The captivating Italian title race will be halted for the immediate future after an announcement by Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has meant that all sporting events will be cancelled until April 3rd. The announcement didn’t come as a shock to most, as many health experts called for a blanket ban over sporting events.
The government ultimately agreed with the health organisations. Serie A fixtures had been played over the weekend behind closed doors, but fans were unhappy after being unable to watch any of the fixtures in the stadium. One of the fixtures that took place included the heavyweight clash between Inter Milan and Juventus. Inter Milan are now out of the title race after losing 2-0, but Lazio remains very much involved.
Serie A Sides Forced To Wait
Lazio would have been a little frustrated at the turn of events as they have been in excellent form over recent weeks. But the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) revealed that the protection of health is their top priority. The decree which was signed by Conte means that all public events will be banned until the beginning of April.
The situation in Italy is becoming more serious with every passing day, with over 16 million people situated in the northern part of the country now on lockdown. The country has been the most affected by the outbreak of the disease in Europe, with just under 10,000 cases confirmed. The seriousness of the virus in Italy can be appreciated by the total of 465 deaths that have been recorded so far. But, Italy isn’t the only country that is taking precautionary measures to halt the spreading of the virus.
Other Countries React To Outbreak
France has also been hit hard by the outbreak, with PSG’s game at the weekend postponed. Meanwhile, Greek side Olympiakos were due to play Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Europa League this week, but that fixture will now be played behind closed doors. The Champions League fixture between PSG and Borussia Dortmund will also be played behind closed doors, which is a massive shame because the fixture promises to be one of the most entertaining this season.
There is no word yet on any contingency plans for the European Championships which are due to take place in the summer, while the Japanese Olympics are still set to go ahead. The United Kingdom have been affected badly by the illness, with the number of reported cases now standing at 319, with five people having died. However, there have been no cancellation of events at this point. Premier League teams no longer shake hands with the opposition before games, while the Cheltenham Festival has been announced that it will go ahead as planned.
There will be a further update from the British government later in the week, with a possible age ban on certain events to protect the most vulnerable.
