Coronavirus sport news – live: Premier League suspended as Champions League and Europa League matches also cancelled
Follow latest updates as coronavirus continues to take its toll on the sporting world
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
Follow live coverage where the Premier League has agreed to postpone the season until at least 4 April at in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The Independent has been told that several clubs have pushed for a suspension and that there is a minority of officials who will argue that the campaign should be voided altogether.
Uefa have confirmed that all Champions League and Europa League games next week, including Bayern Munich vs Chelsea and Man City vs Real Madrid, have been cancelled. This comes after Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta tested positive for the virus as has Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi.
England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka has been called off while elsewhere, Formula One have cancelled the season-opening Australian Grand Prix. A member of McLaren’s team tested positive for Covid-19, leading the constructors to withdraw from this weekend’s planned race. F1 later announced the race would not go ahead. Follow the latest updates here:
Please allow a moment for the blog to load.
The Premier League had previously taken their lead from the government, which had been adamant that closing stadiums was reactionary, and not actually that beneficial.
That stance has been undercut by participating figures like Arteta and Hudson-Odoi actually contracting the virus, as it illustrates a host of other problems beyond the actual benefit of shutting down mass gatherings like football matches.
The Formula E season has been suspended for two months.
Founder and Chairman of Formula E, Alejandro Agag, said: “Right now is the time to take responsible actions and this is why we have decided to temporarily suspend the season and move forward with introducing measures to freeze races from taking place over the next two months.
"Motorsport plays a major part in our lives and it is important, but what is more important is the health and safety of our staff, fans and their families, as well as citizens in the cities we race.
"The ABB FIA Formula E Championship will be back in full force, once the ongoing health crisis and spread of COVID- 19 has subsided.”
Leeds Rhinos are not travelling to Catalans Dragons for Saturday's Super League rugby match.
A Leeds player entered self-isolation due to showing coronavirus symptoms.
An English Football League (EFL) spokesman has said: “The EFL Board will meet this morning to make a decision on this weekend’s fixtures and beyond.”
The Athletic are reporting that the EFL will suspend all games.
England cricketer Ben Stokes has withdrawn from the match against Sri Lanka's President's XI due to an abdominal injury.
The England and Wales Cricket Board have said the injury is unrelated to coronavirus.
A statement from the French Rugby Federation: "The FFR suspends all its competitions, gatherings and training, as well as those of its leagues, departments and clubs, until the sanitary conditions allow their resumption.
"All championships of all categories without exception are suspended, as well as all activities of rugby schools, in order to effectively combat the spread of COVID-19."
Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea has spoken after testing positive for coronavirus.
"As you may be aware, I had the virus for the last couple of days, which I've recovered from," he said in a video on Twitter.
"I'm following the health guidelines and self-isolating myself from everybody for the week.
"I hope to see everybody soon and hopefully will be back on the pitch very soon."
The Formula One season has been thrown into doubt by the cancellation of the Australian Grand Prix due to the coronavirus.
Chief executive Chase Carey has said it will be "challenging" to predict when the next race might take place.
"It is a pretty difficult situation to predict," he said. "Everybody uses the word 'fluid' and it is a fluid situation."
The fourth round of the F1 championship in Shanghai in April had already been postponed and organisers in Bahrain, the second stop on the schedule, are looking to stage the race without spectators on 22 March.
But the Bahrain race and the following stop in Vietnam next month now look in jeopardy with personnel stuck in quarantine and global travel restrictions to prove a logistical nightmare for teams.
Holding the Netherlands Grand Prix on 3 May could also prove problematic after authorities cancelled sports events on Thursday and banned gatherings of more than 100 people.
Spain, the next stop on the calendar a week after the Netherlands race, is also battling an escalating coronavirus outbreak.
In cricket news, the Indian Premier League has been suspended until 15 April.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments