Premier League clubs will meet on Friday to discuss whether it is realistic to complete the season during the coronavirus crisis or whether they will have to brace for a devastating financial hit.
The Dutch season has already been called off, Belgium looks set to go the same way and French clubs met Thursday to decide whether to declare their season over.
But with the English top-flight facing an eye-watering estimated loss of ?1 billion ($1.25 billion) if no more football is played, there is a huge incentive to play the 92 remaining games if feasible.
The Premier League also appears to have the support of the government in Britain, which now has the third-highest death toll in the world from COVID-19.
Speaking in parliament last week, Oliver Dowden, Britain's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, said he had been in talks with league chiefs over getting football up and running again.
Liverpool fans will be the keenest for the season to restart, with Jurgen Klopp's side on the .

Premier League wrestles with 'Project Restart'

PTI Automatic

The German league confirmed Thursday that clubs have started testing players for the coronavirus as part of plans for the Bundesliga to resume next month.
Testing for the virus, which has so far claimed over 6,000 lives in Germany, is a key component in the plans to restart the Bundesliga in stadiums without spectators.
The DFL confirmed to AFP subsidiary SID that regular testing has begun in the top two leagues amid hopes matches could be played from as early as May 9 or May 16.
However, the league still needs the go-ahead from Angela Merkel's government to resume.
The labour ministry, which has approved the plans, has demanded each player be tested twice before clubs resume team training, having so far trained mainly in smaller groups.
Players would be subject to strict hygiene measures, including testing for the virus every few days.
German Chancellor Merkel is chairing a video conference with the premiers of 16 states on Thursday with the Bundesliga set to be discussed, but a ...

Bundesliga starts testing players amid restart hopes

The World Archery on Thursday decided not to hold any Olympic qualifying event this year in view of the COVID-19 pandemic and also freezed the world rankings.
The world body also extended the suspension of all international competitions till the end of August. It, however, is hoping to start competitions (not Olympic qualifiers) before the end of the year.
Accordingly, a draft calendar for the last few months of the year has been prepared.
"No further Olympic qualification events will take place in 2020. They will be scheduled in 2021. The world rankings will remain frozen," the WA said in a statement.
The suspension of international competition was up to April 30 initially but it was extended to June 30 later, before Thursday decision to implement it till August 31.
"World Archery's executive board has extended the hiatus on all international competition until 31 August 2020. The measure was introduced in March and subsequently extended due to the ongoing worldwide outbreak of ...

No Olympic qualifiers in 2020, world rankings freezed: World Archery

From Sunil Gavaskar to Sunil Chettri, cricket and football stood united in grief, mourning the loss of Subimal 'Chuni' Goswami, a colossus in Indian sports who died after suffering a cardiac arrest in Kolkata on Thursday.
India's footballers and cricketers -- both current and former -- reacted with shock after Goswami's demise. The versatile veteran, a former India football captain as well as a first-class cricketer, was 82.
"Today is a truly depressing day. First Rishi (Kapoor) and now Chuni da have left us. Both champions and legends in their craft. The world will be the poorer for their departure to the Heavens. RIP," said cricketing great Sunil Gavaskar.
The BCCI too paid its tribute to Goswami, who represented Bengal in 46 games between 1962 and 1973, after a stellar run on the football field. He was an all-rounder.
"BCCI mourns the death of Subimal 'Chuni' Goswami, an all-rounder in the truest sense," the BCCI tweeted.
In football, he captained India to the Asian Games gold ...

Iconic footballer, all-round cricketer: Tributes pour in for Chuni Goswami

Chuni Goswami was everything that any sportsperson would aspire to be.
But only a few can claim to be blessed with the natural all-round talent which placed him among the pantheons of India's biggest sporting icons.
A strapping six-footer with a lithe body, the last gold medal winning Indian football skipper, an Olympian and a distinguished first-class cricket captain, who finds a mention in Sir Gary Sobers' memoir, Subimal Goswami or 'Chuni da' for everyone from seven to 70 was the stuff of which sporting dreams are made.
If PK Banerjee was for the masses, then Goswami belonged to the classes.
A Calcutta University 'Blue' (those who played both cricket and football), Goswami was an antithesis to common perception about Indian sportsperson and their rags to riches story.
In fact, he was quite the opposite. He was born in an upper middle-class family and stayed all his life in South Kolkata's affluent Jodhpur Park, had university education, was articulate and if one digs into the ...

