: "This conclusion is not so far off."

2:34 pm: The corona virus now has a serious impact on professional sports in the Czech Republic. The games of the men's first and second soccer leagues must take place without spectators, but will not be postponed or canceled for the time being.

2:07 pm: Now the corona virus has also reached the Europa League. The game between Sevilla FC and Roma AS, scheduled for Thursday, has been canceled. The Romans shared this via Twitter. Accordingly, the AS Rome plane had not been allowed to land in Spain.

Breaking news: #ASRoma will not travel to Spain for the @EuropaLeague match against @SevillaFC_ENG after the plane from Italy was not authorized to land in Spain. More details from UEFA soon. pic.twitter.com/vnVmJLkeRC

1:37 pm: Now the corona virus has finally reached German professional football. The first player is infected.

12.43 p.m .: Due to the spread of the corona virus, all matches of the 26th matchday of the Bundesliga take place without spectators. As the last game, the clash between RB Leipzig and SC Freiburg was confirmed as a ghost game on Wednesday.

Dear football fans!

We have just decided with a heavy heart to play our home game against SC Freiburg on Saturday due to the current situation and the uncertainty in dealing with the Corona virus.

Statement Oliver #Mintzlaff
pic.twitter.com/WPCOQ4MYFj

Corona virus: season out for Serie A? There is still hope

Update of March 11, 12:13 p.m .: The Italian football association FIGC hopes that Serie A can be played despite the interruption due to the Coronavirus crisis in the country, but is also considering other solutions.

The termination of the 2019/20 season is not ruled out, according to a statement published by the association.

The association is considering play-offs between the four best-placed teams and possible relegation games among the last four clubs in terms of relegation. A termination with Juventus as a new master, or without choosing a master, is also possible.

Update of March 11, 10:58 a.m .: Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach will postpone its annual general meeting scheduled for April 21 due to the spread of the corona virus to a later date.

This was announced by the club on Wednesday. So far there was no timely invitation for the members, but a reference to the date. Meanwhile it became known that Eintracht Frankfurt will be played against Gladbach on Sunday (3.30 p.m.) without spectators. This decision was announced by Frankfurt's health department head Stefan Majer (Greens) on Wednesday. Previously, several Bundesliga games had been announced without spectators.

Coronavirus Bundesliga / Premier League: ghost game in Berlin? England cracker canceled

Update of March 11, 9:38 a.m .: The Premier League game scheduled for Wednesday evening between Manchester City and Arsenal has fallen victim to the corona virus .The game was canceled for security reasons because some Arsenal employees had contact with Evangelos Marinakis , the club owner of Olympiacos Piraeus and Nottingham Forest . Marinakis had announced that he had been infected with the corona virus.

Two weeks ago, the top Greek club Olympiakos had played in the Europa League at Arsenal , and Marinakis had also traveled. On medical advice, Arsenal and Manchester City decided to postpone their duel on Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, the game between Union Berlin and FC Bayern will probably take place in front of empty ranks.

Coronavirus: international match before empty ranks - DFB team with a ghost game against Italy

Update of March 10, 5:56 p.m .: Managing Director Jörg Schmadtke from VfL Wolfsburg considers it imperative to cancel the upcoming international matches due to the Corona crisis. "At the moment my train of thought is: I will not send our players away, I will forbid them," said Schmadtke to the specialist magazine kicker .

Between March 22nd and April 3rd there is an international break in the Bundesliga. According to the current status, a large number of professionals would have to travel across the world. And because of the obligation to park, the Bundesliga clubs are basically hand tied.

"The sovereignty lies with FIFA," said Schmadtke. The managing director therefore wants to "enter into a dialogue". He had already deposited his position with the DFL in the appropriate place. Schmadtke also sees the EM at risk: "It feels like it's far away, but on the other hand, with the current state of play, it cannot be ruled out that the tournament cannot take place."

A problem is the planned staging in eleven European cities as well as in the Asian Baku: "The way the tournament is structured," says the 55-year-old, "it could be complicated. Especially given the fact that teams and fans should travel back and forth. "

Coronavirus / Bundesliga: Six Bundesliga games are ghost games at the weekend

Update of March 10, 5.50 p.m .: Next Saturday (3.30 p.m.), TSG Hoffenheim's game against Hertha BSC will also be played without a spectator due to the risk of infection with the corona virus.

The Kraichgauer announced this decision after consulting the responsible authorities on Tuesday afternoon. It is the sixth game of the 26th game day, which is kicked off before empty ranks.

Also the game between 1. FC Köln and FSV Mainz 05 will not have any spectators at the weekend due to the new corona virus. Likewise the game between Fortuna Düsseldorf and SC Paderborn on Friday.

