By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Europe have been rapidly rising and so has the death toll. In Italy, the most-affected country on the continent, 133 deaths were reported in a span of 24 hours from Saturday (7/3) to Sunday (8/3).
This resulted in the Italian government taking immediate extra measures that further postponed the Serie A games that were scheduled to take place in 10, 11 and 13 of March.
Apart from Italy, the coronavirus outbreak has affected all major European basketball leagues, in one way or another. Here’s what we know until Tuesday (10/3). For constant updates and latest developments onward check our live blog on the issue.
EuroLeague
The most recent update in EuroLeague has to do with the upcoming game between Olimpia Milano and Olympiacos in Italy. While Olympiacos requested for the game to be organized in another city or be postponed, EuroLeague decided that the match will be held in Milano‘s arena, as planned. The Greek team will be making a flash roundtrip for the match.
A further problem may appear for Olympiacos since the Greek government has decided to impose a 14-day quarantine on every person that arrives from Italy. The Reds are facing Real Madrid and Crvena Zvezda within that period.
There have been already two games played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus epidemic. The first was in Milan, where Olimpia hosted Real Madrid in an empty Mediolanum Forum. Due to the criticality of the situation in Lombardy, where Milan is located, not even the media were granted entrance in the arena.
Last week, Valencia faced Olimpia Milano behind closed doors at home.
EuroCup
Turkey restricted access to any person that has been in Italy when the coronavirus hit the country and this majorly affected the game between Darussafaka Tekfen and Virtus Bologna.
Belgrade hosted the game in the end, with Virtus Bologna taking the win and the qualification to the playoffs.
Basketball Champions League
The Round of 16 Game 2 between San Pablo Burgos and Dinamo Sassari will be played without fans after the decision of Spanish authorities. Also Game 2 of Bonn – AEK and Peristeri – Hapoel Jerusalem will be held without fans. The latter will be in strict isolation during their stay in Athens. Also, Game 1 in Israel between Hapoel and Peristeri played without fans.
Israel
The Israeli government has taken perhaps the most radical measures to contain the virus after Italy when it comes to countries that compete in European competitions. Every person that enters Israel must be guaranteed for 14 days.
Initially, the Israeli Ministry of Health ordered all public gatherings of 5,000 people to be banned, a decision that was officially announced just hours before the EuroLeague game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Anadolu Efes, plus the Basketball Champions League match of Hapoel Jerusalem against Peristeri BC. While the latter was played in an empty arena, Maccabi allowed 5,000 fans to enter “Menora Mivtachim.”
However, Baskonia has received permission to enter the country for the EuroLeague game against Maccabi.
Greece
For the next two weeks, all games in Greece will be played behind closed doors following an order by the Ministry of Health. Greece hasn’t been struck as hard as other countries, with 89 cases and zero deaths as of Tuesday evening.
Prior to the decision by the Ministry of Health, the match between Promitheas Patras and Rethimno was postponed indefinitely since many coronavirus cases are reported in areas near Patras.
France
Strasbourg decided to postpone the game against Le Portel due to the government banning all gatherings for 5,000 people in that area.
Spain
The Spanish government decided that all sports events will be played without fans for the next two weeks.
EuroLeague Women
Two games were canceled due to coronavirus concerns.