UEFA admits Euro 2020 is in limbo due to coronavirus outbreak

UEFA admit they are at a 'waiting stage' as to whether Euro 2020 will go ahead following the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus.

Italy, the worst affected country in Europe, is scheduled to host the opening match in Rome.

But with the virus continuing to spread across the continent, threatening a host of major sporting events, UEFA have accepted that 'football must follow the orders of the individual countries'.

UEFA vice-president Michele Uva told broadcaster RAI: 'We are at the waiting stage.

'We are monitoring country by country, and football must follow the orders of the individual countries.

'The sporting path will only be closed if the situation gets worse.'

Euro 2020 is a multi-city event being staged in Amsterdam, Baku, Bilbao, Bucharest, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Glasgow, London, Munich, Rome and St Petersburg as things stand.

Italian football has seen their schedule particularly altered in recent weeks due to the mass outbreak of the virus.

Inter Milan played Ludogorets behind closed doors in the Europa League on Thursday night and their title showdown with Juventus on Sunday will also take place in an empty stadium in Turin.

Italy is Europe's worst-hit country, with 17 deaths from the virus and 650 infections. The outbreak is focused on a small cluster of towns in the northern Lombardy and Veneto regions.

The Italian government on Monday banned all sporting events in six regions

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of the country including Piedmont where Juventus' home city of Turin is located.

There are five matches behind closed doors in Serie A at the weekend, raising concerns as to Italy's suitability to open the summer tournament.