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Guardiola would prefer games be suspended than played without fans

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he'd rather have matches called off than played withou...



Guardiola would prefer games b...
Soccer

Guardiola would prefer games be suspended than played without fans

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he'd rather have matches called off than played without spectators.

The coronavirus oubtreak has seen the Italian league suspended, while matches in Spain and France will be played behind closed doors.

Earlier it was confirmed that the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2020 playoff semi-final at Slovakia on March 26th will take place in an empty stadium.

Guardiola believes football without fans is not sustainable for any length of time:

"We are conscious of it because it has happened already in Italy. The league is suspended and in Spain the next two weeks are behind closed doors. It is going to happen here.

"The other issue you have to ask is, is it worse to play football without the spectators? We do our job for the people and if the people cannot come to watch us, there is no sense.

"I would not love to play matches in the Premier League or Champions League or the cups without the people.

"If without people I would prefer not to play, definitely. We are here for the people. Of course if it is for one or two games I could understand but if it is longer, there is no sense.

"But when UEFA or the government say you have to play without spectators, then we are going to play without spectators."

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