Japan's J-League postponed its cup competition, today, over the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, which has affected dozens of sports events across the globe. The football league postponed seven cup games scheduled for tommorrow, and said, it will discuss suspending all matches until the 15th March.

The football leagues in China, the epicentre of the outbreak, and South Korea have also been suspended, while some games in Italy will be played behind closed doors.

A panel of medical experts, advising Japan's government, yesterday warned, the coming weeks will be a "critical" period to preventing the new coronavirus from spreading out of control. The latest decision was made as the clock ticks closer to the Tokyo Olympics, which start in five months' time on the 24th July.

Organisers have repeatedly stressed that the Games will not be cancelled or rescheduled despite mounting fears over the spread of COVID-19.

At least 156 people diagnosed with new coronavirus in Japan, along with nearly 700 on a cruise ship that was quarantined off the country for two weeks.