Shambles as Scotland bans football and other mass gatherings but England keeps on

Scotland has banned mass gatherings amid the worsening coronavirus crisis while major public sporting fixtures and concerts in England will continue for now. 

Boris Johnson said that Britain will not follow the lead of other Governments in responding to the life-threatening infection by scrapping mass events.

The Prime Minister told a No 10 press briefing that he was following ‘scientific advice’ which ruled that ‘banning such events will have little effect on the spread’.

However, in a first sign of cowing to public pressure to be seen to be taking decisive action, Mr Johnson conceded the option was being ‘considered’.

The announcement follows demands to join Ireland and Scotland in banning mass events, as First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told Holyrood today that she would recommend cancelling gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday.

During Question Time in the Scottish Parliament, Ms Sturgeon vowed to restrict mass gatherings as it would be ‘inappropriate that we continue as normal’. 

She made the announcement as the number of cases in Scotland jumped to 60, stealing Mr Johnson’s thunder before his press conference today.  

It has led to a shambles as UK sporting bodies are split on whether or not to scrap upcoming fixtures this month, with some hoping they will be told to by Government.

Sources from the sporting world told MailOnline this weekend’s Premier League matches and tomorrow’s Cheltenham Gold Cup will continue. 

Matches in the Champions League and Europa League could be suspended for at least two weeks – and even this summer’s Euro 2020 could be pushed to 2021.

All players at Premier League club Leicester City are being tested for the virus after three teammates showed symptoms. The results are expected tomorrow.

And the Australian Grand Prix was postponed over coronavirus concerns, after Formula One’s McLaren team pulled out when a member of staff tested positive.

The ‘delay’ phase means that the UK Government can at any point impose increased measures that ban public gatherings, but this is not expected to happen just yet. 

However in Spain, the top two LaLiga divisions have been entirely suspended today for at least two weeks, while Major League Soccer in the US is now off for 30 days. 

DailyMail.com US Editor-at-Large Piers Morgan has led the calls for football to be cancelled, tweeting today: ‘Cancel football this season. Now.’ 

He admitted it would be ‘awful’ for Premier League leaders Liverpool if the season doesn’t finish, but added: ‘The nation’s health is more important than football.’

The Who have decided to postpone their UK tour due to concerns around fan safety amid the outbreak, shortly before it was due to begin in Manchester on March 16.

And the BAFTA Games Awards, which were due to be a red carpet ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London on April 2, will now be an online live stream instead.

Meanwhile the London Bike Show at ExCel London, which was due to take place from March 27, was today postponed until July following the escalation of the virus. 

Ireland has cancelled all St Patrick’s Day parades on March 17 which had been set to draw hundreds of thousands of revellers, including tourists from around the world. 

If the situation escalates, more sporting events could be called off or played behind closed doors, concerts postponed, theme parks closed and conferences cancelled.  

Doubts now surround big events set to take place in the coming months, including the Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam in May and June’s Glastonbury Festival.

There is currently no ban on gatherings in the UK despite ten people having died from Covid-19 in Britain, with the total number of positive cases nearing 600.

This is in contrast to the response across Europe, including in crisis-hit Italy which has shut shops, schools, nightclubs, gyms, museums and cancelled all sport.

Elsewhere, France has banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people, while the NBA basketball season in the US has been suspended ‘until further notice’.  

High-profile sporting events over the next two months which could be under threat if the situation escalates include the Boat Race on March 29 and the Grand National at Aintree on April 3.

Also coming up is England v Italy in the football at Wembley on March 27, and the London Marathon on April 26 which is due to be attended by Prince Harry.

Looking further ahead, the Euro 2020 football tournament, scheduled to be held in 12 cities across the continent, is due to begin in Rome on June 12.

There is also the FA Cup final at Wembley on May 23, the Anthony Joshua v Kubrat Pulev fight in London on June 20 and Wimbledon, due to start on June 29.

Manchester City’s clash against Arsenal in the Premier League last night became the first top flight fixture to fall victim due to fears surrounding coronavirus.

