Italy has suspended all sporting events, including the Serie A over the coronavirus outbreak

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced all sporting events, including the Serie A, is suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.

TOPSHOT – Juventus' Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo runs on the pitch in an empty stadium due to the novel coronavirus outbreak during the Italian Serie A football match Juventus vs Inter Milan, at the Juventus stadium in Turin on March 8, 2020. (Photo by Vincenzo PINTO / AFP)

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Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday announced that all sporting events, including the top-flight Serie A football championship, will be suspended because of the coronavirus crisis.

“There is no reason why matches and sporting events should continue and I am thinking of the football championship,” Conte told a press conference in Rome.

Monday’s sole Serie A match between Sassuolo and Brescia was already too far in motion to be scrapped by the time of the decision to suspend all sporting activity until April 3 over the coronavirus outbreak.

Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo runs on the pitch in an empty stadium due to the coronavirus outbreak in Italy. Picture: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP.

Italy’s national Olympic committee (CONI) announced the suspension on Monday, with Serie A clubs forced to fall in line despite matches – including Sassuolo’s 3-0 victory over Brescia – being played behind closed doors.