This archive report was first published on 12 May 2020.
The UK government has announced that no professional sports will be staged in England until 1 June at the earliest, citing the need to control the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to a 50-page guidance document published by the government, step two of the plan to ease lockdown measures includes permitting cultural and sporting events to take place behind closed doors for broadcast, while avoiding the risk of large-scale social contact.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated in the House of Commons on Monday that holding sporting events behind closed doors could provide a much-needed boost to national morale.
However, the document notes that reopening venues that attract large crowds, such as sports grounds, may only be fully possible significantly later, depending on the reduction in numbers of infections.
Several sports organizations, including the Premier League, the England and Wales Cricket Board, and British horse racing, have announced plans to resume their respective seasons in June or July, subject to government approval.