With the encounter between SpVgg Greuther Fürth and Hamburger SV on Friday (6.30 p.m.), the 2nd Bundesliga also has its first ghost game because of the corona virus.

Coronavirus Bundesliga / DFB team: ghost game against Italy - Revierderby without fans

The game will "stand today closed to the public," said Fürth on Tuesday.

That should also apply to the simultaneous fixation of Arminia Bielefeld against VfL Osnabrück. The state of North Rhine-Westphalia had banned events with more than 1000 visitors such as Bavaria, Bremen and Schleswig-Holstein.

On the upcoming weekend of the second division, the duels between Jahn Regensburg and Holstein Kiel and between VfL Bochum and 1. FC Heidenheim on Saturday (1:00 p.m.) would also be affected.

The football games in French Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 will take place without spectators until April 15th. This was announced by the professional league LFP on Tuesday, responding to the coronavirus epidemic.

The police prefecture of Paris had already decided on Monday that the Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris St. Germain and Borussia Dortmund would take place on Wednesday (9:00 p.m. in the live ticker) without an audience in the Prinzenpark Stadium.

Coronavirus: international match before empty ranks - DFB team with a ghost game against Italy

Update from March 10, 4:40 p.m .: The corona virus now also affects the international matches. To prevent the disease from spreading, the city of Nuremberg informed the DFB on Tuesday that the international match between Germany and Italy would take place on March 31 without spectators.

The international match between Germany and Italy on March 31 in # Nürnberg must take place according to the current planning status without spectators in the stadium. The City of Nuremberg informed the @DFB of this today. #GERITA #The team pic.twitter.com/bFPXJMrQU1

Due to the spread of the corona virus, the international test is being played in front of empty ranks according to the current planning status. "Health is paramount," said Secretary General Friedrich Curtius in a message from the German Football Association on Tuesday. The city of Nuremberg had previously informed the DFB of the decision.

"The authorities have now set clear guidelines for which we are very grateful in this difficult and complex question. Even if it is of course bitter that this classic must take place in front of empty ranks, ”said Curtius.

Coronavirus: Further ghost games confirmed in the Bundesliga - BVB manager Zorc with criticism

Update of March 10, 1:31 p.m .: The Bundesliga game of SV Werder Bremen against Bayer Leverkusen scheduled for Monday evening may only take place in front of empty ranks due to the corona virus . Bremen's Senator Ulrich Mäurer announced on Tuesday that the game could only be played as a ghost game “or not at all”. Events with over 1000 people are prohibited. "It is certain that there will be no spectators in the Weser Stadium on Monday," said Mäurer.

Bremen's Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte (SPD) hopes that the match day will be postponed. He wrote to the German Football League with a request to this effect, said a spokesman. DFL boss Christian Seifert had already said, however, that a break in the Bundesliga was "illusory" and would be useless. The game is scheduled to kick off on Monday at 8:30 p.m.

The district derby between Dortmund and Schalke also takes place in front of empty ranks. BVB sports director Michael Zorc put the loss of revenue at least three million euros. In view of the considerations of playing more Bundesliga games without fans in the coming weeks, he sees further need for discussion. "All of this is not yet thought through to the end."

Corona virus: next ghost game in the Bundesliga confirmed - BVB against Schalke without fans

Update of March 10, 12:52 p.m .: The corona crisis has reached Spanish professional football. On Tuesday, La Liga announced that the next two games of the first and second league will be held in camera.

Real Madrid is particularly affected by the ghost games . The royal team around the German international Toni Kroos have to do without SD Eibar and Valencia CF in two home games without the support of their supporters .

Even in Poland's first football league , the games will take place without a spectator for an indefinite period . One responds to the government's ban on spectators at major events, the association Ekstraklasa said on Tuesday.

Since this government regulation applies indefinitely, it is not possible to postpone the games until a later date.

⚽ The 11 matchdays left in @ LaLigaEN. # RMLiga | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/fVyPTPu1WB

Update from March 10th, 12:29 pm: Now it's official: The district derby between BVB and FC Schalke next Saturday will take place without spectators . The city of Dortmund confirmed this on Tuesday at a press conference.

It is the second consecutive ghost game for BVB . The round of 16 second leg in the Champions League at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening also takes place without spectators.

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 10 March, 9:53: The coronavirus employs the Bundesliga on - 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 10 March, 7:08 : Two more Europa League games on Thursday because of the spread of the novel coronavirus place 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 each individual 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.

Update 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: On Borussia Dortmund could equal in the coming days , two mystery games ahead. 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 surge 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 cities like 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. Meanwhile, an ex-football player made a shocking statement. Football is still played in a country in Europe.

Three German clubs are involved in the round of 16 of the Europa League - we accompany the games in the live ticker.

dpa / ml / pm

List of rubric lists: © dpa / Guido Kirchner