FIFA president Gianni Infantino yesterday proposed delaying next year’s revamped 24-team Club World Cup in China after UEFA postponed the European Championship until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. South America’s equivalent of the Euros, the Copa America, also scheduled for this June and July, has also been postponed by a year, ensuring European-based players will be free to finish the season with their clubs.
Moving the tournaments by a year puts them on a collision course with FIFA and its president Infantino, who had planned to stage the inaugural edition of his highly lucrative Club World Cup in June and July next year in China.
Infantino said in a statement he would hold a conference call with FIFA officials today, during which he will suggest “to decide at a later stage — when there is more clarity on the situation — when to reschedule the new FIFA Club World Cup, later in 2021, in 2022 or in 2023.”
He also said FIFA will plan “to discuss with the Chinese FA and the Chinese Government the postponement of the new FIFA Club World Cup from 2021 in order to minimise any negative impact.”
UEFA said the new proposed dates for the tournament were June 11 to July 11 next year, as Euro 2020 becomes Euro 2021. This year’s tournament was due to be held in 12 countries. There is no suggestion the format or number of venues will change.
“The world is facing an unprecedented health challenge and clearly a global and collective response is needed,” said Infantino. “Co-operation, mutual respect and understanding must be the guiding principles for all decision makers to have in mind at this crucial moment in time. Particularly in football, finding appropriate and fair solutions at global level is imperative.”
Infantino added FIFA would pledge $10mn (9.1mn euros) to the World Health Organization’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund. The outbreak, which first emerged in China late last year, has quickly marched across the globe, infecting more than 180,000 people and killing over 7,000.

Valencia say 35% of squad, staff tested positive for coronavirus
La Liga side Valencia have said more than a third of their playing and backroom staff have tested positive for the coronavirus but that all cases were currently asymptomatic. The club had reported five cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, with Argentina’s Ezequiel Garay and France’s Eliaquim Mangala both confirming they were among those who had contracted the virus.
“Several further tests for the Covid-19 coronavirus amongst Valencia coaching staff and players have come back positive,” the club said in a statement. 
Valencia travelled to Milan last month for a Champions League match against Atalanta, which was played in front of a packed San Siro stadium, before restrictions were placed on sports events in Italy — the worst-hit country in Europe. “Despite the strict measures adopted by the club after their Champions League game... these latest results show the exposure inherent to such matches has caused a positive test rate of around 35%,” Valencia added.
“All cases are asymptomatic and those involved are currently isolated at home, receiving medical assessment and carrying out their scheduled training plan.”

Isle of Man cancels 
2020 TT races 
The Isle of Man has cancelled the annual TT motorcycle races due to the spreading coronavirus outbreak, the government of the British Crown Dependency said on Monday. The annual races around the island off the north-west coast of England have been run since 1907 and rank among the most dangerous in motorsport.
This year’s event was scheduled to be held from May 30 to June 13. The races were last cancelled in 2001 to prevent an outbreak of foot and mouth disease spreading from Britain. The event attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over Europe and contributes significantly to the local Manx economy.