Turkish
football,
basketball and
volleyball leagues have been suspended because of the
coronavirus pandemic, the government announced as the country reported its third death from the virus.
"We decided all together to
suspend the league," Sports Minister
Mehmet Kasapoğlu said in a televised speech after meeting with the chiefs of the football, volleyball and basketball
federations.
Turkish Football Federation chief
Nihat Özdemir said the period of suspension would be decided later.
Super League games have so far gone ahead behind closed doors.
Former Nigeria international
John Obi Mikel quit Turkish football club
Trabzonspor because he did not want to play in the midst of the pandemic.
Other players and coaches, including legendary manager and ex-player
Fatih Terim, had called on the
TFF to suspend the championship, like most other countries.
Three people have died in
Turkey while 191 cases have been officially recorded, according to the
Turkish health minister said.