Sport shorts: National League clubs vote to end season and Roger Federer wants the ATP and WTA tours to merge
Ten things from the world of sport on Wednesday 22 April
1. NL clubs vote to end season
Clubs in English football’s National League have voted to end the season immediately because of the coronavirus.
The three highest non-league divisions in England - the National League, National League North and National League South - were suspended on 16 March and following a vote almost 90% of clubs have decided to end the campaign early.
National League CEO Michael Tattersall said: “At a time when the entire country is wrestling with the devastating impact of Covid-19, the cancellation of the remaining normal season matches brings a degree of certainty to our clubs coping with the business implications of the virus.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The options concerning promotion and relegation “remain under careful and timely consideration”.
2. O’Neill leaves Northern Ireland role
Michael O’Neill’s eight-year spell as Northern Ireland manager is over after announcing he is to solely focus on his role as Stoke City boss.
He took over at Stoke in November and was to continue managing Northern Ireland until the end of the Euro 2020 qualification process. However, with the play-off against Bosnia & Herzegovina now likely to be pushed back until October, and the main tournament now next year, he has stepped aside early.
O’Neill said: “It was important to leave the association and team in the strongest possible shape in order to not only have the best chance of qualifying for Euro 2021, but allow the new manager time to build upon the success that we have had during my eight-year tenure.”
3. Amnesty warning over Saudi human rights
The proposed takeover of Newcastle United by a consortium of buyers including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has been criticised by Amnesty International and one of the Premier League’s broadcast partners, beIN Sports.
Amnesty UK director Kate Allen wrote in a letter to the Premier League: “The coronavirus crisis has already thrown a spotlight on football and its need to treat players and staff fairly, and now there’s a danger that the pandemic could obscure the need for a cool, measured and genuinely ethical decision over this Newcastle deal. All businesses need to safeguard against any possible links to human rights violations, and English football is no different.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
4. Magpies want Mauricio
While Amnesty International has written to the Premier League to express its concern about the proposed takeover of Newcastle, the Daily Star and the Daily Mirror are more interested in the possibility that Mauricio Pochettino could be the Magpies’ next boss.
Apparently the Saudis are “confident” that they will be given the go ahead to buy the Magpies from Mike Ashley for £300m, and the man they want at the helm is the former Tottenham gaffer.
5. Back pages: Spurs duo say sorry
“You clowns” is the headline on the back page of the Daily Mail as the paper takes Tottenham’s Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko to task for what they call a flouting of the social distancing rules.
The Mail reports that Aurier and Sissoko uploaded footage of them doing some shuttle runs before deleting the clip a short while later.
By then the damage had been done and the two players issued an apology: “We wish to apologise for not setting the right example here. We recognise that as professional footballers we have a responsibility to be role models, particularly during this uncertain period that everyone around the world is facing.”
6. Federer: ATP and WTA should merge
Roger Federer wants to see a merger of the men’s Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
The Swiss, a 20-time grand slam champion, said on Twitter: “I am picturing a merger between the WTA and ATP. I am not talking about merging competition on the court, but merging the two governing bodies [ATP and WTA] that oversee the men’s and women’s professional tours.
“It probably should have happened a long time ago, but maybe now is really the time. These are tough times in every sport and we can come out of this with two weakened bodies or one stronger body.”
7. Ricciardo supports F1 races without fans
Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo would support plans for the Formula 1 season to start with races held behind closed doors.
Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Vodcast the Australian said: “There’s obviously a push for a season to happen with the right circumstances. If that means some of it, or the start of it, is behind closed doors - from my side, so be it. Of course, with a crowd it’s nice, but if we can still race without, I’ll take that any day.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
8. Gronk to reunite with Brady in Tampa Bay
Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski will come out of retirement to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. NFL.com reports that the 30-year-old will reunite with quarterback Tom Brady after the Pats and Bucs made a trade.
9. Women’s Euros set for 2022
Uefa is set to postpone the 2021 Women’s European Championships until 2022. With the men’s Euro 2020 now taking place in 2021, this means the women’s tournament in England will also be rescheduled for 6-31 July 2022.
10. Chelsea offered Coutinho
Sky Sports reports that Barcelona have offered Chelsea the chance to sign Philippe Coutinho. In 2018 the Brazilian playmaker left Liverpool for Barcelona in a £145m deal but has been on loan at Bayern Munich this season.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For analysis of the biggest sport stories - and a concise, balanced take on the week’s news - try The Week magazine. Start your trial today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The Pentagon faces an uncertain future with Trump
Talking Point The president-elect has nominated conservative commentator Pete Hegseth to lead the Defense Department
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
This is what you should know about State Department travel advisories and warnings
In Depth Stay safe on your international adventures
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
'All Tyson-Paul promised was spectacle and, in the end, that's all we got'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Speed Read Man Utd confirm the striker will not train or play until further notice
By The Week Staff Published
-
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Speed Read Women competitors will be required to ‘wear short tight pants with a close fit’
By The Week Staff Published
-
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Speed Read Last week, Manchester United re-signed the forward on a two-year deal thought to be worth more than £400,000 a week
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Speed Read Declaring a bank holiday would be ‘tempting fate’, says Boris Johnson
By The Week Staff Published
-
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Speed Read New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard will make history at Tokyo 2020
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Joachim Low and the Lions women’s team
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Keely Hodgkinson and Bryson DeChambeau
By Mike Starling Published
-
Sport shorts: Klopp’s unwanted record as Liverpool lose again at Anfield
Speed Read News and reactions from the world of sport, featuring Tiger Woods and Tom Brady
By Mike Starling Published