Chuni Goswami: Indian football's first poster boy, complete athlete

The Lausanne Diamond League meeting will not take place on August 20 because of restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic but organisers said Thursday they were looking at "other options".
The meeting director told AFP he instead hoped to hold a joint Swiss event with the Zurich Weltklasse, one of the Diamond League's traditional highlights that is scheduled to take place on September 11.
"With a heavy heart we have had to take the decision to not go ahead with the Athletissima on August 20," organisers said in a statement.
They said it was "impossible to allow a large number of people to gather in a restricted space before the end of August".
But they said they were looking at "which alternatives and which formats could still be possible to give athletes the possibility of competition".
The meeting director, Pierre Tenger, said while he hoped to hold a meeting in cooperation with the Zurich event, the format "had not yet been decided".
The Diamond League season, which had been .

Lausanne Diamond League organisers seek 'other options'

The French football league (LFP) is expected to formally end its season after calling a board meeting on Thursday afternoon, sources told AFP, clearing the way for Paris Saint-Germain to be declared champions again.
The crisis meeting follows this week's announcement by the French Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, that "professional sports leagues, notably football, cannot restart" because of the risks linked to the coronavirus pandemic.
Large gatherings remain banned until September with more than 24,000 people having died from the virus in France, one of the highest death rates worldwide.
"The league is following government directives, and the government has decreed that the leagues be stopped," explained one board member, who added that "the season is finished".
Now the LFP must decide how to determine the final standings in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, with various media reports suggesting that will be done on average points per game.
That may only be formally decided at a General ...

PSG poised to be declared champions as French league prepares to confirm season over

English cricket's controversial new Hundred competition has been delayed until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, cricket chiefs announced on Thursday.
The new 100-balls-per-side format, to be played by eight franchises rather than the established 18 first-class counties, had been due to start in July.
But with the English season delayed until at least July 1 and matches after that likely to be played behind closed doors, the England and Wales Cricket Board has decided to hold the Hundred over until next year.
"The situation we find ourselves in as a country means that delivery of the Hundred will not be possible this summer," ECB chief executive Tom Harrison in a statement.
"Whilst we are naturally disappointed that we won't get to realise our ambitions this year, the Hundred will go ahead in 2021 when we are safely able to deliver everything we intended to help grow the game."
The ECB's statement said playing the Hundred behind closed doors was not an option because an event .

Virus forces delay of English cricket's Hundred until 2021

India will have to focus on aquatic sports, especially swimming if the country wants to excel in Olympic Games, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Thursday.
Insisting that success in swimming is pivotal for any country in the Olympics because of the number of medals the sport offers, Rijiju said India need to act fast to be competitive in the water sport in 2028 Games.
"Historically, the top countries in the Olympics have bagged a large number of medals in swimming. In the last five Olympics USA has won about 31 per cent of their total medals in swimming," he said.
"There is a great opportunity for any country because of the sheer number of events that take place in aquatics. Today, we don't stand anywhere in swimming at the Olympic level but there is a huge potential in the sport if we act with dedication, proper planning and adequate resources."
The Sports Minister was addressing swimming coaches from across the country, participating in an online knowledge enhancement workshop ...

Rijiju emphasises on the need to focus on swimming to excel in Olympics

Indian tennis star Sania Mirza on Thursday became the first Indian to be nominated for the Fed Cup Heart Award from the Asia/Oceania zone along with Indonesia's Priska Medelyn Nugrorho.
Sania had recently made a comeback to Fed Cup after four years.
With her 18-month son Izhaan present in the stands, Sania had helped India qualify for the Play-offs for the first time.
"Stepping on to the court for the first time in India colours was a moment of pride for me, back in 2003. It has been an eighteen year long journey since then and I feel extremely proud and privileged to have contributed to the success of Indian tennis," Sania was quoted as saying in an AITA release.
"The Fed Cup result at the Asia/Oceania tournament last month is one of the greatest achievements of my playing career. These are the moments an athlete plays for and I am grateful to the Fed Cup Heart Awards selection panel for this recognition," added the 33-year-old.
The winners of the Heart Awards will be determined by ..

