Euro 2020 postponed until 2021 by UEFA over coronavirus

UEFA said that the 24-team tournament, which was due to be staged in 12 nations across the continent from June 12 to July 12 this year, would now take place from June 11 to July 11 2021.

* This year's Copa America has been postponed until 2021 due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) said on Tuesday. The 12-team tournament, originally scheduled for June 12-July 12 in Colombia and Argentina, follows the 2020 European Championship in being pushed back a year with global sport being brought to a virtual standstill by the coronavirus outbreak.

* Fifa President Gianni Infantino said world soccer's top body should move the planned 2021 Club World Cup dates to make way for the postponed Euro 2020 Championship and the Copa America, which have both been pushed back a year.

* Tokyo 2020 organisers said on Tuesday (Mar 17) that they were scaling back parts of the Olympic torch relay due to the coronavirus, but that spectators would still be allowed to watch from the roadside.

* Burnley boss Sean Dyche has been named the Premier League manager of the month for February. Burnley were unbeaten in February with wins over Southampton and Bournemouth and draws against Arsenal and Newcastle United. Dyche's side kept three clean sheets in that run, conceding only one goal as they moved up to 10th in the standings.

* The International Olympic Committee does not plan any "drastic" decisions about the Tokyo 2020 Games, saying on Tuesday it remains fully committed to the event being staged in four months' time despite the global spread of the coronavirus. Following discussions with international sports federations the IOC said changes would need to be made to the qualifiers due to the impact of the virus, but it still plans to go ahead with the July 24-Aug 9 Olympics.

* The African Nations Championship 2020 soccer tournament scheduled for April in Cameroon has been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus outbreak, the African Football Federation said in a statement on Tuesday.

* Eight of the world's best chess players began competing in an international tournament in Russia on Tuesday, but were told by organisers that handshakes would be optional because of the coronavirus that has halted most sports around the world. Known as the Candidates Tournament, the event, organised by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), brings together contenders vying for the chance to challenge defending world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway for the world title.

* The French Open, which was to have taken place from May 24 to Jun 7, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and will take place from Sep 20 to Oct 4, organisers said Tuesday (Mar 18). The new dates would mean the tournament would start just one week after the US Open, if that event remains in its scheduled slot.

* Wimbledon officials on Tuesday said they are continuing plans for the grasscourt major to start on June 29 as scheduled even though French Open organisers postponed the claycourt Grand Slam to September due to the coronavirus pandemic.

* Football is facing its first economic crisis for decades with the prospect of mass layoffs of players if nothing is done to bail out clubs left without matches by the coronavirus pandemic, the global players' union FIFPRO said on Tuesday.

* The PGA Championship scheduled for May 14-17 has been postponed over coronavirus concerns, the PGA of America announced on Tuesday saying it hoped to reschedule the event for the summer. The PGA Tour, a separate body which runs the game's biggest weekly circuit, has cancelled its schedule until at least May 10.

(Source: Reuter, CNA)