Digest

SOCCER

FIFA plans to postpone 2021 Club World Cup

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Tuesday that next year's FIFA Club World Cup in China should be moved to a later date because of the postponements of other major tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Tuesday it was announced that Euro 2020 and the Copa America will be played in June and July next year, with Infantino saying that FIFA must now decide "when to reschedule the new FIFA Club World Cup, later in 2021, in 2022 or in 2023".

Infantino said that FIFA will discuss the possible postponement with the Chinese government and Chinese Football Association, with the aim of "minimizing any negative impact".

The Club World Cup's Chinese organizing committee told Xinhua that it will keep in close contact with FIFA to discuss all related issues.

Last year, eight Chinese cities－Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangzhou, Wuhan, Shenyang, Jinan, Hangzhou and Dalian－won the right to host the inaugural edition of an expanded 24-team Club World Cup.

Juve's Matuidi tests positive for COVID-19

Juventus midfielder Blaise Matuidi has tested positive for COVID-19, the Serie A giant confirmed on Tuesday.

"Blaise Matuidi has undergone medical tests that have revealed his positivity to the coronavirus COVID-19," read a statement.

The Frenchman was been quarantined since March 11, shortly after his teammate Daniele Rugani became the first player in Serie A to test positive for the illness.

Having joined the Bianconeri in the summer of 2017, Matuidi made 31 appearances this season, providing one goal and two assists.

According to the Turin-based club, the 32-year-old France international has not shown any symptoms of the disease.

Six players at Espanyol－the club of China international striker Wu Lei－h(huán)ave also contracted the virus, the Spanish team said on Tuesday.

Euros, Copa pushed back over virus crisis

The decision to push back soccer's European Championship and Copa America by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic were the biggest but far from the last of many such calls to be made on the sport's ravaged calendar.

European soccer's governing body UEFA announced on Tuesday that Euro 2020 was delayed by 12 months after an emergency video conference call with all 55 of its national federations.

It was the most obvious first step, which was quickly followed by South American body CONMEBOL's decision to postpone the Copa America by a year, with the tournament being held on the same dates as the European Championship from June 11-July 11 and featuring dozens of players based in Europe.

"We are at the helm of a sport that vast numbers of people live and breathe that has been laid low by this invisible and fast-moving opponent," UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said.

"The health of fans, staff and players has to be our number one priority, and in that spirit, UEFA has tabled a range of options so that competitions can finish this season safely, and I am proud of the response of my colleagues across European football."

TENNIS

French Open delayed until September

The French Open has been postponed for about four months because of the coronavirus pandemic, shifting from May to September and juggling the tennis calendar.

The French tennis federation announced on Tuesday it will hold its 15-day clay-court event at Roland Garros in Paris from Sept 20 to Oct 4, instead of May 24 to June 7, "to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in organizing the tournament".

In the statement announcing the move, federation president Bernard Giudicelli described it as "a difficult yet brave decision in this unprecedented situation".

The French Open's new dates place it right after the hard-court US Open, which currently is scheduled to be held in New York from Aug 31 to Sept 13. Having just one week between two major championships, played on different surfaces, would be unusually short.

The US Tennis Association said later Tuesday it is considering "the possibility" of postponing the US Open because of the outbreak.

OLYMPICS

IOC is endangering athletes, says champ

The International Olympic Committee is putting the health of elite athletes at risk by telling them to continue training for the Tokyo 2020 Games as the coronavirus rages, reigning Olympic pole vault champion Katerina Stefanidi told Reuters on Tuesday.

"There is no postponement, no cancellation. But it (the IOC) is putting us at risk," the Greek said in an exclusive interview.

"We all want Tokyo to happen but what is the Plan B if it does not happen? Knowing about a possible option has a major effect on my training because I may be taking risks now that I would not take if I knew there was also the possibility of a Plan B," Stefanidi added.

"We have to decide whether to risk our health and continue training in the current environment."

The IOC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

GOLF

PGA Championship to be rescheduled

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 canceled its schedule until at least May 10.

The PGA Championship, one of golf's four men's majors, was due to be held at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

"Throughout our evaluation process, we have been committed to following the guidance of public health authorities and given the coronavirus shelter-in-place order in effect in San Francisco, postponement is the best decision for all involved," said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.

Xinhua - Agencies