It’s a slow period in the world of sports as everyone looks to social distancing to curtail the spread of coronavirus. However, things are still happening albeit behind the scene. Here is the mid-week sports round up.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL|Gronkowski to come out of retirement to join Tom Brady at Tampa Bay
Former New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is to come out of retirement to reunite with superstar quarterback Tom Brady at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Gronkowski, 30, retired from the NFL in March 2019 – weeks after helping the Patriots to victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53. Gronkowski had a year remaining on his contract when he retired so the Pats still held his rights, which they have now traded to Tampa Bay for a fourth-round draft pick. – (c) NFL.com reports.
Dutch Football League To be canceled
The Dutch Football Association intends to cancel the Eredivisie season after the national government extended a ban on major events until the 1st of September because of the coronavirus.
Ajax and AZ Alkmaar are leading the Dutch top flight level on points after 26 games, with Ajax ahead on goal difference.
Dutch football’s governing body KNVB said in a statement, that it “intends not to continue playing the 2019/20 competition” but will consult UEFA before making a final decision.
Earlier on Tuesday, UEFA said some European leagues could be cancelled “in special cases” because of the pandemic.
Barcelona to sell Nou Camp naming rights
Barcelona are to give a sponsor naming rights to the Nou Camp for the first time and donate all the revenue to fighting corona virus.
Barca’s stadium – which is known as Camp Nou in Catalan – has never had another name since its opening in 1957.
The La Liga champions have given the title rights to the Barca Foundation, who will find a sponsor for 2020-21.
“Revenue will be used to fund research projects and the worldwide fight against the pandemic,” the club said.
“FC Barcelona and the Barca Foundation consider it a necessity that at this time of humanitarian crisis, the institution should use all its resources to fight against the coronavirus pandemic and its consequences.”
Spain is one of only four countries in the world to have more than 20,000 coronavirus-related deaths to date.
Amnesty International and BeIN Television kicks as Saudi Arabia Sovereign Wealth Fund seeks to buy into Newcastle FC
Amnesty International and Qatar based Broadcaster BeIN Television has written to the Premier League to raise their concerns over the £300m purchase of Newcastle United by a consortium of buyers including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Amnesty is asking Premier League chief executive Richard Masters to fully consider the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia as part of the Premier League’s owners and directors test. In the letter to Masters, Amnesty UK’s director Kate Allen says there are “serious questions for the Premier League to address” concerning the deal.
She said: “The coronavirus crisis has already thrown a spotlight on football and its need to treat players and staff fairly, and now there’s a danger that the pandemic could obscure the need for a cool, measured and genuinely ethical decision over this Newcastle deal is needed.