Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has resisted calls for a nationwide lockdown, calling fears of the coronavirus epidemic “psychosis” and suggesting vodka or a sauna would help.

Football leagues across Europe have shut down for safety, teams in Belarus are playing on.

The country’s little-known league is now surging in popularity worldwide as match-hungry football fans tune in for live coverage.

But local supporters are increasingly abandoning stadiums, worried for their health.