Summary

  • The latest updates on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting sport

  1. Goodbyepublished at 16:56 BST 21 April 2020

    That's it for Tuesday.

    We'll be back with more on Wednesday. Until then, stay safe.

  2. GB hockey to lose major sponsor before postponed Olympicspublished at 16:48 BST 21 April 2020

    The postponement of the Tokyo Olympics because of coronavirus means Great Britain hockey will lose major sponsor Investec 11 months before the Games begin.

    The sponsorship contract ends on August 2020 and GB hockey are now looking for a successor.

    Great Britain’s women are the defending Olympic champions after victory in Rio but have struggled to find form in recent years.

    ”When the relationship [with Investec] began in 2011 it was pioneering and far-sighted to enter into a partnership with a women’s sport,” a GB hockey statement said.

    “Investec’s commitment to women’s hockey has helped raise the profile of our athletes, elevated the experience at our events and enabled the sport to reach new audiences.”

    The Olympic Games, originally scheduled to run from 24 July to 9 August 2020, will now begin on 23 July 2021.

    Hollie Pearne-WebbImage source, Getty Images
  3. Uefa says some leagues could be cancelled 'in special cases'published at 16:37 BST 21 April 2020

    Football

    Uefa is still planning for a June restart across its leagues but says in "special cases" some could be cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    All 55 European national FAs met by video conference on Tuesday when ways to finish the season were outlined.

    However, the uncertainty over when football can restart has made detailed planning impossible and for the first time, Uefa has accepted completing the season in some countries may not be possible.

    Read more here.

    Uefa logoImage source, Getty Images
  4. Uefa set to announce new Women's Euros datespublished at 16:23 BST 21 April 2020

    Football

    Uefa is set to announce the postponed 2021 Women's European Championship will take place from 6-31 July 2022.

    The tournament, to be held in England, has been pushed back a year after the men's European Championship and the Tokyo Olympics were both postponed until 2021 because of the global coronavirus pandemic.

  5. Coronavirus will not affect Fifa investment in women's gamepublished at 15:33 BST 21 April 2020

    Football

    Fifa says women’s football will still benefit from investment worth $1bn (£804m) despite the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, says Fifa.

    Covid-19 has caused football across all levels to be halted in most of the world's countries.

    But the funding for the women’s game, which covers 2019-2022 will not be cut.

    Read more here.

    Carli Lloyd and Dominique Bloodworth in the Women's World Cup finalImage source, Getty Images
  6. Magic Weekend postponedpublished at 15:05 BST 21 April 2020

    Rugby League

    Super League's Magic Weekend event, scheduled for 23-24 May at Newcastle United's St James' Park, has been postponed because of the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

    The league still hopes to revive the event once the game returns to action and "all options are being considered".

    Wigan play Warrington at last year's Magic WeekendImage source, Getty Images
  7. New name for the Nou Camppublished at 14:34 BST 21 April 2020

    Football

    Barcelona are to give a sponsor naming rights to the Nou Camp for the first time and donate all the revenue to fighting coronavirus.

    Barca's stadium - which is known as Camp Nou in Catalan - has never had another name since opening in 1957.

    The La Liga champions have given the title rights to the Barca Foundation, who will find a sponsor for 2020-21.

    Read more here.

    Barcelona's Nou Camp groundImage source, Getty Images
  8. Blades players agree wage deferralpublished at 14:04 BST 21 April 2020

    Football

    Sheffield United’s players have agreed a wage deferral until the end of 2020.

    The Blades’ playing squad have followed the lead of manager Chris Wilder, his backroom staff and the club’s chief executive Stephen Bettis in accepting terms on holding part of their wages and bonus back during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Sheffield United playersImage source, Getty Images
  9. A Tom treat...published at 13:53 BST 21 April 2020

    Given we've just brought Tom Brady up and we are all starved of sport, it only feels right we see a few clips of the great man in action.

    Take it away Tom...

