The LMA (League Managers’ Association) has insisted that the football season in England should only resume after all the players, from every club, in all of the divisions are tested for coronavirus.

“But”, chief executive, Richard Bevan says, “Tests have to be made available to NHS workers and patients first.

“With the game being postponed indefinitely, due to the Covid-19, once that has taken place, wouldn’t it be a great idea to then access it to sport”.

On another point, he criticised the EFL (English Football League) for not consulting his members after they said that, once it restarts, the season can be completed in 56 days.

Bevan described the proposal as “amazingly tight.

He thinks that testing is key to getting back to action as soon as possible.

“Our managers don’t want to be back in action unless the players have been tested.

“Equally, the government must confirm that it is OK. The test has to be made available first and foremost.to NHS and all care workers, patients and their families”.

As everyone is aware, we are living through extraordinary times and none of us can predict the future or speculate when the current situation will end.
  
As a club and business, we have to make difficult decisions to navigate these unchartered waters and ensure the Club is in a position to continue its exciting journey when we come through this global emergency.  
 
We would all love the season to be back underway immediately, but all rugby activities are currently suspended and there are no guarantees as to when we might start playing again.

In light of the latest advice and information from the government, along with the pattern of escalation we have seen in the last few days, businesses around the world are being heavily impacted and we, Wasps, are no different.
 
With this in mind, we need to take some extremely difficult and significant action to reduce costs immediately so we can resume doing what we love when this is all over. The impact of these decisions is going to be felt across the whole business.
 
Having discussed this situation at length with my colleagues from across the league, as well as Premiership Rugby, we are putting in place salary reductions of 25 per cent across the majority of the Rugby department until we are playing Gallagher Premiership matches again.

These measures have taken effect from 1 April 2020. A number of lower paid staff has been excluded from these salary reductions.
  
I spoke with Lee Blackett and senior members of the playing squad and we then communicated this message to the wider team and colleagues. I could not be more proud of their response, understanding and determination to help the Club in such testing times. The same is true of the players’ efforts to support our wider community stay connected and keep talking, which I am sure you will be aware of.
 
These are extraordinary times which call for extraordinary and robust measures. We do not know with any certainty how long these reductions will be in place, but we will review the situation on an ongoing basis and continue to keep the entire Wasps family up to date with developments.
 
This great Club has a proud history spanning over 150 years and, with everyone working together, we will ensure it has a great future.

Organisers of the 2021 World Athletics Championships have agreed to stage the event the following year, but insist that it will not clash with the Commonwealth Games of the same r

The Championships, set to be held in the United States, was originally due to be held in 2021, but has had to change due to the current worldwide-affecting coronavirus crisis.

With the Tokyo Olympics – which was due to take place this year – now pushed forward to next year, the Worlds’ – due to be held in Eugene, in Oregon - will, subsequently, be pushed forward a year.

But, as such, it did bring out some concerns as to whether it might clash with the Commonwealth Games, which is set-out as THE major international athletics attraction on the sport’s calendar for that year.

Following a period of lengthy, heavy negotiations, compromises with athletics’ governing body were reached to move the event to 15-24 July 2022 so that it doesn’t clash with the Commonwealth Games of that year, which will be taking place in Birmingham from July 27 – August 7.

Lord Coe, president of the IAAF said: “Our guiding principle in rescheduling was to ensure enough space was created enough space around the centrepiece World Athletics Championships for athletes to choose other major events to compete in.

“We were also very mindful that we didn’t damage the other major championships in 2022.

The European Championships is also due in 2022

That is set to take place in Munich, in Germany and is set to start in August 11.

Premier League players are “mindful of their social responsibilities” and “prepared to step up to the mark” during the coronavirus pandemic, Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) chief executive, Gordon Taylor, said, as talks are on-going about a collective pay deal in response to criticize.

The Premier League proposed a 30% pay cut, but the PFA that it would harm the NHS (National Health Service).

