AFL will go ahead with Round 1 WITHOUT fans after Scott Morrison announced bans to all 'non-essential gatherings' of 500 people or more
- The AFL season will go ahead but fans are not allowed to attend matches
- Fans who have paid for tickets already are entitled to get a refund
- Matches will still be broadcast for fans who want to watch them at home
- Tonight's Geelong v North Melbourne AFLW match is the last one fans can attend
- AFL chief said he did not want to jeopardise the health of the community
- All gatherings of more than 500 people cancelled across Australia from Monday
- Government acts to slow the spread of the coronavirus as numbers soar 41%
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
The AFL will go ahead without fans after Scott Morrison announced a ban on large gatherings of people because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Australian Football League Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan said on Friday that the premiership season would go ahead for both the women's and men's leagues but no fans would be allowed to go and watch 'for the forseeable future'.
'I am disappointed for our fans but we cannot put them in a situation that potentially jeopardises the health and well-being of the whole community,' he said.
Scroll down for video
AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan announced the extraordinary news on Friday
AFL Round 1 has been cancelled for fans, with full ticket refunds available. The matches will go on in empty stadiums and be broadcast on the Seven Network, Foxtel, the AFL App and through radio broadcast partners, the AFL said on Friday
The decision was made following advice from both federal and state governments and the state and territory chief medical officers.
The Toyota Premiership season begins on Thursday night at the MCG, but it will be without the usual crowds of supporters.
Share this article
Matches will still be broadcast on the Seven Network, Foxtel, the AFL App and through radio broadcast partners, the AFL said.
Those who bought tickets through Ticketek or Ticketmaster will get a refund, the AFL said, while it will communicate with club, AFL and venue members directly.
Fans are still able to go to tonight's women's league match between Geelong and North Melbourne, the AFL said, because of the timing.
Paramedics and police called to Peppers Resort, Gold Coast, on January 28. Cases have been increasing exponentially across Australia
Coronavirus cases rose to 200 on Friday as the Government said all non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people must cease
The news has shocked a nation for whom football is like a religion.
'I'd wear full Hazmat suit to games if it were an option,' wrote Fat Nyfe on Twitter in response to the announcement.
'The atmosphere at all games will be as flat as a tack. It will be quite eerie and unreal to watch,' wrote Gavin Rodger.
The announcement came at the end of an extraordinary day unprecedented in living memory in Australia, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison banned non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday in a drastic step to halt the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
Coronavirus numbers spiked 41 per cent in just 24 hours to hit 200 infected cases on Friday.
Australia's cricket series against New Zealand has already banned spectators.
The Sydney Royal Easter Show in early April, which has been a yearly fixture since 1823, is cancelled.
Miley Cyrus has cancelled her bushfire relief concert in Melbourne and The Pixies have cancelled the remainder of their Australian tour.
Robbie Williams travelled from the UK to Australia to perform at Saturday's inaugural World Tour Melbourne but the one-off concert was also cancelled on Friday.
The Australian Grand Prix was officially called off due to coronavirus fears after a mechanic tested positive to the deadly illness on Friday morning.
Worldwide, coronavirus cases jumped to more than 135,200 with more than 4900 deaths on Friday according to BNO News, which has been tracking the outbreak since early January.
Italy had more than 15,000 cases, Iran had more than 10,000 cases, South Korea had more than 7900 cases and Spain had more than 3000 cases.
A US travel ban is due to go into effect at midnight on Friday, blocking European travellers from flying from the 26 nations in the borderless Schengen area to the United States.
