UEFA asked Roma and Inter Milan to withdraw from the Europa League this week but both Italian clubs rejected the proposal immediately, according to reports.
The governing body, keen for the competition to continue as normal, asked the Serie A teams to withdraw after both had their last-16 first-legs postponed this week due to travel restrictions imposed amid the coronavirus crisis.
The Spanish government stopped travel between Spain and Italy, meaning Roma’s game against Sevilla and Inter’s match against Getafe this evening will not take place.
According to Italian outlet Il Messaggero, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin hopes for the competition to continue as planned, in order for Euro 2020 to take place without delay in the summer.
As a result, Ceferin asked both Italian clubs to give up their spot in the competition, given the whole of Italy is currently in lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
But both clubs rejected that request immediately and they won’t be excluded from the competition, given Roma were ready to travel to Seville but weren’t allowed in the country – a decision taken by the host country in Spain.
Meanwhile, Juventus defender Daniele Rugani was the first player in Italy to test positive for COVID-19 last night.
While all Serie A games have been suspended until the beginning of April at the earliest, Juve’s Champions League last-16 second-leg against Lyon next week is in doubt after Rugani’s positive test, with Juve players now in self-isolation.