By Fatih Erel
ISTANBUL (AA) – The UEFA Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Borussia Dortmund will take place in an empty stadium due to the worsening coronavirus outbreak in France.
French champions PSG will host the German side in Paris on Wednesday for the second leg of their Round of 16 fixture.
The city’s police force, Paris Prefecture de Police, announced on Monday that the match will take place behind closed doors, as part of measures taken in light of the COVID-19 outbreak in France.
PSG posted a separate statement on its website, saying the club “notes the decision of the Paris Prefecture de Police” to hold the match behind closed doors.
“In this context, the club remains fully mobilized to organize the match in the best possible conditions,” said the statement.
PSG have a one-goal deficit, but also a crucial away goal, heading into the match as Dortmund won the first leg 2-1 in Germany.
PSG’s away fixture against Strasbourg in Ligue 1 this past Saturday had been postponed due to coronavirus fears.
The French football association’s decision was taken with the view that Strasbourg's Alsace region is one of the worst affected in France.
Several football fixtures have also been disrupted in other European countries over the past few weeks, particularly in neighboring Italy, which is the worst-hit country on the continent.
France has over 1,100 confirmed coronavirus cases and 19 deaths have been reported in the country until now.
The global death toll is over 3,800, with nearly 110,000 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization.