Premier League to Play Games Without Fans on Virus, Times Says

(Bloomberg) -- The U.K. is set to unveil a crisis plan for soccer that will keep all Premier League matches played behind closed doors as the country battles the outbreak of the coronavirus, according to a report. That means fans will have to support their teams from home for the rest of the season.

The plan would allow the matches to go on without spectators instead of postponing the current season, the Times of London reported. The measures will also stop games from being shown in pubs to discourage congregation of people. Premier League games will still not be broadcast live in the 3 p.m. slot on Saturday, but all Premier league season-ticket holders and ticket holders for individual games will be able to individually stream the games at home.

The government plan may be triggered once the number of coronavirus cases in the U.K. reaches 500. The country’s case count is currently 456, according to the U.K. Department of Health and Social Care. The Premier League already decided to delay a match between Manchester City and Arsenal yesterday, after the owner of a Greek team who tested positive for coronavirus met with Arsenal players after a match about two weeks ago.

While in the U.S. the National Basketball Association has announced it will suspend all games until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for coronavirus, the Premier League is aiming to conclude the season. Premier League broadcasting contracts contain large penalties if the season was ended rather than played to the end, the Times said. The league’s clubs have at least nine matches remaining in this season, which concludes in May, not including Champions League and F.A. Cup games.

League leader Liverpool is almost certain to win this year’s title, needing only two more wins to end a 30-year drought, but now is likely to lift the league trophy in an almost empty stadium.

Meanwhile in Italy, league leader Juventus Football Club said that their player Daniele Rugani has tested positive for the coronavirus but is currently asymptomatic. The team has activated all isolation procedures required by law, including for those who have contact with him. The measures could mean teammates like superstar Cristiano Ronaldo are put into quarantine.

To contact the reporter on this story: Max Zimmerman in Tokyo at mzimmerman90@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Niluksi Koswanage at nkoswanage@bloomberg.net, Gearoid Reidy, Dominic Lau

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