Sania Mirza nominated for Fed Cup Heart award

The mayor of Liverpool fears restarting the Premier League could lead to the "farcical" situation of fans congregating in large groups outside Anfield despite the coronavirus crisis.
When the Premier League was postponed on March 13, runaway leaders Liverpool were just two wins from clinching the title.
Premier League chiefs still hope to complete the season but their "Project Restart" plan has come under fire from current and former players, who think it is too soon to resume while the virus is still a major problem.
Matches would be played behind closed doors but Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson said he did not believe that would be enough to stop fans from gathering.  He highlighted the potential issue of fans ignoring social-distancing guidelines to celebrate Liverpool's first English title in 30 years.
"Even if it was behind closed doors, there would be many thousands of people who would turn up outside Anfield," Anderson told BBC Sport on Thursday.
"There's not many people who would 

Liverpool mayor fears 'farcical' scenes if Premier League resumes

Legendary former India footballer Chuni Goswami, who captained the 1962 Asian Games gold-winning team, died on Thursday after suffering a cardiac arrest.
The iconic sportsperson, who also played first-class cricket for Bengal, was 82 and breathed his last at a hospital here. He is survived by his wife Basanti and son Sudipto.
"He suffered a cardiac arrest and died in the hospital at around 5pm," a family source told PTI.
Goswami was suffering from underlying ailments, including sugar, prostrate and nerve problems.
Goswami played 50 matches for India as a footballer from 1956 to 1964.
As a cricketer, he represented Bengal in 46 first-class games between 1962 and 1973.

Legendary footballer Chuni Goswami no more

FC Goa on Thursday appointed Spaniard Juan Ferrando as the club's new head coach for the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL)season and AFC Champions League campaign.
A UEFA Pro License holder, Ferrando will replace Sergio Lobera, another Spaniard, who was sacked in January midway last season. Former India player and assistant coach Clifford Miranda was guiding the team till the end of the season.
The Goan side had become the first Indian club to earn a direct berth in the group stage of the AFC Champions League after topping the league phase of the ISL.
Speaking on his appointment, Ferrando said, "I am so incredibly excited to become part of the FC Goa family. I have been greatly impressed by the Club's emphasis on their vision and style of play and I would like to thank the club for giving me this opportunity.
"I have heard a lot about Goa's passion for football. Together, with support from all the fans, we hope to play good football, and do our best to bring success to the club," he .

ISL side FC Goa appoints Spaniard Juan Ferrando as new head coach

Top Indian shuttler B Sai Praneeth believes a vaccine for coronavirus is an absolute must for resumption of sports and it must be approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) so that athletes are not adversely affected.
Tennis star Novak Djokovic had recently said he is opposed to a compulsory coronavirus vaccination.
"I have no such concerns but it shouldn't affect sportspersons, like the vaccination shouldn't have drugs which are banned," Praneeth told PTI.
"WADA may also consider that...If there is no performance enhancing drug in it then they can put that in the list and consider that. Logically, I don't think the medicine in the vaccination will have any impact on performance of athletes," he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected over 30 lakh people worldwide, has halted all sports, including badminton, across the globe with even the Tokyo Olympics being pushed to next year.
While the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s coordination commission head John Coates ...

No vaccination, no play and don't forget about WADA: Praneeth

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) on Thursday announced a NZ$7.4 million (US$4.53 million) loss for 2019, having earlier this month expressed worries over the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The figures do not take into account the last few months, which have seen international rugby grind to a halt due to the health crisis.
The federation of the All Blacks -- world rugby's most dominant team of the past two decades --  have warned that the health crisis could cost it up to NZ$100 million, but on Thursday said that "cash reserves of NZ$93 million" had provided a "vital buffer".
"We face significant challenges, but many are not new with continued demand for our players overseas, the need to stay relevant to young people and adapt to fast moving technologies," said NZR chairman Brent Impey.
In total, the federation generated NZ$187 million last year, one percent less than in 2018 but 40 percent more than in 2015, the year of the last World Cup before the 2019 edition in Japan.
The ..

New Zealand Rugby posts $4.5 million annual loss

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho believes bringing football back, even behind closed doors, would be a much-needed morale boost for fans starved of action during the coronavirus crisis.
No Premier League games have been played since March 9 due to the pandemic, which has claimed more than 26,000 British lives.
Dutch football chiefs have called an end to the Eredivisie season while French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu on Thursday called for the French league to end the Ligue 1 season.
England's top-flight clubs are due to meet on Friday with "Project Restart" at the top of their agenda. They will discuss how they can complete the season despite the logistical difficulties.
"I miss football," Mourinho told Sky Sports from the Tottenham Hotspur stadium, which has been transformed to house a testing centre, outpatient services for a local hospital and a food distribution hub.
"But I prefer to say I miss our world, like I think we all do. Football is just part of my world. But we have .

