Sporting calendar shredded as coronavirus ravages top events

PARIS: The collapse of sports events worldwide gathered pace Friday with England’s Premier League and Europe’s Champions League among competitions swept aside by the coronavirus pandemic.

As sports calendars were shredded worldwide, Formula One motor racing was in turmoil with the first three Grands Prix of the season — Australia, Bahrain and Vietnam — also scrapped. England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka also fell victim to the virus while suspension of the Premier League until April 4 came shortly after the French Football League announced that all Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 games would be on hold until further notice.

European football took a major hit when officials suspended next week’s programme of Champions League and Europa League ties. And cycling’s first Grand Tour of the season, the Giro d’Italia, scheduled for May 9-31, was also put on hold as officials feared the impact of COVID-19.

The virus, which has killed 5,043 people according to an AFP tally, is accelerating just over four months from the Tokyo Olympics’ start on July 24. Football’s Premier League, with a worldwide audience of billions, was suspended after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi were confirmed to have the disease.

“Following a meeting of shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time,” the Premier League said in a statement.

The decision by authorities in England and France to suspended top-flight football means that all Europe’s top leagues have ground to a halt apart from Germany where matches have been ordered to be played behind closed doors. Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A have already suspended matches.

European football’s governing body UEFA took a similar step in announcing that all Champions League and Europa League matches scheduled to be played next week had been postponed.

The move comes after two of next week’s four scheduled Champions League last 16, second legs — between Manchester City and Real Madrid, and between Juventus and Lyon — had already been called off.

“In the light of developments due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and related decisions made by different governments, all UEFA club competitions matches scheduled next week are postponed,” UEFA said in a statement.

Sports across the globe have suffered major disruption because of the virus with the men’s tennis tour, NBA basketball, Major League Baseball and a host of top-flight events interrupted.

Rugby union was also affected with the last Six Nations match between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff scrapped one day ahead of Saturday’s scheduled kick-off.

More bad news could come as European football chiefs are to meet next week to consider whether to postpone Euro 2020, due to start in June and this year’s other major international sports along with the Olympics. Tokyo Olympics organisers, Japan’s government and the International Olympic Committee have been adamant the Games will go ahead as planned despite the global panic.