Tonight’s EPL match between Manchester City and Arsenal has been postponed due to the Coronavirus.
Just before 1am Manchester City made the announcement which puts in doubt all UK football fixtures on the back of the Italian authorities postponing all domestic games until April. In Spain and France matches will be played behind closed doors.
The postponement of the Manchester City match indicates just how fast moving the situation is with no guarantees that this weekend’s SPFL matches will go ahead including the Glasgow derby on Sunday.
In recent weeks officials from the two Glasgow clubs have been in contact with clubs from Denmark, Portugal and Germany.
Club statement. https://t.co/eb8fHKq6M9
— Manchester City (@ManCity) March 11, 2020
Health minister Nadine Dorries says she has tested positive for coronavirus and is self-isolating https://t.co/79GYWaeJDb
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 10, 2020
On Tuesday afternoon the SFA and SPFL issued a statement requesting that clubs check their ‘Business Interruption Insurance’ but at the same time the first case of Coronavirus in football was being reported.
Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forrest and Olympiacos, revealed on Instagram that he had contacted Coronavirus which led to the postponement of the Manchester City match.
Wolves are scheduled to play Olympiacos in the Europa League but have requested that the match is postponed, the Greek authorities have already ordered the match to be played behind closed doors. UEFA have rejected the postponement request from Wolves who are scheduled to host the Greek side next week.
In the previous round Olympiacos beat Arsenal with Marinakis in contact with players and officials from the London club which led to the postponement of tonight’s match at the Etihad Stadium. Those who were in contact with Marinakis are now self isolating, on Friday night he attended the Nottinghan Forest v Millwall match.
Yesterday Celtic announced that players and staff wouldn’t be taking part in any events involving meeting supporters due to concerns over the Coronavirus.
Now with the postponement of the Manchester City-Arsenal match every fixture must be in doubt leaving the football authorities powerless to make alternative plans until the full extent of the virus outbreak is known.