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Coronavirus latest: Old Trafford to be lit up blue in support of NHS

Coronavirus latest: Old Trafford to be lit up blue in support of NHS
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BCCI suspend IPL indefinitely while World Rugby has offered an £80million relief package to unions.

Leeds say club great Norman Hunter remains “severely unwell” in hospital, having been admitted with Covid-19 last Friday.

Hunter, 76, was part of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad and won two First Division titles, the FA Cup, League Cup and two Fairs Cups with Leeds.

“His family would like to take this opportunity to thank all Leeds United supporters for their amazing messages and well wishes,” a club statement read.

“They would also like to say a huge thank you to the NHS doctors and nurses who continue to do an amazing job 24 hours a day for Norman and all of those currently in their care.

Old Trafford will change colour on Thursday night (PA)

“We will continue to provide regular updates in the coming days. Keep fighting Norman, we are all with you.”

Old Trafford will light up blue as Manchester United continue to show support to the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic.

The ground will be blue – the colour of rivals Manchester City – with the club’s sign also spelling NHS United to coincide with the weekly clap for carers tribute on Thursday at 8pm.

A statement read: “Old Trafford will be lit up in blue tonight with our famous Manchester United sign spelling out ‘NHS United’ in tribute to NHS workers across the UK. It will coincide with the nation’s weekly Thursday night 8pm ‘clap for carers’.

“While Old Trafford is not normally bathed in blue, it’s been organised to recognise the extraordinary efforts of the frontline workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Last week United announced new measures to support the NHS, delivering more than 3,500 club gifts to health workers and putting their 16-vehicle fleet on standby for courier work.

Chelsea also continued their efforts to support NHS workers and charities. The club will start providing 78,000 meals this week, for the next six weeks.

It aims to help NHS staff working long hours and food will be provided to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust across their five local hospitals, including St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington, Charing Cross Hospital in Fulham and Hammersmith Hospital.

World Rugby is offering an £80million relief fund to aid national unions during the coronavirus crisis.

For Six Nations and SANZAAR unions (South Africa, New Zealand and the Australian Rugby Union) the financial package will involve a combination of advances and loans with World Rugby committed to supporting emerging nations and regional associations where required.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has decided to suspend the Indian Premier League until further notice.

The eight-team league, which was scheduled to begin on March 29, was initially postponed until Wednesday.

India will remain in lockdown until May 3 and the BCCI has now made the call to halt the league indefinitely.

In golf, the PGA Tour has announced plans to resume in June, with the first four tournaments being closed to spectators.

The tour has been suspended since the Players Championship was cancelled after the opening round on March 12, with the first three majors of the year – the Masters, US PGA and US Open – postponed and the Open Championship cancelled for 2020.

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