Slovakia are set to close their borders and airports to all non-nationals in an effort to combat COVID-19, casting Ireland's Euro 2020 play-off in the country into major doubt.
While Slovakia only has 16 confirmed cases of the virus at this stage, the country's Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini has confirmed that they are taking severe measures to stop it spreading further. Schools will also be closed, while people returning from at risk countries will be placed into quarantine.
only Slovaks will be allowed to country; ski centres and aquaparks closed for 14 days; intl trade transport will be allowed
— Lukáš Onderčanin (@LukasOndercanin) March 12, 2020
Ireland's game, which was fixed for March 26th, had already been moved behind closed doors. However, this latest development would suggest that the match may not go ahead at all.
The FAI have said in recent days that this remains a developing situation, and a postponement of the fixture now looks likely.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar today announced measures that would likely put an end to organised sport in this country until March 29th at the earliest, while La Liga matches in Spain have also been suspended for two weeks.
The NBA last night suspended the season indefinitely after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.
Further cancellations seem likely in the coming days, with the Champions League and Europa League fixtures also set to be postponed.
If UEFA's club matches are affected, it is highly likely that international fixtures will follow suit.
Slovakia were set to be without a number of first choice players for the game, all of whom were based in Italy and unable to travel.
With the sporting calendar now very much in flux, the prospects of Euro 2020 going ahead at all looks very bleak indeed.
