The news was expected, it was confirmed Monday by the Paris police headquarters. The knockout round of the Champions League between Paris Saint Germain and Borussia Dortmund will be played behind closed doors at the Parc des princes, due to the spread of the coronavirus epidemic. Sunday, Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced the ban on all gatherings of more than a thousand people.
#Coronavirus | In application of the measures announced in defense counsel last night, the Prefect of Police decided that the match #PSGBVB will take place behind closed doors. pic.twitter.com/arwKhKE81f
- Police Prefecture (@prefpolice) March 9, 2020"It's a real frustration"
"It's catastrophic," comments to Europe 1 the president of the Collective Ultras Paris Romain Mabille. "We do not understand, the shopping centers, the schools, the amusement parks are open. Matches took place two days ago without problem and one puts a camera in the PSG", he explains. "We know that the situation is complicated in France and that there are decisions that are difficult to make, but on that one, we do not understand, it is not consistent with what is happening elsewhere in France", continues the boss of ultra Parisians.
>> LIVE - Follow the evolution of the situation Monday March 9
Especially since the German club was able to benefit from a full stadium on the occasion of the first leg of the first leg (2-1 victory). "We know very well that in Paris there is a great atmosphere, we were counting on everyone to push the players to the feat. They will not have the same framework as their opponents", deplores Romain Mabille. "In the end, the goal which counts double on the outside is supposed to be rewarded, because in the return match, Dortmund must be in a hostile atmosphere with a hostile public. It is a real frustration not to be able to encourage our players."
A call to supporters to come around the Park.
So how can you support Paris Saint-Germain for this round of 16 return from the Champions League, which will decide whether or not the club will succeed this season? The boss of the Collectif Ultras Paris launches an appeal: "If we can ask all the supporters to push the team all around the stadium, that's what we're going to do", he said at the microphone of Europe 1 "I don't know how we're going to stall, we don't want to push people to 'screw the mess', but it is important that the supporters come around the stadium to push the team and that they hear us!"
2 to 300 people worked on the animations
This closed session also reduced to nothing all the work of preparation of the match planned by the supporters. "We had planned a Tifo (visual animations in the gallery, note ), there were 2 to 300 people who worked for two to three weeks on days and nights. They take their time, they see their family a little less", Sorry Romain Mabille. "We really wanted to push the team, bring something more. There is clearly frustration at not being in the stadium."