So what happens next? Football, rugby union and rugby league have been thrown into disarray by what’s happening across the world.

The coronavirus has been described as the biggest threat and challenge to the world in a generation.

What happens in sport might seem pretty insignificant in the wider scheme of things where lives have been lost and where there are health concerns over thousands.

But it has a part to play in many people’s lives as competitors and supporters. To millions it is a release from the drudgery of work and life’s cares – the perfect escapism for many.

But what about the major sports affected by the suspensions – football and the two rugby codes. Will clubs survive a two to three month break without any serious income and wages still to pay?

I don’t think there is much doubt that clubs will collapse under the financial strain if the suspension goes beyond June. Many would be running close to the edge beforehand.

What happens when the all-clear is given for sport to return to normal?

The first question will be: how can we complete the season? Do we need to finish it or should it be declared void? Would there be time before a new season begins to fit in outstanding games?

My own view is that football and rugby union clubs should be looking to start the 2020/21 season round about on time in August/September.

I don’t believe the current season should be void, either. The authorities will never please everyone because there is so much financial loss or gain riding on the consequences.

The fairest way has to be similar to the old Rugby Union Merit tables before the advent of league rugby – and base it on percentages. Divide the number of points by the number of games played.

In football’s Premier League, it won’t make much difference to the current positions as most clubs have played the same number of games.

It’s lower down the leagues, and into the pyramid that there would probably be most movement – but because the season is virtually just six weeks away from being completed it deserves to be finalised in some way.

Unfortunately, because of the times we live in, there might be threats of leagues being sued but these are uncharted days when strong decisions have to be made.

Rugby league is a bit different in that the season is virtually only six weeks old. The sport’s authorities would have to look at concluding with a truncated half-season to coincide with when the current campaign is due to end.

Playing through to December, virtually ahead of the 2021 season, in what is one of the toughest and most physical of sports, isn’t on. Players’ welfare would come into the equation.

Whatever happens, and how leagues are worked out, we can only hope it isn’t too long and we can forget about self-isolation and get back to normal.

* With Match of the Day shelved for obvious reasons, and without any live footie, the enthusiasts of ‘the beautiful game’ haven’t a lot of viewing choices at the moment.

But you can rely on some channel or other to come up with some good nostalgia clips.

For Workington Reds director Steve Durham he experienced a rather bizarre episode at the weekend when he tuned in to The Big Match Revisited.

Steve had been at Tadcaster on the Saturday when he got talking to Graham Bradbury who used to officiate at Workington in the 1980s and 90s.

Bradbury was with Chris Jones, a former professional, and the pair were only there because York City’s game had been postponed.

Jones, 74, in fact has been match commentator for Radio York after playing 95 times for the Minstermen in the mid-1970s.

His Football League career included over 300 appearances for the likes of Manchester City, Swindon, Walsall, York, Huddersfield, Doncaster and Rochdale and just short of 100 goals.

Imagine Steve’s surprise when he settled down to watch Fulham v York and Jones was not only in the City line-up, but he scored both goals in a surprise 2-0 win.

There were also some Workington links as ex-Reds assistant manager Viv Busby was in the Fulham line-up while ex-Reds manager Colin Meldrum was in the York dug-out.

The Big Match Revisited might become regular viewing for a week or two!

* Has Jurgen Klopp become too used to winning football matches – or was he just miffed at losing for the fourth time in six matches?

Certainly his post-match interview after the 3-2 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid was petty.

“Why do they not play proper football?” he wanted to know after a thrilling game had ended in defeat.

Football is the beautiful game, no doubt, but in many ways the beauty of it is that there are different ways of approaching it.

Easy on the eye, pass and move football has long been the most enjoyable to watch while a more robust, long-ball game has brought its reward as well.

There are no set rules as to how teams have to set-up and play.

One thing for certain is Atletico have one of the best manager/coaches in world football.

In six years, he has turned his team into one of the most respected in La Liga, capable of going head-to-head with the giants of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

His club have consistently sold their best players but Atletico have remained a force.

Diego Simeone has one major asset, apart from his tactical and coaching awareness – his players love him.

In all my time watching football I don’t think I’ve come across a side at any level where the team plays as passionately for their manager as much as they do for Simeone.

You’ve a fine side Jurgen, who deserve to win the Premier League title, but a little more grace in defeat would be appreciated next time.