Football bodies across England and the rest of Europe are bracing themselves for a reported total shutdown of every league until September, in the wake of the rapid spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
As of Thursday night the Football League was planning to push ahead and play the next round of fixtures as normal, before it emerged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had tested positive for the virus and matters rapidly changed.
Concerns immediately heightened and the leading English football bodies received a call direct from the COBRA meeting of government officials, as report the Independent.