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Impact of coronavirus on professional sport and a list of cancellations
Coronavirus is rapidly spreading, causing the cancellation of sport across the globe. Here are the sports that have been impacted so far.
As the coronavirus continues to spread, with the outbreak officially classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on 11 March, professional sporting competitions are also being impacted right across the globe.
Initially leading to the postponement or cancellation of sporting events in China back in late January, where COVID-19 is believed to have originated, it’s now affecting leagues and tournaments worldwide.
The NBA, NHL, Formula One and MotoGP, Six Nations and World Sevens rugby, golf, tennis, major football matches and more are experiencing delays or cancellations.
The Chinese F1 Grand Prix scheduled for April had already been postponed, while the season-opening Australian GP has also now been cancelled.
The remaining Euro 2020 play-offs and the Euro 2020 football tournament itself have now been delayed. UEFA announced on 18 March that the final play-off matches will be held later this year, while the competition will now be held in 2021.
“If games have to be postponed or played without spectators for a period of time until it’s over, well then we have to do that,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino told reporters in early March.
The NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert tested positive to COVID-19. The NHL, PGA Tour and Major League Soccer have been quick to follow.
The American NCAA made the unprecedented decision to cancel March Madness, calling off both its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
At the time of writing, Major League Baseball cancelled spring training and delayed the scheduled 26 March start of its season by at least 2 weeks.
In Europe, Italy has been the worst-hit area for COVID-19. Initially, six matches in Italy’s Serie A, including a blockbuster between Juventus and Inter Milan, were to be held behind closed doors but have since been postponed until May.
On 4 March, it was announced that all Italian sport would be held behind closed doors until at least 3 April. Italy has now suspended all sport in the country.
This is all likely to have a trickle-down effect too, with areas such as broadcasting, merchandising and revenue from ticket sales all expected to be significantly impacted.
List of sports cancelled or postponed due to coronavirus
Finder acknowledges that this is not a comprehensive list of every single sport in the world affected.
Event | Date | Impact | Source |
---|---|---|---|
Boxing Olympic qualifiers | 3-14 February | Relocated | More info |
Matildas vs China | 13 February | Relocated | More info |
Golf LPGA Thailand | 20-23 February | Cancelled | More info |
Chinese Super League | 21 February | Postponed | More info |
Golf HSBC Champions | 27 February-1 March | Cancelled | More info |
Japan's J.League | 25 February-15 March | Delayed | More info |
Korea's K League | 29 February | Postponed indefinitely | More info |
Swiss Football League | 29 February | All games from this date cancelled | More info |
Pro14 Rugby | 29 February | Two matches in Italy postponed | More info |
Asian Champions League | 2-4 March | Postponed | More info |
Golf LPGA Blue Bay | 5-8 March | Cancelled | More info |
Davis Cup: China forfeited to Romania | 6-7 March | Forfeited | More info |
Six Nations: Ireland vs Italy | 7 March | Postponed | More info |
Ligue 1: PSG vs Strasbourg | 7 March | Postponed | More info |
MotoGP Qatar | 9 March | Cancelled | More info |
Tennis: Indian Wells | 9 March | Cancelled | More info |
Serie A | 10 March | Cancelled | More info |
NBA | 12 March | Season suspended | More info |
EPL Man City vs Arsenal | 12 March | Postponed | More info |
NCAA College basketball tournament 'March Madness' | 13 March | Cancelled | More info |
NHL | 13 March | Season suspended | More info |
MLS | 13 March | Season suspended | More info |
MLB | 13 March | Season delayed | More info |
Tennis ATP Tour | 13 March-20 Apr | Suspended six weeks | More info |
World Superbikes Qatar | 13-20 March | Played behind closed doors | More info |
Cricket: Australia vs New Zealand ODI | 13-15 March | Cancelled | More info |
Australian F1 Grand Prix | 13-15 March | Cancelled | More info |
V8 Supercars Melbourne 400 | 13-15 March | To be rescheduled | More info |
