Global sports organizations took some time to react, but ultimately decided to prioritize health over competition, postponing various cups and league fixtures. A wide array of sports, including Tennis, Formula 1, Golf, Shooting, and Cricket, saw their calendars frozen due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. To combat the growing financial crisis, officials have looked into hosting matches behind closed doors, while many employees within the sports industry faced pay cuts extending into late 2020. In the UK, the Premier League was interrupted mid-season; by the time the shutdown occurred, teams had played 288 out of the 380 matches planned for the 2019-2020 campaign.
A handful of players and managers tested positive for the virus and were forced into self-isolation per official guidelines. Amidst the crisis, talks began regarding pay cuts not just for staff, but for the players themselves. Arsenal's squad stepped forward this week, agreeing to a salary reduction and scheduling their return to training at London Colney in Hertfordshire. While the Premier League remains paused, UEFA has indefinitely postponed its May fixtures, and the Euro 2020 tournament has been pushed back to 2021. In the current 2020 standings, Liverpool leads the table, followed by Manchester City, Leicester, Chelsea, and Manchester United, all of whom have secured Champions League qualification.
Arsenal has moved up to 9th place, pushing Burnley down to 10th after a run of three wins and two draws in their last five outings. The club has now reopened training, with the hope that the Premier League will return after May 7th, 2020. According to an official statement, the team will adhere to strict social distancing and limited ground access. Players are required to commute individually and focus on solo workouts. Additionally, Mikel Arteta and the players have accepted a 12.5% pay cut; however, the club's executives have promised to reimburse this amount if the team manages to close the gap by 8 points and qualify for the Champions League.