Upcoming UK concerts which could be under threat at The O2 in London include Pussycat Dolls on April 17, Harry Styles on April 22 and Craig David on April 26.

Other artists due to perform at the 20,000-capacity venue soon include David Gray on March 26, Evanescence on April 7 and Snoop Dogg on April 15.

Upcoming gigs at the 12,500-capacity Wembley Arena could also be affected, including Morrissey on March 14 and Andre Rieu on April 24.

The Who’s gig at Wembley on April 8 has already postponed along with the rest of their 11-date UK tour due to concerns over fan safety amid the virus outbreak.

The band were due to kick off their tour in Manchester next week. Roger Daltrey, 76, said the shows will ‘definitely happen and it may be the last time we do a tour of this type, so keep those tickets, as the shows will be fantastic’. 

Theme parks such as Alton Towers, due to open on March 21, and Thorpe Park, on March 27, could have to close if a ban on mass public gatherings comes in.

And West End theatres could face having to suspend performances, with current hit shows including The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera and Wicked.

Other shows facing cancellation in London include Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins, The Book of Mormon, Matilda, Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen and Les Miserables. 

Major conferences at ExCel London also face cancellation, including London Bridal Fashion Week from March 22. 

The London Bike Show at the venue, which was due to take place from March 27, was today postponed until July.

Others which could be cancelled at the 70,000-capacity venue including the Property Investor Show on April 5 and The National Wedding Show from April 4. 

All other fixtures are still due to go ahead as it stands, although they could soon be played behind closed doors under new plans to combat the spread of the virus.

ASM Global, which manages Wembley Arena, Manchester Arena, First Direct Arena in Leeds and Utilita Arena Newcastle, told MailOnline it was monitoring the situation.

A spokesman said: ‘We are obviously seeing a lot of impact across people to people business in Europe and that’s in sport, entertainment, concerts and exhibitions. 

‘We’re in regular dialogue with all the event owners and are very close to the Government’s announcement and public health guidance as well. 

‘If the Cobra decision is to move up to ‘delay’, there seems to be a bit of ambiguity on whether this will affect gatherings or not.

‘So what we’ll do is monitor it and provide clear and comprehensive guidance. We fully understand it’s a fluid situation.’

Boris Johnson is expected to accept today that the coronavirus outbreak can no longer be contained in the UK, signalling the start of the next phase in the battle.

The Prime Minister will chair a Cobra meeting at lunchtime this afternoon where ministers are expected to agree to move into the ‘delay’ stage of the process.

Moving to delay would mean social distancing measures could be brought in, such as restricting public gatherings and issuing more widespread advice to stay at home.

The expected shift in UK policy came as Donald Trump dramatically escalated the US response to the coronavirus pandemic, slapping a travel ban on continental Europe.

The suspension of travel between the United States and Europe – excluding the UK and Ireland – will last for 30 days starting tomorrow. 

Mr Trump made the announcement in an Oval Office address to the nation, blaming the EU for not acting quickly enough to address the outbreak of the virus and saying US clusters were ‘seeded’ by European travellers.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak played down the prospect of the UK imposing similar travel restrictions, saying ‘the evidence here doesn’t support that’. 

Today’s Cobra meeting comes after 10 people with Covid-19 were confirmed to have died in the UK, while the total number of positive cases rose to 600.

A Cabinet minister, who has not been named, was self-isolating while awaiting a test result after coming into contact with health minister Nadine Dorries. 

Ms Dorries is self-isolating at home after being diagnosed with the illness.

A source confirmed fellow health minister Edward Argar is also self-isolating at home ‘as a precaution’ after having lunch with Ms Dorries on Thursday, the day she started to feel unwell.

Mr Sunak told the BBC: ‘This has obviously now impacted Parliament and government, and we are dealing with it, like all other businesses are going to have to start dealing with it.’

Public Health England was carrying out a ‘very thorough and rigorous process’ to trace people who had been in close contact with Ms Dorries, he said.

