Summary

  • Manchester City v Arsenal called off because of coronavirus fears

  • Tottenham out of Champions League, losing 4-0 on aggregate versus RB Leipzig

  • Thursday's Europa League matches involving Manchester United and Wolves set to be played behind closed doors

  • Get involved: What should football's governing bodies do about coronavirus? #bbcfootball

  1. 'The associations must find a way of delaying the season'published at 09:14 GMT 11 March 2020

    Former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville is another one who is not in favour of matches taking place in empty stadiums.

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  2. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcfootballpublished at 09:07 GMT 11 March 2020

    What should football's governing bodies do about coronavirus?

    Vishnu J Ladwa: I feel that with this Coronavirus outbreak, we cannot stop the season or postpone matches as we are so close to Euro 2020 which would give little to no time to play rearranged matches. The most sensible thing to do is play behind closed doors.

    Melissa Magargal: Postpone. Football is as much about atmosphere as it is the results. Fans are a major part of the culture and it won’t be the same without them.

    Soteri Christodoulou: So with virus spreading @premierleague, external must surely postpone weekend fixtures?

  3. Mbappe cleared after coronavirus testpublished at 09:00 GMT 11 March 2020

    Paris St-Germain v Borussia Dortmund (20:00 GMT, 1-2 after first leg)

    Mandeep Sanghera
    BBC Sport

    Following reports Paris St-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe was tested for coronavirus, it has been confirmed he has been cleared.

    PSG manager Thomas Tuchel described Mbappe as having a sore throat in the build up to tonight’s Champions League tie at home to Borussia Dortmund, which will be played behind closed doors because of the spread of the virus.

    But, after tests done as part of the usual checks on Mbappe, they found he did not have coronavirus but a sore throat/high temperature.

    PSG hope the France striker will play in the second leg of the last-16 tie against Dortmund as they try to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg.

    Kylian MbappeImage source, Getty Images
  4. Champions League games in Paris, Turin and Barcelona also affectedpublished at 08:55 GMT 11 March 2020

    Tonight's Champions League last-16 second-leg game between Paris St-Germain and Borussia Dortmund will be played behind closed doors, with the Germans holding a 2-1 lead after the first leg.

    Next week's ties between Juventus and Lyon, Barcelona and Napoli and, as mentioned, Bayern Munich v Chelsea will also be played in empty stadiums.

    Therefore, the only two remaining Champions League last-16 ties where fans will be present will be the two games in England - Liverpool v Atletico Madrid tonight and Manchester City v Real Madrid on 17 March.

    BarcelonaImage source, Getty Images
  5. More games behind closed doorspublished at 08:42 GMT 11 March 2020

    Pep's not keen on matching taking place behind closed doors (see 08:31 GMT), and we've already mentioned that Wolves away game at Olympiakos will be played with no fans watching on Thursday.

    It's the same situation for Manchester United as the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie at LASK on Thursday will be played behind closed doors because of coronavirus concerns.

    Chelsea's Champions League last-16 tie at Bayern Munich on 18 March will also be played without fans present, as will Rangers' Europa League second-leg tie at Bayer Leverkusen on 19 March.

    LASK made the decision following advice from the Austrian government.

    United have sold their allocation of just under 900 tickets but the game is one of several European fixtures that will have no spectators.

  6. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcfootballpublished at 08:37 GMT 11 March 2020

    What should football's governing bodies do about coronavirus?

    Dave: And Arsenal have played Portsmouth and West Ham since their clash with Olympiacos, so what of their next games? And Forest's clash at Sheff Wed and Millwall's cash with Derby must also be in doubt this weekend.

    Mrs Nesbitt: Best option at this point would surely be: postpone International comps for a year (eg Euro 2020) to allow all the major leagues to postpone games for a few weeks. Then, when all clear is given, play out fixtures in the order planned, just shifted back a few weeks.

    John Rushton: The season can't be scrapped, the financial implications for clubs would be devastating. As a last resort is it possible to finish the season in August and September, roll straight into the next and have a longer mid-season break? Mad times.

  7. There's no reason to play without fans - Guardiolapublished at 08:31 GMT 11 March 2020

    Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he would prefer matches to be postponed rather than played behind closed doors, adding there "is no reason to play without the people".

    Watch his news conference from yesterday below.

