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Wolves have condemned the decision not to postpone their Europa League tie with Olympiacos, claiming the trip to Greece \u201cposes unnecessary risks\u201d to their players and staff.<\/p>\nWolves have condemned the decision not to postpone their Europa League tie with Olympiacos, claiming the trip to Greece \u201cposes unnecessary risks\u201d to their players and staff.<\/p>\n
The Premier League side\u2019s appeal to have Thursday\u2019s last-16 first leg called off was rejected by UEFA and the game will go ahead behind closed doors as the spread of coronavirus continues to affect sporting events.<\/p>\n
This comes as Spanish side Getafe said they would refuse to travel to virus hotspot northern Italy to play Inter Milan in their Europa League tie, also scheduled for Thursday. Asking UEFA to \u201cfind an alternative to playing in Milan\u201d, club president Angel Torres told Spanish radio station Onda Cero that Getafe would forfeit the tie if a different venue was not found.<\/p>\n
Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis, who is also Nottingham Forest\u2019s majority owner, announced on Tuesday that he had contracted the virus.<\/p>\n
Wolves confirmed they would respect UEFA\u2019s decision and play the match, but urged the governing body to \u201cconsider alternative options moving forwards, as this will not be the last fixture to be affected by coronavirus\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWolves can confirm that a formal request submitted to UEFA proposing the postponement of Thursday\u2019s Europa League tie at Olympiacos has been rejected by the governing body,\u201d a club statement read.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe match will take place, behind closed doors, in line with the Greek government\u2019s enforced temporary suspension of spectators attending sporting events, to limit the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) in Greece.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur position is that the trip poses unnecessary risks to our players, staff, supporters and the families of all who travel, at such critical and uncertain times.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur concern is also for our opponents, whose players and staff have today been tested, and will now be expected to play their part in an important fixture, under the difficult and challenging circumstances of their owner suffering with the virus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is also disappointment that the match will be played without home and away supporters, as that is part of what makes European competition so special, as well as the fact our fans have already contended with similar obstacles on our Europa League journey already this season.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that there are some things that are more important than football, and that the good health of our pack and the general public is one of them. However, we respect the decision of UEFA and the integrity of the competition, and we will travel tomorrow to Greece to play the fixture.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope that our request to UEFA, and our acceptance of their decision, can act as the catalyst for them to consider alternative options moving forwards, as this will not be the last fixture to be affected by coronavirus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite Marinakis\u2019 diagnosis and his position at Forest, the English Football League insists there are no immediate plans to postpone any fixtures.<\/p>\n
Marinakis attended Friday night\u2019s Sky Bet Championship match against Millwall, where he reportedly met with the first-team squad.<\/p>\n
A club statement said he was diagnosed after first showing symptoms on his return to Greece on Monday afternoon, adding he did not show any symptoms while he was in Nottingham last week.<\/p>\n
The EFL said it was working closely with Forest to see if any steps needed to be taken following the news, but its statement confirmed matches across the three divisions would continue as normal for the time being.<\/p>\n
An EFL spokesman said: \u201cThe League is in dialogue to fully ascertain the set of circumstances that existed when Mr Marinakis visited the club last week and in conjunction with the club will make a determination on what measures are to be taken \u2013 if any \u2013 when full details are known.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand the club is taking the appropriate steps to mitigate risk in line with relevant guidance provided by the health authorities. The Government guidance remains unchanged on the position of EFL matches taking place as scheduled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marinakis had also been in England just under two weeks ago to see Olympiacos shock Arsenal by knocking them out of the Europa League at the Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners insisting there has been no suggestion anyone at the club has fallen ill as a result.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur home match with Olympiacos in the Europa League was played on Thursday 27 February and none of our staff who came into contact with him on that matchday have reported any symptoms since,\u201d they said in a statement released to the PA news agency.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to follow strict protocols with regard to coronavirus. We\u2019re following the Government health guidelines and have additional procedures in place to protect our players and staff. This has included regular deep cleaning of areas used by players at Emirates Stadium and our training center.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wolves\u2019 clash with Olympiacos is one of a host of Europa and Champions League games due to take place without spectators.<\/p>\n
Manchester United\u2019s Europa League last-16 first leg at Austrian side LASK on Thursday and the second leg of Chelsea\u2019s Champions League last-16 clash away to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, March 18 will both be played behind closed doors.<\/p>\n
So too will the second leg of Rangers\u2019 Europa League tie at Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday, March 19.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Linfield, the reigning champions of Northern Ireland, confirmed that a member of their squad had tested positive for coronavirus.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis club is taking advice from the relevant authorities and will provide an update when we have further details,\u201d the Danske Bank Premiership leaders announced on their website.<\/p>\n
The Irish FA added in a statement: \u201cHaving been made aware that an individual, who recently used some of the facilities at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, has subsequently tested positive for Covid-19, the Irish FA has taken the decision to conduct a deep clean of the premises with immediate effect as a precautionary measure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have instructed staff members to work from home for the next 48 hours and will continue to update them, as well as our partners based at the stadium, regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the international front, the Republic of Ireland\u2019s Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Slovakia in Bratislava on March 26 will be played behind closed doors.<\/p>\n
The Bosnia and Herzegovina federation has confirmed ticket sales for this month\u2019s Euro 2020 play-off match with Northern Ireland, which were set to go on sale on Wednesday, have been suspended.<\/p>\n
England\u2019s friendly against Italy at Wembley on March 27 is still set to go ahead as normal, with the Football Association continuing to follow Government advice, but Italy\u2019s match against Germany in Nuremberg four days later will be played behind closed doors.<\/p>\n
France will also play this month\u2019s friendlies at home to Ukraine and Finland behind closed doors.<\/p>\n
Despite the disruption being caused to football across Europe, UEFA said it had received no requests to postpone Euro 2020, which gets under way in Rome on June 12.<\/p>\n
A UEFA spokesperson said: \u201cWe did not receive a single request from national associations to postpone the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n
At least the next two rounds of Spanish LaLiga matches will be played behind closed doors following updated advice from the Spanish authorities.<\/p>\n
Games across the French leagues will be played behind closed doors until April 15, while the 25th round of fixtures in Portugal\u2019s top-two leagues will also take place in front of empty stands.<\/p>\n
Italy\u2019s Serie A was one of the first leagues to be suspended following the outbreak and the Italian Football Federation admitted the season may not be completed.<\/p>\n
The federation highlighted three possible options were that to be the case \u2013 not having champions this season, making the current standings final or just playing play-offs to determine the title winners and relegated clubs.<\/p>\n
The outbreak of the virus has also hit rugby league\u2019s Super League, with Catalans Dragons\u2019 match at home to Leeds Rhinos on March 14 to be played behind closed doors.<\/p>\n