THE Premier League is planning to return on June 12 at neutral venues – but only once it gets the green light from the government.
While over the pond, UFC 249 is set to ahead on May 9 to bring us some live sport in lockdown, while we have updates on the F1 season and the Bundesliga restarting.
Follow all the latest coronavirus in sport updates below, underneath our quick poll…
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GOOD MORNING SPORTS FANS
Or should that be G'Day – as the Premier League is looking to go Down Under to play their final 92 matches.
Talks are ongoing for a stunning scheme for the matches to take place in four stadiums in Perth, Western Australia.
English agent Gary Williams has masterminded the plan after Red Devils legend Gary Neville put forward the idea that the matches could take place abroad.
Williams has been in contact with the Australian government and Ministry for Sport to get their backing for the eye-catching idea.
It has already been put to the Prem, while several clubs have also been alerted and are happy to oblige.
One club official said: “We go on world tours in pre-season. This is no different. And the climate in Australia is ideal just now.”
Williams’ eight-point proposal to the Prem is:
1. Fly all 20 squads to Perth. Airlines would be delighted with the custom and are available.
2. Base them in their own hotels, with facilities, and isolate for up to afortnight if they have to. Perth is currently in tourist ‘off season’anyway.
3. Play games at several top venues in the city, behind closed doors or even with a limited number of local fans.
4. Slash the number of medical tests needed, possibly only two in total rather than the proposed twice a week.
5. Remove the need for police to control closed venues in England when the games are played.
6.End concerns about travel arrangements and hotel stays. The clubs would use the same bases, close to grounds, for the duration.
7. Allow families to travel over towards the end of the campaign to give them a much-needed break in a safeenvironment.
8. Easy for TV coverage, with various kick-off times to suit English schedules.
Perth has four major sporting venues that can be used — Optus Stadium (capacity 65,000), Perth Oval (20,500), cricket’s WACA (24,500) and Joondalup Arena (16,000).
Brummie Williams said: “I have had discussions with contacts at Premier League clubs and they like the idea. I have also spoken with government officials and they are enthusiastic. We are speaking again this week.
“Everybody is safe here. The government has lifted many restrictions.”
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OZIL DISHES OUT £80K AID
Mesut Ozil has shown his generosity once more by donating £80,000 to help Muslims whose Ramadan has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Arsenal midfielder – who played for Germany but is of Turkish descent – will help provide food and aid for 16,000 people throughout the holy month, which began on April 23.
Charity organisation Turkish Red Crescent can now provide iftar, the evening meal which Muslims end their daily Ramadan fast with, to families across Turkey and Syria, via 2,000 packages.
Group member Kerem Kinik said: “At the Red Crescent, we stand by those in need 365 days a year.”
Of course, we do this thanks to donations made by philanthropist friends who follow our work. As donations increase, we will be able to reach even more people in need.
“Thanks to our brother Mesut, we will be able to deliver packages provided to people in need – delivering them as soon as possible.”
Ozil secretly pays for 1,000 kids’ operations and feeds 100,000 homeless people.
But he was one of three players who did not accept Arsenal's proposal of a squad-wide pay cut to help them financially amid the Covid-19 crisis.
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BOTCH-IT RESTART
Bosses at a Premier League club have told their players they can OPT OUT of Project Restart for health and safety.
But that sparked outrage among fellow top-flight pros, unhappy they have not received the same offer.
The revelation came on the players’ WhatsApp group which was initially between the 20 club captains — but has swelled to over 100 members.
Now a growing number of stars believe that they are being railroaded into playing again before it is safe, with a June 12 resumption mooted.
SunSport understands one club has emailed its squad individually, making it clear if they are uncomfortable with playing a game — let alone the remainder of the campaign — then they are free to avoid it.
It has caused stars from players at remaining clubs as they do not want individuals to be open to criticism if they take their own decision not to play, preferring to be a united front.
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PREM PONDER EFL CASH BOOST
EFL clubs could receive a multi-million-pound handout from the Premier League if they get their season going.
The remarkable gesture has been discussed by several top-flight owners who are concerned for the levels outside the elite.
And the news was relayed in a confidential memo sent out from the PFA to players yesterday.
The leaked document read: “The Premier League are conscious that behind-closed-doors football is costly for the EFL and have obligations to support the lower leagues…
“It may be that once they get back playing they will know the financial damage they face and then look to help the EFL.”
