Coronavirus Fears Lead to Closed-Door Soccer Game in Italy

A soccer match in one of Europe’s biggest tournaments is to be played behind closed doors on Thursday as the authorities in Italy continue to restrict public gatherings amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in the northern region of Lombardy.

The decision to play the game — the second leg of a Europa League knockout match between Internazionale of Milan and Ludogorets of Bulgaria — without spectators comes after the Italian authorities postponed four league games last weekend and as the health crisis has started to affect the European sports calendar.

Sports schedules in Asia, most notably in China, have been decimated since the virus first started to spread. Soccer officials in South Korea and Japan also delayed the start of their domestic soccer seasons this week.

Inter Milan, a top contender for the Italian league title this season, said its decision was the result of several days of talks with health officials in Lombardy and European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, over how to stage the game, which could not be canceled because of the lack of alternate dates.

The decision to go ahead with the match at Milan’s cavernous San Siro stadium was confirmed on Tuesday. Inter was one of the four Italian clubs that postponed a match last weekend; makeup dates for those games have not been announced.

Italy now has more than 200 confirmed coronavirus cases, and while Milan, the country’s economic engine, is not locked down, it is surrounded by several of the towns badly affected by the outbreak.

Inter, which is owned by a Chinese company, had already been taking steps to minimize the risks to its staff members from the virus. Nonessential employees were told over the weekend to stay away from the team’s headquarters.

The game against Ludogorets is believed to be the first time a European soccer match has had to be played behind closed doors because of a health crisis. Usually such conditions are imposed on teams as a punishment for fan violence or racist episodes.

The situation is far worse in parts of Asia. The start of soccer league seasons in China, Japan and South Korea have all been postponed over fears over the spread of coronavirus, and the sport’s governing body in Asia has postponed several games in its regional competitions.

Other sports have been affected, too. The Formula One Grand Prix auto race scheduled to take place in Shanghai in April has been postponed, as have events in sports as varied as snooker, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

Organizers of the Olympic Games that are set to take place in Tokyo this summer have faced a barrage of questions over the status of that event. The International Olympic Committee has so far said only that it is monitoring the situation.