Belarus soccer continues amid virus anxiety and empty stands

Soccer Football - Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Neman v Belshina - Stadyen Neman, Grodno, Belarus, April 10, 2020 A fan in the stands despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

MINSK (Reuters) - Belarus is the only country in Europe still playing soccer amid the coronavirus pandemic but a growing number of fans are boycotting league matches, anxious about catching the disease.

In the western city of Grodno, local team FC Neman Grodno drew with FC Belshina Bobruisk on Friday in front of almost empty stands. Just 253 people attended, compared to last year when Neman's games drew crowds of around 1,500 people.