French Cup halted

The French Football Federation (FFF) has also halted all amateur football.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a second national lockdown until at least the end of November.

The top three tiers of men's football - Ligue 1, Ligue 2 and the National - and the women's top flight can continue, as can international football matches.

Sports minister Roxana Maracineanu has said elite sport can continue behind closed doors.

"The FFF decided to suspend all leagues, districts and national championships competitions National 3, National 2, Women's D2, the French Cup for men and women, and national youth championships (male and female) until Tuesday, 1 December,"

All matches that cannot be played during this period will be postponed to later dates, depending on the evolution of the health situation."

From Friday, people in France will only be allowed to leave home for essential work or medical reasons.

Covid daily deaths in France are at the highest level since April. On Wednesday, 36,437 new cases and 244 deaths were confirmed.

Speaking in the French parliament, Maracineanu said: "The coming weeks will be tough economically but also humanely. This is why I wanted to confirm to you that the continuity of the sport which is practised as a profession is today assured.

"High-level athletes will be allowed to train. And then we will be allowed to compete because travelling for professional reasons is allowed."

France are due to play Ireland in the Six Nations in Paris on Saturday, while the Paris Masters tennis tournament is also due to begin on Monday, with both events set to be played behind closed doors.