The Premier League are considering introducing a ban on over 70s at matches to help combat the spread of the deadly coronavirus in sport - and Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson could be affected.
Sports governing bodies and broadcasters have been called to a government meeting on Monday to discuss how to deal with the impact the coronavirus outbreak could have on the sporting calendar.
The meeting is part of the government's long-term contingency planning and will cover various possibilities, such as holding events behind closed doors, should the virus continue to spread and gatherings of large numbers of people are banned.
It will be hosted by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on Monday morning.
And the Premier League, one of the most significant players in the market, may be asked to consider bans for the elderly together with the option of televising the remainder of the season if games are to be played behind closed doors.
It is understood that the Premier League could either advise against, or possibly ban over 70s - the demographic considered to be at highest risk from the coronavirus spread - from attending matches.
This potentially affects Crystal Palace manager Hodgson, who is 72 and currently the only manager in the Premier League aged over 70.
The authorities in Italy have already introduced a ban on mass gatherings which has hit sports events and Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce fears it is "pretty inevitable" Premier League games will be played behind closed doors as a result of the outbreak.
He said at his pre-match press conference on Friday: "It's hard to imagine, isn't it? But obviously, they're doing it now in Italy and it's something we're probably going to face.. people's lives are at stake and we've got to go by the authorities. But it looks pretty inevitable that could be on the cards."
Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho added: "Maybe Steve has some information that I don't have. I don't know anything about it. I will do what I am told to do. If I have to play behind closed doors I will, if I have to stop playing I will. I am just a football man - I do what I am told."
All Serie A games in Italy will be played behind closed doors for the next month, while Italy's Six Nations matches against Ireland and England have been postponed.
Scottish Professional Football League chief executive Neil Doncaster has warned the continuing spread of the virus could make the Scottish football season "very difficult" to complete.
Doncaster said: "We are taking a pragmatic approach to the current situation and have alerted our members to the fact that, if the outbreak affects the first team of even one SPFL club, it could make completing the SPFL season very difficult, so first-team players and staff should be extremely vigilant."
Liverpool have announced a raft of measures, including a decision not to use on-pitch mascots at games, aimed at protecting staff and spectators, and the Premier League and English Football League have both abandoned the traditional pre-match handshake until further notice.
