Virus a threat to season’s climax

the moment that it will happen.”

Liverpool, who lead the table by 22 points, need only four wins to lift the title, but the Premier League have written to all 20 clubs and warned that, if one player gets the virus, it could mean they would struggle to complete the season. That is why handshakes have been banned.

League officials are waiting on Government advice but they are still stressing it is sensible planning rather than imminent action.

The email from the League to the clubs read: “The first-team environment is especially crucial: an outbreak affecting the first team of just one club could make completing the season very difficult to achieve.”

They have also told clubs that a contingency plan has been drawn up that includes copying Italy’s example and playing games behind closed doors, as Serie A are doing for the next month.

The email said: “After discussion with the Government’s crisis planners, the main focus for our contingency planning is consideration of a ‘behind-closed-doors’ policy.”

Premier League bosses issued a statement on pre-match line-ups and handshakes before games.

It read: “Coronavirus is spread via droplets from the nose and mouth and can be transmitted on to the hands and passed on via a handshake.

“Clubs and match officials will still perform the rest of the walk-out protocol. Players will walk past their opposition without shaking hands.”

England’s friendly against Italy, the European country worst hit by the coronavirus, at Wembley on March 27 is in doubt – as is Euro 2020, to be played across Europe, and the Tokyo Olympics.