Summary

  • Latest updates on how coronavirus pandemic is affecting sport

  1. Celtic crowned champions - their ninth title in a rowpublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Scottish football

    Celtic win titleImage source, Getty Images

    Celtic have been confirmed as Scottish Premiership champions for the ninth season in a row - and Hearts relegated - after the SPFL ended the season.

    The decision was taken at a board meeting on Monday after the 12 clubs agreed at the end of last week that completing the campaign was unfeasible.

    Average points per game played has been used to determine final placings.

    Read the full details here

  2. Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL call seasonpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 18 May 2020
    Breaking

    Football

  3. 'Players are nervous' - Greenpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Football

    Former England, West Ham and Chelsea goalkeeper Rob Green has been speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live ahead of a potential return to training for Premier League players this week.

    "It’s a difficult one for the players, they have been thrust into the limelight again by the government making a decision off the back of limited information," the 40-year-old said.

    "A lot of them are nervous, it’s much like the calls you have been getting on teachers returning to school.

    "I’ve spoken to some guys who are itching to get back to training. "Regarding training for Premier League clubs, the space and facilities they have won’t be the issue, it’s a controlled environment but it’s closeness either in the dressing room or on the pitch - things like who touches the football will be concerning etc."

    Green says he would have gone back to training if he was still playing.

    "The more you get into it, the more answers you find and hopefully that will ease players concerns," he added.

    Rob GreenImage source, Getty Images
  4. Fifa plans coronavirus charity matchpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Football

    The Fifa Foundation is planning a charity game to raise funds for Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT), to help speed up the development, production and global access to new coronavirus essential health technologies, including diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines.

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino says it is the organisation's "responsibility to demonstrate solidarity" in combating the pandemic.

    "Now we commit ourselves to organise this global fundraising event when the health situation permits, even if this is only in some months’ time," Infantino added.

    Further details for the event, including the location, date, participants and format are yet to be announced.

    Gianni InfantinoImage source, Getty Images
  5. Key recovering after suffering 'mini stroke'published at 11:53 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Cricket

    Former England batsman Rob Key is recovering after suffering a "mini stroke".

    Key, 41, posted a selfie and an update of his condition on Instagram.

    Read the full story here.

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  6. La Liga clubs to return to group trainingpublished at 11:24 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Football

    La Liga clubs will be able to train in groups of up to 10 players from Tuesday.

    The league hopes to restart the season in June.

    “The start of the next phase in LaLiga’s Return to Training protocol is another step towards the restarting of the competition," said La Liga president Javier Tebas.

    "It will be good to be able to set all training routines on an equal footing. It’s very important that every club have the same chance to be in good shape.

    "It’s not essential, but it’s very important and we’re grateful that it will be like that."

    Valencia's Ferran Torres trains individuallyImage source, Getty Images
  7. Pick's race home before French borders shutpublished at 11:03 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Para-snowboarding

    Owen Pick had to splurge on a car in France in order to make it to the border in time.

    "It was like a scene out of Top Gear," he says.

    It was not how he had pictured the celebrations of winning the biggest title of his career to date. Just days earlier, the British Para-snowboarder had won the Crystal Globe - the World Cup title - in the banked slalom.

    Now, he was in a race against time to make it home to the UK before France shut its borders amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Read more here.

    Owen PickImage source, Getty Images
  8. South Korean club apologises for 'sex dolls' in standspublished at 10:40 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Football

    FC Seoul has apologised after fans accused them of using sex dolls in the stands.

    With matches being played behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic, the South Korean top-flight side used 30 mannequins - 28 of them female, and two of them male - to fill some of the empty seats at their first home game of the K League season.

    FC Seoul insisted they were "premium mannequins" rather than sex dolls - but did admit they came from a supplier that produces sex toys.

    And some of the dolls were holding signs advertising x-rated websites - despite pornography being banned in South Korea.

    Read more here.

    Mannequins in the stands at FC SeoulImage source, AFP
  9. Everton to refund ticket holderspublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Football

    Everton will refund fans who had tickets for the club's final five home matches of the season.

    The club have made the decision because of "the increasing expectation that - should the remaining games be played - they will take place behind closed doors".

    Fans will have the option to donate some or all of their refund to the club's charity Everton in the Community.

    Goodison ParkImage source, Getty Images
  10. Inside the world of racing behind closed doorspublished at 09:42 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Horse racing

    Frank Keogh
    BBC Sport

    Jockeys in face masksImage source, Hong Kong Jockey Club

    "It's certainly a bit different."

    Saliva swabs, temperature checks, face masks, jockey pods…

    This is life in 2020 for leading rider Zac Purton - one of the most tested athletes in the world.

    While elite sporting action has been suspended across the globe because of the coronavirus pandemic, horse racing has continued behind closed doors in places such as Australia, Hong Kong and the United States.

    Find out how it all works here.

  11. Premier League matches could be shown free-to-airpublished at 09:24 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Football

    Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told BBC Breakfast this morning that if the Premier League returns, some matches could be broadcast live on free-to-air TV.

    "We would look to give that green light if we can because it would be a good thing to do if we can," he said.

    "I’m also looking at increasing the number of matches that could be free-to-air so people wouldn’t be tempted to leave their homes to watch it which is clearly an important consideration.

    "There is a rule at the moment that at 3pm you can’t show matches on [free-to-air] TV because people were watching it in the football stadiums.

    "Clearly that’s not going to be the case anymore so some of those slots may be available for free to air, so we’re looking to see if we could do that as part of the wider broadcasting package."

  12. Premier League clubs set to vote for group training at meetingpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Football

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport

    Premier League clubs hope to give their players the go-ahead to return to training in small groups this week.

    But there is a growing feeling the intended 12 June date for matches to start again will need to be pushed back.

    A vote is due to take place on training and medical protocols when the 20 top-flight clubs hold their next meeting on Monday morning.

    If passed, players would be able to train in groups of five from Tuesday.

    That would be on condition that they observe social distancing rules and adhere to a series of strict criteria, which include getting changed at home and driving to training grounds on their own.

    At least 14 of the 20 clubs must agree that safety protocols are sufficient for the plan to be approved.

    Read more here.

    Wolves' Daniel Podence in individual trainingImage source, Getty Images
  13. Good morningpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 18 May 2020

    Throughout the day we will be bringing you the latest updates on how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting sport.