It is suspected that a single Champions League match, played in February in Milan and involving Atalanta and Valencia, was solely responsible in triggering the spread of Coronavirus in Italy and later in Spain, two countries which have been hit hard both in the number of contagions and in the number of deaths. Until that game, the whole world was taking its time in implementing measures to combat the disease, perhaps still believing that it would blow over without too much damage.

True or not, the Coronavirus pandemic has since caused so many deaths, so much disruption to everyday life, so much devastation to economies, and also so much disorder in the world of sport itself.

In the weeks that followed that particular game – and also taking into consideration that COVID-19 has extended its tentacles far and wide around the world, and is so far still not under control, so much so that restrictions are still in place in every country – the world of sport suffered its own consequences because of the disease.

On a national level, including Malta, many countries suspended any public activities related to sport, and this of course does not only include football. There are still no dates as yet established as to when leagues and other competitions will resume, if they do.

On an international level, one must highlight the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games as well as the Euro 2020 football championships, both now set to take place in 2021. There has also been the stoppage of the Champions League, Formula 1 races and the tennis professional tour, just to mention a few sport events that have been affected by the virus.

All this has brought with it other issues, such as the cutting down of salaries to professional sportsmen, difficulties with the extension of contracts and, like all other economic sectors, great losses to professional clubs.

Added to this, there is the logistical nightmare of having to reschedule the whole programme, at a time when there are still so many doubts as to when it will be possible for sports activities to resume. Governments are now extremely cautious in setting deadlines, and until they ease restrictions which have been imposed with regard to social distancing, it will be impossible for things to get back to normal. Unless, of course, it will be decided to hold games behind closed doors, which would then take away a great component of important sport events – the presence and support of the public.

Something will have to give and it will not be a surprise if, in some places, leagues and competitions will not resume and the season would be over. Whether they will be declared null or classifications before the suspension will be deemed as final is another hot potato that will not be resolved easily.

Like all other sectors that have been hit by the pandemic, sport will take its time to recover from the negative impact of the last few weeks, when everything needed to be brought to a standstill. This is not only from the economic standpoint, with clubs struggling to overcome the extra hurdles that the virus has brought about. For one thing, will attendances in stadia be the same as they were before the crisis? Or will people be afraid to gather in large groups? Will embracing after a goal still have the same meaning?

Sport, like all other aspects of life post-virus, will probably not be the same again.