The National League has suspended matches and the Football Association is "advising that all grassroots football in England is postponed for the foreseeable future" due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Following in the footsteps of leagues across the continent, the Premier League and EFL halted all matches until at least early April ahead of last weekend's fixtures.

Despite that, a variety of non-league competitions controversially went ahead at a time when the FA's advice was that grassroots football was able to continue as usual amid the Covid-19 outbreak.

But the Northern Premier League bowed to the seemingly inevitable on Monday and announced a suspension of their fixtures with immediate effect, with the National League following suit shortly afterwards.

A statement from the National League read: "At its board meeting on Friday, the National League decided to use its best endeavours to keep its season going in the face of unprecedented adversity.

"However, with the current coronavirus (Covid-19) reaching global pandemic levels it has to accept that the situation is now out of its own control.

"In the knowledge of the Government measures now announced, including not to support sporting events with emergency services workers, it is clearly not practical for its fixtures to be fulfilled in the immediate future.

"In those circumstances and in line with the Football Association and the professional game, at a board meeting today, The National League has decided that its competition is now suspended until at least April 3 2020.

"The National League will continue to monitor the situation but trusts that its loyal clubs, fans, players, officials, staff, volunteers and sponsors will accept that it has had no other choice but to reach this decision.

"It wishes everybody connected with the competition and indeed the whole country a safe passage through these turbulent times."