NAPOLI’S Coppa Italia clash with Inter Milan has become the latest domestic Italian match to be called off because of fears over the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Italy has been the European country worst affected by the disease, with 79 people so far having been killed there by Covid-19.
Napoli’s San Paolo stadium has been sanitised in attempts to keep it cleanCredit: Reuters
A number of Serie A matches have already had to be postponed over the last fortnight, including the top-of-the-table clash originally scheduled for last Sunday between Inter Milan and Juventus.
Antonio Conte’s side were due to travel to the San Paolo trailing 1-0 from the first leg at the San Siro last month.
But the Italian Football Federation will have to find another date.
And according to Tancredi Palmeri, the Italian sports ministry will propose that ALL sporting events in the next month be played behind closed doors.
Juventus will also be without a game this mid-week, with their Coppa Italia match with AC Milan being axed.
Only four Serie A matches were able to go ahead last weekend, with Milan the biggest city within the badly-affected Lombardy region of Italy. Atalanta is also suffering severely as it is part of the virus-hit Bergamo area of the country.
Gian Piero Gasperini’s side’s Champions League round of 16 second leg with Valencia on March 10 will take place behind closed doors.
Atalanta fans were also checked for symptoms before being allowed in at their Serie A game at Lecce last weekend, before watching their team’s 7-2 victory.
The San Paolo was due to host Napoli’s Coppa Italia second leg with InterCredit: Reuters
In all, the Lombardy region has had 600 of Italy’s 1,576 coronavirus cases.
Juve have also quarantined their entire under-23 side as a precaution, after they played against coronavirus-hit team US Pianese ASD.
Four Pianese players have since tested positive for the disease, and Juventus chiefs are taking no chances with the health of their young players.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
