Over the past two months or so, a novel coronavirus known as COVID-19 that emerged in the Hubei province of China has spread across the globe. In response, national governments and other authorities have begun to introduce measures to contain and/or slow this spread.
Some of these measures—including a prohibition on large gatherings—have naturally affected spectator sports, including football.
Football Supporters Europe (FSE) acknowledges the seriousness of this situation. To this end, we are continuously monitoring the news for developments and we are in contact with clubs, UEFA, and relevant authorities. In order to limit the financial and logistical impact, we urge all responsible parties to be clear, transparent, and timely when making decisions that affect match-going fans. In addition, we ask UEFA, clubs, and public authorities to ensure that any communication on such matters is made accessible to away fans.
In order to facilitate monitoring procedures, we have created a map showing the current condition of upcoming UEFA Champions League and Europa League fixtures. As soon as changes are made to these fixtures, we will update the map and post an update on social media.
Football without fans is nothing. However, during this exceptional public health crisis, FSE supports the authorities in their efforts to curtail and resolve it.
Useful links
World Health Organisation (WHO) Situation Report on COVID-19