FIFA have recommended that all international matches due to take place during March and April will be postponed.
The governing body released a statement revealing that rules regarding clubs releasing players for international duty will not apply during March and April.
Due to the coronavirus situation "rapidly evolving across the world", the governing body state that holding the matches under current circumstances "might not only present potential health risks to players (and to the general public) but would also, most likely, compromise the sporting integrity of such matches insofar as certain teams may be deprived of their best squads whilst others may not."
The decision has been taken only "to recommend" that matches are postponed, "until such time that they can take place in a safe and secure environment, both for players and for the general public".
However, they state that "the final decision on this issue rests with the respective competition organisers or relevant member association in case of friendlies".
England have already announced that upcoming friendly matches against Italy and Denmark will be postponed, while there is a UEFA meeting on Tuesday that will likely have serious repercussions for whether Euro 2020 takes place.
Qualifying matches in Asia and South America for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar have already been postponed, and FIFA are said to be studying possibilties to reschedule any games that do not go ahead.
