Ligue 1 suspended 'until further notice' amid COVID-19 concern

France's Professional Football League (LFP) announced Friday that Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 have been suspended indefinitely to combat the spread of the coronavirus.

"Following announcements by the President of the Republic in response to the health crisis linked to COVID-19, the LFP's Administrative Council unanimously decided on Friday 13 March to suspend the Ligue 1 Conforama and Domino's Ligue 2 championships immediately and until further notice," read a statement from Ligue 1.

"As the President of the Republic stressed yesterday, the collective interest must be placed above all else. The urgency today is to curb the epidemic, protect the most vulnerable and avoid travel.

"At the end of the meeting scheduled by UEFA on 17 March, the LFP Board of Directors will meet once more."

Ligue 1 was already set to take place behind closed doors before the decision to suspend the season was made during an emergency meeting Friday in France.

Paris Saint-Germain progressed in the Champions League after beating Borussia Dortmund inside an empty Parc des Prince on Wednesday. But fans defied the government's ruling on limiting public gatherings to 1,000 and flocked to the Parc des Prince in droves to cheer on the team.

However, the fate of PSG's future in the Champions League appears to be in limbo after UEFA confirmed that next week's round of matches have been postponed. The European football governing body will discuss its response to the COVID-19 crisis in a videoconference call with representatives from its 55 member associations.

It was announced on Thursday that schools and universities in the country will be closed on Monday in response to the pandemic that has claimed 61 lives and has infected 2,876 people in the country.