Ligue 1 matches limited to 1,000 fans amid coronavirus fears

The regulations will be in place until April 15, with the last Coupe de la Ligue final between PSG and Lyon set to be affected

Ligue 1 matches will be played behind closed doors or see fan numbers restricted to 1,000 as part of measures to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Minister for sport Roxana Maracineanu confirmed the decision after chairing a meeting on Monday to discuss plans to combat the outbreak.

Paris Saint-Germain‘s game against Strasbourg on Saturday was postponed due to the virus, while their Champions League last-16 second leg at home to Borussia Dortmund will be played behind closed doors following guidance from police.

PSG’s Ligue 1 matches against Nice and Marseille, as well as the Coupe de la Ligue final with Lyon on April 4, will all be affected.

France has 1,116 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with 19 people having been killed.

Speaking last week, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin called for people not to obsess over “dark scenarios” as European football’s governing body considered the ramifications for the Champions League and Euro 2020 amid the outbreak.

“We are dealing with it and we are confident we can deal with it,” he said. “You don’t know how many big concerns we have: we have security concerns, political instability and one is also the virus.

“Let’s try to be optimistic, not think about dark scenarios – there’s time for that later.”

Later on Monday, RB Leipzig confirmed that their last-16 second leg at home to Tottenham was presently neither at risk of being called off nor of having to be held behind closed doors.

“The game is currently not at risk of cancellation due to the recent coronavirus outbreak,” the Bundesliga club said on Twitter.

“We remain in close contact with health authorities and the match will go ahead as planned, with the fans being able to enjoy the match in the ground.”

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