Coronavirus panic hits Premier League clubs

Coronavirus panic hits Premier League clubs, and it was only a matter of time, especially after Serie A games were called off at the weekend.

Inter Milan’s home game against Sampdoria was among four Serie A fixtures on Sunday postponed over fears of the spread of coronavirus, which is a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.

Now the Premier League are facing fears that football fans could potentially catch it while attending matches, an investigation reveals.

Crystal Palace are so concerned that they have given Selhurst Park stadium a deep clean, and officials at Brighton have stepped up to protect players, staff and fans after five cases were linked to the city.

Many other clubs will undoubtedly be looking into safety precautions such as hand washing/sanitising stations and a plexiglass shield for staff who are customer-facing. Medical staff at grounds have also had training in what to do if they fear a fan has fallen ill.

A Crystal Palace spokesman said: “We have installed hand sanitisers in every toilet at the ground, and signs/posters around the stadium will remind supporters to wash their hands.”

Brighton, Leicester City, Manchester United and Arsenal have increased their hygiene safety at the weekend, while fans arriving at Liverpool on Monday are likely to find extra measures in place to prevent coronavirus being spread.

Clubs have also been reported to state that they are “fearful” about the impact the virus could have.

One said, according to the Sun on Sunday: “Tens of thousands of people congregate at stadiums. And with so many fixtures over the next few weeks, all clubs fear a carrier of the virus turning up to a match and passing it on.

“That’s why so many clubs are working to protect fans the best they can.”

Earlier this month, Bournemouth fans were branded “idiots” after wearing face masks in the stands for the Aston Villa clash amid coronavirus fears.

Sky Sports posted a video on Twitter, which has since been deleted, showing season ticket holders wearing the masks.