UK government weighing up ban on sporting fixtures due to coronavirus

The UK government has announced that it is considering banning sporting events and fixtures due to the spread of coronavirus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson made the announcement on Thursday evening inside Downing Street after chairing a COBRA meeting earlier in the day.

Mr Johnson said: “We are considering banning major public events like sporting fixtures.

“The scientific advice is this has little effect on the spread – but it does place a burden on other public services.”

The news comes after several developments across European football in the spread of coronavirus on Thursday.

The second leg of Manchester City’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid has been postponed after the Madrid players entered a 15-day period of self-isolation.

Elsewhere, Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers revealed that three members of his squad are exhibiting symptoms of the virus and have been told to stay away from the rest of the team.

Across Europe, the top two divisions in the Netherlands have been put on hold – as has the MLS – while Juventus’ clash with Lyon in Turin has also been postponed.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed prior to the UK government’s COBRA meeting that the country is also considering banning sporting events.

 

 

The Prime Minister’s announcement came as part of a news conference where he revealed that the UK was to move into the ‘delay’ phase of its plan to combat the spread of the virus.

Mr Johnson warned that the most dangerous period is some weeks away as he stressed that the “lines of defence” must be deployed at the right time to maximise their effect.

He said: “The most important task will be to protect our elderly and most vulnerable people during the peak weeks when there is the maximum risk of exposure to the disease and when the NHS will be under the most pressure.

“So the most dangerous period is not now but some weeks away depending on how fast it spreads.”