The Omicron, COVID threatening the sports world. Coronavirus variety threatens to throw world sports into upheaval once again, just when it has recovered its brio and the welcome return to filled venues.
Let’s have a look at the current status of play in different sports throughout the world.
Football
Despite the Coronavirus isolated the globe for two years, a new dominant variation Omicron has evolved. So the government approved Plan B laws requiring spectators to present double-vaccine injections or a negative Covid Test to access stadiums. Man City manager and former player Pep Guardiola advises spectators to wear masks in stadiums.
- Premier League
As adverse tests mount up across multiple teams as the season reaches one of its busiest periods, Premier League Brentford manager Thomas Frank has called for a circuit break. Jurgen Klopp disagreed, but with the number of postponements rising – five matches scheduled for Saturday and Sunday having been canceled – the BBC claimed Premier League teams will meet on Monday to tackle the problem.
- Africa Cup of Nations
Cameroon will host the biannual African football showcase in 2022, which has already been postponed from this year. It is now in jeopardy once again. Due to concerns over the Confederation of African Football’s Covid-19 health regimen, European clubs have clearly intimated that they would not release their players.
Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic has expressed concern that the finals, which are scheduled to take place from January 9 to February 6, may be canceled. “The health issue is becoming more problematic and demanding,” the 69-year-old former Japan and Ivory Coast coach remarked. “There is a lot of uncertainty about whether it will happen or not.”
- Real Madrid
Six players, including playmaker Luka Modric and assistant coach Davide, son of coach Carlo Ancelotti, have received positive tests this week for the Spanish football giants. Only two of the players, however, began the last La Liga encounter, and for the time being, the match against Cadiz is on, as per Liga protocol, a club must have at least 13 players available to play a match, at least five of whom are first-teamers and one of whom is a goalkeeper. Not only their football team, but also their basketball team, were afflicted on Monday. Due to an increase of occurrences, the Spanish federation has also decided to eliminate the customary handshake between teams beginning this weekend.
- Germany
Reduced attendance in stadiums with the most drastic behind closed doors in Bavaria, home of champions Bayern Munich, among others. This is one of the steps being taken to curb the spread of Covid, which is causing 400-500 fatalities every day.
- NBA
The NBA has beefed up its Covid-19 procedures after an increase in instances this month resulted in 52 players being placed in health protocols. The National Basketball Association’s additional measures will include increased testing and mask use for players and staff, according to ESPN, an American sports network.
The additional testing will begin on December 26 and will run for two weeks. Before each game, players will be tested, with those who have recently recovered from Covid-19 being excused from game-day testing.
European Champions and Challenge Cup Winners in Rugby Union
The EPCR board of directors will meet to decide whether the six Champions Cup matches between English and French teams can go forward after the French governments strict travel guidelines, which will took effect at 2300 GMT on December 17th 2021.
Three matches have already been canceled: a Champions Cup match between Montpellier and three-time champion Leinster, a Challenge Cup match between Pau and Premiership club Saracens, and a Champions Cup match between Racing 92 and Welsh side Ospreys. Because, unlike the Premier League, there is no leeway to play the matches later, all three French teams will be given the points.
Cricket
- West Indies vs. Pakistan
Covid has already prompted the suspension of a one-day series between Pakistan and the West Indies, which was set to begin this weekend but was canceled when five members of the visitors’ side tested positive on Thursday. Those who test positive would be required to isolate in Karachi before being permitted to return home, according to officials.
- Ashes
Only one thing has gone right for England so far in their quest to reclaim the Ashes in Australia: they won’t have to face Australia’s most dangerous bowler and captain, Pat Cummins, who will miss the second Test after coming in close contact with a positive Covid-19 case.
Cummins was in an Adelaide restaurant on Wednesday evening when a coronavirus positive person was discovered at a nearby table. Under Covid restrictions in place for the Ashes in Adelaide, Australian players are allowed to dine out in small groups, but they should avoid extremely trafficked areas.
- South Africa’s India trip
To the surprise of many, India has decided to go through with its visit to South Africa, much to the satisfaction of the hosts’ cricketing authorities. During their stay, they will be enclosed in a bio-secure bubble.
Sports throughout the entire planet get daily updates, so stay up with current sports news.
Despite a spike in coronavirus infections in South Africa, the Indians will play three Tests and three one-day internationals, but four scheduled T20 internationals have been scrapped from the original itinerary. The trip is critical for the cash-strapped host organization, which reported an R221-million (about $13.8 million) deficit at its annual meeting in October.
