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Coronavirus sport news – live: Man City v Arsenal postponed over outbreak fears as Champions League fixtures played behind closed doors

Follow latest updates as coronavirus continues to take its toll on the sporting world

Alex Pattle
Wednesday 11 March 2020 20:00 GMT
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Man City's fixture with Arsenal was called off on Tuesday evening
Man City's fixture with Arsenal was called off on Tuesday evening (Getty)

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Manchester City were set to host Arsenal in the Premier League on Wednesday night, but the fixture has become the latest sporting event to be affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

A number of Arsenal players are in self-isolation after they met Evangelos Marinakis, the Olympiakos owner, who has contracted Covid-19. Marinakis visited the Emirates when Arsenal hosted Olympiakos in the Europa League on 27 February – 13 days ago – and came into close contact with club personnel.

Arsenal said that, according to medical advice, the risk of those who met Marinakis contracting coronavirus was “extremely low”, but the postponement and self-isolation are a “precautionary measure.” Follow the latest updates below:

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Eintracht Frankfurt have also announced their Bundesliga game against Borussia Monchengladbach this weekend will be played without spectators.

Alex Pattle11 March 2020 12:04

More news from Germany as Hannover player Timo Hubers has contracted the virus. He has not been in contact with his team-mates since being infected, the club has said.

Alex Pattle11 March 2020 12:27
Alex Pattle11 March 2020 12:41

A statement from Nottingham Forest:

"Nottingham Forest can confirm that all players, staff and officers have been tested for the coronavirus and all results have come back negative.

"Within hours of receiving the news that owner Evangelos Marinakis had tested positive for the virus, the club took swift action to arrange tests for the entire first-team players, staff and officers that came into contact with the owner last week.

"The club will remain in close dialogue with the relevant governing bodies and football authorities to ensure the correct measures are taken."

Alex Pattle11 March 2020 13:02

England cricket players have been instructed not to sign autographs or pose for selfies with fans during their Test tour of Sri Lanka in a bid to insulate the squad from coronavirus.

The England team have been on the island - which recorded its second confirmed case overnight - for just over a week and have stepped up existing precautions ahead of the first Test in Galle on 19 March.

Between 3,000 and 5,000 supporters, many of them retired, are due to fly to Sri Lanka and they have been warned the usual level of interaction they have come to expect from the players has been affected by medical advice.

Alex Pattle11 March 2020 13:24

Olympiacos players have been given the all-clear after being tested for coronavirus ahead of their Europa League fixture with Premier League side Wolves.

Alex Pattle11 March 2020 13:42

Here is a useful timeline of the impact of coronavirus on world football:

Alex Pattle11 March 2020 14:20

Here is Miguel Delaney on the wider impact coronavirus is having - and will have - on football:

Alex Pattle11 March 2020 14:45

Roma vs Sevilla and Getafe vs Inter Milan in the Europa League have been postponed due to travel restrictions, Uefa has said.

Alex Pattle11 March 2020 15:37

The Fifa Congress has also been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. A statement from Fifa read:

"Given the wish of FIFA to organise a Congress which all member associations are able to attend, the Bureau of the FIFA Council has decided to reschedule the 70th FIFA Congress from Friday 5 June 2020 to Friday 18 September 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

"In addition, the FIFA Council meeting planned for Friday 20 March 2020 has also been rescheduled to a date yet to be confirmed in June-July 2020 at the Home of FIFA in Zurich or via video conference."

Alex Pattle11 March 2020 15:39

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