    Media caption,

    Watch: Tom Brady's top 10 moments

  10. 'Sorry Tom'published at 13:35 BST 21 April 2020

    Tom BradyImage source, Getty Images

    Six-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady was asked to leave a park in Tampa that is closed because of the coronavirus pandemic after being found exercising alone by patrol staff.

    Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in March after 20 years with the New England Patriots.

    Tampa mayor Jane Castor said the quarterback, 42, was seen during a routine patrol of the park in Florida.

    "A staff member saw an individual working out in one of our downtown parks," said Castor.

    "She went over to tell him it was closed and it was Tom Brady."

    Brady is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, having won the Super Bowl more times than any other player - in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

    He has made a total of nine Super Bowl appearances and been named the championship game's most valuable player (MVP) four times - both NFL records.

    The City of Tampa messaged Brady on Twitter after Castor revealed the news during her daily coronavirus update on Monday.

    "Sorry Tom Brady - our Tampa parks and recreation team can't wait to welcome you and our entire community back with even bigger smiles," it said.

    "Until then, stay safe and stay home as much as you can to help flatten the curve."

  11. 'Hundred must be a showpiece'published at 13:05 BST 21 April 2020

    Dane Vilas, a top-tier draft pick in the inaugural draft for The Hundred, has conceded that the tournament may need to be pushed back until 2021.

    The Lancashire captain was picked up by the Old Trafford franchise Manchester Originals in October, joining global stars such as Rashid Khan, Andre Russell, David Warner and Steve Smith in the £125,000 bracket.

    But the coronavirus lockdown means no cricket will be played until at least 28 May - and a board meeting of the England and Wales Cricket Board on Thursday could bring further delays.

    Given The Hundred was designed to bring a fresh audience to the sport - in the ground as well as on television - the idea of a curtailed or fan-free launch is not an attractive one and the ECB are considering postponement for a year.

    "I think for all the work that has gone into The Hundred it needs to be a showpiece," Vilas told the Press Association. "That's what the ECB wants and needs it to be. The timing is unfortunate and of course it is tough and disappointing for the players.

    "But The Hundred was about targeting a new fanbase, that was the take: bring different people, some new people, and it's important that fans can actually come and see the cricket."

  12. Anyone for some patio pommel?published at 12:49 BST 21 April 2020

    How do you stay fit for an Olympics when you're in lockdown?

    Take a look and take some inspiration for that garden workout you have planned for later.

    Media caption,

    Aimee Fuller talks to Adam Peaty, Max Whitlock & Jade Jones about training for Tokyo 2021

  13. 'Time to modernise cycling'published at 12:25 BST 21 April 2020

    Egan Bernal and Sir Dave BrailsfordImage source, Getty Images

    Cycling should modernise its business model to end its reliance on the Tour de France in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, says Team Ineos principal Sir Dave Brailsford.

    The postponed 2020 Tour de France is now set to start on 29 August.

    Teams rely on sponsorship for most of their revenue and the Tour provides the most exposure for sponsors.

    "If one event should happen this year, we would all choose for it to be the Tour," Brailsford told BBC Radio 4.

    Speaking to the Today programme, Brailsford said the Tour is the biggest race in the calendar "by quite a long way".

    "One of the challenges cycling has is that revenue is totally dependent on sponsors and different sponsors are in different businesses and some are more effective than others in the current climate," he said.

    "Modernising the business model going forward would be wise for everybody."

    You can read more on this story here.

  14. Lando calls Captain Tom...published at 12:07 BST 21 April 2020

    F1 driver Lando Norris has called big McLaren fan Captain Tom Moore after the 99-year-old veteran raised more than £27m for the NHS by completing 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday.

    Captain Tom has even had an invite to McLaren and he's very much up for attending.

    Media caption,

    McLaren fan Captain Tom Moore gets a call from Lando Norris

  15. Show us some Didier...published at 11:53 BST 21 April 2020

    Hopefully you guys are now familiar with our #GOALSATHOME series.

