Coronavirus in Sport LIVE: T20 World Cup ‘to be replaced by IPL in October’, Bundesliga return, Premier League LATEST – The Sun
THE Bundesliga is back this weekend, and talks are continuing for the Premier League's comeback.
Meanwhile it could be all change with the cricket calendar as the T20 World Cup in October is set to be postponed with the IPL moving into its place.
Follow all the latest coronavirus in sport updates below, underneath our quick poll…
T20'S PLENTY
The T20 Cricket World Cup could be the latest event to fall victim to the Coronavirus.
The event is scheduled to take place in October and November this year, but according to The Times it could be called off this week.
In its place could slot the IPL, which was postponed in April and is felt to be a more feasible proposition due to the lack of global travel involved.
Additionally, Australia host India in a full tour after the tournament, which they are desperate to go ahead as planned to safeguard their finances.
And in exchange, the Aussies could send their top players to compete in the Indian Premier League and scrap the tournament.
A further T20 World Cup is scheduled to take place the following year in India.
STILL ON TRACK
Project Restart can stay on track — even if Premier League players are found to have Covid-19 when official testing begins today.
Prem bosses expect some players and club staff to test positive when contractors Prenetics carry out the first phase of the official programme over the next two days.
West Ham defender Aaron Creswell has joined he lists of top players voicing worries about possibly returning too quicklyBut they believe the Bundesliga, which had 10 positives from an initial 1,724 tests across 36 clubs, shows that plans to resume competitive action can still move forward.
A source said: “There is an expectation that there will be positives — but that doesn’t mean the train is off the track.
“The Germans had 10 positive tests but they didn’t panic and in the second set there were none in Bundesliga 1.”
LIP SERVICE
This is the mad moment former Manchester City star Dedryck Boyata broke coronavirus rules by KISSING a team-mate on football’s return from lockdown.
Boyata planted a smacker on on-loan Liverpool midfielder Marko Grujic in Hertha Berlin’s 3-0 behind-closed-doors Bundesliga win at Hoffenheim.
But, incredibly, he was defended by his coach and will not face any punishment — despite Augsburg boss Heiko Herrlich being banned for leaving his team’s hotel to buy toothpaste and skin cream.
Borussia Monchengladbach's Marcus Thuram – son of France legend Lilian – was also seen appearing to kiss a team-mate.
Thuram looked to peck his fellow player on the cheek after scoring his side's second against Frankfurt.
Any contact outside of challenges is banned – and subs have even been made to sit two metres apart.
GET IT DONE
Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson reckons League One promotion and relegation places should be decided by a mini-tournament.
Third-tier clubs are divided on whether to complete the season or to follow League Two and draw a line under it.
He said: “There are a lot of teams capable of getting promotion still and we consider ourselves to be in that mix, as do others.
“And there are teams who don’t want to play because they have nothing to play for and would only incur costs by playing.
“So I think there is a scenario which could suit everybody where the teams fighting for promotion are allowed to play in a kind of mini-tournament to decide on the promotion places.
“And also the teams down the bottom. They have to have the opportunity to stay up.
“Surely that is a better scenario than where no games are played and you work out points per game to sort out relegation and promotion.”
LOUGH BLOW
Premiership stars on furlough will not get a full pay packet when they first return to individual training at their clubs.
But as soon as they are given the green light to train together in full-team mode, they will then be paid their whole salary.
The majority of rugby’s top-flight players have been furloughed and taken wage cuts while they do fitness work and weights at home during lockdown.
And even though the Government has given the all-clear for training to resume, teams have not gone back yet — and there has been no date set for a return either.
Instead, they are waiting to make sure everything is safe and there is no risk of a second wave of coronavirus cases.
Clubs are struggling and at huge risk of financial ruin with no games and no income.
PITCH PERFECT
EXCLUSIVE – Karl Standley says he cannot wait for players to be back out on his precious pitch, messing it up.
But for Wembley’s grounds manager, life will be back to normal only when the national stadium is packed to the rafters with fans making memories to last a lifetime.
Standley said: “We are excited that one day, whenever it may be, we will have the football back and have people using the pitch.
“There will be incredible goals scored on that pitch. The net will be bulging, whether it’s rain or shine.
