Portsmouth's game with Accrington to go ahead as planned - but government is considering banning sporting events

That’s after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said there were ‘no medical reasons at the moment to ban such events’.

Reports this morning suggested the government were planning on preventing fans from attending sporting events as part of proposals to delay the spread of coronavirus.

That would have seen games going ahead behind closed doors, allowing clubs like the Blues to fulfill their fixtures.

However, in the latest update in the battle against the pandemic, it seems the government are considering banning sporting events altogether.

It won’t happen immediately.

But the measure remains very much on the table and part of the overall strategy as the confirmed number of Covid-19 cases within the UK rose to 596, with 10 deaths recorded.

Johnson said: ‘We are considering banning major public events like sporting fixtures.

‘The scientific advice is this has little effect on the spread - but it does place a burden on other public services.

‘We are guided by the science, there is no medical reason at the moment to ban such events.

‘We are not saying no to that sort of measure, we are keeping it up our sleeves.

‘But it is very, very important in order to maximise our interventions that we get the timing right.’

Today, Spain's La Liga confirmed that it would be suspending the next two rounds of fixtures.

In Italy, Serie A is suspended until April 3, with the country in lockdown and two players - Juventus' Daniele Rugani and Sampdoria’s former Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini - having tested positive.

The Danish Football Association has also cancelled all football activities in the country for two weeks, while the Netherlands' Eredivisie has been suspended until March 31.

Meanwhile, Manchester City's Champions League last-16 second leg fixture against Real Madrid, due to take place on Tuesday, has been postponed.

Pompey have 10 League One games remaining this season and have the Leasing.com Trophy final against Salford on Sunday, April 5, to contest.

Manager Kenny Jackett told The News today that he would back a suggestion to move the final to pre-season as the coronavirus crisis takes hold.

He also revealed the club had adopted a ‘common sense approach’ as they bid to prevent the spread of the virus.