Broncos won’t play Falcons in London this season

The Falcons won’t get an international game against the Broncos in London this fall. Instead, the game will be played in Atlanta.

The Denver Broncos will not face the Atlanta Falcons at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England this season. Instead, the Falcons will host the Broncos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

In response to COVID-19, the NFL announced Monday that all 2020 games will be scheduled to be played in the United States. The league had been planning to schedule two games in Mexico City and four games in London before the coronavirus pandemic.

“After considerable analysis, we believe the decision to play all our games domestically this season is the right one for our players, our clubs, and all our fans in the US, Mexico and UK,” NFL Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy and Growth Officer Christopher Halpin said in a statement.

“We greatly appreciate the support of our governmental and stadium partners in Mexico and the United Kingdom, who all agree with this decision, and we look forward to returning for games in both countries in the 2021 season.”

If the Broncos had traveled to face the Falcons in the U.K., it would have been considered a “road” game for Denver. The Broncos haven’t played in England since 2010, when wide receiver Brandon Lloyd caught seven passes for 169 yards and a touchdown in a 24-16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Wembley Stadium. There were 83,941 fans in attendance for that contest.

Denver’s complete 2020 schedule has not yet been announced but we do know which teams the Broncos will play this fall. The NFL’s schedule is expected to be announced later this week.

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Daily Mail: NFL not expected to play international games in 2020

The NFL is not expected to schedule international games this year, according to a London-based newspaper.

The NFL is not expected to announce international games when the 2020 schedule is released later this week, according to a report from the Daily Mail, a London-based newspaper.

It’s unclear if the Daily Mail got word of the NFL’s plans early or if the paper is merely reporting based on speculation.

The Denver Broncos were expected to play in Atlanta Falcons in London this fall before COVID-19 turned sports — and international travel — upside down. Now the status of that international game is uncertain.

In response to the Daily Mail‘s report, a Broncos source told The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala that the team has “not heard from the league one way or the other” about the status of the NFL’s international schedule.

If the international schedule goes on as planned, the Broncos will likely have a “road” game against the Falcons in England. If the NFL decides to keep all games stateside, Denver will travel to Atlanta for the contest.

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Tyson Fury gives local restaurant big boost with big order

Tyson Fury ordered roughly $700 of food for his family and gave those who made the delivery a $125 tip on Easter Sunday.

Tyson Fury did his part to keep a favorite restaurant going during the coronavirus pandemic.

The heavyweight champion ordered roughly $700 of food to feed himself, wife Paris and five kids at their home in Lancashire, England and gave those who made the delivery a $125 tip on Easter Sunday, according to a TMZ report.

The order, from Manjaros Restaurant in the town of Preston, reportedly included lamb chops, shrimp, chicken, a number of pizzas, pasta and 25 cans of Diet Coke.

Paris Fury said there was no party or big gathering. The food was meant only for the seven Furys.

“The food order was just for us and the children,” she told local media. “ … We’ve got five children and the food arrived in a lot of boxes.”

Amir Khan offers property as temporary hospital in pandemic fight

Amir Khan is offering to turn a piece of real estate into a temporary hospital for people infected by the virus and in need of care.

Amir Khan was looking for a fight. He found one.

Khan is joining the fight against coronavirus. He is offering to turn a piece of real estate worth about $5.9 million in England into a temporary hospital for people infected by the virus and in need of care.

Khan had planned to turn the property in his hometown of Bolton, near Manchester, into a place for weddings and shopping. It was scheduled to open in August. But that was before the pandemic changed lives and careers.

Khan made the offer on his Twitter account, saying: “I am prepared to give my 60,000 square foot 4 story building which is due to be a wedding hall and retail outlet to the NHSuk (the U.K.’s National Health Service) to help people affected by the coronavirus.

“Please keep safe.”

Boxing has gone dark for the foreseeable future. Khan, a former junior welterweight champion, hasn’t fought since a stoppage of Billy Dibb in July. He had been talking about a bigger fight. Longtime rival Kell Brook had been mentioned as a possibility.