“One day we can hopefully have people in the stadium again. There’s no better feeling than when youngsters come with their dad.“I go back to me and the first time I went to Southampton. I walked out on to this wooden terrace and my dad said, ‘This is The Dell, this is where your dad comes to and where you are going to come with me now with your season ticket’. Wow.
“We will always give the players a good surface to play on. But the biggest thing for me is the fans and those smiles you see and the stories those youngsters will one day tell their kids.”
BUNDLED
Some fans were left furious after being left unable to watch the first top-tier football matches in months as the BT Sport app experienced technical issues.
While there were viewers who watched comfortably via the BT Sport app without a hitch, others were less lucky.
Complaints consisted of not being able to log in despite purchasing a monthly pass.
The error message 'ID006' plagued those unable to access their account and some took to social media to complain about not receiving their confirmation email.
One fan wrote: “I’ve signed up for the BT sport monthly pass, can log into my account but can’t access app on any of my devices. Can you help so I can watch the footy?”
Another tweeted: “I appreciate that you're busy, but I've signed up for a BT Sports Monthly Pass and haven't received any confirmation despite being over the amount of time I was told it would take.”
While one fan asked: “Anyone else’s BT app on PS4 not working or stuttering when trying to watch the Bundesliga? Is it our internet or because everyone who has liked football ever is trying to watch?”
PUSH 'N POUL
RB Leipzig ace Yussuf Poulsen was involved in a social distancing interview after scoring against Freiburg.
The Danish striker fired home in the 77th minute to seal a point for the Bundesliga giants.
KISS OF STRIFE
Bundesliga star Marcus Thuram could be punished after appearing to kiss his team-mate while celebrating a goal.
German top flight rules have banned players from celebrating with their team-mates during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Borussia Monchengladbach star looked to peck his fellow player on the cheek after scoring his side's second against Frankfurt.
Any contact outside of challenges is banned – and subs have even been made to sit two metres apart.
Thuram, 22, the son of France legend Lilian, could now be punished by Bundesliga bosses, possibly in the form of a fine, if he is deemed to have broken the rules.
TO BE FRANK
WALL BREAKER
Borussia Dortmund players celebrated in front of an empty “yellow wall” after hammering Schalke 4-0 on the Bundesliga return.
Second placed Dortmund closed the gap to just one point behind champions and league leaders Bayern Munich as football resumed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But their traditional post-match celebration, which consists of marching towards their legions of fans, looked completely different in an empty stadium.
The Dortmund squad still rallied and celebrated with their cheers crystal clear to hear.
Even celebrations during the match are now at a distance, as part of the new measures in place.
SUB SAFETY
Football fans have been left baffled by the Borussia Dortmund subs social distancing on the bench during their derby clash against rivals Schalke.
With Bundesliga football back underway behind-closed-doors, players are back on the pitch competing, but the BVB subs are still taking precautions on the sidelines.
One supporter tweeted: “Dortmund subs sitting apart with masks on. Football in 2020 is odd.”
Replying the post, another fan commented: “For show, they have probably been mingling together all day.”
A third added: “And then they come on and tackle and mark…. Hhmmm what a load of b******.”
Another joked: “The subs bench is about a mile long.”
One TV viewer remarked: “Got the Dortmund v Schalke game on but social distancing on the subs bench but not on the pitch?? Hows that work, that's a bit pointless if you ask me??”
HAAL OF FAME
Erling Haaland scored the first goal of the Bundesliga restart and marked it with a socially distant celebration.
The prolific Borussia Dortmund frontman was no doubt one of the favourites to make the history books and be the first person to register after coronavirus suspended the season.
HALF-TIME SCORES
The Bundesliga is back and Borussia Dortmund have raced into a 2-0 lead over fierce rivals Schalke.
Erling Haaland broke the deadlock with a classy finish on the half-hour mark following a deft ball from Thorgan Hazard.
The game was the drifting towards half-time before a poor clearance from Schalke keeper Schubert allowed Raphael Guerreiro to double Dortmund's lead.
Meanwhile, Timo Werner and RB Leipzig have endured a frustrating afternoon thus far as unlikely visitors Freiburg have taken a half-time lead.
Manuel Gulde finished a near-post delivery with an audacious flick just after the half-hour mark.
Elsewhere, Wolfsburg have taken the lead over Augsburg as Renato Steffen nets his fifth goal of the season.
