Fans are unlikely to be allowed during the initial resumption of sports events. PA.
Fans are unlikely to be allowed during the initial resumption of sports events. PA.
Fans are unlikely to be allowed during the initial resumption of sports events. PA.
Fans are unlikely to be allowed during the initial resumption of sports events. PA.

Sport

Coronavirus: sports could return to UK in June but spectators unlikely at first

Government guidelines recognise a return to spectators being present 'may only be fully possible significantly later'

Simon Rushton
Simon Rushton

May 11, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Elite sport in England could start behind closed doors from June 1.

The UK government published guidelines on Monday for lifting its lockdown and, with it, the steps to allow the return of sports.

It is not yet known when spectators might be allowed or international events might restart.

Step two of the government’s roadmap, which cannot begin before June 1, includes "permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact".

The guidelines recognise a return to spectators "may only be fully possible significantly later depending on the reduction in numbers of infections".

All sporting events will only resume if sufficient progress is made in limiting the spread of the virus between now and June.

Sports events involving international travel, such as football's European competitions, cricket tours and Formula One, could be affected by the planned introduction of an enforced 14-day quarantine period for arrivals to the UK, except for those from countries "on a short list of exemptions".

Cricket will not restart until at least July. Getty Images
Cricket will not restart until at least July. Getty Images

Premier League football clubs were meeting on Monday to continue their discussions on "Project Restart".

The English top-flight had been planning for a return to action no earlier than the week beginning June 8.

Cricket will not start its new season until July 1 at the earliest.

Premiership Rugby hopes to resume its 2019-2020 season in early July, with nine rounds of matches remaining.

And boxing is also hoping for behind-closed-doors events to begin in July.

The UK has been in lockdown for six weeks, and on Sunday Prime Minister Boris Johnson allowed the first moves to easing the stay-at-home orders.

A pedestrian walks across the Millennium Bridge over the River Thames in London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans to let more people go to work. AP
A pedestrian walks across the Millennium Bridge over the River Thames in London, the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced plans to let more people go to work. AP
Seats display social-distancing signs at London's Victoria Station, one of the capital's busiest transport centres. AP
Seats display social-distancing signs at London's Victoria Station, one of the capital's busiest transport centres. AP
Pedestrians cross the road on Southwark Bridge during the morning rush hour. AP
Pedestrians cross the road on Southwark Bridge during the morning rush hour. AP
In Brighton, on the South Coast, the usually busy commuter rail station was very quiet. Getty
In Brighton, on the South Coast, the usually busy commuter rail station was very quiet. Getty
Commuters use cycle lanes as they travel into London. Getty Images
Commuters use cycle lanes as they travel into London. Getty Images
Traffic flows on the Embankment during the morning rush hour in London. AP
Traffic flows on the Embankment during the morning rush hour in London. AP
A temporary cycle lane has been created in Brighton to help persuade people to not use public transport Getty
A temporary cycle lane has been created in Brighton to help persuade people to not use public transport Getty
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Price, base / as tested Dh100,000 (estimate)

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Gearbox Nine-speed automatic 

Power 184bhp at 6,400rpm

Torque 237Nm at 3,900rpm

Fuel economy, combined 9.4L/100km

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2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
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Weather warnings show that Storm Eunice is soon to make landfall. The videographer and I are scrambling to return to the other side of the Channel before it does. As we race to the port of Calais, I see miles of wire fencing topped with barbed wire all around it, a silent ‘Keep Out’ sign for those who, unlike us, aren’t lucky enough to have the right to move freely and safely across borders.

We set sail on a giant ferry whose length dwarfs the dinghies migrants use by nearly a 100 times. Despite the windy rain lashing at the portholes, we arrive safely in Dover; grateful but acutely aware of the miserable conditions the people we’ve left behind are in and of the privilege of choice. 

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Name: Infinite8

Based: Dubai

Launch year: 2017

Number of employees: 90

Sector: Online gaming industry

Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor

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