Chinese football put on hold

China's domestic soccer season has been postponed because of fears over Sars, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) has announced.

Millions of fans will have to rely on TV replays of old matches next month when the season was due to start.

"As Sars has already spread to several provinces and cities, the CFA has decided to postpone all matches scheduled in the second half of May in order to ensure the safety and health of players, coaches and the masses," a statement said.

It urged all club managements and players to "take preventative measures according to government regulations", to keep good club discipline, and "maintain skills and physical fitness."

It also hoped that clubs would "remain competitive when the league finally resumes." The CFA later announced that matches would be rescheduled to start from June onwards, but there is scepticism as to whether this date will be met.

The Chinese sports federation has already cancelled indefinitely all sporting activities in Guangdong province, Beijing, and other areas labelled "Sars-affected".

There are fears that before long the virus will be identified in all of China's provinces.

China's sports press has reported varying responses from the nation's soccer teams, depending in part upon their expectations of success.

Weak teams are welcoming the chance to practice and improve, the Xinhua news agency reported, while strong teams may chafe at the restriction.