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Manchester United's game at LASK in Europa League to be played behind closed doors

"We are experiencing an exceptional situation across the country," says Austrian Bundesliga chairman

Martial, Lingard and Mata celebrate a goal against Club Brugge
Image: Manchester United travel to Linz in Austria to face LASK in the Europa League on Thursday night

Manchester United's Europa League last-16 first-leg match at LASK on Thursday will be played behind closed doors due to concerns around coronavirus.

The Austrian Interior Minister has said the country was banning outdoor events of more than 500 people.

A post on the Linz club's Twitter account said: "LASK has announced that the home game against Man Utd scheduled for Thursday must take place without spectators. The association will provide further information after publication of the relevant decree."

Austrian Bundesliga chairman Christian Ebenbauer said: "Of course we all prefer to watch atmospheric games with many spectators, but we are experiencing an exceptional situation across the country.

"We fully trust the experts responsible and of course implement the measures to protect the population. Like other organisers, these measures are associated with massive organisational and financial challenges for us and our clubs."

Bayern's Champions League last-16 second-leg match at home to Chelsea and their Bundesliga match with Eintracht Frankfurt four days later could also be played without fans.

The German champions sit in a comfortable position going into the match as they lead Chelsea 3-0 from the first leg.

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Tottenham's Champions League last-16 second leg with RB Leipzig on Tuesday night will have supporters in attendance but Barcelona vs Napoli, Valencia vs Atalanta, and Paris Saint-Germain vs Borussia Dortmund will all be played behind closed doors.

Coronavirus: Key sporting developments

  • Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has announced he has coronavirus and is now self-isolating
  • Chelsea's Champions League last-16 second leg game against Bayern Munich at the Allianz on March 18 will be played behind closed doors, as will Barcelona's decisive match with Napoli on the same night. PSG's match with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday is also being played behind closed doors
  • Wolves' Europa League tie at Olympiakos in Greece on Thursday - as well as Sevilla vs Roma - will be played behind closed doors
  • Barcelona have confirmed their Champions League last-16 second leg game with Napoli - scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 at the Nou Camp - will take place behind closed doors. PSG's match with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday is also being played behind closed doors
  • All La Liga games for at least the next two weeks will be played behind closed doors following updated advice from the Spanish authorities
  • All Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches until April 15 will be played behind closed doors amid the outbreak, the French League (LFP) said on Tuesday
  • The Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 play-off against Slovakia in Bratislava on March 26 will be played behind closed doors. Germany's international football friendly against Italy on March 31 will also be played behind closed doors
  • The Bosnia and Herzegovina Football Federation has confirmed ticket sales for this month's Euro 2020 play-off match with Northern Ireland have been suspended
  • The France v Ireland Six Nations match was postponed on Monday. As it stands, the Wales vs Scotland match is the only game in the final round of the Six Nations due to go ahead as originally scheduled, after the Italy vs England game in Rome was postponed last week
  • All domestic sporting action has been suspended in Italy after prime minister Giuseppe Conte announced at a press conference that the whole country would be on lockdown from Tuesday morning
  • Tennis tournament the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells was due to start in California on Monday but will now not take place
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