Meanwhile the NBA season has been suspended ‘until further notice’ after an unnamed player from the Utah Jazz tested positive for coronavirus. 

The NBA’s decision came as F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton said it was ‘shocking’ that his sport was pressing on with starting its season this weekend. 

US basketball was suspended after the league was advised of the positive test shortly before last night’s game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder.

Meanwhile the ATP announced a six-week suspension of the men’s tour taking in all events until the end of April.

As well as the Miami Open, that includes another Masters event in Monte-Carlo along with tournaments in Barcelona, Houston, Marrakech and Budapest.

It also includes the current Challenger tournaments in South Africa and Kazakhstan.

Britain’s Jack Draper, who was playing his second-round match in Potchefstroom, was 5-4 up in the deciding set against Germany’s Tobias Simon when the match was abruptly halted.

ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: ‘This is not a decision that was taken lightly and it represents a great loss for our tournaments, players, and fans worldwide.

‘However, we believe this is the responsible action needed at this time in order to protect the health and safety of our players, staff, the wider tennis community and general public health in the face of this global pandemic. 

‘The worldwide nature of our sport and the international travel required presents significant risks and challenges in today’s circumstances, as do the increasingly restrictive directives issued by local authorities.

‘We continue to monitor this on a daily basis and we look forward to the Tour resuming when the situation improves. In the meantime, our thoughts and well-wishes are with all those that have been affected by the virus.’

Brighton and Hove Albion football boss Graham Potter believes football has ‘no meaning’ without supporters in attendance but insists containing coronavirus is of far greater importance. 

Asked about the prospect of playing behind closed doors, Potter said: ‘The bigger picture is we’re in the middle of a pandemic, there’s a concern globally about something that’s unprecedented, there are countries in lock down, things that haven’t happened since the Second World War pretty much.

‘It seems a little bit shallow of me to speak about what I would want on a football level.

‘In a general level, take everything away, of course you want people watching football in the stadiums – there’s no meaning to have football games, Premier League, without supporters. But that’s in a normal situation, and we’re not in that situation now.’

Spain has postponed all LaLiga matches for two weeks after Real Madrid announced that their players have been told to go into quarantine.

Real, whose game at Manchester City in the Champions League next week has been postponed, made the call today after a member of the club’s basketball team tested positive for coronavirus.

LaLiga said in a statement: ‘Given the circumstances known this morning, referring to the quarantine established at Real Madrid and the possible positives in players from other clubs, LaLiga considers that the circumstances are already in place to continue with the next phase of the protocol of action against COVID-19. 

‘Consequently, in accordance with the measures established in Royal Decree 664/1997 of May 12, [it] agrees to suspend at least the next two rounds.

‘The decision will be reevaluated after the completion of the quarantines decreed in the affected clubs and other possible situations that may arise.’

UEFA has called an emergency meeting next Tuesday to discuss whether the Champions League, the Europa League and Euro 2020 can continue to be played amid the global coronavirus pandemic.

Reports from Spain said the Champions League and Europa League could be immediately suspended, following the news that Real Madrid’s players had been quarantined as a precautionary measure after a member of the club’s basketball team tested positive for coronavirus.

That followed news last night that Juventus’ Daniele Rugani had tested positive for Covid-19 and that isolation procedures were being put in place for other squad members who may have had contact. 

A statement from UEFA this afternoon said: ‘In the light of the ongoing developments in the spread of Covid-19 across Europe and the changing analysis of the World Health Organisation, UEFA has today invited representatives of its 55 member associations, together with the boards of the European Club Association and the European Leagues and a representative of FIFPro, to attend meetings by video conference on Tuesday March 17 to discuss European football’s response to the outbreak.

‘Discussions will include all domestic and European competitions, including UEFA EURO 2020. Further communication will be made following those meetings.’

It is understood the Europa League matches that had not already been postponed will be played tonight as planned.

The Slovakian football association has formally asked UEFA to postpone the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against the Republic of Ireland as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Slovakia are due to host Ireland in Bratislava in March 26., with the winners scheduled to face either Bosnia and Herzegovina or Northern Ireland in the final.

