Premier League matches could be played behind closed doors in the coming weeks due to the spread of the coronavirus.
That's the verdict of Everton's chief financial officer Sasha Ryazantsev, who has said that the decision could be forced on top flight clubs by league authorities.
Italian Serie A matches in March will all be played behind closed doors and Ryazantsev, speaking at the FT Business of Football Summit, says it's likely the Premier League will follow suit.
“It would be a forced decision rather than one we would proactively engage in,” Ryazantsev said, as reported by the Guardian.
“But the whole situation goes far beyond the world of sport.
"Of course nobody wants to play behind closed doors and I don’t think it’s inevitable at the moment that it will happen. But we feel it is quite likely it may happen in the coming weeks.”
Newcastle United have two more Premier League fixtures in March, as well as their FA Cup quarter-final clash with Manchester City.
Steve Bruce's side travel to Southampton this weekend, before hosting Sheffield United on Saturday, March 14. The vast majority of tickets for that game have already been sold.
United's FA Cup tie will take place on the weekend of March 21, with a date yet to be confirmed due to TV scheduling.
