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Turkish soccer to welcome back players — but not fans

Turkey's professional soccer teams will begin playing in empty stadiums in June, the Turkish Football Federation president said Wednesday.
Soccer Football - Super Lig - Galatasaray v Besiktas - Turk Telekom Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey - March 15, 2020   Besiktas' Victor Ruiz in action as the match is played behind closed doors as the number of coronavirus cases grow around the world   REUTERS/Umit Bektas - RC2GKF9C7ZHA

Professional soccer in Turkey will resume this summer but without the fans, the country’s soccer body announced Wednesday. 

On March 19, sporting events including soccer, volleyball and basketball were put on hold as part of Turkey’s measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. Turkish Football Federation President Nihat Ozdemir said the season will pick back up after the federation and Turkey’s Health Ministry decide how the games can best be played safely. 

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