No Professional Sport In England Until June 1, Says UK Government

The UK government has announced that no professional sport, even behind closed doors, will be staged in England until 1 June.

A 50-page guidance document detailing how England will begin to ease lockdown measures has been published by the government.

The document asserts that reopening venues that bring large crowds, such as sports grounds, "may only be fully possible significantly later depending on the reduction in numbers of infections".

Cricket will not be played in England and Wales until at least 1 July, following a decision by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Premiership Rugby is intending for a resumption in early July, with nine rounds of matches pending.

Formula 1 is expecting to race at Silverstone on 19 and 26 July.

Under proposed rules, to resume behind closed doors in July, boxers at British shows will wear protective masks during ring walks and could be prevented from using a spit bucket amid rounds.

Chelsea and Manchester City in the Champions League and Manchester United and Wolves in the Europa League remain in European football competitions this year.

There is no clarity of when spectators will return to the venues to watch the sporting events.

However, Golf courses in England will reopen on Wednesday with people allowed to play with members of the same household or with one other person from a different household.

Though in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, tennis courts and golf courses will remain closed.