ZCZC
BSP-03
FBL-EUR-C3-ITA-ESP-VIRUS
Getafe refuses to travel to Italy for Inter Milan Europa League clash
MILAN, March 11, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Getafe president Angel Torres said
Tuesday the Spanish team will not travel to Italy for their Europa League
game against Inter Milan this week as the coronavirus crisis escalates.
All sports in Italy have been suspended until April 3, including Serie A
football, but Champions League and Europa League matches are under the
jurisdiction of UEFA.
Inter Milan are due to host Getafe in the Europa League last 16, first leg
in the San Siro on Thursday while Roma welcome Sevilla a week later.
“If we have to lose the tie, we will lose it,” Torres told Onda Cero radio.
“We have asked UEFA to look for an alternative to play in Milan. We don’t
want to go into the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.
“Under no circumstances are we going to put our health at risk. Unless
things change tomorrow, Getafe will not travel to Italy.”
The Italian and Spanish professional players’ unions issued a joint
statement on Tuesday calling on UEFA to postpone matches between teams from
the two countries.
Three matches between Italian and Spanish teams are scheduled this week,
with Atalanta beating Valencia 4-3 behind closed doors in Spain on Tuesday to
reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
“Playing a match in Milan in the coming days will endanger the health of
many people,” the joint statement read.
“The journeys between Italy and Spain will become more complicated and
dangerous in the coming weeks.
“Next week’s return matches are likely to be held under emergency
conditions for the two countries.
“We hope that a deep reflection on all the calendars of European
competitions will be made in the light of the information which is getting
worse by the hour.”
Italy has restricted movement for its 60 million citizens as the nation
grapples to contain a disease which has killed 631, with 168 new deaths
recorded on Tuesday, the country’s highest single-day toll, and infected more
than 10,000.
Spain has more than 1,600 cases and 36 deaths.
Many airlines are suspending flights to Italy for the next few weeks.
There are no direct flights between Spain and Italy from March 11 to 25.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 0815 hrs