England

It’s been six weeks since the English Premier League suspended play due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Arsenal has been out slightly longer, having gone into self-isolation after manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for COVID-19 on March 12. But Arsenal training is set to resume on shortly, even though England has yet to lift stay-at-home measures in the country.

MANCHESTER — English cricket's governing body said it has been given the leading role for all sport in the country, including soccer, in examining how to create 'bio-secure' venues as leagues look for ways to restart their competitions without fans.

Chelsea's first-team players are not taking pay cuts or contributing towards the club financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the club said in a statement on Saturday.

Following extensive talks, the players have instead been asked to continue "supporting other charitable causes," Chelsea said in the statement.

LONDON — Players at the Premier League's top clubs should "stick to their guns" and resist pressure to take pay cuts during the COVID-19 shutdown, ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane said on Friday.

Professional soccer in England has been suspended since March 13 due to the pandemic and some Premier League clubs have furloughed non-playing staff under a government scheme.

Players at some clubs have accepted wage deferrals while Arsenal's players and coaching staff agreed a 12.5 percent salary reduction.

Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen says that players who are free agents when the season ends will be coveted more than others as clubs look to rebound from the financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Professional football has been suspended across the major European leagues due to the pandemic and questions remain over whether players whose contracts end on June 30 will be allowed to continue playing for clubs if the season is extended. 

LONDON — England's Premier League could make games available on free-to-air broadcasting once the season resumes following the suspension due to the coronavirus, Britain's culture secretary said in quotes reported by the BBC on Wednesday.

Oliver Dowden said he has had "productive talks" with British sports bodies on the resumption of competitions following the coronavirus shutdown.

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp feared getting sacked by the Premier League club early in his tenure if he was not afforded the time to reshape the squad, he said on Wednesday.

The early years were spent building the team into title contenders and Klopp said he knew he had to convince Liverpool's owners — Fenway Sports Group — that he needed time to change their playing style.

"It was clear we cannot fix it overnight. Everyone wanted that but we couldn't so I had to ask for time, I knew," Klopp said on Sky Sports' Football Show.

England's National League clubs, which represent the fifth and sixth tiers of the country's football pyramid, have voted to immediately end the 2019-20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, league organisers said on Wednesday.

The clubs were asked to support a resolution to end the season early because of the coronavirus and a clear majority voted in favour of the proposal.

Ninety percent of responses had been received and the resolution had passed because the outstanding votes would not change the outcome, the league said.