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The 2020 Dublin Marathon has become the latest major Irish sporting event to be cancelled because of coronavirus.

Organisers said on Tuesday that they had "made the difficult decision in the best interest of the health and wellbeing of all those involved".

This year's event was scheduled to take place on Sunday, 25 October.

"We explored many alternatives for running the events safely but ultimately none were viable," said race director Jim Aughney.

Entries for the marathon and the other races in the event will remain valid for 2021 while refunds are also available.

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German football could introduce a salary cap and a clampdown on agent fees after the coronavirus outbreak is over according to a five-point plan put forward by the head of the German Football Association Fritz Keller.

"We must bring professional football closer to the people again. We have to think about a salary cap," Keller said in comments reported by DW. , external

"Commissions for agents and transfer fees are increasingly irritating society and alienate it from our beloved sport. Football as a whole is called upon to finally provide satisfactory answers to these problems.

"I will be in contact with my colleagues at national and international level as well as with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin. The end result must be a regulation that conforms to European law, which also applies to Great Britain."

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Taekwondo world champions Jade Jones and Bianca Walkden will be among the first Team GB Olympians to return to training next week.

GB Taekwondo is set to reopen its Manchester training base from next Tuesday to around three-quarters of its elite athletes, following the government's easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

They will be supported by a skeleton staff at the venue, and will be restricted to individual programmes unless - like Jones and Walkden - they are members of the same household.

GB Taekwondo chief executive Matt Archibald said: "The athletes have been pushing to get back into training because they like the environment and they are such hard trainers.Strict rules mean the athletes - expected to number around 18 - will attend the venue in small groups, and must undergo risk-assessments and antibody tests before returning.

The coaches and staff designated to each group will wear personal protective equipment, and access routes have been simplified to minimise contact. All but essential support staff will continue to work remotely.

Many other Olympic sports, in particular those which are based at multi-sport venues such as Loughborough University and the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, remain some weeks from a return.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Garry Monk says he would understand if any of his players or staff had concerns about returning to training.

Championship teams are hoping to begin small group training from 25 May after English Football League guidance.

Premier League teams are starting non-contact training from Tuesday.

Monk thinks all managers in the second tier want to see the campaign completed on the pitch, but a few details still need to be ironed out.

"There have been no reservations from our players on returning to training just yet, but if a player has an issue or has a feeling that there’s a certain risk to himself or their families, you have to consider that and have to understand that," Monk told BBC Radio Sheffield.

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The Italian Sports Minister says Serie A's hopes of restarting after the novel coronavirus stoppage will depend on the progress of the contagion curve in the next few days.

The Italian league has been suspended since 9 March and hopes to start in mid-June but is still waiting for government approval.

Serie A clubs voted earlier this month to restart on June 13 but the government has since extended its ban on sporting events until June 14.

"We all hope that the championship can restart as soon as possible but at the moment there are no certainties, as Prime Minister (Giuseppe) Conte has said," said Vincenzo Spadafora.

"If the contagion curve goes down, we can confirm the expected date for the restart but we have to get there gradually, moving with caution and responsibility".

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On Saturday, Germany's top-flight became the first major European league to return to action.

The Bundesliga returned 10 positives out of 1,700 tests, on 4 May, ahead of its return to training.

More from Sports Editor Dan Roan on the background to the six positive coronavirus tests from the Premier League.

Referees chief Mike Riley has has reassured match officials it will be their personal decision whether they wish to return to officiate matches.

Last Friday the Select Group referees had the opportunity to speak with the Premier League’s medical consultant, Dr Mark Gillett.

They discussed some of the issues facing match officials although they are yet to be resolved because the medical advice is continually being revised.

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The first step of a comeback to training involves small groups of up to five players working together, while practising social distancing, with sessions to last no more than 75 minutes for any one player.

The 20 top-flight clubs unanimously agreed the protocols for small group training to resume and will gather again on 26 May to discuss protocols for contact training.

A possible resumption date of 12 June has been mentioned, but the league's chief executive Richard Masters has said that was only ever to be treated as a "staging post".

Premier League clubs will be subjected to spot-checks to ensure they are complying with training protocols, while the league has also committed to making every positive Covid-19 test public knowledge.

The Football Association of Wales [FAW] have confirmed the end of their domestic leagues because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Connah's Quay Nomads have been crowned champions of the Cymru Premier League for the first time under an unweighted points per game method and will take Wales' spot in Champions League qualifying.

New Saints, champions for the previous eight seasons, finish second ahead of Bala in third spot and both go into Europa League qualifying along with Barry Town who were fourth and take the nominated spot for the Welsh Cup, which has been abandoned.

