The Premier League has announced that, after seeing Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi test positive for coronavirus, all upcoming fixtures will be postponed until April 3 at the earliest.
Leading divisions across Europe and around the world have already taken that course of action in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Serie A, La Liga, MLS and Ligue 1 will all be taking in enforced breaks as a global pandemic continues to wreak havoc.
Editors' Picks
English football had steered clear of taking similar decisive action, with government officials and sporting authorities declaring that there was no need to prevent the congregation of large groups of people.