The AFL says it will be ready if coronavirus forces it to play games in front of empty stadiums, or cancel them entirely.

Sporting competitions all over the world have been disrupted by the disease with governments forcing mass gatherings not to take place.

Serie A and European soccer matches in Italy have been played in empty arenas because of this, while Japan placed a mass ban on major events including sport, concerts and even professional wrestling bouts.

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Round 18

AFL GM of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld told the Herald Sun the league will continue to be in contact with the government and health authorities over the coming weeks.

“For the information we have at hand now, and we’re being urged by the federal government and the health authorities to go about our lives and our business as normal … as we speak today, that’s what we’re doing,” Auld said.

“We’re opening the season in two weeks’ time and hopefully in front of really big crowds on the Thursday night in our opening match. If that information changes, then our fans should feel confident and assured that we’ll be well prepared for that.

“There’s some uncertainties, and all we can do is best plan for what we know right now.”

Victorian Minister for Sport Martin Pakula wasn’t ruling out possible bans on large events in the coming months.

“They are not ruling out any potential reaction to the possibility of a more widespread coronavirus outbreak,” Pakula said.

“At the moment, there are no current plans for there to be lockouts or bans on mass gatherings, but that’s not to say that it’s impossible as we move throughout the year.

“We will take the advice from the medical experts. Chief health officers around the country will be making the call on things like that, and we will just need to adapt to those circumstances if they emerge.”

The AFL has already been forced to move the planned China game between St Kilda and Port Adelaide back to Melbourne.

The premiership season match had been slated for Sunday, May 31, in Shanghai but the outbreak of the virus forced the league to act.

Port had bought the rights to host the clash, but the cancellation means it will revert to being a Saints home game.

The clash has been moved from round 11 to round 12 and will start at 5.40pm AEST on Sunday, June 7, the day before the Queen’s Birthday public holiday. Both teams will now have a bye in round 11.

“It has become really clear that to proceed with the game in Shanghai would be placing our people at an unacceptable risk,” Auld said.

“It is evident that the coronavirus still poses a significant risk internationally and quite simply we will not compromise the health and safety of any of our clubs, supporters and AFL team members.”

Port Adelaide have been at the forefront of the AFL’s push into China, hosting Gold Coast in the inaugural game at Jiangwan Stadium in 2017. The Power played the Suns again in 2018 and defeated St Kilda there last year.

“Obviously we’re disappointed, we’d made a commitment to that game, but we were really pleased with the process,” Port chief executive Keith Thomas said.

“The AFL kept us all informed and we got the best advice.

“That it’s in Melbourne, I think is a really good idea.

“I think wrapping our arms around the local Chinese community will reverberate back in China.”

There had been speculation St Kilda would look to host the game at Moorabbin after the success of the Saints’ AFLW program at the club’s spiritual home. But capacity issues at the suburban venue ruled it out.

“There were a number of options but ultimately we felt that playing the game at Marvel on Queen’s Birthday eve was a great opportunity for Victorians to come together and really celebrate the Chinese community,” St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis said.

“They’re hurting and we want to stand beside them.

“We think playing the game in the Melbourne CBD gives us the best opportunity to do that.”

The AFL and both clubs remain committed to resuming their push into China with a game in Shanghai next year.