Promotion and relegation issues are yet to be sorted.

The Premier League has been suspended since 13 March because of the Covid-19 pandemic, with 92 fixtures remaining.

Squads are starting non-contact training from Tuesday.

You can read more about the six positive tests for coronavirus here.

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The Premier League says on Sunday 17 May and Monday 18 May, 748 players and club staff were tested for Covid-19.

Of these, six have tested positive from three clubs. Players or club staff who have tested positive will now self-isolate for a period of seven days.

The Premier League say they are not releasing details on clubs and individuals.

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Hull City say they are "disappointed" that a letter to the EFL, which revealed the club as the first in the Championship to strongly oppose a resumption of the season, was leaked , externalin the Telegraph.

In a statement on the club's website, Hull said "it is our view that each club will have their own view on the subject of how and when to return to play football and we fully respect that".

"The privacy of discussions between member clubs and the league is paramount to ensuring honest and open debate," it added.

"As such, we will continue to engage in talks in the correct manner and will not enter into a public debate on the matters in hand.

"Our primary concern throughout this difficult time has been for the health and safety of our players and staff and that will continue to be the case."

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson admits his playing budget has already been impacted because of the financial pressures caused by coronavirus.

Robinson said the Fir Park club could no longer "gamble" on players after revealing some have already been told their deals would not be renewed.

"It's the hardest bit of football," Robinson said of squad cuts.

"Everyone is going to have to tighten their purse strings... we aren't in a position to take gambles."

Robinson guided Motherwell, the only fan-owned club in the Premiership, to third place in the table.

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Manchester United defender Luke Shaw says it is a "massive step forward" to be back in training when the club's players return on Wednesday.

"We’ll still social distance throughout, we’ll arrive in our training gear and shower when we get home," he says in his diary for the official club website.

"The rules have to be really strict but we’re obviously all going to stick to them just to make sure things run as smoothly and safely as possible.

"We’re all determined to do things properly because we’re all looking forward to getting back on a proper pitch! Running at the park is okay, but obviously it isn’t ideal."We have to do our work, keep fit and it’ll be nice to be around different people and see the boys again for a bit longer."

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Up to 24 women's domestic cricketers will receive a regional retainer to support them financially during the coronavirus pandemic.

The contracts are based around the eight new regional hubs.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) intended to introduce 40 full-time domestic contracts in 2020 but this has been delayed by the pandemic.

"Our drive for a more gender-balanced sport remains vitally important," explained the ECB's Clare Connor.

The eight regions will recruit players for the new contracts.

Players will follow strength and conditioning programmes, as well as completing anti-corruption and anti-doping modules.

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In a club statement, AFC Wimbledon have 'respectfully invited' season ticket holders to 'consider donating the remainder of their season ticket for this season by not asking for a refund.'

AFC Wimbledon says it is 'without question the best possible way of helping us maintain our club's financial stability'.

"Our priority is to do everything we can to ensure our club remains financially secure and ready for whatever the future holds," the statement said.

"There is a way that fans can help the club through this difficult period and there is one special request we need to make straight away – directed at our current season ticket holders.

"Naturally, we entirely understand that some of you have suffered considerable financial hardship and, of course, we will fully respect your right to a refund should you fall into that category."

Liverpool's Brazilian trio, goalkeeper Alisson Becker (top), midfielder Fabinho (centre) and forward Roberto Firmino arriving for training earlier today.

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Ulster Rugby's chief Jonny Petrie believes the sport will resume behind closed doors if the Pro14 restarts, as is planned, in August or September.

Petrie's view is different to GAA president John Horan who doesn't envisage his sport returning while social distancing measures remain.

"I think we have to," said the Ulster chief executive when asked whether rugby will return behind closed doors.

Petrie was speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Sportsound Extra-Time.

"The reality is that it's going to be behind closed doors or certainly restricted crowds for quite some period of time.

"When I look back at the big nights at Kingspan Stadium, with 18,000 packed into the stands and the terraces, seeing that again feels like it's quite a long time away."

Nigel Clough stepping down as Burton Albion manager saved an "unbelievable" number of jobs at the League One club, new player-boss Jake Buxton has said.

Clough, 54, left on Monday, with chairman Ben Robinson indicating that the financial impact of coronavirus played a part in his decision.

"It's a credit to the man he is," Buxton told BBC Radio Derby on Tuesday.

"He's realised the strains this pandemic has caused in all businesses and football is not immune to that."

The 35-year-old continued: "With Nigel stepping down, he's protected the club, and an unbelievable amount of jobs will be protected because of what he's done."

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