Premier League games are unlikely to go behind closed doors due to the coronavirus in the near future, according to a UK Government minister.
Reports had suggested that matches could soon be played behind closed doors in a bid to halt the spread of the coronavirus which has already taken three lives in the UK, while cases have jumped to 278.
National media reports suggested that there is a 'growing expectation' that Premier League action will be in empty stadiums in the next few weeks.
However, in an interview with the BBC, culture secretary Oliver Dowden has played down the potential of this happening anytime soon.
"At this stage we're not in the territory of cancelling or postponing events," Dowden told the BBC.
"I was at Twickenham [for England v Wales] with the Prime Minister [on Saturday]. There was a huge crowd of people there. There is no reason why people should not be going to those events. It is very premature to be talking about things like that."
Dowden added that the Government will continue to act on advice from medical experts.
"That is why I asked the chief medical officer to brief the sporting bodies last week and that is why we will be driven by the advice of the chief medical officer as we continue," he added.
"I do want to emphasise in relation to sporting events, any talk of cancellation is very premature indeed.
"At the moment there is no evidence to suggest we should be doing that and we don't have any plans to."
These comments come amid a Cobra meeting today during which sporting authorities and Government officials are to discuss the option of staging events behind closed doors.
