Top-level English and Scottish football was suspended until April 3 at the earliest on Friday due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Football Association, the Premier League, the English Football League, FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship all agreed to call a halt to competitive action with immediate effect.
With numerous other sporting events cancelled, postponed or set to go ahead behind closed doors worldwide, here, the PA news agency takes a look at the scenes as empty stadia stand like ghost towns.
A view through gates at St James’ Park which was originally due to hold Saturday’s Premier League match with Sheffield United (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Contrasting views at Bournemouth’s Vitality Stadium in September 2019 (top) and March 14 (PA Wire/PA Images)
Empty bookmakers joints at Dundalk Stadium, which ran behind closed doors on Friday (PA Wire/PA Images)
A closed programme stand outside Brighton’s AMEX Stadium (Gareth Fuller/PA)
No one in sight at St James’ Park (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Closed ticket windows at Watford’s Vicarage Road (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Runners and riders raced in front of empty stands at Dundalk Stadium (PA Wire/PA Images)
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