South Korea's K-league allows practice matches as virus fears ease

South Korean football clubs will be allowed to hold practice matches behind closed doors from Tuesday, K-League said, with season delayed by two months so far over coronavirus epidemic. South Korea endured one of worst early outbreaks of disease outside China, but appears to have brought it under control thanks to its extensive "trace, test and treat" programme. outbreak had prompted sports leagues to suspend or delay ir seasons across country.

K-league allows practice matches 

Sports fans around world have been starved of live action because of virus, with broadcasters resorting to repeats of matches from past years, while leagues face prospect of paying rights-holders multi-million-dollar refunds. But at weekend Seoul said it would permit outdoor sports matches behind closed doors as country is seeing a steady decline in new virus cases. Korean Professional Football League responded late Monday, anuncing that its clubs would be allowed to play practice matches against each or from Tuesday.

games have been confirmed yet, and a K-league spokesman told AFP that exact schedule was under discussion between clubs. As well as fans being barred, media access will be limited, K-League statement said. As preventive measures, it added, footballers will be banned from talking to each or during matches, while handshakes with referees will also be prohibited.

A new date for start of season has yet to be set but a mid-May kickoff behind closed doors was a likely scenario, according to Yonhap news ncy. South Korea reported nine new cases as of Monday -- its fourth consecutive day of fewer than 20 new infections -- taking national total to 10,683. Baseball is most popular spectator sport in country and its first pre-season games -- also behind closed doors -- are scheduled to be played Tuesday. 

Im credits: AFP