Coronavirus: Italian sport in slow motion

Text by: RFI Follow

Due to the coronavirus epidemic that affects Italy and as a precaution, many sporting events are postponed or will take place without a spectator.

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The postponement of four games from the Italian football championship on Sunday was just the start. This week, football in Italy will be played discreetly, without spectators in six regions of the north of the country.

It will start on Thursday with this 16th final return from the Europa League between Inter Milan and the Bulgarians from Ludogorets. Interistes who will repeat the experience on Sunday during the shock of Serie A on the lawn of Juventus Turin. This Juve-Inter will punctuate a very calm weekend in the stands. In all, at least six championship games must be held behind closed doors.

Other sports are no exception to these precautions. All rugby championship games scheduled for the next weekend are postponed. Same thing for volleyball.

No decision yet but concerns for the first classic of the season in Milan-San Remo cycling scheduled for March 21. The international calendar is so tight that it seems difficult to envisage a plan B.

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