Rangers’ Europa League tie with Leverkusen has been postponed as UEFA put a halt to next week’s Europa League and the Champions League fixtures.
The European football governing body made the decision to postpone the competitions amid the coronavirus outbreak which threatens to grip Europe.
As it stands, UEFA has halted the matches set to take place on the 17th, 18th and 19th of March and will make further decisions on these matches in due course.
“In the light of developments due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and related decisions made by different governments, all UEFA club competitions matches scheduled next week are postponed,” reads a UEFA statement.
“This includes the remaining UEFA Champions League, Round of 16-second leg matches scheduled on 17 and 18 March 2020; all UEFA Europa League, Round of 16-second leg matches scheduled on 19 March 2020; all UEFA Youth League, quarter-final matches scheduled on 17 and 18 March 2020.
“Further decisions on when these matches take place will be communicated in due course.”
UEFA also announced that the postponement will also affect the quarter-final draw on the 20th of March.
Rangers’ euro rivals Bayer Leverkusen have also seen their domestic Bundesliga postponed [Chris Williams] as Germany comes to terms with the virus.
Around 50,000 people watched Rangers fall to a 3-1 defeat to Leverkusen at Ibrox last night, with similar numbers expected at the stadium this weekend for the Old Firm derby.
Comments from the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon suggest that the country will look to postpone events where there are over 500 people in attendance.