“It is a question of asking players to be involved”, Taylor said.

Players in the Premier League are planning to start negotiations on a club–by-club basis over proposed wage cuts.

It comes after talks aimed at a collective pay deal in response to the Covid-19 crisis broke down without resolution over the weekend.

The row has escalated into one of the most serious disputes between players and clubs in the league’s history.

Recent headlines concerning Premier League players have put some international stars in the spotlight which has cast doubts over their future at club and international levels after flouting the lockdown steps set-out by the government.

Regular England full-back, Manchester City’s Kyle Walker faces never to play for his country again after manager, Gareth Southgate was said to be ‘livid’ after Walker ignored government rules and had a £2,000 sex party with prostitutes.

His club has opened an internal investigation and they said that they will fine him and take the relevant actions accordingly.

This follows Jack Grealish; the Aston Villa midfielder who had to make a grovelling apology after he broke the lockdown rules after the 24-year-old revealed that he left his home to visit a friend, despite being instructed to staying at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

He did say, however, accepting his club’s fine and disciplinary measures with the proceeds from the Villa captain going direct to the University Hospital Charity in Birmingham.

Bournemouth
Leeds
Norwich

Liverpool
Spurs
Newcastle

Players in the English Premier League players have launched a “collective initiative” to help generate funds for the NHS (National Health Service) and distribute them “where they are needed most”.

The initiative – named #PlayersTogether – has been set up to “help those fighting for us an the NHS frontline amid the coronavirus pandemic.

It has partnered with the NHS Charity Together (NHSCT) in which the stars from England’s top echelons will aid in getting funds moved quickly and effectively to where it is needed most.

A collective statement, said to have been headed by Liverpool captain and England star player, Jordan Henderson, and posted by many of the stars playing in that (Premier) League; saw the creation of a contribution fund that is to be used to distribute money to where it is most needed during this crisis that is the coronavirus pandemic.

Gary Linarker, the Match Of The Day presenter and former England striker, said he was proud of the players’ decision, tweeting: ‘Footballers are doing their bit as I knew that tey would.

‘Let’s hope that others that are in a position to help, those that weren’t unfortunately targeted, do likewise.

‘Proud of our players’.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock ‘warmly welcomed’ the 'big-hearted decision’.

On his twitter, he (Hancock) tweeted: ‘Warmly welcomed the big-hearted decision from so many Premier League footballers to create #PlayersTogether to support NHS Charity.

‘You are playing your part’.

With Bournemouth manager, Eddie Howe becoming the first Premier League manager to take a voluntary pay cut – which led to fellow Premier League side Brighton, whose manager, Graham Potter, plus the club’s Chief Executive Paul Barber and Technical Director, Dan Ashworth, publically announcing that they too were each taking pay cuts during the current coronavirus pandemic, the UK government has ordered that footballers all the clubs in English football’s top flight should take a cut in their wages to help frontline services during the current crisis.

Health Minister, Matt Hancock, ordered footballers playing in England’s Premier League to take a pay cut and “play their part”.

However, Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive of the players’ union; the Professional Footballers’ Association will lead negotiations with the Premier League; after which the 20 clubs in the game’s top division will be updated on the next step.

They are seeking to agree a temporary cut, as there are increasing fears that deferring payments will put a massive burden on the clubs at a time when the world’s financial situation will be struggling.

Hancock plead with the top players, saying: “Given the sacrifices that so many people are making, including some of my colleagues in the NHS, who have made the ultimate sacrifice of going into work and have caught the disease and have sadly died, the first thing that the Premier League can do is make a contribution – take a pay cut and play their part”.

All Premier League clubs will be asking players to take a 30% pay cut in order to protect jobs. One club, however, Tottenham Hotspur, have moved to cut none-playing staff’s pay.

Many in - and out of - the game are urging top footballers in the country to not resist any pay cut in light of the present world situation.