This money would be extra cash and on top of the existing ‘solidarity’ payments that help many clubs to survive.
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PERTH-ECT PREM SOLUTION?
The Premier League is being offered an amazing Plan B escape route — to end the season in sunny Australian city Perth.
Worried chiefs are trying to find ways of playing the final 92 games in England — with a neutral venue masterplan in place — but are constantly finding hurdles.
TV pundit Gary Neville claimed the top flight should finish behind closed doors overseas.
And now English agent Gary Williams is masterminding the astonishing alternative.Williams, who lives in the Western Australian capital, has received backing from the local Perth senator.
He is also in contact with the Australian government and Ministry for Sport to get their backing for the eye-catching idea.
It has already been put to the Prem, while several clubs have also been alerted and are happy to oblige.
One club official said: “We go on world tours in pre-season. This is no different. And the climate in Australia is ideal just now.”
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LOCK-DAN
Daniel Dubois has used his heavy hands to create a family home just in time for all the gang to hunker down for lockdown.
The 22-year-old British heavyweight champ raced to a 14-0 record before the Covid-19 virus shut down sport around the world.
His mouthwatering clash with fellow Londoner Joe Joyce — originally set for April 11 — has been postponed until the Government and British Boxing Board of Control relaunch the sport.
But that has given the Peacock Gym prodigy the chance to move his dad Dave and four siblings out of their cramped Greenwich home and into a spacious Hertfordshire pile. The upgrade means Dynamite Dan can train alongside his fighting siblings Caroline, Prince and Solomon-in their private gym and still have enough room for some much needed rest.
Dubois said: ““Everyone is here together, to support each other and it’s great to accomplish this first part of the dream.”
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HIT IN THE POCKET
Premier League clubs stand to lose hundreds of millions of pounds if the 2020/21 season goes ahead behind closed doors.
While the English top-flight is well known for making a fortune on television rights, a large slice of several sides' income still comes from matchday revenue.
Naturally, it is the larger clubs who stand to lose more with Manchester United leading the way on £110million banked every season from ticket sales and other matchday earners.
Following closely behind are Arsenal with their latest accounts revealing revenue of £96m across the course of the 2018/19 season.
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GIVING CORONA SOME SASS
Sassuolo are set to become the first Serie A side to re-start training following the coronavirus shutdown after saying their players could use the club's facilities from Monday on an optional basis.
Bologna, meanwhile, say their players will be able to start training from Tuesday, reports Reuters.
Serie A has been suspended since March 9 and the league and the Italian football federation both want to complete the season although the Italian government says it has not yet decided whether it will give permission.
The government has given professional teams permission to train together from May 18 although they will still have to respect social distancing guidelines.
Sassuolo and Bologna are based in the region of Emilia Romagna which has given special permission for athletes in team sports to take part in training sessions on an individual basis from May 4 onwards.
Sassuolo said in a statement: “Sassuolo announces that, from Monday May 4, they will grant their players use of the Mapei Football Centre pitches for optional, individual sessions.”
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GENEROUS MESUT
Mesut Ozil has made an £80,000 donation to help provide food during the month of Ramadan, according to reports.
The German was criticised for failing to agree terms on a pay cut last month but he is determined to help Muslims in Syria and Turkey for iftar, the meal taken at the end of the day’s fast.
Kerem Kinik, the head of the Turkish Red Crescent said: “Thanks to our brother Mesut, we will be able to deliver packages provided to people in need – delivering them as soon as possible.”
Former Real Madrid midfielder Ozil is said to donate around £2million a year to charity.
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FORTNIGHT TILL RETURN
Kevin de Bruyne reckons Manchester City players will be back at training within a fortnight.
The Etihad's star midfielder, 28, has been approaching his best form again with a wonderful performance at the Bernabeu, where City won 2-1.
He told HLN: “My feelings are that we may be able to train again within two weeks.
“The government wants to restart football as soon as possible to give people something.
“Everything will be finished without fans I think.
“The financial aspect is far too important in the Premier League. If the season is not finished, it will cause serious problems.”
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SWAP, DROP & CROP
Barcelona vice-president Jordi Cardoner has claimed that the club will only be partaking in swap deals in the upcoming transfer window.
The 57-year-old has lifted the lid on how the club have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic with players' wages set to be slashed again despite the squad already accepting a 70 per cent cut.
