The COVID is a unique and exclusive club for the most influential people in football. This includes players, managers, top agents and owners of clubs throughout Europe. The idea was to create an opportunity where these individuals could meet each other in person without this being seen as a conflict of interest or it influencing their role within professional football. However, Bayern Munich are refusing to allow fans into their ground when they play Barcelona on Tuesday night because the COVID will be holding its annual conference at Allianz Arena instead
8:00 a.m. ET
-
Sam Marsden is a British actor who has starred in
-
Llorens Moises
Barcelona’s crucial Champions League match against Bayern Munich next week will be played without supporters due to new limitations in Bavaria aimed at controlling the coronavirus’ spread.
In response to growing infection rates, the German government has imposed a 50 percent capacity restriction on athletic facilities, with outdoor venues limited to a maximum of 15,000 spectators.
– ESPN FC 100: 2021’s best male players and managers – Watch ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only) – If you don’t have ESPN, you’re out of luck. Get immediate access
However, Bavaria, one of the country’s 16 states, has gone a step further by determining that for the foreseeable future, all matches shall be played behind closed doors.
As a result, Bayern’s home game against Barcelona on December 8th, as well as their future Bundesliga fixtures against Mainz and Wolfsburg, will be played in an empty Allianz Arena.
However, 15,000 supporters are expected to attend their top-of-the-table league match this weekend in North Rhine-Westphalia against Borussia Dortmund.
“Bayern Munich vs. FC Barcelona will be played behind closed doors,” Barca said in a statement on Friday.
“Due to a significant rise in coronavirus infections in the German area of Bavaria in the previous several weeks, the game corresponding to matchday six in the Champions League will be played without supporters in the stadium.”
Saxony, like Bavaria, has elected to play games behind closed doors, which means Manchester City’s match against RB Leipzig next week will be played without fans.
Barcelona’s critical Champions League match against Bayern Munich will be played without the presence of any fans. Photo by Pedro Salado/Getty Images/Quality Sport Images
Bavaria’s premier minister, Markus Soder, had warned earlier this week that a return to empty stadiums was required.
“Football matches should once again be held without the presence of spectators. That will be done by Bavaria “On Tuesday, Soder warned on Twitter that letting supporters inside stadiums is too risky at the present since it encourages people to travel.
“Football serves as an excellent role model. We must immediately minimize all touch points.”
Last week, Bavaria, one of Germany’s hardest-hit states in the recent wave of coronavirus, enacted a law limiting football stadiums to a maximum capacity of 25%.
Only persons who had been vaccinated or had recovered from COVID-19 were permitted into the stadiums, and only if they could demonstrate a negative test.
On Thursday, Germany reported more than 73,000 new cases, including 390 fatalities — the highest daily amount since early March, bringing the total death toll to more over 102,000.
If Barcelona wins in Munich, they will qualify for the Champions League knockout rounds. If they fail to achieve so, they may be relegated to the Europa League in the next year.
If Benfica defeats Dynamo Kiev on the same day, Xavi Hernandez’s team will qualify for the knockout rounds with only three points against Bayern.
Bayern Munich has already secured a spot in the round of 16 with five victories from five games. With seven points, Barca is second in Group E, two points ahead of Benfica.
Assuming Barca and Benfica end with the same number of points — if Barca draws in Munich and Benfica wins — the Portuguese team will advance due to their better head-to-head record.
