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PSG ultras pledge to defy Coronavirus ban | COVID-19 update OTB AM

A PSG ultra group have threatened to protest against the ruling that their second-leg Champions L...



PSG ultras pledge to defy Coro...
Soccer

PSG ultras pledge to defy Coronavirus ban | COVID-19 update OTB AM

A PSG ultra group have threatened to protest against the ruling that their second-leg Champions League clash will be played behind closed doors.

Fan group, Collective Ultras Paris, plan to defy the ban on fans attending the encounter.

Football writer Philippe Auclair joined OTB AM to discuss the decision and PSG's preparation for the match.

Collective Ultras Paris president, Romain Mabille, appeared on French Radio station Europe 1 and called the measure a "catastrophe," and encouraged fans to congregate outside the Parc des Princes tomorrow night ahead of the clash.

"We do not understand, shopping centers, schools, amusement parks are open. Matches took place two days ago without problem [...] We know that the situation is complicated in France and that these decisions are difficult to make, but for this match, we do not understand, it is not consistent with what is happening elsewhere in France," he argued.

He added that the ruling puts PSG at a disadvantage following their trip to Dortmund's imposing home ground.

Collective Ultras Paris want fans to take to the streets in defiance of the decision, stating that he wants fans to gather to show support - not to cause disruption.

He hopes the team in the stadium will be able to hear fans outside.

"We really wanted to push the team, to bring support. There is clearly frustration at not being allowed in the stadium," he concluded.

Paris have it all to do in the tie, as they trail 2-1 after the first match.

The French champions could also be without attacker Mbappe, who missed training yesterday because of a cold.

Philippe Auclair told Off The Ball that Neymar's form has also dipped.

Coronavirus impact

The Champions League last 16-second leg between Barcelona and Napoli will be played behind closed doors due to coronavirus.

Officials from Barca and members of the Catalonian government met on Tuesday morning before confirming the decision.

The measure was recommended by the government and accepted by the club for "health reasons".

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