  8. 'All the tests came out negative'published at 08:28 GMT 11 March 2020

    Olympiakos v Wolves (Thursday, 20:00 GMT)

    The Greek side themselves have just issued a coronavirus statement and that says...

    "Olympiacos FC informs that after the required medical exams to which all the members of the football staff, as well as board members and staff, were submitted, all the tests came out negative for the COVID-19 virus."

  9. Wolves unhappy at 'unnecessary risk'published at 08:19 GMT 11 March 2020

    With the Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis having coronavirus, one knock-on effect of that is that the Greek side are set to be playing Wolves on Thursday.

    And Wolves are not happy, saying their Europa League last-16 first-leg match in Greece is an "unnecessary risk".

    Uefa have rejected Wolves' request to postpone the game, which will be played behind closed doors.

    Wolves said they respect the decision by European football's governing body and will travel to Greece on Wednesday to take part in the fixture.

    "There are some things that are more important than football," they added. "The good health of our pack and the general public is one of them.

    "Our position is that the trip poses an unnecessary risks to our players, staff, supporters and the families of all who travel, at such critical and uncertain times."

    Nuno Espirito SantoImage source, Getty Images
  10. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcfootballpublished at 08:11 GMT 11 March 2020

    What should football's governing bodies do about coronavirus?

    Dave G: It's "keep calm and carry on" surely. But if not, play out the season when possible. Liverpool have the title, there's no doubt about that, but top 4 and relegation still need to resolved (as well as promotion!). Double gameweeks or a longer season - make it happen.

    James: Carry on and do nothing. If sporting events are getting cancelled but schools, colleges and universities are still open and trains are still crammed then what difference will it make cancelling sporting events?

    Silvio di Fede: I just don't care about sports in this moment. Stop everything. To continue to play is dangerous for fans and players and not many people will have fun (Juventus v Inter behind close doors was a struggle to watch). Just stop and see what happens in three-four weeks.

  11. 'During his stay in Nottingham, he did not show any symptoms'published at 08:07 GMT 11 March 2020

    Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis is also the majority owner of Championship side Nottingham Forest and was at the City Ground for Forest's 3-0 loss to Millwall on Friday.

    "Mr Marinakis was diagnosed after showing the first symptoms on his return to Greece," said Forest. , external"During his stay in Nottingham he did not show any symptoms of the virus. The club are seeking advice from medical professionals and the relevant governing bodies to ensure the correct measures are taken."

    Marinakis had earlier revealed he had been diagnosed with coronavirus on social media platform Instagram.

    "The recent virus has 'visited' me and I felt obliged to let the public know," he said. "I feel good as I take all the necessary measures and I discipline to the doctor's instructions."

    Millwall have said that "senior club representatives who came into contact with Mr Marinakis have begun a period of self isolation".

    A club spokesman added: "This is purely a precautionary measure and no individual has displayed any symptoms. The club will continue to follow all necessary guidance from the appropriate bodies."

    Evangelos MarinakisImage source, Getty Images
  12. Saturday's Brighton v Arsenal match is still onpublished at 08:02 GMT 11 March 2020

    Arsenal played Olympiakos on 27 February - 13 days ago.

    However, the Gunners have since played Portsmouth in the FA Cup on 2 March and West Ham in the Premier League on 7 March.

    Arsenal are scheduled to be in action away at Brighton on Saturday, and the Seagulls have today said that it is still on as it stands.

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  13. get involved

    Get Involved #bbcfootballpublished at 07:55 GMT 11 March 2020

    What should the footballing governing bodies do about coronavirus?

    As always we want you to get involved.

    Our question today is...What should the footballing governing bodies do about coronavirus?

    Postpone games? Stop the season? Carry on?

    Tweet us using #bbcfootball to have your say

  14. Arsenal say players are self-isolating at homepublished at 07:53 GMT 11 March 2020

    A statement from Arsenal, released at 00:47 GMT this morning, said the following...

    "Following yesterday's news that Olympiacos owner Evangelos Marinakis has recently contracted Covid-19, we have been taking medical advice and tracing any individuals who had what the guidelines define as close contact with him at the game 13 days ago.

    "As a result of this exercise we identified that a number of players met the Olympiacos owner immediately following the game.

    "The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing Covid-19 at extremely low. However, we are strictly following the Government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact.

