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Cristiano Ronaldo jokingly welcomes imaginary fans as coronavirus shuts down Inter clash
Juventus' game against Inter Milan was played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus outbreak.
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Cristiano Ronaldo was in jovial mood ahead of the crunch match between Juventus and Inter Milan, despite the absence of any fans at the game. Players in Serie A are getting used to playing in empty stadiums after the Italian government issued a new decree stating all sport events would be played behind closed doors for a month.
That means no supporters or mascots will be allowed to attend games in Serie A until April 3 at the latest with the title race hotting up.
One such game with plenty at stake was Juventus’ home clash against Inter Milan on Sunday night.
Juventus knew a win would see them leapfrog Lazio to retake the lead in Serie A while victory for Inter would have seen Antonio Conte’s side move within three points of their rivals.
A match like this would have often been something players would have thrived off the energy off the fans and Ronaldo was clearly thinking the same as he got off the team bus ahead of the match.
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The former Real Madrid and Manchester United star was snapped pretending to high-five non-existent fans behind barriers where they would normally be stood.
Ronaldo seemed pleased with his joke as well as he had a sly smile etched across his face as he looked into the camera.
That wasn’t the only moment though as Ronaldo was caught applauding the imaginary fans during warm-up for the game.
While the games are scheduled to go ahead as planned over the next month despite no fans being in attendance, there have been calls for the league to be suspended.
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Italian players' union president Damiano Tommasi spoke out stating he reached out to several powerful people to ask the league to be suspended.
“This morning I wrote to Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, Minister for Sport Vincenzo Spadafora, CONI President Giovanni Malagò, FIGC President Gabriele Gravina, Lega Serie A President Paolo Dal Pino, Lega Serie B President Mauro Balata and Lega Pro President Francesco Ghirelli," Tommasi wrote on Twitter.
“Stopping football is the most useful action for the country at this moment.
“The teams we should be cheering on are playing in our hospitals and emergency centres."
Italy's minister for sport, Vincenzo Spadafora, echoed Tommasi’s view stating: “It makes no sense at this moment.
“While we ask our citizens for enormous sacrifices to prevent the spread of the contagion, to risk the health of players, referees, coaches, fans who will certainly gather to see games, just to protect the interests that revolve around the sport.
“Other Federations have wisely decided to suspend football for the next few days.
“I think it is the duty of the FIGC President Gabriele Gravina to reflect again, without waiting for the first case of a Serie A player infected, before taking on this very serious responsibility."