KHABIB NURMAGOMEDEV has made a shock U-TURN by declaring he is ready to fight Tony Ferguson at UFC 249 – calling on Dana White to "give me a location and 100 per cent I'm there."
The Premier League are meeting today and we have all the latest on when action could return.
While there are updates on how the Formula One season could finish, continued fallout from the cancellation of Wimbledon and much more.
Follow all the latest news and updates as the sporting world deals with the threat of coronavirus…
SITE FOR SORE EYES
Edgbaston Cricket Club is set to become a huge coronavirus drive-thru testing site for NHS staff in a bid to protect frontline workers against the bug.
NHS England hope the temporary facility will be open by the beginning of next week after installing portacabins and setting up tents on Thursday, say the Mirror.
The venue, famously boasting one of the best atmospheres in the country, becomes just the latest drive-thru testing site, after Chessington World of Adventures became the first last week.
There has been an outcry from NHS workers and beyond for staff to be tested as soon as possible so they can get back to work.
Just 5,000 of the 500,000-strong force has so far been tested.
FALSE NEGATIVE
Paulo Dybala's partner, Oriana Sabatini, still has coronavirus after a faulty test showed a negative result.
Both Dybala and Oriana tested positive for the killer bug last month, with Italy one of Europe’s worst-affected countries.
As of Thursday night, 13,155 people had died in the nation, with well over 100,000 positive tests recorded.
And now Oriana, 23, has sent a warning to fans over the potential danger of “false negatives” as she continues to live with the virus.
She said: “I am updating you because many are asking me. On March 21, my boyfriend and I did a test for coronavirus. We tested positive.
“Three days ago they did the test again and it was negative. Yesterday morning I did another test.
“I tested positive. So I still have coronavirus.”
PATRIOTS ACT
New England Patriots CEO Jonathan Kraft has been hailed for deploying his NFL team's plane to carry more than one million medical masks for health care workers battling coronavirus.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said: “Honestly we can’t thank you and your dad and your family enough, for answering the call and helping make this happen.
“And for the many, many dedicated front-line workers across this state who are battling COVID-19 on behalf of the people of Massachusetts every single day, this gear will make an enormous difference.”
RUSS IN?
Khabib Nurmagomedov opened the door to a shock UFC 249 U-turn by declaring: “Give me a location and 100 per cent I'm there.”
The Russian MMA star, 31, ruled himself out of his bout with Tony Ferguson earlier in the week, but told ESPN he could still make the April 18 event happen.
He said: “Right now, if they give me location and I can come out from Russia and I can go to any country.
“US, Abu Dhabi, doesn’t matter. I’m going to fight, 100 per cent. Just give me location.
“Every day, I send Dana White a message. ‘Hey, where’s my location.’ This is not my mistake.
“Too many crazy stuff, too many questions and I don’t have answer.
“I understand people are upset because this fight, this is like a dream fight for fans. This is my dream fight.
“I lose money, I lose so much money. Nobody lose like I lose. Nobody. I lose so much things. I want to fight.”
MORNING, SPORTS FANS
Coronavirus continues to dominate the sports headlines.
But it doesn’t look like players have to worry about taking a pay cut any time soon.
There has been criticism of certain clubs such as Spurs for cutting staff wages and furloughing them using tax money from the general public while shelling out millions for footballers twiddling their thumbs at home.
Indeed, fellow Prem clubs are set to privately accuse Tottenham of damaging the league's reputation at a video conference meeting between chairmen today.
However, the PFA released a statement last night claiming there were no plans to instruct clubs to cut player wages.
And it was added that such actions would only benefit shareholders, although it was added that clubs should strive to pay employees themselves rather than shift them onto money needed for the rest of the country’s workers.
There are some feel-good stories emerging from the chaos though.
SunSport told you how Stoke star Danny Batth helped deliver 300 parcels to NHS staff on Thursday.
His mum works in Sainsbury’s and explained to the ace about how low food supplies were for those working in the most critical sector.
Batth delved into his pockets and helped sort out 300 parcels packed with food and essential goods for NHS staff at his birthplace, Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid are leading by example in Spain with players and staff agreeing to cut their wages by 70 per cent.
It means 430 staff at the club will continue to be paid despite the country being in a national emergency due to the high coronavirus infection rates and death toll.
But Diego Simeone, world football’s best-paid boss on £32.6m per year, will still be taking home £10m AFTER the cuts.
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