    "The players will remain at their homes until the 14-day period expires. Four Arsenal staff - who were sitting close to Mr Marinakis during the match - will also remain at home until the 14 days are complete."

    Arsenal playersImage source, Getty Images
  15. Man City v Arsenal called offpublished at 07:49 GMT 11 March 2020

    Manchester City's Premier League match with Arsenal, which was scheduled for Wednesday night, has been postponed as a "precautionary measure" and several Gunners players are in self-isolation after Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis contracted coronavirus.

    Arsenal say Marinakis, 52, met a number of their players when the Gunners hosted the Greek side in a Europa League match two weeks ago.

    Marinakis - who also owns Championship side Nottingham Forest - said on Tuesday he had tested positive for Covid-19.

    The 52-year-old was at the City Ground for Forest's Championship fixture against Millwall on Friday.

    ArsenalImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Arsenal were knocked out of the Europa League when Olympiakos scored a goal in the last-minute of extra-time as the Greek side won on away goals as it finished 2-2 on aggregate

  16. Ilicic hits four as Atalanta advance into the quarter-finalspublished at 07:44 GMT 11 March 2020

    Valencia 3-4 Atalanta (4-8 on aggregate)

    Josip Ilicic scored four goals against Valencia as Atalanta eased into the Champions League quarter-finals in the competition's first match to be played behind closed doors because of coronavirus.

    The Italians held a 4-1 lead from the first leg of their last-16 tie and quickly added to their advantage inside an eerie Mestalla Stadium.

    With the chants of a large gathering of home supporters outside the ground clearly audible, Slovenia forward Ilicic converted a third-minute penalty after he had been fouled by Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby.

    And while Kevin Gameiro capitalised on a defensive mix-up to tap in an equaliser for the hosts, Diakhaby's handball allowed Ilicic to score his second spot-kick of the evening to put the visitors 6-2 up on aggregate.

    A second Gameiro goal, this time from a close-range header, levelled the score on the night before Ferran Torres' lobbed effort put the La Liga side in front. However, Ilicic's rasping left-foot drive from 20 yards restored Atalanta's three-goal aggregate lead as he became the first Slovenian player to score a Champions League hat-trick.

    Ilicic's fourth, a left-foot effort into the top left corner, rounded off an 8-4 aggregate win on a fine evening for Gian Piero Gasperini's side, who have now scored 28 goals in their last seven games and become the competition's first debutants to reach the last eight since Leicester City in 2016-17.

    AtalantaImage source, Getty Images
  17. 'It's not the time to crumble'published at 07:38 GMT 11 March 2020

    RB Leipzig 3-0 Tottenham (4-0 on aggregate)

    Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli called yesterday's result 'an extremely disappointing night'.

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  18. 'Spurs players seem inferior'published at 07:35 GMT 11 March 2020

    RB Leipzig 3-0 Tottenham (4-0 on aggregate)

    Guillem Balague
    Spanish football journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Jose Mourinho hasn’t had such a poor team since he was at Porto. You’ve got a lot of excuses and he points them out at every press conference.

    He has a squad that is tired, in need of change and what we hear is that the club doesn’t think it needs a big overhaul.

    Perhaps he was not the man to take over the mantel from Mauricio Pochettino. The team has gone from being proactive to reactive, to being defensive and I think that’s what the fans are asking for, not so much to win titles but to see the football they have had the past four years or so.

    If they [the players] are not confident in what has been asked of them and you play against a team that is playing very well, they seem inferior. They don’t think they can do it.

  19. Spurs well beaten in Germanypublished at 07:32 GMT 11 March 2020

    RB Leipzig 3-0 Tottenham (4-0 on aggregate)

    Tottenham Hotspur's Champions League campaign came to an end as they were well beaten by RB Leipzig in the last 16.

    The German club - who were only formed 10 years ago - led 1-0 from the first leg in London and Marcel Sabitzer's double at the Red Bull Arena put Leipzig in control.

    Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris should have done better for both goals - getting a hand to both the Leipzig captain's 20-yard shot and near-post header.

    Emil Forsberg scored with his first touch after coming off the bench to give Leipzig a 4-0 aggregate win.

    Jose MourinhoImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 07:30 GMT 11 March 2020

    Right, they are the back pages so let's look at the stories behind the headlines.

    First up, some actual on-pitch action...