UEFA has confirmed that all Champions League and Europa League soccer matches are to be postponed after the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic.

Per British newspaper The Independent, Manchester City vs Real Madrid and Juventus vs Lyon has already been postponed, with the eight Europa League last-16 ties also being called off.

Not only that but all UEFA-sanctioned games, as well as UEFA Youth League games, have also been temporarily suspended, with the quarter-final draw scheduled for Friday 20 March.

In an official press release on Twitter, UEFA stated: "In the light of developments due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and related decisions made by different governments, all UEFA club competitions matches scheduled next week are postponed."

The statement continued: "This includes the remaining UEFA Champions League, Round of 16-second leg matches scheduled on 17 and 18 March 2020; all UEFA Europa League, Round of 16-second leg matches scheduled on 19 March 2020; all UEFA Youth League, quarter-final matches scheduled on 17 and 18 March 2020."

UEFA added: "Further decisions on when these matches take place will be communicated in due course. As a consequence of the postponements, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League quarter-final draws scheduled for 20 March have also been postponed."

A report from the World Health Organization has now declared that the COVID-19 is a pandemic, writing in a statement: "WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic."

The statement continued: "Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death."

At the time of writing, there have now been more than 135,832 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 114 countries worldwide. Of these, 4,990 people have lost their lives.

UEFA has confirmed that all Champions League and Europa League soccer matches are to be postponed after the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic.

Per British newspaper The Independent, Manchester City vs Real Madrid and Juventus vs Lyon has already been postponed, with the eight Europa League last-16 ties also being called off.

Not only that but all UEFA-sanctioned games, as well as UEFA Youth League games, have also been temporarily suspended, with the quarter-final draw scheduled for Friday 20 March.

In an official press release on Twitter, UEFA stated: "In the light of developments due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and related decisions made by different governments, all UEFA club competitions matches scheduled next week are postponed."

The statement continued: "This includes the remaining UEFA Champions League, Round of 16-second leg matches scheduled on 17 and 18 March 2020; all UEFA Europa League, Round of 16-second leg matches scheduled on 19 March 2020; all UEFA Youth League, quarter-final matches scheduled on 17 and 18 March 2020."

UEFA added: "Further decisions on when these matches take place will be communicated in due course. As a consequence of the postponements, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League quarter-final draws scheduled for 20 March have also been postponed."

A report from the World Health Organization has now declared that the COVID-19 is a pandemic, writing in a statement: "WHO has been assessing this outbreak around the clock and we are deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity, and by the alarming levels of inaction. We have therefore made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic."

The statement continued: "Pandemic is not a word to use lightly or carelessly. It is a word that, if misused, can cause unreasonable fear, or unjustified acceptance that the fight is over, leading to unnecessary suffering and death."

At the time of writing, there have now been more than 135,832 confirmed cases of COVID-19 across 114 countries worldwide. Of these, 4,990 people have lost their lives.