South Africa has suspended all football and cricket activities as it tries to minimize the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
The South Africa Football Association (SAFA) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have suspended all activities after South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa declared coronavirus a national disaster.
According to the announcements, any gatherings for football of 100 people or more are now banned while a 60-day suspension period has been placed on all forms of cricket.
SAFA acting chief executive officer (CEO) Thamsanqa Gay Mokoena said: "This measure has a direct impact on all our football activities, particularly matches as most if not all our matches are attended by more than 100 people."
"Some of the football authorities elsewhere in the world have taken measures such as playing matches in "empty" stadiums without spectators. This response has not proven to be effective in minimizing the spread of the virus," Mokoena added.
He argued: "In Europe, some players who were participating in matches "behind closed doors" have recently been found to be positive. Therefore, we do not believe that the practice of playing behind closed doors is effective."
Meanwhile, Dr. Jacques Faul, Acting Chief Executive for the CSA, stated: "We at CSA take this pronouncement by the President and the cabinet very seriously and we will most certainly use our leverage to ensure that we minimize the impact of the virus in our spaces."
"Consequently and during this time of absolute caution and surveillance, we would like to call upon all our members and affiliates to desist from taking part in any cricket related gatherings and other transversal events that will include the congregation of large numbers of people and/or up to 100 people," Faul explained.
South Africa's announcement of sports suspensions due to the coronavirus follows those made by other African countries, including Morocco and Ghana.
