Gary Neville has declared it is “inconceivable” that professional football will return in England in the near future.
The Premier League and English Football League have postponed matches until 30 April at the earliest, but that date for play to resume is looking increasingly ambitious as coronavirus continues to spread across the United Kingdom.
Both organising bodies have committed to finishing this season, with playing matches behind closed doors a potential route to ensure this can be achieved.
However, with increasing measures being implemented by the government, Neville believes it is unlikely football will return soon.
“I think at this moment in time it's inconceivable that football will return for the next three to four months because of the fact that we've just been put essentially on a lockdown,” the former Manchester United and England defender told CNN.
“Football will not return because all the resources that are required to run a football stadium, which requires the police and the ambulance services, will not be available in the next few months.
“They'll obviously be in hospitals and in the care homes looking after the sick and people who need it the most.”
Neville, 45, initially criticised the Premier League for not acting to suspend matches earlier, but he now believes “they have done the right thing since” and emphasised that the health of all those involved in football must be prioritised.
“Health comes first - of the fans, the players, the staff, the people who enter the stadiums," he added.
“The most important thing is that we are about to embark on a huge crisis for our country.”
Neville and former teammate Ryan Giggs are helping those battling the outbreak by offering two of their hotels free of charge to NHS staff.
All beds in the hotels have been made available for health workers who might have to distance themselves from their families in order to avoid transmitting the virus.
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