UEFA Champions League clashes hit by COVID-19 crisis

ANKARA

Two heavyweight fixtures of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The second legs of England's Manchester City’s clash with Spain's Real Madrid, and France's Olympique Lyon’s fixture with Italy's Juventus will not be played next week, UEFA, the governing body of European football, announced on Thursday.

In a statement, UEFA said the matches, both of which were set for March 17, will not take place as scheduled due to the quarantine imposed on players of Juventus and Real Madrid.

“Further decisions on the two matches will be communicated in due course,” it said.

In the first legs, City defeated Madrid 2-1 in Spain, while Lyon beat Juventus 1-0 in France.

Earlier on Thursday, Real Madrid announced that a player on its basketball team had tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

The club said its football and basketball teams were put in quarantine because both squads share training facilities.

Juventus announced on Wednesday night that Italian defender Daniele Rugani had tested positive for the coronavirus.

"Juventus Football Club is currently activating all the isolation procedures required by law, including those who have had contact with him," it added.

Spain and Italy’s football leagues have also been suspended due to the scale of the COVID-19 outbreak in the two European countries.