The FA has today announced that Women's Super League and Women's Championship fixtures will be postponed until 3 April following concerns surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic.
The postponement will also affect this weekend's Women's FA Cup quarter-final fixtures and the upcoming Women's Champions League games.
The men's Premier League, Championship, Scottish League and Champions League have also been postponed until early April.
It was revealed this morning that Arsenal men's coach, Mikel Arteta, and Chelsea men's player, Callum Hudson-Odoi, had both tested positive for the virus. With both Arsenal and Chelsea men's sides sharing training grounds with their women's teams, questions were raised concerning the health of all players at the clubs.
With a proposed return date of 3 April, The FA and Premier League have advised that this will be "subject to medical advice and conditions at the time."
The English Football League has also suggested that teams suspend "non-essential activities" such as "player appearances, training ground visits and fan meetings," and the Women's Super League is expected to follow this advice as well.
Fixtures affected include this weekend's FA Cup quarter final North London Derby, and the Women's Super League Merseyside Derby fixture that was scheduled to take place at Goodison Park. The match has already had to be reschedule once after Storm Ciara forced it's cancellation in February amid weather fears.
A joint announcement was released earlier today from The FA, Premier League, EFL, FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship.
"The decision is being made purely on the number of cases requiring self-isolation and the impact on facilities. Given the steps being taken across clubs, there is no alternative but for today’s action. However, all parties are committed at this time to trying to complete this season’s domestic fixture programme and are liaising to establish appropriate options to do so.
"We are liaising with the National League pyramids (men’s and women’s) and will continue to offer guidance and support. Any decision to continue playing or to postpone their respective competitions is a matter for each league as autonomous bodies within the game."