Napoli told by local authorities NOT to travel to their Serie A clash with Juventus on Sunday… despite the Italian champions being adamant the match will be played as coronavirus cases spike among football clubs
- Authorities in Naples have told Napoli not to go to Sunday’s game with Juventus
- Napoli took on Genoa last weekend who have since reported 22 Covid-19 cases
- Both Juventus and Napoli have reported two new coronavirus cases this week
- The local authorities are trying to risk a further spread in the Campania region
- Juventus say they will play the match on Sunday with Napoli facing a forfeit
Napoli have been told they cannot travel to Turin for their Serie A match against Juventus due to health concerns, though the reigning champions are adamant the match should be played.
Gennaro Gattuso’s side were set to travel to the match on Saturday afternoon at 4pm ahead of Sunday’s showdown but local authorities in Naples have banned the team from leaving the Campagnia area as it is not safe.
Coronavirus cases among Italian football clubs have risen in the past few days, with Genoa reporting 22 cases at their club while two staff members at Juventus have been diagnosed with the virus.
Local authorities told Napoli they cannot travel for their match against Juventus on Sunday
Gennaro Gattuso (right)’s side were set to leave on Saturday but have been ordered not to go
Napoli duo Elif Elmas and Piotr Zielinski have also caught the virus and the local health authority in the southern Italian region – ASL – does not want to risk further spreading of the disease in the area.
Juventus, however, have claimed that the match should go ahead and will not accept a postponement of the match.
The club tweeted on Saturday night: ‘Juventus Football Club announces that the First Team will take to the field for the Juventus – Napoli match tomorrow at 20:45, as foreseen by the Serie A League calendar.’
Juventus say they are not going to accept a postponement and will play the match on Sunday
A statement from the Italian top-flight read: ‘Serie A confirms that the Juventus-Napoli match remains scheduled for tomorrow at 20.45’.
Current regulations state Serie A players must have 13 players available, including one player, in order to be eligible to play a match, otherwise a 3-0 win will be handed to the other team.
However, the decision by the Naples authorities to ban the Partenopei from travelling has created a complicated situation which has put the high-profile Serie A fixture in doubt.
The club now risks the 3-0 forfeit if it decides to not turn up to the the Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Napoli played Genoa last week, with their opponents reporting 22 Covid-19 cases since then
Napoli need to turn up to the match on Sunday or risk being handed a 3-0 loss by Serie A
Genoa’s fixture with Torino was meant to be played on Saturday evening but was called off due to the mass outbreak at the home side.
The Italian club, based in Liguria, took on Napoli last weekend and were beaten 6-0 by Gattuso’s side. News of the outbreak in the Genoa side was announced this week and the Torino match was called off on Thursday.
Furthermore, Napoli players may not be allowed to travel for international duty if the ASL continues to ban the club from travelling.