Coronavirus causes postponements and closed doors, Montreal Impact lose in Champions League, and more: Freedom Kicks for March 11, 2020

It’s Wednesday, and we had a lot of news involving soccer and the coronavirus. We also had Atalanta and RB Leipzig advancing in UEFA Champions League. Here’s what we have:

Coronavirus: La Liga, French club matches & Barca Champions League game behind closed doors - BBC

La Liga has put all matches behind closed doors for the next two weeks. That included Valencia’s Champions League match yesterday against Atalanta and includes Barcelona’s upcoming Champions League match against Napoli.

Coronavirus could see Serie A use playoff for scudetto, relegation places - NBC Sports

Because Serie A is on hiatus for another 3 weeks, the league is discussing how to crown a champion. Among the options is a playoff involving the top teams in the current table.

Montreal Impact 1, CD Olimpia 2 | Concacaf Champions League Match Recap - MLS

The Montreal Impact lost 2-1 in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals to CD Olimpia. The return leg is next week in Honduras, and the Impact will need at least 2 goals.

US Soccer and USWNT players respond to each other’s requests for summary judgment - Stars & Stripes FC

U.S. Soccer and the United States Women’s National Team submitted responses to each other’s summary judgment requests in the Equal Pay lawsuit, and among some of the responses was an incredible statement by U.S. Soccer that basically said that women’s soccer was “inferior” to men’s soccer as a rationale behind why the WNT should not get the same pay as the MNT. Terrible, terrible, terrible.

Mbappe’s coronavirus test comes back negative, in doubt for PSG-Dortmund - ESPNFC

Kylian Mbappe is the most high profile soccer player to be tested for COVID-19. His test came back negative, but he is still questionable for PSG’s Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund.

Man City v. Arsenal postponed, affected players homebound - NBC Sports

The Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis, announced yesterday that he had contracted the coronavirus. Because he came into direct contact with several players from Arsenal a couple weeks ago when Olympiacos and Arsenal met in the UEFA Europa League, they had to be placed under quarantine, and Arsenal’s league match today against Manchester City has been postponed.

VAR Review: A referee’s perspective on Roman Torres’ red card against D.C. United - Black & Red United

A breakdown of the big play from last weekend’s D.C. United match against Inter Miami CF, when Roman Torres was sent off for DOGSO (and a Miami goal negated).

The NWSL has put out a statement on COVID-19 and their preparedness:

Bayern Munich v. Chelsea to be played behind closed doors - NBC Sports

Bayern Munich and Chelsea will be playing behind closed doors in their 2nd leg of the Champions League due to COVID-19 cautions.

That’s it for today. Stay clean and vigilant, everyone.