By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Due to the coronavirus hazard, Turkish Airlines EuroLeague announced that one more game will be played without spectators in Spain.
For Thursday’s game, EuroLeague issued the following press release:
Due to the Spanish government’s prohibition on fans attending professional sports events involving teams coming from regions considered to be at risk of COVID-19 transmission, Euroleague Basketball confirms that the Valencia Basket-AX Armani Exchange Milan game for Round 28 of the 2019-20 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season will be played behind closed doors on Thursday, March 5, at 21:00 local CET time, as scheduled.
To guarantee the safety and security of participating players, coaches and referees, to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus, and to maintain the regularity of the competition, no individuals – including fans, VIPs, nor additional club staff members – will be allowed access to the arena. Only the minimum necessary individuals – including players, coaching staff, referees, unified scorers, TV production company personnel, arena operations staff and medical staff – will be permitted access to the arena. Euroleague Basketball will continue to monitor the situation in all countries where Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and 7DAYS EuroCup games are being played.
Initially, Valencia wanted to hold the game with fans, but that wasn’t possible. Milan has already played one game at home without spectators with EuroLeague CEO Jordi Bertomeu explaining the situation.
Meanwhile, the game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Anadolu Efes was held in Tel Aviv with 5.000 fans in the stands, almost at the half capacity of Maccabi’s gym. This is the number of the restriction for public events announced by the Israeli Ministry of health.