Summary

  • Latest updates on how coronavirus pandemic is affecting sport

  1. Nadal does not see return to normal tennis soonpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Men's world number two Rafael Nadal is "very pessimistic" about tennis returning to normal any time soon.

    The professional game has been suspended until the end of July, at the earliest.

    In an online chat organised by the Spanish Tennis Federation, Nadal said: "In tennis, you need to travel every week, stay in hotels, go to different countries.

    "Even if we play without an audience, to organise any event you need a lot of people involved, which cannot be ignored. At an international level I see a serious problem.

    "From my point of view, I’m very pessimistic that the circuit can resume normal activity."

    Rafael NadalImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'Tough to play again this year'published at 11:31 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    BBC Radio 4

    Feliciano LopezImage source, Getty Images

    Spain's Feliciano Lopez fears it may not be possible to stage tennis tournaments for the rest of the year because of coronavirus. The French Open and Wimbledon have already been called off and a decision on the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open - due to begin on 31 August - will not be made until June.

    Asked about staging other events, Lopez told BBC Radio 4: "Tennis is very global. We have tournaments in every country, every continent, players from everywhere in the world.

    "Right now they're thinking about maybe a chance to resume in September, October, but I'm not very positive with that. We need the world to be completely open. It’s going to be tough to play tennis again this year I think."

    Lopez, whose mother contracted the virus but has recovered and returned to work as a nurse in Spain, is the tournament director at the Madrid Open, which this week will be replaced by a virtual tennis event, including Andy Murray against Rafael Nadal.

    "They want to win, and especially Andy, who is probably one of the most competitive guys around," Lopez adds. "He's been playing against other players. Rafa's been very enthusiastic and practising also, together online with other players. So we are very happy so far."

  3. Rainbow Applause set to run for NHSpublished at 11:14 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    More racing now and trainer Rebecca Menzies is hoping one-eyed filly Rainbow Applause can win some prize money for NHS charities when the Flat season eventually gets under way.

    The County Durham-based handler ran a competition on social media earlier this month to name the horse, drawing more than 1,000 entries, the majority of which featured NHS-inspired ideas.

    The filly was named Rainbow Applause, with any prize-money she earns and any profits made by her owners, the Rainbow Applause NHS Charity Racing Club, to be donated to charities directly associated with the NHS.

    "Rainbow Applause was born with one eye but it hasn’t stopped her at all - she’s been cantering away since November and is a great mover with real character," Menzies says. "Hopefully she’ll be running later this summer, once racing has resumed."

  4. 'Public would support racing return'published at 10:59 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Horse racingImage source, Getty Images

    Racing trainer Mark Johnstone believes the British public would back a return for racing, despite medical support being needed on site.

    "I think the public will support it," he told BBC Radio 4. "The British Horseracing Authority have done a huge amount of work since the suspension of racing for a resumption behind closed doors, looking at all the risks involved and planning to cover all government guidelines and all eventualities.

    "And I think they're very close to, or probably at the point where, they can state their intention to return to racing behind closed doors, in as risk averse manner as possible under the circumstances."

  5. Soares remains patient for debut...published at 10:42 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Cedric SoaresImage source, Getty Images

    Arsenal's January signing Cedric Soares has bee speaking to the BBC Radio 5 Live Euro Leagues Show and says he cannot wait to make a debut for the club when football returns.

    "Obviously coronavirus appeared and stopped all the world but I am sure football is going to be back and I will be able to play for Arsenal. I am sure we will have great times," he said.

    "Of course it is a strange situation and you want to be involved but I think it is going to come. We need to be patient and the most important thing is our health. But in the end football is going to be back and I am going to be able to play for Arsenal and be around all the fantastic players the team have."

  6. Boxing with a different look...published at 10:24 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Boxing in NicaraguaImage source, Getty Images

    So while we've lost a race in F1 today it does feel like the narrative is now firmly switched on to when sport comes back and how.

    Things may well look a bit different when we do get action.

    Take a look at how boxing looked in Nicaragua over the weekend. Sport has not shut down there but fans have to sit several feet apart and everyone at the venue - aside from the two fighters - had to wear face masks.

    More is available here.

  7. F1 CEO update...published at 10:13 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    As we told you earlier, the French Grand Prix has become the 10th race to be called off due to coronavirus.

    However, F1 CEO Chase Carey has just issued this update on the calendar and he is confident that racing will resume in July.

    "Although this morning it was announced that the French Grand Prix, due to take place in late June, will not be going ahead, we are now increasingly confident with the progress of our plans to begin our season this summer," he said.

    "We’re targeting a start to racing in Europe through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria on 3-5 July weekend.

    "September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15-18 races."

  8. What the papers are saying?published at 10:03 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Moise Kean is featured on the back of several papers - including The Times - after the Everton striker was criticised by his club for breaching social distancing rules.

    The paper says Kean could be fined £100,000.

    Moise KeaneImage source, .
  9. What are the papers saying?published at 09:51 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    The Mirror features a story on players spending six weeks in a hotel when football returns.

    The paper says players will be put into lockdown in nominated hotels for up to six weeks while the fixture list is finished.

    "The home team will occupy one half of the hotel, the away team will then check in to play their game and that section of the hotel will be deep cleaned after they check out," the report reads.

    Daily MirrorImage source, .
  10. What the papers are saying?published at 09:34 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    The Sun features a story on Monday regarding Premier League clubs being allowed five substitutions when football action returns in order to help ease the strain on players.

    The SunImage source, .
  11. A July F1 startpublished at 09:21 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

    Under current plans, the old British Grand Prix date of 19 July would be the first of two races at Silverstone, the second a week later on 26 July.

    The season would start with the Austrian Grand Prix on 5 July, followed by a second race at the Red Bull Ring on 12 July.

    Austria is one of the first European countries to have begun to gradually ease its lockdown, and F1 bosses have been in talks with authorities in the country as to how a race might safely be held.

    The first four races at least would be behind closed doors - and it could be that many more will follow.

    You can read more from Andrew Benson by clicking here.

  12. No French Grand Prix and GB without fanspublished at 09:14 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Andrew Benson
    BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

    F1 driver VerstappenImage source, Getty Images

    The French Grand Prix, scheduled for 28 June, has become the 10th race of the Formula 1 season to be called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The move had been expected since French President Emmanuel Macron expanded the country's ban on mass gatherings until mid-July earlier this month.

    It has also been announced the British Grand Prix cannot be held with fans.

    Silverstone says it is in talks with the government "on the viability of an event behind closed doors".

  13. Good morning!published at 09:14 British Summer Time 27 April 2020

    Good morning ladies and gents.

    We hope your weekend was as good as it could be.

    Stay with us for all the latest news on coronavirus in sport as several newspapers report on potential ways football can return.

    First though, a big Formula 1 story.