All EPL matches "could be televised live by broadcasters until fans are allowed back into stadiums next season." Talks are reportedly taking place between EPL execs and the government "about fans being able to get access to games" while they continue to be played behind closed doors or with restricted access. The two main broadcasters, Sky and BT Sport, are also making preparations to expand their coverage in case they are asked to do so, "but the government will not push for any games to be available free to air as happened during Project Restart."

No fans will be allowed at matches until October and even then, stadiums can only be about 25% full because of social distancing. There have been growing concerns that under the EPL’s original plans, "nearly half of next month’s top-flight matches would not be available to watch on television either." The EPL initially insisted it would "return to the original broadcasting deal" but with 20 more games available. If more games are made available to Sky and BT, it is "unlikely to affect their financial arrangement" with the EPL. The EFL has announced that all matches in the Championship, League One and League Two will either be available on Sky or streamed via the iFollow platform (LONDON TIMES, 8/27).

Everton's efforts to build a new stadium on Liverpool’s waterfront "must overcome objections from Unesco, Historic England and The Victorian Society" after the organizations "raised concerns over plans to fill in Bramley-Moore dock." Everton has "continued preparation work on the proposed 52,888-capacity stadium" during the pandemic and "expects a decision from the council’s planning committee in December, two months later than originally anticipated." The main changes are the "addition of a stepped plaza overlooking the River Mersey, the removal of a multi-storey car park and a reduction of the roof height to meet world heritage site guidelines." Historic England, which has had "input on the stadium design and landscaping, ICOMOS, a heritage body acting on behalf of Unesco, and The Victorian Society all oppose infilling a dock on what is a world heritage and conservation site." Everton would "preserve the dock walls under the stadium so that the site could be reverse-engineered back into a dock should the club ever leave" (LONDON GUARDIAN, 8/26).

The Tour de France, scheduled to start in Nice on Saturday, is "edging closer to collapse" after the Alpes-Maritimes region, site of the opening stages of the race, was "placed on red alert" owing to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tensions surrounding the race "ramped up further still on Thursday evening" after the Lotto-Soudal team announced two members of its support staff have tested "non-negative" for COVID-19 and had been sent home from Nice. There are "rapidly growing concerns over the wisdom of going forward with this year’s race" (London GUARDIAN, 8/27).

Officials in Nice announced that the the first two stages of the Tour on Saturday and Sunday will take place "'virtually behind closed doors' ... in front of only a few dozen spectators" after the city was declared a virus red zone. Vehicles will be "prohibited" from accessing mountain passes during the weekend and all pedestrians "must be masked" (L'EQUIPE, 8/27). 

This year's Tour is "shrouded in uncertainty, flying in the face of the coronavirus pandemic and the imponderable question of how many of the 176 riders will avoid infection." That is "if the rolling roadshow gets that far." Staging cycling’s premier race when COVID-19 infections are rising again in France represents a "health risk." Failure to complete the Tour "could cast further doubt on the feasibility of holding other sporting mega-events," including the postponed Tokyo Games (AP, 8/27).

The German government has "prolonged a ban on spectators in sporting venues" until "at least October 31" following a recent surge in coronavirus cases. The proposal came as "part of a resolution that was announced on Thursday following discussions between German Chancellor Angela Merkel  and state premiers." Leagues and teams from around Germany have "spent months trying to produce hygiene concepts that could allows fans to return in a limited capacity." Those will have to be "put on hold in light of the latest developments." The news comes as a "blow to professional clubs not only in football but handball, basketball and ice hockey, which are heavily reliant on the income generated by having fans in attendance." The ban on gatherings "would also apply to events such as concerts and festivals" (DEUTSCHE WELLE, 8/27). 

Rugby Australia Chair Hamish McLennan and and interim CEO Rob Clarke "appear to have convinced New Zealand to back down from its earlier demand that Australia confine itself to between two and four franchises" in a '21 trans-Tasman Super Rugby series. Behind the scenes, there are "indications that New Zealand recognized its conditions placed RA in the dreadful position of having to cut one or more of its franchises for the second time in just three years," having previously culled the Western Force in '17. RA "dug in on a 'five franchises or nothing' stance and all indications are the Kiwis will reluctantly agree with Australia’s request for a 10-team trans-Tasman competition." If they do, it will be a "startling and improbable victory for RA" and one "achieved from arguably the worst predicament Australian rugby has ever found itself in" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 8/27).

The Japan Rugby Football Union has decided "not to take part" in an eight-team int’l tournament involving the European Six Nations and Fiji later this year, a source said Thursday. Complications caused by the coronavirus pandemic reportedly prompted the JRFU to "opt out of the European competition, which is planned to run from November to December." With Japan "heavily restricting the entry of foreign passport holders amid the pandemic, members of the Brave Blossoms coaching staff have been kept out of the country, making it difficult to hold a domestic camp in preparation for the tournament." Teams contesting the competition were to be divided into two pools, with Japan expected to be grouped with Scotland, France and Italy. The Brave Blossoms have not played a test since their march to the quarterfinals of the World Cup on home soil last year (KYODO NEWS, 8/27).

