Coronavirus Update: Sporting World Put On Hold

The outbreak of the coronavirus has had a devastating effect on the world of sports.

From football fixtures to basketball, to the UFC and Formula One, sporting competitions across the globe are being suspended and in many cases, cancelled.

Authorities are trying to reduce the risk of exposing societies to large groups of people in confined spaces, making the postponement of big sport's events a straightforward call to make.

Worries surrounding the virus continue to heighten, following an escalated outbreak in the number of positive cases. On Monday, the WHO categorically declared the Covid-19 outbreak to be a pandemic.

On the back of such alarming news, we've complied an update into what sporting organisations have officially been put on pause.

We have seen a major breakthrough of news with regards to football competitions being suspended on Friday morning.

UEFA have officially announced that both the Champions League and Europa League have been postponed the week commencing Monday 16th. This has seen twelve fixtures be put on hold, despite both tournaments being the two biggest competitions across Europe.

In terms of domestic leagues, Ligue 1 and the EFL have also been suspended until at least April, with both divisions joining the Serie A and La Liga in pausing their seasons.

Such news has been welcomed by fans, with it clearly being the most practical way in reducing the risk of the virus spreading even further.

Bundesliga games on March 14th are set go ahead behind closed doors, with their league being put on pause from Monday 16th onwards.

This is quite a surprise, particularly given the recent increase in cases of managers and footballers being tested positive.

No official announcement has been made on the Euros as of yet.

Of course, it isn't just the world of football that has been affected.

Sporting authorities across the globe have been putting in restrictions to prevent the risk of large crowds and putting members of society at risk. Whilst some events have been momentarily postponed, some competitions have been cancelled altogether.

We've complied a list on the latest updates below:

Golf:

Player's Championship - CANCELLED

Kenya Open - CANCELLED

The Czech Masters - CANCELLED

All PGA Tour events - POSTPONED

Rugby:

Men's Six Nations - POSTPONED

Women's Six Nations - POSTPONED

Tennis:

Miami Open - CANCELLED

ATP tournaments - POSTPONED

ITF tournaments - POSTPONED

Cricket:

England's tour of Sri Lanka - CANCELLED

Indian Premier League - POSTPONED

Basketball:

NBA season - SUSPENDED

Formula One:

Australian Grand Prix - POSTPONED

UFC:

UFC Fight Night 170 - Potentially behind closed doors

With worries continuing to mount surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, it has to be said that the decision to suspend/postpone sporting events is ultimately the right call to make.

Societies need to ensure that they are reducing the risk of the virus spreading at all costs, which means avoiding large crowded spaces such as sport competitions.

On specific reference to the EFL, four weeks of no football does consists of two weeks of international football. As frustrating as this is for fans of the sport, health has to be prioritised over anything else.