Football news – Roma can't travel to Seville for Europa tie, Getafe won't go to Milan

ByEurosport

Updated 11/03/2020 at 13:26 GMT

Roma will not travel to Sevilla for their Europa League match on Thursday after their plane was not authorised to land in Spain, the Serie A side have announced.

Roma flag

Image credit: Getty Images

The match was due to take place behind closed doors as Europe battles to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

However, Spain cancelled all direct flights from Italy for two weeks on Tuesday in a bid to stop the spread.

Several Arsenal players in self-isolation, Man City match postponed

Europa League

Opinion: Mourinho's call to start Kane in second leg hints at nervousness

18/03/2021 at 14:47

"AS Roma will not travel to Spain for the Europa League match against Sevilla after the plane from Italy was not authorised to land in Spain. More details from UEFA soon," said a statement on the club's Twitter account on Wednesday.

Earlier, Getafe Getafe president Angel Torres told reporters his club refused to travel to Italy for their game at Inter, even if it meant they were kicked out of the competition..

The region of Lombardy, where Milan is located, is at the epicentre of Europe's worse coronavirus outbreak which has prompted the Italian government to impose a nationwide lockdown.

"We have looked for an alternative to playing in Milan," Getafe club president Angel Torres told Onda Cero radio.

"We don't want to be in the focal point of the coronavirus outbreak, we don't need that. We have also asked the (Spanish) federation to demand the suspension.

"If we have to lose the tie, then we lose it. We don't want to run any sort of risk. We are really excited about this match but if we have to lose it, then so be it."