Coronavirus: West Ham, Crystal Palace see pre-season fixtures in Australia postponed

London, April 22: West Ham and Crystal Palace's pre-season fixtures in Australia have been postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The Premier League clubs and A-League outfit Brisbane Roar were due to play in Queensland in July ahead of the 2020-21 season.

However, those fixtures were unsurprisingly postponed on Wednesday (April 22) due to COVID-19, which has killed more than 177,000 people worldwide.

"It is a real shame that we will no longer be able to make it over to Queensland this summer, however, it is the right decision to postpone given the circumstances," West Ham manager David Moyes said in a statement.

"The players and I were really looking forward to seeing our fans and the people of Australia, especially as there was great excitement and support for the tournament.

We regret to confirm that the inaugural EVA Air Queensland Champions Cup scheduled for July has been postponed due to COVID-19.

Details https://t.co/hNOslcDyZ1 pic.twitter.com/TP7fHjb2jB

— Brisbane Roar FC (@brisbaneroar) April 22, 2020

"This is a situation that has affected the entire world, though, and the only thing that matters at this time is that people stay safe and well.

"We hope the tournament can be rearranged at a later date once things are back to normal, and we look forward to visiting Australia in the future."

Australia has seen more than 6,600 coronavirus cases, including 74 deaths.