THE Premier League may not return until JULY when all games could then be played behind closed doors within four weeks.
But Harry Kane has revealed he wants the season closed BEFORE it gets to that.
Elsewhere, Mike Tyson has urged Dana White to go ahead with his plans to host UFC 249 as planned on April 18 despite most of the world in lockdown due to coronavirus.
Follow all the latest news and updates as the sporting world deals with the threat of coronavirus…
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SPORT RETURN?
Phil Mickleson has hinted that him and Tiger Woods could play out a £7.2m rematch DURING coronavirus.
The American golf duo faced off in a shootout round in a made-for-TV event that saw the winner take home £7m back in 2018.
There have been rumours of a rematch on the cards, with NFL stars Tom Brady and Peyton Manning also tipped to join in.
And now Mickleson revealed to a fan on Twitter that they are “working on” a rematch which could give sport fans some solace during isolation and lockdown due to the killer bug.
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MORNING SPORTS FANS,
Ilkay Gundogan says he would be “OK” with Liverpool being crowned champions – just as Premier League chiefs consider locking each squad together away from their families to resume the season.
With Jurgen Klopp's men 25 points clear, fears are mounting that the coronavirus crisis still might end the campaign early, Manchester City midfielder Gundogan said: “You have to be fair as a sportsperson.”
England skipper and Spurs striker Harry Kane believes the campaign should end unless it FINISHES before July.
That was even starker than Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin's assessment that the season “is probably lost” if it does not recommence by the end of June.
Top-flight clubs, players and the PFA want to play out the term, even with games behind closed doors
And one idea is for the 20 Prem squads staying at separate, secure locations for around six weeks – helping to prevent Covid-19 spreading before the season hopefully ends by July 12.
Meanwhile, the personal cost of coronavirus hit home in boxing when British boxer Anthony Yarde revealed his father had died from the disease – despite being “fit with no health issues”.
Yarde, 28, posted on social media: “I'm still in shock but maybe this can help people stay at home.”
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Alistair Brownleeremains undecided over whether he will go for a hat-trick of Olympic crowns.
The triathlon hero has already won another race-against-time dash last week as he hopped on one of the last few flights home before the US borders slammed shut.
Brownlee, who won Olympic gold in London and Rio, had hoped to race in Tokyo this summer but accepts it was the right call to postpone the Games to 2021 because of coronavirus fears.
The Dewsbury-born 31-year-old has battled back to fitness after long-term injuries but harbours ambitions of moving soon into Ironman triathlon.
Currently self-isolating at home, Brownlee said: “I’m genuinely not sitting on the fence here but I think it’s important to take stock now. I’m back in the UK, focusing on staying healthy.
“Of course, I’d love to be there and it’s only a year, and it would be easy to say I hung on for this one and it’s only a year. But sport is a funny thing. A year ago, I didn’t think I’d be in this position where I’d have a shot of doing OK.”
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POGBA RALLYING CALL TO UTD FANS
Paul Pogba has told Manchester United fans to “stay safe” and promised them:“We'll be back on the pitch soon.”
The French World Cup winner has been linked with a summer move to Real Madrid or Juventus but pledged to target trophies with United
And catching up with Old Trafford team-mate Jesse Lingard in a video call, the 27-year-old urged supporters: “Stay at home – stay safe.
“Hopefully things will get better very soon and we will get back to the game.
“Stay connected, stay safe and we'll be back on the pitch soon.”
United players are on strict, personalised fitness regimes as they stay inside during the coronavirus pandemic.
And with football suspended until at least April 30, Pogba should have fully recovered by injury if and when the season resumes.
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PREM STARS FACE HOME BAN
Premier League stars could be BANNED from going home and forced to live together so football can resume in June.
Top-flight clubs, players and the PFA want to finish the campaign, even though the remaining fixtures would be behind closed doors
And that could see the squads of all 20 teams staying at separate locations — with no chance of going home to their families— until the season is finally over.
Keeping a team isolated as a unit would make it easier to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.
Players who have played at international tournaments would be used to the set-up, as they stay together in one hotel and only leave to train and play matches.
This solution could last for about six weeks, with the aim to complete the Prem by July 12.
Uefa chief Aleksander Ceferin claimed theseason “is probably lost” unless football returns by the end of June.
And in the meeting on Friday between thePremier League, EFL and PFA, there was an agreement that they must try and finish the season, despite the difficulties.
Premier League clubs have the most to lose as they would be hit with massive financial penalties from broadcasters if the season is written off — with some needing to pay cash back.
An increase in the availability of testing kits would make it easier for players to be passed fit.
Accommodation could prove tricky for teams, although Spurs have plenty of room at their state-of-the-art training base in Enfield.
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