Coronavirus: Kids in Sheffield told 'not to shake hands' before football games this weekend

Instead, they have been asked to wish opposition players good luck when they line up at the start of their grassroots games this weekend.

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The advice has been issued by the Sheffield and District Junior League and has been sent to clubs across South Yorkshire.

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In an email sent to club secretaries, the league said: “The League is, as you would expect, monitoring the situation and has decided that it will follow other leagues in suspending the pre-match respect handshake until further notice.

“We would still encourage the pre-match line up and for teams to simply walk past and wish each other good luck.

“At the end of the games it would be good to see three cheers for each team as we used to do way back when.

“The league hopes the above will be respected by all member clubs and we will continue to follow the public health updates with regard to the virus.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to chair a meeting of its Cobra committee on Monday, which discusses matters of national emergency.

A No 10 spokesman said: “We are still in the containment phase. As the Chief Medical Officer said, it is now highly likely that the infection will spread in a significant way.

“Officials will therefore accelerate work on the delay phase of the Government's plan.”