The coronavirus outbreak shows no signs of slowing down.
More than 89,000 people across 58 countries are now infected, while the death toll globally has exceeded 3,000.
And it’s already caused havoc with sporting events around the world.
High-profile events in sports such as athletics, badminton, boxing, formula one, golf, rugby and tennis have already been cancelled.
Meanwhile, football matches have all been postponed in China while Serie A games in Italy were also cancelled this weekend. Many of those cancelled games will now be played behind closed doors as the Italian government bans large-scale gatherings.
There are also growing concerns over Euro 2020, with the summer’s tournament being held all over Europe.
And now, it could impact football in England.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, The FA and the Premier League could ban fans from attending games and play matches behind-closed-doors in an attempt to prevent a mass spread of coronavirus.
They’re now looking at the costs and implications that would involve.
The government’s public health advice will dictate any decisions but talks have been held about prohibiting large gatherings with behind-closed-doors games emerging as a possibility.
Cancellations would obviously result in massive losses for clubs and the Premier League itself.
The FA also acknowledged the possibility of payments to “lower-division clubs in the event of games being held behind closed doors, because those sides rely on gate revenue far more than their Premier League counterparts.”
With just 10 matches remaining in the Premier League, having to play behind-closed-doors could have a massive impact on the relegation dogfight and the chase for Champions League qualification.
But spare a thought for Liverpool fans who have waited 30 years to see their side lift the Premier League trophy but may have to settle for watching it on TV…