Football's return 'good for everyone' - Mourinho

Real Kashmir FC head coach David Robertson and his family's wait to return to Scotland after being stuck in Srinagar due to the national lockdown is likely to end soon as they have been contacted by the British High Commission and told to be on standby.
The club's co-owner Sandeep Chattoo told PTI on Thursday that the British High Commission in New Delhi has told Robertson to wait for three days as efforts are being made to secure a transit permit to Amritsar for them. The national lockdown is set to end on May 3.
"The British High Commission called up yesterday and told David and his family to be on standby. It said it will get back to them after three days on whether a transit permit to go to Amritsar can be arranged," Chattoo said from Srinagar.
Robertson, his wife Kim, and son Mason, who plays for the club, are staying in Chattoo's hotel in Srinagar ever since the lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic was enforced leading to suspension of international flights.
"There are ...

Real Kashmir's Scottish coach Robertson and family could be heading for home soon

Marouane Fellaini will lend his former club Standard Liege three million euros ($3.26 million) to help them through the coronavirus crisis, Belgian media reported on Thursday.
The former Everton and Manchester United midfielder, who now plays for Shandong Luneng in China, followed in the footsteps of international teammate Axel Witsel, who has also invested in the Pro League club.
According to one report, Borussia Dortmund's Witsel recently acquired a 45-percent stake in Standard's stadium, which is due to undergo extensive renovation works.
Standard were refused a professional licence by the Belgian football federation earlier this month. Without it, the 10-time national champions could be relegated to the amateur divisions.
They have appealed to the Belgian sports court, and are expected to obtain the licence thanks to the help of Fellaini and other investors, according to the Belga agency.
The court is expected to make a decision on May 5.

Fellaini lends struggling Standard Liege 3 million euros: report

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole has started a research fund to help improve kidney transplants and patient wellbeing following his own battle against kidney failure.
Cole, who won multiple trophies under Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, suffered kidney failure in 2015 after picking up a virus while on tour in Vietnam as a United club ambassador.
He had a life-saving transplant three years ago, with his nephew providing the donor kidney.
The 48-year-old, currently in isolation due to the coronavirus, wants to help others through the Andy Cole Fund run by Kidney Research UK, focusing on research into improving kidney transplants and patient wellbeing.
"I've been mentally strong enough to play football, but this is the toughest battle I've ever had to deal with," said Cole, who has been working as an assistant coach at third-tier Southend.
"I don't want anyone to end up struggling like I did. The mental battle is bigger than the physical problem. Your mind is the most powerful ..

Former Man Utd star Cole starts kidney research fund

Veteran South Africa leg-spinner Imran Tahir said every time he turned up for Chennai Super Kings it gave him goosebumps and the family atmosphere in the IPL team is something which he has never got anywhere else.
"Every game I played for CSK gave me goosebumps, a really special feeling about it...we play so well as a team," he was quoted as saying on the CSK website.
"We just try to play as hard as we can and win as many games as possible for CSK, enjoy each other's success and that's what makes Chennai such a special team," he said about the three-time IPL winner.
Tahir, who joined the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led team in 2018, said the day he put on the CSK cap was one of the special moments of his life.
"The day I put on the Chennai Super Kings cap was one of the special moments of my life. I never knew I was going to be around special people and (be part) of a special squad," he added.
The 41-year old South African, winner of the purple cap (prize for highest wicket-taker in IPL) in .

Every game I played for CSK gave me goosebumps: Imran Tahir

Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino says he wants to return to the Premier League club one day to finish the job he started.
The Argentine left Spurs in November, six months after leading them to the Champions League final, and has been linked with Newcastle in recent days.
Reports claim he is the main target of the Magpies' prospective new Saudi Arabian owners should they complete a takeover, but Pochettino could not disguise his desire to return to north London at some stage in his career.
The ex-Southampton boss, who spent more than five years at Spurs, told BT Sport:
"It was an amazing journey that finished the way no one wanted it to finish.
"But deep in my heart I am sure our paths will cross again. From the day I left the club, my dream is to be back one day and to try to finish the work we didn't finish. We were so close to winning the Premier League and Champions League."
Pochettino said he felt motivated for his next job but still felt the pull of Tottenham.
The ...

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