The move makes it almost certain that City’s Champions League second-leg clash against Real next Tuesday in Manchester will be postponed.

Real Madrid said in a statement: ‘Real Madrid reports that a player from our first basketball team has tested positive after testing for the COVID-19 coronavirus.

‘Since then, the recommendation has been made to quarantine both the basketball first team and the football first team, given that the two squads share facilities in Madrid.

‘Likewise, it has been decided to close the facilities of our sports city and it is also recommended that all Real Madrid personnel who provide their services in Real Madrid City remain in quarantine.’

And the Australian Grand Prix was postponed over coronavirus concerns, after Formula One’s McLaren team pulled out when a member of staff tested positive. 

The team personnel, believed to be a mechanic, was placed in quarantine in Melbourne yesterday after reporting symptoms related to the disease.

The individual was one of five people tested for the virus at the event but Haas have confirmed that all four of their team members who were tested have come back with negative results.

A statement from McLaren read: ‘McLaren Racing has confirmed this evening in Melbourne that it has withdrawn from the 2020 Formula One Australian Grand Prix, following the positive test of a team member for the coronavirus.

‘The team member was tested and self-isolated as soon as they started to show symptoms and will now be treated by local healthcare authorities.

‘The team has prepared for this eventuality and has ongoing support in place for its employee who will now enter a period of quarantine.’ 

The Premier League and Football League have continued to indicate that they will follow government advice when it comes to postponements or playing matches behind closed doors.

Sheffield Wednesday are understood to be in dialogue with the authorities over Saturday’s match against Nottingham Forest, whose owner Evangelos Marinkis’ positive diagnosis.

However, Forest confirmed that all players, staff and officers have been tested for the coronavirus and come back negative.

Wolves’ Europa League match against Olymiapcos, whom Marinkis also owns, is set to take place behind closed doors in Greece tonight despite the Premier League club expressing their opposition.

England’s friendly against Italy at Wembley on March 27 is still scheduled to go ahead.

UEFA has confirmed it has received no requests from national associations to postpone the Euro 2020 finals, which are due to start in Rome on June 12.

Scottish sporting events are set to be postponed or played behind closed doors following an announcement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

She told the Scottish Parliament she would recommend the cancellation of gatherings of more than 500 people from Monday.

Speaking ahead of a Cobra meeting with other UK leaders, Ms Sturgeon said: ‘Mass gatherings are required to be policed, they require to have emergency ambulance cover, they require the services of our voluntary health services, and at a time when we need to be reducing the pressures on these front-line workers in order to free them up on the significant challenge that lies ahead, I do think it is inappropriate that we continue as normal.’

Earlier, she said there is a ‘big question mark’ over whether large-scale events such as football matches should go ahead.

She said that while cancelling mass gatherings does not have a significant impact on reducing the spread of the virus, such events tie up resources which could be used elsewhere.

She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: ‘Mass gatherings, football matches for example, they need to be policed, they need to have emergency medical ambulance cover.

‘We are going into a period where our emergency services, our NHS in particular, will be under significant challenge and significant pressure, we may see all of our workforces affected by high absentee rates because of sickness so there’s a wider issue here about whether cancelling those kind of events is the right thing to do to reduce pressure on our front-line emergency workers.

‘From a wider resilience point of view, then I think there is a big question mark over whether large-scale events like that, whether it is sensible to allow them to proceed at the moment.

‘We’re looking very carefully right now at whether large-scale events, whether it would be right and sensible given the situation we are facing right now to allow them to go ahead.’

The International Olympic Committee released a statement reaffirming its commitment to delivering the Tokyo Games this summer on schedule.

There has been huge speculation over whether the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Japan could be cancelled or postponed, but the IOC issued a confident update on Thursday.

‘With 19 weeks before the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, the many measures being taken now by authorities all around the world give us confidence and keep us fully committed to delivering Olympic Games that can bring the world together in peace,’ the IOC statement read.