This section will present the most recent news on cancellations and postponements of events. There will also be the latest announcements from sporting bodies in the UK.
Football
Football leagues around the world have either been voided, cancelled or postponed due to the unprecedented events of COVID-19. All levels of football from the Premier league through to the non-leagues and down to grass roots have been cancelled in the UK.
The Premier league aims to return in June behind closed doors
The 20 Premier League will soon be holding talks on the return date which is thought to be lined up for around late June.
Premier league leaders Liverpool are ahead of second place Manchester City by a record breaking twenty-five points with nine matches to go. However the rest of the league is still in the balance with champions league football still up for grabs for a few teams. Watford and Bournemouth sit either side of the relegation zone with the same amount of points. With positions still in question it will give oil to the engine for motivation to finish the season.
The process to move for a return to Premier League action has had approval from the UK government. Before any action of competitive football returning must be approved by the government before hand.
Other major European leagues are also targeting a return to play behind closed doors. The Bundesliga in Germany have announced their plans to return on May 9 but still requires government approval. Germany so far have been one of the countries that have been able to cope with the virus better within Europe. However, a country that has been struggling badly with the corona virus over the last two months has been Italy. The Italian league, Serie A, has had approval from the government to return to training but there are no confirmed plans of a return date for competition to start up again with only suggestions that June could be a target date. The dutch top tier, Eredivisie, has been voided with other leagues cancelled as well. Teams to remain in the same positions when a new season arrives. The BBC announced that La Liga and spanish football has been postponed indefinitely, look here for more news on the impact that COVID-19 has had on Spanish football: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52004775 . Spain is a country that has suffered terribly in recent weeks.
There is a lot of question marks over when football will go back to normal fully, but for now football fans are going to have to appreciate any live action even if they are unable to view it from the stands.
Tennis
Tennis at all levels has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the professional circuit being postponed as well as tennis clubs in the UK also being closed.
LTA COVID-19 statement
LTA states tennis in the UK must comply with government lockdown guidelines. This has resulted in all tennis centres and clubs around the UK being shut until further notice. It is not clear when the LTA plans when activity will return to normal for now. View the LTA official website here: https://www.lta.org.uk/about-us/tennis-news/news-and-opinion/general-news/2020/march/coronavirus-covid-19—latest-advice/. All parks with tennis courts are also closed.
However, the LTA is still encouraging people to keep being active and to continue exercising where they can.
For more information on government guidelines on exercise, check out our exercise page here: https://coronasportsaid.sport.blog/exercise/
CoronaSports Aid 