The Premier League is considering banning over 70s at its matches over coronavirus fears – as the outbreak continues to have an impact on the sporting schedule.
Sports authorities and broadcasters will meet on Monday to discuss contingency plans to cope with the killer disease as the number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus in the UK hits 164.
Measures expected to be discussed at the meeting include playing fixtures behind closed doors – as has been done in other European leagues like Italy and Morocco – or postponing matches until after the virus has peaked.
Sports authorities and broadcasters will meet on Monday to discuss contingency plans to cope with the killer disease (pictured the Emirates Stadium)
Sky News’ sports correspondent Martha Kelner also revealed other ideas. ‘The league is also considering other possible contingency plans,’ she said.
‘That may include advising against, or even a possible ban, on over 70s – the demographic considered to be at highest risk from the spread of COVID-19 – coming inside stadiums.’
A range of sports have had to take action to prevent the spread of the virus, with postponements hitting the Guinness Six Nations, Formula One and Serie A among others.
Sports governing bodies and broadcasters have been called to a government meeting on Monday to discuss how to deal with the impact the outbreak could have on the sporting calendar.
With spectacles such as Euro 2020, the Olympics and golf’s majors on the horizon, many could face the impact.
In just football alone six Serie A games were postponed last weekend, as were the midweek Coppa Italia semi-finals second leg, and now top-flight fixtures in Italy will be played behind closed doors until April 3.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin remains optimistic this summer’s Euro 2020 – which is scheduled to be held in 12 cities across the continent – will go ahead as planned.
The Swiss Football League has been suspended until March 23.
If the coronavirus outbreak escalates, sporting events attendance could be limited to just 500
A further 47 coronavirus cases have been diagnosed in the UK today – 36 in England and 11 in Scotland – bringing the total to 164 from just 51 on Wednesday
Pre-season matches at the International Champions Cup scheduled to take place in Asia have also been postponed, while Scotland boss Steve Clarke decided not to travel to the Nations League draw in Amsterdam as it was deemed ‘an unnecessary risk’.
It is understood the Premier League has advised clubs to increase hygiene levels at stadiums and training grounds, cut down on non-essential visitors and keep face-to-face meetings to a minimum.
Players and officials will not shake hands at Premier League games from this weekend until further notice.
Scottish football’s coronavirus response group has told players and match officials not to shake hands before and after matches.
Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster said: ‘If the outbreak affects the first team of even one SPFL club, it could make completing the SPFL season very difficult.’
Liverpool opted not to use on-pitch mascots.
In Holland, Ajax assistant coach Christian Poulsen, along with two other members of the club’s backroom staff, are self-isolating until March 13 after coming into contact with someone who later tested positive for coronavirus.
Outside of football the Cheltenham Festival is due to go ahead as planned in front of sell-out crowds next week, but there are fears over whether the Grand National meeting at Aintree next month will be able to take place as normal.
There are concerns the Grand National will not be able to take place as normal next month
Private meetings have been staged in France, Hong Kong and Japan in recent weeks as a result of coronavirus.
Rugby has been the worst hit sport to date, with Six Nations matches between Ireland and Italy and Italy and England called off to leave the championship on hold until the autumn.
The ECB are understood to be holding talks about what a behind-closed-doors cricket season would look like ahead of the start of the County Championship on April 12.
It comes as more than 160 people have now tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, in the largest day-on-day increase.
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the Government is working with supermarkets to ensure food supplies as the number of people self-isolating is expected to rise.
He sought to reassure the public following panic-buying in some areas, with supermarkets seeing their shelves cleared of essentials such as toilet roll and paracetamol.
Speaking on BBC’s Question Time, Mr Hancock said: ‘The Government has supplies of the key things that are needed, and, within the food supply, we are absolutely confident that there won’t be a problem there.
‘And, crucially, we are working to makes sure that if people are self-isolating, they will be able to get the food and supplies that they need.’
He said there was ‘absolutely no need’ for individual people ‘to go round buying more than they need.’
Downing Street said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had regular meetings with the food industry to discuss risks to the supply chain, with a working group due to meet on Friday.