Five Serie A matches scheduled for this weekend have been postponed due to the spread of the coronavirus in Italy.
The matches, including Juventus’ hugely-anticipated clash, against Inter Milan, had initially been scheduled to take place behind closed doors.
However, in a statement, Serie A officials said the affected matches have all now been rescheduled for Wednesday May 13.
OFFICIAL | #JuveInter has been postponed until Wednesday 13th May 2020, in compliance with the "Urgent measures for the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency of COVID-19". Here is the communication from Lega @SerieA ➡️ https://t.co/NMo158nDGs pic.twitter.com/H3TAe6SXqu — JuventusFC (@juventusfcen) February 29, 2020
This weekend’s matches in the top two divisions in Switzerland had already been postponed after the government banned all events involving more than 1,000 people.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino promised on Friday to do whatever is necessary to help combat the continued spread of the virus.
Speaking in Belfast ahead of the annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board, Infantino said: “The health of persons is much more important than any football game.
“That’s why we have to look at the situation and hope that it will decrease rather than increase.
“At the moment it looks like it is still increasing. If games have to be postponed or played without spectators until it is over, then we have to go through that.”
Wales are due to face Italy at Euro 2020 and FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said: “I think we all hope that this can be contained, but of course we will take advice, but it’s got to be health first, sport second.”
Italy are scheduled to play England at Wembley on March 27 and FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said any decision relating to the game would be a “Government” one.
Meanwhile global football players’ union FIFPro has revealed fears among its members of being made to play in “high-risk environments” due to the virus.
“FIFPRO is concerned for the safety of players who may be exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19), and the danger of football acting as a vehicle to spread disease,” its statement read.
Meanwhile Danish cyclist Michael Morkov has been cleared to race at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships after two individuals suspected of having the coronavirus at the UAE Tour tested negative for the disease.
Morkov, 34, had spent 34 hours in isolation in Berlin after travelling to the German capital from the UAE Tour, where he contested the opening four stages before leaving the race early.
The final two stages of that race were cancelled on Thursday night when two members of staff on the race developed symptoms suggesting they could have the virus, and riders and staff on the race remain under lockdown in Abu Dhabi.
But, after the Abu Dhabi Department of Health issued a statement on Saturday saying the first 167 tests had come back negative, the UCI said Morkov was free to race as normal in Berlin.
The International Triathlon Union, in consultation with the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, has taken the decision to postpone 2020 ITU World Triathlon Abu Dhabi as a precautionary measure to reduce the spread of 2019-nCoV. https://t.co/vI7D6Rx31P@AbuDhabiSC — World Triathlon (@worldtriathlon) February 29, 2020
Next month’s World Triathlon Series event in Abu Dhabi has become the latest to be postponed as a precautionary measure.
The event was due to take place from March 5 to March 7 in the city, which has reported new cases of the virus.
Event organisers said they still hoped to reschedule the event to take place later in March or April.