Golf PGA Tour | 12 March-April 5 | Cancelled | More info |
NBL Finals | 13 March | Played behind closed doors | More info |
English Premier League | 14 March | Suspended | More info |
Ligue 1 | 14 March | Suspended | More info |
World Surf League | 14 March | Suspended | More info |
Bundesliga | 14 March | Suspended | More info |
English Football League | 14 March | Suspended | More info |
The Masters | 14 March | Postponed | More info |
Scottish Premiership Football League | 14 March | Suspended | More info |
Indian Premier League | 14 March | Postponed | More info |
Bahrain F1 Grand Prix | 14 March | Postponed | More info |
Vietnam F1 Grand Prix | 14 March | Postponed | More info |
IndyCar | 14 March | Events from 13 March to 26 April cancelled | More info |
Cricket: India vs South Africa ODI series | 15 March | Postponed | More info |
Cricket: Australia vs New Zealand ODI | 15 and 20 March | Cancelled | More info |
NASCAR | 16 March | 7 races postponed | More info |
Surfing WSL Tour | Ongoing | All March events cancelled | More info |
Basketball Euroleague | Ongoing | Suspended indefinitely | More info |
Cricket Sheffield Shield | 17-20 March | Final round suspended, final TBD | More info |
Asian Champions League: Perth Glory vs Ulsan Hyundai | 18 March | Postponed | More info |
Super Rugby | 20 March | Postponed | More info |
MotoGP Thailand | 20-22 March | Postponed | More info |
Motorsport Formula E Championship | 21 March | Cancelled | More info |
AFL | 22 March | Postponed | More info |
AFL Women | 22 March | Season cancelled, no premiership | More info |
NRL | 23 March | Postponed | More info |
UK Super League | Ongoing | Postponed | More info |
2020 Tokyo Olympic Games | 25 March | Postponed 1 year | More info |
WCQ: Australia vs Kuwait/Nepal vs Australia | 26 March, 31 March | Postponed | More info |
NHL | Ongoing | Season suspended indefinitely | More info |
MotoGP USA | 4-6 April | More info | |
Cricket: Australia women tour of South Africa | 22 March-4 April | Suspended | More info |
Cricket Indian Premier League | 29 March-15 April | Suspended until April 15 | More info |
World Rugby Sevens Hong Kong | 3-5 April (re-scheduled to 16-18 October) | Rescheduled | More info |
US vs Matildas friendly | 11 April | Cancelled | More info |
World Rugby Sevens Singapore | 11-12 April (re-scheduled to 10-11 October) | Rescheduled | More info |
Tennis Fed Cup Finals | 14-19 April | Postponed | More info |
Canada vs Matildas | 15 April | Cancelled | More info |
Golf PGA Maybank Championship | 16-19 April | Postponed | More info |
Formula1: China Grand Prix | 17-19 April | Postponed | More info |
MotoGP Argentina | 17-19 April | Rescheduled to November | More info |
Golf PGA China Open | 23-26 April | Postponed | More info |
WTA Tour Xi'an Open | 13-19 April | Cancelled | More info |
Horse racing: Kentucky Derby | 2 May | Rescheduled | More info |
SailGP San Francisco | 2-3 May | Cancelled | More info |
Golf: US PGA Championship | 14-17 May | Postponed | More info |
Asian Champions League | 18 May | Postponed/rescheduled | More info |
Tennis: French Open | 24 May-7 June | Rescheduled | More info |
AFL China | 7 June | Cancelled/relocated | More info |
WCQ: Australia vs Taiwan/Jordan | 4, 9 June | Postponed | More info |
Rugby League: NZ vs Tonga, Samoa vs Cook Islands | 20 June | Postponed | More info |
Will more sports be cancelled due to coronavirus?
With new cases of coronavirus growing by the day and the situation declared a global pandemic, sports fans are facing a rocky outlook for 2020.
The International Olympic Committee’s official stance is that everything is “business as usual” and athletes should continue their preparations. But some Olympic test events have already been cancelled.
With the death toll rising and countries continuing to lock down their borders, the 24 July to 9 August games themselves could come under increasing doubt in the coming weeks and months.
What if I have signed up to watch these sports?
Fans of select sporting events may think twice before signing up to new subscriptions. Many competitions have already been impacted with contrasting plans about when they may resume.
Unless your preferred sport is broadcast as the sole offering on an exclusive service (which is virtually zero streaming platforms) we wouldn’t expect any refunds, though it’s best to contact your existing provider for more information.
Image source: Kayo Sports website
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