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Report: Wolves request Olympiakos Europa League tie be postponed

It's understood that Wolves have asked UEFA to postpone their Europa League last-16 first leg awa...



Report: Wolves request Olympia...
Soccer

Report: Wolves request Olympiakos Europa League tie be postponed

It's understood that Wolves have asked UEFA to postpone their Europa League last-16 first leg away to Olympiakos over coronavirus fears. 

Olympiakos and Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis announced he had contracted COVID-19.

The game at Olympiakos' Karaiskakis Stadium was due to be played behind closed doors anyway following a directive from the Greek government.

Greece reported an extra five cases of coronavirus, bringing the total number to 89.

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo says his side are reluctant to make the trip to Piraeus given the circumstances, "If we have to go [to Olympiakos] we will", he told Sky Sports.

"'I don't agree with playing football behind closed doors. The main origin of football is to entertain. If the fans cannot attend, what's the point? This is bigger than football."

Marinakis attended Olympiakos' last outing in the competition - their 2nd leg away to Arsenal which saw them progress at the expense of the Premier League side.

The shipping magnate was also in attendance for Forest's 3-0 defeat at home to Millwall on Friday night.

Writing on Instagram, Marinakis wrote, "[the] recent virus has ‘visited’ me and I felt obliged to let the public know.

"I feel good as I take all the necessary measures and I discipline to the doctors instructions.

"I strongly advise all my fellow citizens to do the same. I wish all a quick recovery."

The entire Olympiakos squad are to be tested for the virus individually on Tuesday afternoon.

A decision from UEFA about the game is due inside the next 24-hours.

But the Portuguese boss says the football community needs to do better in their response to the outbreak, "Why not stop? Does it make sense to play a game behind closed doors? Are we sending the right message to say we're OK to have contact and fans can't?"

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Coronavirus Covid-19 Europa League Evangelos Marinakis Nuno Espírito Santo Olympiacos Olympiakos UEFA UEFA Europa League Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolves