Coronavirus Fears Lead to Closed-Door Soccer Game in Italy

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.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/25/sports/soccer/coronavirus-inter-milan-ludogorets-italy.html