In an interview with ESPN, Cardoner has revealed how the Blaugrana have already lost around £124million due to being in lockdown as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
After stating Barca would definitely make a loss this campaign, he said: “Because our base economic situation is a solid one, this will not affect us the same way as probably other clubs.”
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IM-MENS CONTRIBUTION
Manchester United youngster Timothy Fosu-Mensah has been handing out 50 Euro vouchers to struggling families back in his native Holland.
The 22-year-old defender wanted to help out struggling families in Bijlmer, the area of Amsterdam from which he hails.
He had 100 vouchers to donate to families struggling to put food on the table.
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GROUNDS FOR HOPE
Here are the eight stadia the Premier League are looking at staging games.
And here is the main criterium the league want around the grounds to host matches during a re-start: space.
Those arenas in crowded and residential areas – which English stadiums tend to be – have been disregarded, to keep fans as far away as possible.
Make no mistake, if the league re-starts, fans will need to stay away and remain at home.
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IT'LL 'BIA GOOD DAY
Montpellier midfielder Junior Sambia is out of intensive care and preparing to return home after giving his club a “big fright” as the first Ligue 1 player to get Covid-19.
The Frenchman, 23, is recovering well after he was initially put into an artificial coma when he went into the town's Arnaud-de-Villeneuve hospital last week and was diagnosed with coronavirus.
Montepellier tweeted: “All really happy that you're doing better. We hope to see you very soon on the pitch.”
And club president Laurent Nicollin told France Bleu: “I am not a doctor, it is not up to me to talk about it but he gave us a big fright last week.
“He called me on Tuesday or Wednesday and it was a real pleasure to hear his voice.
“Now, he is feeling good, he is due to leave hospital. He needs to rest but he is doing better.”
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FLOWER POWER
Marcus Rashford has told Manchester United's academy starlets, get shooting in the garden!
After the Under-23 season was cancelled, the Old Trafford youth product said: “The news you got yesterday was probably not what you wanted to hear.
“I know all you want to do is play because I’m the same but the decision has been made to protect everyone involved.
“When I was in the academy I used to find a spot in the garden and aim for targets just so I could practice my accuracy, get creative!
“Now is not the time to fall out of love with the game it’s a time to remember why you fell in love with it in the first place.
“You’ve got this and we can’t wait to see you all back next season!”
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BRAINS & BRAWN
The Formula 1 paddock has often been something of a bubble but Ross Brawn wants to go one step further and keep the sport inside a “biosphere” when the season starts.
With Spielberg two hours away from the Austrian capital Vienna and owned by competitors Red Bull, Brawn is confident in its potential to avoid any risk of an outbreak in the paddock.
However protocols and equipment to regularly test everyone inside the biosphere is vital for any plans to race.
Brawn told the F1 Nation podcast: “One of the logistical challenges is getting everyone tested and cleared to enter the racing environment.
“Once we do that, it’s very attractive to keep everyone in that environment, within that biosphere that we want to create, for another race.”
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WELL HAIL MARY
The NFL will release the 2020 game schedule next week and despite talk of alternative scheduling or a late start because of the coronavirus, it is expected to be business-as-usual.
Sports Business Daily reported Monday that the NFL was forming contingency plans in case its schedule of games needs to be altered, including delaying season openers by more than a month and moving the Super Bowl to the end of February.
It's unclear whether the coronavirus outbreak will ease enough to allow fans in the stands.
ESPN said the NFL won't hunker players in specific locations to play the season, as the NHL, MLB and NBA have discussed.
ESPN also reported that the schedule isn't expected to include early season Saturday games.
In the meantime, NFL facilities remain closed, and teams have begun holding virtual workouts.
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SRI-SCHEDULED
England's two-match test series in Sri Lanka, which has been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has been rescheduled for January next year, Sri Lanka Cricket has said.
England were scheduled to play tests in Galle and Colombo in March before the coronavirus outbreak shut down sport worldwide as countries introduced lockdown measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Reuters report De Silva told the Sri Lankan newspaper Daily News: “We are in the process of rescheduling the tours that have been postponed.
“England has been already rescheduled for the month of January next year but the dates have not been finalised.”
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FITS THE BILL
Bill Beaumont was re-elected as World Rugby chairman after beating Argentine Agustin Pichot in the first round of voting and has called for unity amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the sport's governing body said on Saturday.
Englishman Beaumont prevailed by a 28-23 margin to secure a second consecutive four-year term.
Frenchman Bernard Laporte, who was running unopposed, was elected vice-chairman.
