Almost half of the nearly $400M rescue package will go to the sport of rugby primarily though loansGetty Images
The U.K. government last week rolled out a "rescue package" of $398M (all figures US) in "emergency funding for sports in England impacted by the absence of spectators because of coronavirus," according to the BBC. Both rugby union, rugby league and horse racing are "among the beneficiaries," but not soccer clubs in the EPL or the English Football League. U.K. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden called it "the most generous single package of any country in the world." The Sports Winter Survival Package, which will be "largely composed of low-interest loans," will "support rugby union, horse racing, women's [soccer] and the lower tiers of the National League." Rugby league, motorsport, tennis, netball, basketball, ice hockey, badminton and greyhound racing "were also in line to benefit." Dowden said winter sports "were expecting to have fans in stadiums and didn't, we said we'd help them out." Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston added that grants "would be available," and that "'the door was open' to any sport requiring funding, including cricket which was not on the initial list." The money is for "sports in England, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland responsible for their own budgets" (BBC.com, 11/19). The FINANCIAL TIMES' Ahmed & Agini noted an independent body "will make the final call on how the cash will be distributed," but under preliminary allocations, almost half the total, $195M, "will go to the sport of rugby primarily in the form of loans." Soccer has been allocated $37M, "split between" the top-tier Women's Super League and second-level Women's Championship (FINANCIAL TIMES, 11/20).
