Summary

  • London Marathon postponed to 4 October

  • National League fixtures to go ahead as planned

  • All British elite football called off until at least 3 April

  • Uefa suspends Champions League and Europa League

  • Wales v Scotland in Six Nations postponed

  • Golf's US Masters postponed

  • England cricket tour of Sri Lanka called off

  1. Bye for nowpublished at 18:11 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    With so much sport having been cancelled, I expect you're now wondering what to do with your weekend. But however you spend it, be safe, and try not to worry too much:

    So bye for now, I'll leave you with the day's top sports stories:

  2. Coronavirus sporting headlinespublished at 18:00 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    After an unprecedented day of sport news, we're about to wrap things up. I expect you've missed some of the updates (there's been a lot!) so here's a quick recap:

  3. 'Coronavirus isn't named on our insurance policy so we can't claim'published at 17:55 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    Some more now from Rochdale chief executive David Bottomley and the problems facing the League One club...

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  4. British Athletics to stage marathon trialpublished at 17:48 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    The London Marathon was due to incorporate the Team GB Olympic trials. Now the event has been postponed till 4 October - after the Tokyo Games are scheduled for - so British Athletics have just issued this statement:, external "Following the postponement and rescheduling of the Virgin Money London Marathon, British Athletics can confirm that we are planning to stage a marathon trial specifically for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

    "We are looking at 25 to 27 April, and the event would be held in a closed location, with limited numbers.

    "Further information will be made available as soon as possible. Athletes and coaches can also contact their performance point of contact."

  5. 'I'm worried for the country as much as I am for the club'published at 17:36 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    We've spoken to Rochdale chief executive David Bottomley about how it will affect the League One club if the rest of this season's games can not played.

    Media caption,

    Football suspension 'very worrying' for clubs - Rochdale CEO

  6. Almost 70,000 at Cheltenhampublished at 17:26 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    A record 42,906 runners started last year's London Marathon. But another of the biggest events in the UK's sporting calendar went ahead this week.

    It has just been confirmed that a total of 68,859 were at Cheltenham today for the Gold Cup, compared to a record 71,593 from last year.

    Over the four days of the horse racing festival, a total of 251,684 attended, slightly down on a record 266,557 in 2019.

  7. Postpublished at 17:16 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    *packs away running kit*

    Oh, hang on, the Brighton Marathon is still scheduled to go ahead on Sunday, 19 March. And race organisers are offering places to UK runners effected by other postponed marathons.

  8. London Marathon postponedpublished at 17:08 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020
    Breaking

    The Boston Marathon has already been postponed - and now the London Marathon too.

    The event was scheduled to take place on Sunday, 26 April, but the 40th edition has now been out back to Sunday, 4 October.

  9. What happens to the staff?published at 17:03 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    We've already asked how we'll fill the gap left by elite football this weekend, and what will happen to the food that was prepared for those games.

    But what about the staff that had planned to receive wages from working at those games?

    Like their Premier League rivals Aston Villa, Brighton are donating food to local charities.

    Albion have also committed to pay staff who are unable to work due to thecoronavirus,, external including more than 600 regular casual staff who work for the club on matchdays.

    Chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber said: “We have had to cancel their work at really short notice, and we know that their work and pay is really important.

    “We have taken the decision as a club to continue paying the vast majority of our matchday staff for the remainder of the season, whether or not we play the five remaining Premier League games.

    “That is a small thing we can do. The vast majority of people we employ are local people, so it is important we support them, and through them our local economy, at a difficult time and hopefully give them some reassurance, regardless of what else happens, they still have that income from us to come.”

  10. We'll come through this together - Artetapublished at 16:58 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    And here's our story on Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta saying he is "feeling better already" after testing positive for coronavirus.

    The Gunners have closed their training ground, while staff who had recent contact with Arteta are self-isolating.

    "Thanks for your words and support," the Spaniard, 37, wrote on Twitter. "We're all facing a huge and unprecedented challenge.

    "Everyone's health is all that matters right now. Protect each other by following the guidelines," he added. "We'll come through this together."

  11. Premier League Darts double-header rescheduledpublished at 16:45 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    The 2020 Premier League Darts final will be played in the Netherlands with a double-header in Rotterdam having been rescheduled for 9-10 September.

    The eighth and ninth rounds of fixtures were set to be played in the Dutch city on 25-26 March.

  12. Olympic trials and torch relay cancelledpublished at 16:39 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    The Olympic boxing qualifier may be going ahead in London this weekend but Swim Ireland has postponed the Irish Open Swimming Championships, including the Olympic and Paralympics trials.

    The Olympic torch relay tour around Greece has also been cancelled. The flame was lit at a ceremony in Olympia on Thursday, and on Friday visited Sparta, where Hollywood actor Gerard Butler took part in the relay.

  13. Arteta's 'feeling better already'published at 16:33 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    Arsenal

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has just tweeted this statement after testing positive for coronavirus. The Gunners have closed their training ground and club staff who had recent contact with the Spaniard are now in self-isolation.

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  14. Boston Marathon postponed till Septemberpublished at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    The Boston Marathon has been postponed until 14 September., external

    It had been due to be raced on Monday, 20 April - six days before the London Marathon on Sunday 26.

  15. Olympic boxing qualifier to start as plannedpublished at 16:24 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    It has just been confirmed that boxing's Olympic qualifying event in London will start as planned this weekend.

    The event, which will take place at the Copper Box Arena on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, features 13 members of Great Britain's boxing squad who will be competing to secure a place at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

  16. ECB on planning for start of domestic seasonpublished at 16:20 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    The ECB has just released this statement before the start of the new cricket season: "We are undertaking a number of steps to prepare for potential outcomes that an ongoing situation with Covid-19 might bring for the cricket community here in England and Wales.

    "In conjunction with our partners across the network, we are building contingency plans across a number of possible eventualities. Our main priorities are to ensure we scope out the landscape for financial, logistical and scheduling implications.

    "It is difficult for us to be sure of what outcomes the game might be expected to deal with. Therefore, we will continue to plan for the expectation that the season proceeds as normal, but in parallel prepare for a range of scenarios."

  17. 'Today, football and football matches really aren’t important'published at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    Liverpool

    But does Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp feel his side should be declared Premier League champions if the season cannot be completed?

    He released a statement earlier, external and did not answer that question. Instead, he stressed that some things are more important than football.

    He said: "Yes, I am the manager of this team and club and therefore carry a leadership responsibility with regards to our future on the pitch. But I think in the present moment, with so many people around our city, the region, the country and the world facing anxiety and uncertainty, it would be entirely wrong to speak about anything other than advising people to follow expert advice and look after themselves and each other."

  18. Celtic should be champions - Lennonpublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 13 March 2020

    Celtic manager Neil Lennon said earlier that his side "should be champions" if the Scottish Premiership season cannot be completed.

    Lennon added that Scottish Championship leaders Dundee United and English Premier League leaders Liverpool should be declared champions in their respective leagues.

    SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster confirmed on Friday it was "neither realistic nor possible" to continue amid the coronavirus outbreak.

    Media caption,

    Celtic 'should be champions' if league cannot resume - Lennon