Coronavirus vs. the Sports World

Coronavirus is continuing to impact not only the health of citizens around the globe, the Sports World is taking a drastic hit as well. The virus is impacting the participation of athletes in sporting events, cancelled and postponed matches as well as the inclusion of supporters.

Formula One was one of the first major sporting events to be cancelled. The Chinese Grand Prix which was to be held in Shanghai, China on the 17th to 19th of April was forced to make the decision as a precaution. The unusually long Formula One season with 22 races scheduled makes it difficult for the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile to accommodate another date. Ferrari was also forced to close their museums located in Maranello and Modena, Italy. Routine testing for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters series was moved from Monza, Italy to Hockenheim, Germany.

Despite taking proper precautions allowing them to travel as well as compete, Italian golfers Lorenzo Gagli and Edoardo Molinari were quarantined ahead of the Oman Open a part of the European Tour. They were the only athletes that were quarantined, despite contact with other athletes. Gagli and Edoardo were faced with frustration as they were forced to withdraw from the tournament.

The Ireland National Rugby Union has decided to cancel the Six Nations match that was set to take place in Dublin, Ireland and the Italian nation. The match of Italy versus England to be played on the 14th of March in Rome, Italy was postponed as well.

The Italian Serie A Football League has been severely impacted as well. Several Italian football teams were originally forced to play their matches behind closed doors, which means that fans were not allowed to attend, these matches were later postponed. The match of Juventus vs. Inter Milan is one of the five matches that this procedure was to be enforced. Other matches included Udinese vs. Fiorentina, AC Milan vs. Genoa, Parma vs. Spal and Sassuolo vs. Brescia, as well as the Inter Milan vs. Sampdoria match was postponed until a later date.

The Japan J-League have postponed their matches while the Chinese Super League have made the decision that there will not be any matches played until the entire Coronavirus situation has come to an end.

Odion Ighalo is a Nigerian striker currently on a one season loan from Chinese club, Shanghai Shenhua. Ighalo was not allowed to train with his new club, Manchester United in Marbella, Spain. The precaution comes as he had been in China in the last 14 days, enforced for all travelers coming from the Chinese region. He was allowed to play in the match against Chelsea on the February 17th as he was cleared from quarantine.

When will the sports world be able to make a full recovery from the effects of the Coronavirus outbreak?