France becomes latest country to end its soccer season because of coronavirus

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced Tuesday that the country will prohibit all large sporting events until September because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, effectively canceling the Ligue 1 soccer season.

“The major sporting events of more than 5,000 participants cannot be held before September.” Philippe told the National Assembly in announcing the country’s plans to gradually reopen. “The 2019-2020 season will not be able to resume."