• Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in North London, England. The Gunners manager Mikel Arteta was on Friday confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus. AFP
    Arsenal's Emirates Stadium in North London, England. The Gunners manager Mikel Arteta was on Friday confirmed to have contracted the coronavirus. AFP
  • General view outside Villa Park, home of Premier League side Aston Villa, who were due to host Chelsea on Saturday. The Premier League is suspended due to fears over the coronavirus. Reuters
    General view outside Villa Park, home of Premier League side Aston Villa, who were due to host Chelsea on Saturday. The Premier League is suspended due to fears over the coronavirus. Reuters
  • The empty entrance to the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona after La Liga said Spain's top two divisions would be suspended for at least two weeks over the coronavirus outbreak. AFP
    The empty entrance to the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona after La Liga said Spain's top two divisions would be suspended for at least two weeks over the coronavirus outbreak. AFP
  • Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club, in West London. Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi is a confirmed case of the Covid-19 virus. AFP
    Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea Football Club, in West London. Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi is a confirmed case of the Covid-19 virus. AFP
  • Everton's Goodison Park. Everton were set to host Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Monday before the English football authorities suspended all games at least until April. Reuters
    Everton's Goodison Park. Everton were set to host Merseyside rivals Liverpool on Monday before the English football authorities suspended all games at least until April. Reuters
  • Juventus' Allianz Arena in Turin. Juventus player Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus last week, as Serie A suspended all matches. Reuters
    Juventus' Allianz Arena in Turin. Juventus player Daniele Rugani tested positive for coronavirus last week, as Serie A suspended all matches. Reuters
  • Fams with a Romanian flag outside Luton's ground. Championship matchs have also been suspended. Reuters
    Fams with a Romanian flag outside Luton's ground. Championship matchs have also been suspended. Reuters
  • Manchester City's Etihad Stadium. City's midweek fixture against Arsenal was the first top-tier English football match postponed due to the coronavirus. City were due to host Burnley at home in the Premier League on Saturday. Reuters
    Manchester City's Etihad Stadium. City's midweek fixture against Arsenal was the first top-tier English football match postponed due to the coronavirus. City were due to host Burnley at home in the Premier League on Saturday. Reuters
  • Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium is empty after the Championship match against Swansea City was postponed. Reuters
    Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium is empty after the Championship match against Swansea City was postponed. Reuters
  • Newcastle United's St James' Park. The Premier League club were due to host Sheffield United on Saturday. Reuters
    Newcastle United's St James' Park. The Premier League club were due to host Sheffield United on Saturday. Reuters
  • Carrow Road, home of Premier League basement club Norwich City. The Canaries were set to play Southampton on Saturday. Reuters
    Carrow Road, home of Premier League basement club Norwich City. The Canaries were set to play Southampton on Saturday. Reuters
  • Hampden Park was supposed to host the Glasgow derby between Rangers and Celtic on Saturday before football at all levels in Scotland was called off because of the coronavirus. Reuters
    Hampden Park was supposed to host the Glasgow derby between Rangers and Celtic on Saturday before football at all levels in Scotland was called off because of the coronavirus. Reuters
  • A woman wearing a protective face mask arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid as Real Madrid players went into quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak, on March 12, 2020. Madrid were set to host Eibar in La Liga on Sunday. AFP
    A woman wearing a protective face mask arrives at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid as Real Madrid players went into quarantine due to the coronavirus outbreak, on March 12, 2020. Madrid were set to host Eibar in La Liga on Sunday. AFP
  • General view of Vicarage Road, home of Watford, which was due to host the opening Premier League match of this weekend when the Hornets were slated to face Leicester City. Reuters
    General view of Vicarage Road, home of Watford, which was due to host the opening Premier League match of this weekend when the Hornets were slated to face Leicester City. Reuters
  • West Bromwich Albion's home ground The Hawthorns. The Championship club were set to play Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon. Reuters
    West Bromwich Albion's home ground The Hawthorns. The Championship club were set to play Birmingham City on Saturday afternoon. Reuters
  • West Ham United's London Stadium was set to host the match against Wolves on Sunday before the match was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. EPA
    West Ham United's London Stadium was set to host the match against Wolves on Sunday before the match was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak. EPA

Coronavirus: Etihad Stadium and other football stadiums across Europe sit empty as games postponed - in pictures


Steve Luckings
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Eerie scenes across much of Europe as football continues to be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

While most stadiums would expect to be bustling with supporters on a Saturday afternoon before kick off, there was hardly a soul to be seen at most Premier League grounds around England and further afield.

Manchester City's Etihad Stadium stood empty for the second time within a week. City's match against Arsenal on Wednesday was postponed after members of the Arsenal squad were placed in quarantine, with Gunners manager Mikel Arteta confirming days later he had contracted the Covid-19 virus.

Pep Guardiola's side were due to host Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday. English football authorities announced on Friday the postponement of all matches in the Premier League and English Football League until at least early April, although that timeline now looks a rather optimistic one.

In Scotland, Hampden Park, which was set to host the highly-anticipated Glasgow derby between Rangers and Celtic on Sunday, was barren, as was the Bernabeu, home of Real Madrid, with their match against Eibar called off along with all other matches in Spain's top two divisions on Thursday for at least two weeks.

You can see a selection of the empty football stadiums in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next position in the next slide click on the arrows, or if using a mobile device simply swipe.