Tajikistan suspends football season over coronavirus

Tajik FA says Sunday's matches will go ahead but then no football until at least May 10

Teams line up before the match Tajikistan Major League match between FC Lokomotiv-Pamir v FC Fayzkand in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The league kicked off on Sunday continue despite the global coronavirus outbreak. Reuters

FC Lokomotiv-Pamir players pose for a team group photo before the match. Reuters

FC Fayzkand's Anvar Murodov in action with FC Lokomotiv-Pamir's Rahmatzoda Rahmatsho. Reuters

Players fight for the ball during the match. Reuters

FC Fayzkand's Sayedi Kovussho celebrates. Reuters

Players fight for the ball during the match. Reuters

A lone spectator watches on. Reuters

General view of the players on the bench. Reuters

FC Fayzkand's Dzhamshed Murodov in action with FC Lokomotiv-Pamir's Shukhrat Elmurodov. Reuters

Tajikistan has suspended all football in the country as the government takes fresh measures to stem the spread of coronavirus.

The central Asian country was one of a handful of nations to press on with its domestic league in the face of the pandemic. The Tajik Football Association announced on Sunday that it was suspending games until at least May 10 after Sunday's round of matches, which will be played out in front of no spectators.

Tajikistan, which borders China, has reported no coronavirus cases, although health experts dispute this.

Cases of pneumonia and a suspected swine flu fatality have caused concern, however.

On Saturday, the Dushanbe government decided to close schools for two weeks and ban the exports of grains and pulses to ensure domestic supply.