Beaumont said: “Now is not the time for celebration. We have work to do.
“We are tackling COVID-19 and must implement an appropriate return-to-rugby strategy that prioritises player welfare, while optimising any opportunity to return to international rugby this year in full collaboration with club competitions for the good of players, fans and the overall financial health of the sport.”
Rugby, like most sports, has been on hold as the novel coronavirus spread across the world, casting doubt on whether the 2020 international calendar could be completed.
He added: “I am determined to ensure that the spirit of unity and solidarity that has characterised our work in response to an unprecedented global COVID-19 pandemic is the cornerstone of a new approach that will deliver a stronger, more sustainable game when we emerge with new enthusiasm, a renewed purpose and an exciting future.”
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HEALTH IS PRIORITY
Frank Lampard says football cannot return if there is any risk to the health of players and staff.
He told BT Sport: “We’re all aware of the nation’s desire to get football back on because of what it means, the escapism and how we love our football.
“I’m also very aware of the obstacles. There are many obstacles that people will have to go through.
“I’m certainly not pointing fingers, I think we’re all working in the same direction: we want it back.
“But of course health and safety comes first. Now all the steps to try and get that in place have got to be the important thing.
“Because we cannot risk the health of players and staff who are working in football. We can’t.”
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CHARITY MAN
Victor Lindelof has announced he has joined Unicef as ambassadors, along with wife Maja.
The United defender said: “Now more than ever what we do for others is so important.”
View this post on Instagram
So happy to announce that @MajaNilssonLindelof & I are joining the @unicefsverige family. To be in this position makes me incredibly proud. Now more than ever what we can do for others is so important ?#unicefsverige
A post shared byVictor Lindelöf (@victorlindelof) on
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HIT IN THE POCKET
Premier League clubs stand to lose hundreds of millions of pounds if the 2020/21 season goes ahead behind closed doors.
While the English top-flight is well known for making a fortune on television rights, a large slice of several sides' income still comes from matchday revenue.
Naturally, it is the larger clubs who stand to lose more with Manchester United leading the way on £110million banked every season from ticket sales and other matchday earners.
Following closely behind are Arsenal with their latest accounts revealing revenue of £96m across the course of the 2018/19 season.
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CORE BLIMEY
If you want a tough lockdown workout, check out these sessions from British sprinter Harry Aikines-Aryeetey.
The 31-year-old, who has a 100 metres personal best of 10.08sec has been challenging fans to his workouts on Instagram.
See if you can give it a go!
View this post on Instagram
Another One ? A few sets of this little finisher will get your abs smiling ??? Try 3 set of 30 secs each movement one after the other 1/2 mins rest between sets. Your abs can thank me later ? Tag me if you try ? – v up – single leg jackknife – Russian twist – Bicycle Rotations – straight leg push – 3 way sit up – oblique crunch #CoronaSession #StayAtHome #CoreRoutine #HomeWorkOut #OneForAll
A post shared byHarry Aikines (@aikines) on
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EURO-UT OF LUCK
The road cycling European championships scheduled for September in the Italian province of Trentino have been postponed by a year amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Union Europeenne de Cyclisme (UEC) said on Saturday.
The UEC wrote in a statement: “Due to the difficult situation affecting the whole world… the European Road Championships in Trentino (Italy) from 9 to 13 September will be postponed to 2021 and will be held in the same city.”
With elite racing suspended until Aug. 1, the sport's flagship race, the Tour de France, was moved to Aug. 29-Sept 20.
The UEC, however, said it would “look at the various alternatives for the 2020 European Road Championships and UEC calendar events this season so that all titles in each category can be awarded in all disciplines”.
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GROUNDS FOR OPTIMISM
When Premier League football does return, it looks set to be very different to how we remember it.
Top-flight clubs have agreed to use neutral stadiums to finish the season once the Government gives football the green light to resume.
Bosses confirmed their target of starting general training from May 18, with the first Prem fixtures now pencilled in for Friday, June 12 — the same date Euro 2020 would have kicked off.
SunSport understands the strongest candidates for the eight grounds in the Premier League are:
- Brighton’s Amex and Southampton’s St Mary’s on the south coast.
- West Ham’s London Stadium and Arsenal’s Emirates home in the capital.
- Leicester’s King Power and Aston Villa’s ground, Villa Park, in the Midlands.
- Old Trafford and the Etihad in Manchester, providing a north west base.
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