Barcelona President Josep Maria Bartomeu is reportedly "ready to step down" if Lionel Messi "performs a U-turn on his decision to leave the club." However, "various sources insist Messi's decision is firm, so they believe Bartomeu will not need to act out any pledge to quit." Catalan broadcaster TV3 first reported on Thursday that Bartomeu is "willing to quit if it will convince Messi to stay at the club." However, Bartomeu "does not want to fast-track elections, currently scheduled for March, and would instead prefer to leave the club in the hands of the current board of directors" (ESPN.com, 8/27).

Following Bartomeu's latest comments, "the pressure has moved to Messi, whose decision to leave is reportedly irreversible." The 33-year-old "has always denied accusations that he is in command at Barcelona and asking for the president's resignation may not be the easiest path to take for him" (MARCA, 8/27). Barcelona has "been dealt a blow in trying to convince their star to stay as Messi does not want to meet" with Bartomeu (MARCA, 8/27).

ManU MF Paul Pogba has tested positive for coronavirus, France manager Didier Deschamps said (BBC, 8/27).

The '20-21 Spanish soccer season will feature 20 teams in LaLiga and 22 in the second division, starting on Sept. 13. A meeting on Thursday produced a resolution to a disagreement over how many teams would be in the second division (MARCA, 8/27).

The '20 Women's Super League and Challenge Cup competitions have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic (SKY SPORTS, 8/27).

Streaming platform Loco will live stream NBA 2K League games in India as part of a multiyear partnership (Loco).

The Esports Observer's weekly China recap, available here, shows how China's esports industry is recovering from the coronavirus pandemic (TEO).

Amazon Prime Video announced that the first episode of its behind-the-scenes PSG documentary will air on Sept. 15 in France and “two months later in all other territories, except China and the Middle East." The other three episodes of the four-part series “will be available in 2021” (L’EQUIPE, 8/27). 

Swiss side Basel named Ciriaco Sforza Manager, replacing Marcel Koller (24 HEURES, 8/27).

Cricket South Africa on Thursday announced that it terminated the contract of suspended CEO Thabang Moroe, who was suspended in Decemeber "as a result of alleged misconduct" (SPORT24, 8/27).

Organizers of "plans to run horse races in famous urban locations" have told the BBC their first event is "scheduled to go ahead in Cannes, France, next year" (BBC, 8/27).

Sky confirmed on Wednesday that it will "feed in digital crowd effects for TV audiences during" its NZ Rugby North vs. South broadcast this weekend (STUFF, 8/26).

"I won't view the winners differently, there won't be an asterisk. We know in the long term that 2020 is different but everybody is in the same situation and we will see who makes the most of it" -- Martina Navratilova, on this year's US Open (BBC, 8/27).

"We are not here to hide, we want to take Monza to Serie A, ... and we think we have the necessary know-how" -- Former AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani, on the ambition he and Owner Silvio Berlusconi -- who owned AC Milan from '86-'17 -- have for the Serie B club (BBC, 8/27).

"What is happening hurts me, of course it hurts. They are destroying the club. It was a great club and I speak in past tense. It is all the fault of a bad structure" -- Former LaLiga side Valencia player Álvaro Negredo, on the club and its current financial issues under Owner Peter Lim (SUPERDEPORTE, 8/27).

The N.Y. Times' Geneva Abdul examines French women's soccer club Bordeaux under the headline, "A Rising Women's Team Looks Past the Pandemic." Abdul: "For the moment, though, the pandemic has done little to alter the plans at Bordeaux."

The London Telegraph's Sam Wallace believes the "sale of Lionel Messi could be a necessary evil that saves Barcelona from a Covid-financial apocalypse."

Hamilton asked if he will boycott the #BelgianGP: "It is a shame that is what is needed over there in order to get a reaction. But that is in America and I don’t really know if me doing something here will particularly have an effect. We are in Belgium, not the United States."

— Philip Duncan (@PhilDuncanF1) August 27, 2020

All our efforts are fully aimed at the Hispanic community! That is why we launched #AlianzaContigo, a 10-city tour in which food and household items will be distributed to those in need 🤲

More info 📄👉 https://t.co/WvLAGRKMzO#AlianzaDeFutbol pic.twitter.com/QXY6u6Fv2N

— Alianza de Futbol (@alianzadefutbol) August 27, 2020

We recently commissioned @SwanseaUni to undertake research across the sport sector, identifying if issues of integrity are linked. 🔗📚📈

Read the report recommendations, which include @DCMS establishing a Sport Integrity Forum 👉 https://t.co/WuR4KZaaRH #cleansport #integrity pic.twitter.com/lCK5kHFW0z

— UK Anti-Doping (@ukantidoping) August 27, 2020

Two separate worlds: While in the USA, all leagues are pausing matches as a way to protest against violence, the press in Europe only talks about “where Messi is going next”. pic.twitter.com/F9t4b4FTAG

— Ricardo Fort (@SportByFort) August 27, 2020

Loving the new third kit? 😍

Here's what @NoelGallagher and @JoeDonovan92 made of it! 🙌

SHOP: https://t.co/ojjuupY1sE

⚽️ @pumafootball
🔵 #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/lOLAxYkkzg

— Manchester City (@ManCity) August 27, 2020

Finally managed to get around to writing my blog about our renovation processes, hopefully it’ll be an interesting read for those who’ve asked the question about “ripping up” courts this year https://t.co/qDsQ4HyUdw

— Wimbledon Groundsman (@AELTCGroundsman) August 27, 2020