ISTANBUL

There will be no sports events, including professional football matches, in the Netherlands until at least Sept. 1 amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced the decision in a news conference on Tuesday.

The Dutch government also extended the suspension of its domestic football league.

The decision signals the cancellation of Eredisivie top-tier football league this season as the following season will begin in September.

The Netherlands has so far reported 34,317 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with death toll near 4,000.

More than 2.54 million cases have been reported in 185 countries and regions since the virus emerged in China last December, with the death toll over 175,400 and nearly 670,000 recoveries, according to data compiled by the U.S.’ Johns Hopkins University.