The English Football League has decided to suspend all matches until further notice due to the coronavirus epidemic, reports claim.
There have been 596 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United Kingdom, with ten deaths announced, but health officials fear there could actually be up to 10,000 infected people.
Jamie O’Hara says Premier League matches should not be played behind closed doors due to coronavirus
With sporting events around the globe being postponed at a rapid rate, there have been strong calls for the Premier League and EFL to suspend their competitions ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.
And the EFL announced on Friday morning that it is holding a board meeting on Friday morning to make a decision over coronavirus, in relation to the impending matches and beyond.
The EFL’s statement came shortly after The Athletic reported that ALL Football League matches would be postponed.
The Premier League is also holding an emergency meeting on Friday morning to discuss how to proceed amid the epidemic, with the Arsenal and Chelsea first-team squads in self-isolation after positive coronavirus tests for Gunners manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.
This weekend’s programme is now in jeopardy after Arsenal confirmed Arteta had contracted Covid-19 before Chelsea reported Hudson-Odoi’s case hours later.
The Gunners’ trip to Brighton on Saturday was immediately postponed and further games appear certain to follow.
The Premier League could follow the NBA in suspending its season, with US basketball officials clarifying on Thursday the league will be halted for at least 30 days.
