Welcome to the Evening Standard's LIVE coverage as the coronavirus crisis continues to heavily impact sport across the globe.
Latest coronavirus sports news...
- PSG confirmed as Ligue 1 champions
- The Hundred cricket tournament delayed until 2021
- Project Restart in doubt by calls for ‘all European leagues to end’
- Clubs concerned testing poses significant hurdle to resumption
- Neville says money clouding judgement over football return
- Arsenal chief suggests transfers not a priority this summer
- Crystal Palace preparing for imminent training return
- Neutral venues could be safer option, says top officer
Can't see the Coronavirus Sport News LIVE blog? Click here to access our desktop page.
Premier League’s Project Restart in doubt by calls for ‘all European leagues to end’
French government 'lobbying' to stop Prem, other top leagues
Following the cancellation of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, the French government is reportedly pressing for the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and LaLiga to all be called off as well.
Le Parisien reports that with France's top two leagues called off with all major sporting events banned until September, French ministers are now lobbying their counterparts in England, Germany, Spain and Italy in a bid for European harmonisation - with President Macron hoping to start a "domino effect" across the continent.
Roxana Maracineanu, Minister for Sports in France, is said to have been charged with leading talks to try and persuade the rest of Europe's top five leagues to follow suit.
While the Premier League remains committed to finishing the season if possible, that position could become weaker if Europe's other major leagues follow France's decision.
Should more European leagues take the same course of action, it would also potentially allow Uefa to take a firmer position - and if a number of top leagues are in the same boat, it would theoretically be easier to make concrete proposals for next season's Champions League and Europa League.
