How sports teams are using technology to recreate group training sessions with players in isolation March 29, 2020 They may be miles apart and isolated in their homes, but footballers, rugby players and cricketers across the country are finding new ways to continue training together. Sportspeople left in limbo while their seasons are delayed indefinitely by the coronavirus pandemic are still staying in shape, as they have readily documented on social media. The [...]
Forget finishing the current seasons; this is a time for sport to ponder far bigger questions March 25, 2020 The now globally iconic slogan “Keep Calm and Carry On” was originally used on a 1939 British motivational poster, during the country’s preparations for World War II. With Covid-19’s outbreak and spread across Eurasia, much of British sport has appeared intent on summoning the spirit of this old poster. From the Cheltenham Festival to Champions [...]
English football agrees to “indefinite” suspension of 2019-20 season March 19, 2020 The English football season has been extended indefinitely to give leagues every chance to play remaining matches currently on hold due to the coronavirus outbreak. Play had already been suspended at all levels until at least 4 April, but a resumption has been pushed back to 30 April at the earliest. The decision has been [...]
Jude Bellingham transfer: The rules Manchester United and their competitors will have to negotiate to sign Birmingham’s star midfielder March 18, 2020 Like everything in sport right now, Jude Bellingham’s future is on hold. But the coronavirus pandemic has only delayed what now feels inevitable: that Birmingham City’s most prized asset will be flying the coop. Bellingham is just 16 and only made his professional debut in August, but his performances for Birmingham have set the scouting [...]
How is each Premier League club dealing with coronavirus? March 17, 2020 While Premier League football has been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, top-flight clubs across England are taking differing approaches to first-team training. It was announced on Friday that the Premier League, English Football League and FA had called off all matches for the rest of this month and on Monday the UK government issued [...]
Euro 2020 postponed until 2021 following emergency Uefa meeting March 17, 2020 Euro 2020 has been postponed until the summer of 2021 due to the coronavirus outbreak, Uefa has confirmed. The governing body said it had pushed the tournament back by 12 months to protect the health of those involved and avoid additional pressure on public services in the nations hosting matches. Meanwhile, there is also a [...]
Coronavirus and sport: A guide to filling the void left by the cancellation of live fixtures March 16, 2020 You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. For many, sport is a steady, reassuring constant – something around which life revolves. Plans are made to accommodate it, socialising takes place alongside it, vast amounts of money is spent facilitating it, almost every hobby is connected to it, weekends are often entirely consumed by [...]
William Hill suspends dividend as sports cancellations hit betting firms March 16, 2020 William Hill today said it has suspended its dividend due to widespread sports cancellations, sending its shares crashing more than 35 per cent. The betting giant warned the postponement of key sporting fixtures would reduce its earnings by up to £110m. The company, which makes more than half its revenue from its sports book business, [...]
IOC bosses to hold series of crunch meetings about Tokyo Olympics March 16, 2020 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is holding talks tomorrow with the heads of international sport organisations to discuss its response to the coronavirus pandemic. It will come alongside a meeting of IOC’s executive board, which will discuss its internal response and the future of this year’s planned Tokyo games. A decision on whether to go [...]
Coronavirus and football: What happens if the Premier League is cancelled? March 14, 2020 As Liverpool’s footballers emerged from the dugout at Anfield on Wednesday evening, fans stretched their hands down towards them from the flanking stands in search of a high five. Most players ignored them. Sadio Mane, Liverpool’s second highest goalscorer of the season and African player of the year, reached up to grant one supporter his [...]