WEIGH TO GO
Conor McGregor has been tipped to remain at welterweight for his next UFC fight – opening the door to face either Nate Diaz or Jorge Masvidal.
The Irishman marked his UFC comeback in January win a 40 second win against 37-year-old Donald Cerrone, but did so at 170lb to avoid a gruelling weight cut to lightweight.
He has since focused on the lightweight belt, but faces being frozen out of the picture after Justin Gaethje won the interim strap to set up a unification bout with Khabib Nurmagomedov.
With the champion and No1 contender otherwise occupied, former UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen believes the most profitable and favourable move for McGregor is to stay at welterweight.
He told Sky Sports: “I'm just not convinced he's going back to 155lb. If we're to see Gaethje taking on Khabib, I tend to believe that just pushes the calendar out for Conor.
“I think Conor is looking for something else to do.
“I think that's where Jorge Masvidal possibly comes into play, the Nate Diaz trilogy comes into play, I'm just not convinced that Conor's next fight will be at 155lb.”
WE ARE UNDERWAY!
DORTMUND 0-0 SCHALKE
You can keep up with all the drama in our SunSport Live Blog HERE.
GOING VIRAL
Ballboys have been scrubbing down footballs with disinfecting wipes ahead of kick-off in Dortmund.
FOOTBALL'S BACK
Live football is back with a bang as Borussia Dortmund take on fierce rivals Schalke in the Bundesliga.
Jadon Sancho and Co have not played since their Champions League exit to PSG in March and know a win is needed here to keep the pressure on league leaders Bayern Munich.
You can keep up with all the drama in our SunSport Live Blog HERE.
HERE WE JOE
Everton defender Jonjoe Kenny starts for Schalke at Signal Iduna Park.
There's no place in the line-up for Welsh winger Rabbi Matondo but look out for Weston McKennie, the 21-year-old who stars for the US national team.
SANCHO BENCHED
Confirmation that Jadon Sancho starts on the bench with Gio Reyna given the nod for Borussia.
BACK IN A MIN
Son Heung-Min could be back in training for Tottenham on Monday after arriving back in the UK following military service in South Korea.
The Spurs winger completed three weeks of basic training in the Army and passed with flying colours.
He was due to complete his service at the end of his career, but with the Premier League in shutdown due to the coronavirus decided to do it early.
SERGE FORWARDS
Serge Gnabry has praised the influence of former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker at the start of his career.
Bayern Munich star told the Players' Tribune: “He used to always be so hard on me, but in a really good way. He was like an older brother for me at Arsenal.
“Per is the nicest guy in the world. But he's also the most German guy in the world.
“Like everything he says, it's so intense. Like he's so tall, and he's looking down at you trying to be intimidating but it's also kind of friendly.
“I don't know if there's an English word for it. Imagine like a really friendly Arnold Schwarzenegger or something. That's Per.”
BACK IN GLOVE
Evander Holyfield has confirmed he is in talks to come out of retirement for a trilogy fight with Mike Tyson.
The two boxing legends have been teasing fans recently that they will lace the gloves up once again.
When asked by The 3 Point Conversation about another fight against old enemy Tyson, Holyfield said: “His people have been talking to my people and we haven’t yet got a solid deal together but it’s coming that way.
“If it happens, then that’s no problem.
“Well the thing is, he was doing something and I was doing something.
“When I told people about it, they saw me working out and they kind of put two and two together,
“They must be coming together to do this like this.
“But the fact of the matter is, I didn’t mind if we do do something like this.”
GER KIDDING
German football resumed with the most manic of starts with a goal and a red card in the first FOUR MINUTES of action.
The opener was in Bundesliga 2, with Erzgebirge Aue hosting Sandhausen with sport resuming following the coronavirus outbreak.
Dennis Diekmeier was shown a straight red card for a professional foul in the area for the visitors.
From the resulting penalty, Dimitrij Nazarov fired home to give Erzgebirge Aue a 1-0 lead.
JADONE
Jadon Sancho is reportedly set to start Borussia Dortmund clash against Schalke on the bench after picking up a calf injury.
The Bundesliga will become the first major European league to return this afternoon following the coronavirus crisis.
Yet the Athletic claim that Dortmund will be without Sancho for their crunch return against rivals Schalke, with the 20-year-old set to be named on the bench.
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