Champions League coronavirus chaos as fans banned from PSG vs Borussia Dortmund clash

The Champions League last-16 tie between PSG and Borussia Dortmund will take place behind closed doors. The Parisian police force released a statement on Monday confirming the disruption to the crunch knockout clash.

The two teams are due to meet at Parc des Princes in the second leg of their European epic on Wednesday (8pm) but no supporters will be in attendance. Dortmund hold a 2-1 lead from the first leg. 

Paris Police Prefecture’s statement read: “In application of the measures announced by the defense council last night, the Prefect of Police decided that the match #PSGBVB will take place behind closed doors.”

A statement from PSG added: “Paris Saint-Germain notes the decision of the Paris Prefecture de Police to hold the Paris Saint-Germain v Borussia Dortmund match on Wednesday 11 March behind closed doors.”

It is not the first Champions League last-16 tie to be affected by the global virus.

Valencia’s meeting with Atalanta at the Mestalla Stadium on Tuesday (8pm) will also take place behind closed doors. Elsewhere in Spain, Barcelona’s clash against Napoli on March 18 is likely to suffer the same fate.

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Juventus’ clash against Lyon on March 17 is expected to kick off without any fans at the Allianz Stadium due to the Italian government declaring all sport be played behind closed doors until 3 April.

In this week’s other fixtures, RB Leipzig vs Tottenham and Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid are scheduled to go ahead with supporters in both home stadiums, however. 

Manchester City host Real Madrid at the Etihad Stadium next Tuesday (8pm) and Los Blancos boss Zinedine Zidane has admitted teams and supporters must follow the advice of establishment figures.

“There are a lot of people telling us what we need to do and we place our trust in those who know about it. That’s all I can say on it,” Zidane said.

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“The instructions are things that you too can tell your son, like how to wash your hands. It’s pretty negative, there’s no denying that.

“Unfortunately it’s a virus that’s around at the moment, people are scared of it, we don’t know exactly what’s going on and that’s why it’s important to have information from the doctors and people in the know.

“Knowing that at some point we won’t play a game isn’t good because we’ll have prepared for it. We’re seeing it in France and Italy and it could happen in Spain.

“We have to do what we’re being told.”

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