AG百家乐在线官网

Coronavirus: Bundesliga is back, but when will other top-tier sport return?

Elite football, tennis and Formula 1 are all hoping to return in some capacity over the summer
Image: Elite football, tennis and Formula 1 are all hoping to return in some capacity over the summer
Why you can trust Sky News

Two months after the season was curtailed by coronavirus, the Bundesliga is back and spearheading a return for top-tier sport.

While any comeback for football, cricket and Formula 1 may present some moral quandaries given the ongoing threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, plans are afoot for a resumption in play.

As summer looms on the horizon, Sky News looks at the elite sports across the world which are eyeing up their comeback from the coronavirus - albeit without supporters to fill the terraces.

Coronavirus: The infection numbers in real time
Coronavirus: The infection numbers in real time

Football

The Bundesliga has opened the floodgates for what other major European leagues hope will be a long-awaited return sometime during the coming weeks.

Project Restart is the name given to the Premier League's plan and clubs are targeting a return to training in small groups from next week, with players needing time to get back to fitness after a long lay-off.

It is hoped that matches could get underway in June, although it is still unclear whether clubs will still play home and away as normal or at neutral venues.

More on Covid-19

England's second tier, the Championship, is also keen to complete the season and its decision will be linked to what happens with the Premier League.

There's no decision yet on League One, while League Two clubs have voted to end the season early.

The Premier League could well be back on the same weekend as Serie A, with clubs in Italy's top tier having voted to resume their season on 13 June - pending approval from the government.

Barcelona and Real Madrid could also continue their latest title tussle in June, with La Liga bosses also hoping to be back next month, while Portugal's government has said the Primeira Liga can resume on 30 May.

Comebacks for the Champions League and Europa League are less certain given the need for teams to travel across the continent, but UEFA is considering proposals that would see the finals take place in late August.

Liverpool players celebrate in their final match before the lockdown brought an end to fixtures
Image: Liverpool were two wins from title glory when the season was suspended

Formula 1

There have been no F1 races since the final round of the 2019 season in Abu Dhabi in December, with the first 10 scheduled 2020 races having been cancelled or postponed.

It is hoped that the Austrian GP on 5 July could mark the eventual start of the new season, with two races to be held across consecutive weekends before heading to Silverstone for what could be another double-header.

Like football, the comeback would not involve fans and would require all personnel involved to be tested regularly to ensure they do not have coronavirus.

F1 plans to stage further races in Europe before heading for Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, with the season to speed towards its finale end in the Middle East in December with races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi.

The Brazilian Grand Prix in November
Image: The 2020 F1 season has not yet been able to get started

Cricket

Last summer was a dream one for English cricket fans thanks to a historic World Cup win over New Zealand, but the sport will not be back until at least 1 July.

The ECB is hoping England men's Test series against West Indies - and England women's T20I and ODI matches against India - will be able to take place before September.

Any return for the County Championship season will also be pushed as late into the summer as possible, with at least nine rounds of fixtures to be lost.

The two new sets of stamps feature images taken during the finals and celebrations of both England Men's and Women's ICC Cricket World Cup winning teams
Image: England won the World Cup last summer

Boxing

One month to the day before the UK entered lockdown, Tyson Fury provided the boxing story of the year so far by defeating Deontay Wilder in their heavyweight rematch.

The British Boxing Board of Control is "hopeful" the sport will return in July, but the governing body has warned that restrictions could be enforced in this country.

Limited numbers of people will initially be allowed to attend bouts, a maximum of five fights will be staged on each bill, and there will be a pre-tournament medical form, testing and pre-tournament quarantine.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 22: Tyson Fury (R) punches Deontay Wilder during their Heavyweight bout for Wilder's WBC and Fury's lineal heavyweight title on February 22, 2020 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Image: Tyson Fury defeated Deontay Wilder in February

Golf

People in England can now head to their favourite courses for a round, and pro golf is also due back in the US.

The PGA Tour has announced plans for tournament golf to return in June, with the first four events of the season's resumption played behind closed doors.

The Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Texas has been confirmed as the first tournament back, scheduled to take place from 11 June to 14 June.

As for the majors, the PGA Championship will start on 6 August, and the US Open on 17 September.

The Masters has been scheduled for 12 November, but The Open has been cancelled - and there has been no rescheduled calendar from the European Tour yet.

However, the Ryder Cup remains on course for 25 September to 27 September at Whistling Straights.

VIRGINIA WATER, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 21: Justin Rose of England inspects the positioning of his ball on the 18th green during Day Three of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club on September 21, 2019 in Virginia Water, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Image: Professional golf is coming back in the US, but not Europe yet

Rugby

July is the earliest rugby fans can expect to watch any top-level action in the UK.

Premiership Rugby is targeting a restart behind closed doors in early July, aiming to finish the 2019-20 season.

However, all international matches scheduled for July have been postponed.

The Six Nations is not due back until October at the earliest after the tournament was suspended with one round of matches left to play - and England top of the table - back in March.

watson
Image: England were leading the Six Nations table

Others

  • Tennis: ATP and WTA Tours won't be back until August at the earliest, with no decision yet on if the US Open should take place as planned in New York from 31 August 31 to 14 September.
  • Darts: The Premier League is due to resume in Birmingham on 30 July, with all of May and June's events having been cancelled.
  • NFL: The opening game of the 2020 season between Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans has been scheduled for 10 September but bosses are "prepared to make adjustments if necessary".
  • NBA: June is the earliest fans can expect word on whether the current season will be able to resume after it was postponed indefinitely.
  • Athletics: The London Marathon has been moved to 4 October but there's little else on the calendar for 2020, with the Olympics and Paralympics moved to 2021.
  • Cycling: The Tour de France has been pushed back to 29 August, but dates have not yet been set for the other major cycling tournaments - the World Championships, the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana.
  • Horse racing: It is hoped that horse racing will be able to return behind closed doors in June, headlined by this year's Royal meeting at Ascot from 16 June to 20 June.