Egyptian FA bans fans from stadiums over coronavirus fears

Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said that they will be no fan attendance inside football stadiums as a precaution to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

More than 55 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Egypt so far with the government closing schools and universities.

After Moroccan football authorities also banned fans from attending football matches last week, EFA has also taken similar steps.

“To preserve the safety of the Egyptian Football fans in these special circumstances, which requires all measures to be taken in the face of the risk of the spread of the coronavirus, and in response to the specific instructions, the Egyptian Football Association has decided to hold the next games without public presence. See until further notice,” read EFA’s statement on Facebook.

The Egyptian Premier League campaign is currently underway and the Pharaohs’ 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier against Togo could also be affected by this decision.

However, most Egyptian Premier League matches have already been played with a limited number of fans allowed into stadiums following the 2012 Port Said disaster.

The coronavirus outbreak is threatening to disrupt the 2021 Afcon qualifiers set for the end of March.

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Already, Madagascar’s Afcon qualifier against Ivory Coast is uncertain after the Indian Ocean islanders’ Sports Ministry has suspended their international sporting events.