The new wave of coronavirus is causing sports events to be disrupted
\n PARIS
\nThe coronavirus is once again disrupting global sport, forcing the cancellation of English Premier League matches and the scrapping of a one-day cricket series.
\nAFP Sport looks at the state of play around the world as authorities scramble to cope with the surging pandemic.
\nFootball
\nFive of the 10 Premier League matches scheduled for this weekend are off. The clubs are due to meet on Monday to discuss the crisis, with differences emerging over whether to temporarily halt the season as a firebreaker for infections or to carry on. Brentford manager Thomas Frank has called for a \u201ccircuit break\u201d as positive tests multiply during the busiest time in the English football calendar. Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said it could soon become impossible to maintain the schedule as squads become over-stretched by Covid absences and injuries.
\nMorocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic has expressed his fear that the already-delayed Africa Cup of Nations, due to kick off in Cameroon next month, could be called off due to the renewed threat of Covid-19 and the possibility that European clubs might not release players for the tournament.
\nReal Madrid have reported a number of positive tests, with Gareth Bale and Luka Modric among the players affected. Under Liga protocols, a club must have at least 13 players, at least five of them first-teamers and one a goalkeeper, available to play a match. The club also reported cases in its basketball team.
\nCricket
\nCovid has forced the cancellation of the one-day series between Pakistan and the West Indies. Five members of the West Indies touring party — including three players — tested positive for Covid on Thursday, in addition to previous positive cases.
\nAustralia captain Pat Cummins was forced to sit out the second Ashes Test after being in close contact with somebody who tested positive for Covid-19. Under South Australia state\u2019s strict bio-security rules the fast bowler was required to isolate for seven days but has now been permitted to head home, where he must remain until the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
\nThe Indian cricket team arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday and headed straight for their bio-secure base at the start of a curtailed South Africa tour. India will play three Tests and three one-day internationals despite a surge in coronavirus cases in South Africa, but four planned T20 internationals have been dropped from the original schedule.
\nRugby Union
\nEuropean rugby chiefs have postponed seven matches in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup competitions between UK and French sides due to strict coronavirus travel rules. Three matches had already been cancelled due to Covid outbreaks.
\nThe English Premiership announced on Friday that 47 players and seven members of staff, from nine different clubs, had tested positive for coronavirus in its latest round of weekly testing. That was sharply up from the previous week, when just five players and staff in total tested positive.
\nNFL
\nThe National Football League on Friday postponed three weekend games amid a Covid-19 surge that has \u201cseen a substantial increase in cases across the league.\u201d
\nSaturday\u2019s game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Cleveland Browns was moved to Monday, while Sunday\u2019s meeting between the Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles, and the Seattle Seahawks v Los Angeles Rams game have been moved to Tuesday.
\nThe NFL had earlier announced enhanced virus safety protocols
\nNBA
\nThe NBA has boosted its coronavirus measures after a surge in cases. The new measures will include more testing and mask wearing for players and staff, according to reports. Increased daily testing will begin December 26 and last two weeks.
\nNHL
\nThe National Hockey League said Friday it was postponing a game Saturday between the Boston Bruins and the Canadiens in Montreal because of Covid-19 concerns.
\nIt is the 11th game postponed this season. That includes four Calgary games postponed as the Flames deal with a Covid outbreak that has 19 players under Covid protocols.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The new wave of coronavirus is causing sports events to be disrupted PARIS The coronavirus is once again disrupting global sport, forcing the cancellation of English Premier League matches and the scrapping of a one-day cricket series. AFP Sport looks at the state of play around the world as authorities scramble to cope with the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":233697,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[1844,388,1845,650],"class_list":{"0":"post-233686","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-battles","9":"tag-covid","10":"tag-sporting","11":"tag-world"},"yoast_head":"\n