    If not, basically we give you a goal, you go in your garden or living room and recreate it.

    Send your video to the hashtag on on Saturday you may make our edit. We've done Thierry Henry and Gerard Deuolfeu in recent weeks. This time we want you to summon some Didier Drogba.

    Click, watch and execute my friends.

    Media caption,

    #GoalsAtHome: Can you recreate this amazing Didier Drogba goal?

  16. Season ticket delays...published at 11:40 BST 21 April 2020

    Mohamed SalahImage source, Getty Images

    Some of you may be wondering what will happen with your beloved season ticket while we wait for one season to end and another to begin (who knows when).

    BBC Sport has started speaking to clubs about how they are handling season ticket renewals.

    Liverpool have suspended their renewal period and Manchester United now have no deadline in place for renewal.

    Take a look here and we will add more from the clubs as they roll in.

  17. golf

    Ryder Cup with fans a captains' desirepublished at 11:18 BST 21 April 2020

    Padraig HarringtonImage source, Getty Images

    Europe captain Padraig Harrington says he and USA counterpart Steve Stricker are not in favour of the Ryder Cup being played behind closed doors.

    The biennial competition is, for the moment at least, scheduled to go ahead in September at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin. Talks have reportedly taken place over holding the competition behind closed doors, plans which are said to have faced opposition from players who believe the event relies on the atmosphere generated by spectators.

    Harrington says there is a consensus that there is no need at this stage to make any decision on whether it is played with or without fans.

    "In another two months we will know a lot more," Harrington told BBC's Today programme.

    "There's been some talk about playing it behind closed doors. The general feeling is that nobody wants to play behind closed doors, it wouldn't be a normal Ryder Cup. "But nobody feels they need to make that decision at the moment. "For me and Steve, neither of us would like a situation where the fans don't turn up."

  18. 'Positive signals' for Bundesliga restartpublished at 10:14 BST 21 April 2020

    Football

    Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says there are "positive signals" for a restart of football in Germany after the country's health minister and regional leaders said matches could potentially resume, behind closed doors, from 9 May.

    The Bundesliga has been suspended since mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 143,000 people and claimed over 4,500 lives in Germany.

    "It is important that we carefully adhere to any legal and medical guidelines in order to minimise any health risk," Rummenigge added.

  19. 'Coronavirus crisis will accelerate the notion of a global golf tour'published at 10:00 BST 21 April 2020

    Golf

    Iain Carter
    BBC golf correspondent

    A significantly changed world with potentially a men's global tour awaits professional golf when it fully returns, according to a leading sports lawyer.

    As well as a potential merger between the PGA and European Tours, the sport is facing immediate challenges over player status, world ranking points and Ryder Cup qualification.

    These are the views of Oliver Hunt, founding partner of London based Onside Law. His company works across all sports and represents and helps manage some of the biggest names in European golf.

    Hunt believes the environment for the professional game will be substantially altered by the time the current emergency passes. "Sadly it is inevitable," he told BBC Sport.

    Read more from Iain Carter here.

  20. Liverpool v Atletico Madrid virus link an 'interesting hypothesis'published at 09:00 BST 21 April 2020

    Football

    AnfieldImage source, Getty Images

    Speculation over a possible link between coronavirus cases in Liverpool and the club's Champions League match with Atletico Madrid last month is an "interesting hypothesis", a scientific adviser to the UK government has said.

    Some coronavirus deaths in Liverpool have been blamed on the 11 March match at Anfield, which was attended by more than 52,000 people, including 3,000 from Madrid, where a partial lockdown was already in force.

    While there is no confirmed link between the match and any coronavirus cases, the government's deputy chief scientific adviser, Angela McLean, said it warranted further investigation.

    Latest figures show that 246 people have died with coronavirus in Liverpool's NHS hospitals.

    You can read more on this story here.