In pictures: Empty stadiums, event cancellations and screenings due to coronavirus

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In pictures: Empty stadiums, event cancellations and screenings due to coronavirus

How coronavirus impacted the world of sport at the weekend

Published: March 09, 2020 11:23 Matthew Smith, Sport Editor

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Indian Wells — The BNP Paribas Open, the near-major tennis tournament set to begin this week in the California desert, won't be played as scheduled after a case of coronavirus was confirmed in the Coachella Valley. It's the largest US sporting event to be called off over concerns about the spread of the disease. Image Credit: AFP

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Football players enter the pitch as the stands are seen empty after the decision of the Saudi Ministry of Sports, following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), during the Saudi Professional League soccer match between AL-Hilal and Al-Ettifaq at King Saud University Stadium, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia March 7, 2020. Picture taken March 7, 2020. REUTERS/Ahmed Yosri — Football players enter an eerily empty stadium for the match between Al Hilal and Al Ettifaq at King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh due to a ban on supporters Image Credit: Reuters

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A health worker wearing a facemask sprays disinfectant inside the Hanoi Football Club team locker room, amid concerns of the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, at Hang Day stadium in Hanoi on March 6, 2020. / AFP / Manan VATSYAYANA — A health worker wearing a facemask sprays disinfectant inside the Hanoi FC team changing room, amid concerns of the spread of COVID-19 at Hang Day stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam Image Credit: AFP

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A football fan wears a protective mask as a preventive measure agaisnt the spread of the COVID-19 virus, during their Copa Libertadores football match, at the Monumental Stadium in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on March 4, 2020. / AFP / Jose ALVARADO — In South America, a football fan wears a protective mask during a Copa Libertadores match at the Monumental Stadium in Guayaquil, Ecuador Image Credit: AFP

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Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Inter Milan - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 8, 2020 Juventus' Paulo Dybala celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Massimo Pinca TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY — Juventus' 2-0 win over Inter Milan in Serie A at Allianz Stadium, Turin, in Italy was behind closed doors Image Credit: Reuters

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Soccer Football - Serie A - Juventus v Inter Milan - Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy - March 8, 2020 General view as the players line up without shaking hands as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world REUTERS/Massimo Pinca — The players did not shake hands hands ahead of the Juventus-Inter game Image Credit: Reuters

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Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Manchester City - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - March 8, 2020 Manchester United's David de Gea with Manchester City's Sergio Aguero before the match as they avoid shaking hands as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine — There was no shaking hands before the Manchester derby in England's Premier League either Image Credit: Reuters

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A moment of the Serie A soccer match between Sampdoria and Verona, at the Luigi Ferraris stadium in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, March 8, 2020. Serie A played on Sunday despite calls from Italy’s sports minister and players’ association president to suspend the games in Italy’s top soccer division. (Tano Pecoraro/LaPresse via AP) — Sampdoria versus Verona was played without spectators in Genoa, Italy Image Credit: AP

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Soccer Football - Serie A - AC Milan v Genoa - San Siro, Milan, Italy - March 8, 2020 Staff check the temperature of a person before entering the stadium. The match is being played behind closed doors to spectators as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo — All officials and attendees in Genoa were screened before entering the stadium Image Credit: Reuters

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on March 31, 2019, drivers steer their cars during the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix at the Sakhir circuit in the desert south of the Bahraini capital Manama. Bahrain's Formula 1 Grand Prix scheduled for March 20-22 will be held without spectators, the organisers said on March 8, in the latest sporting event to be hit by measures to contain the new coronavirus. / AFP / Andrej ISAKOVIC — There will be no supporters at the Bahrain Grand Prix's Sakhir circuit on March 20-22 after organisers decided against allowing fans to attend the Formula One event Image Credit: AFP

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A man makes use of a hand-sanitizing station at CenturyLink Field prior to an MLS soccer match between the Seattle Sounders and the Chicago Fire, Sunday, March 1, 2020, in Seattle. Major North American professional sports leagues are talking to health officials and informing teams about the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) — In the US, a fan makes use of a hand-sanitising station at CenturyLink Field prior to an MLS match between the Seattle Sounders and the Chicago Fire Image Credit: AP

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A message that reads: — Health messages were broadcast at the Scotland v France Six Nations rugby match at Murrayfield, Edinburgh Image Credit: AP

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Japanese tennis players, in red uniform, attend the opening ceremony of the Davis Cup qualifier between Japan and Ecuador, as it is held without spectators amid growing concern about the spread of a new coronavirus in Miki city, Hyogo prefecture, western Japan, Friday, March 6, 2020. (Nobuki Ito/Kyodo News via AP, File) — The Davis Cup qualifier between Japan and Ecuador was without spectators in Miki city, Hyogo prefecture, western Japan Image Credit: AP

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Competitors take a — Some 27,000 competitors took to the streets of the LA Marathon, despite the fears of the coronavirus impacting large sporting events Image Credit: AFP

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Yeshiva and Worcester Polytechnic Institute players warm up before an NCAA DIII college basketball game that allowed no spectators on Friday, March 6, 2020, in Baltimore, Md. The game at Johns Hopkins University is believed to be the first U.S. sports event held without fans because of the new coronavirus. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams) — Yeshiva and Worcester Polytechnic Institute players warm up before their NCAA DIII college basketball game that allowed no spectators. The game at Johns Hopkins University is believed to be the first US sports event held without fans Image Credit: AP

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