But everything from the Olympics to prizefighting is on the shelf until the pandemic subsides.

“I am aware of how difficult it is for the public to get a hospital bed in this tragic time,’’ Khan said a few days after former stablemate Manny Pacquiao jumped into the coronavirus fight by donating buses, masks and testing kits to medical personnel in the Philippines.

Fight in Sheffield, England under investigation after betting spike

The fight between Dave Allen and Dorian Darch on Saturday in Sheffield, England is under investigation after an unusual spike in betting.

A fixed fight?

Allegations are under investigation by the British Boxing Board of Control and the Gambling Commission, which have begun a probe of a heavyweight fight Saturday in Sheffield England, according to a report in the Sun.

The Sun reported that BBBofC secretary Robert Smith confirmed Monday that an investigation is underway

A suspicious spike in betting on Dave Allen’s third round stoppage of Dorian Darch prompted the investigation.

Allen, a 9-2 favorite, struggled through the first two rounds of the scheduled six-rounder. In the third, he stopped Darch. A couple of hours before the bout, there was a reported spike in wagers on an Allen to win in the third. According to SunSport, SkyBet detected the sudden surge in bets and alerted other betting shops in the U.K.

Darch (12-12, 10 KOs) was knocked down twice in the third. The first knockdown appears to the result of a glancing left hook.

Including Saturday, Darch has lost seven straight fights, all by stoppage. He hasn’t won a fight since July 2016. He denied on social media that there was any wrongdoing.

“Should have chucked a couple of quid on myself if I knew lol,’’ Darch said on Twitter

Allen (18-5-2, 15 KOs) also responded, saying: “People were saying it was a fix because I was planning on it being a six-round move around.

“A few of my mates had a lot of money on the points win and it didn’t come in, but I am not the sort of guy who picks a round to win, I am not really good enough to do that.’’

How to Watch UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers, Portugal vs. Lithuania, France vs. Moldova Live Stream, Schedule, US TV Channel, Start Time

Watch the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers Live Online.

France, Germany, Portugal, Croatia, England and the Netherlands can each secure automatic qualification to Euro 2020 when the qualifying phase resumes on Matchday 9. Cristiano Ronaldo and the defending champions are still in danger of missing out on second in Group B, but a win over Lithuania on Thursday could be enough if Serbia fails to beat Luxembourg.

UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifiers

  • Date: Thurs. Nov. 14 – Sat. Nov. 16
  • TV Channel: TUDN
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (watch for free)

Current world champions and Euro 2016 runner-up France remains second in Group H. While level on points with Turkey, who leads via head-to-head, France will qualify as long as it beats Moldova at home. Didier Deschamps’ side can still be knocked out of the top-two running by third-place Iceland, who travel to Turkey on Thursday in need of a win if its to snatch an automatic spot.

Germany and the Netherlands are engaged in another close fight for the summit in Group C. De Oranje holds the head-to-head advantage over Germany with the pair level on points, while Northern Ireland holds a glimmer of hope to finish top two, currently three points behind in third.

Ronald Koeman takes the Netherlands to Windsor Park in Belfast on Saturday, while Germany hosts Belarus, each needing just one more point to cement their places in first and second, respectively.

England has suffered one loss in qualifying and need one point at home to Montenegro to guarantee a top-two finish, while a win would ensure they take the top spot. However, third-place Kosovo hopes a result away to the Czech Republic can cause one last shift in Group A.

Croatia plays its final match of the qualifying campaign at home to Slovakia on Saturday. One point would be enough to ensure the team finishes first in Group E. Gareth Bale’s Wales team is currently fourth in the pool and four points below second-place Hungary, who it has to beat at home if it’s to prolong an automatic qualification chance.

Spain has already wrapped up its Euro 2020 fate and looks set to finish first in Group F, but it’ll host bottom-dweller Malta on Friday in what promises to be a fairly one-sided fixture.

Matchday 9 TV Schedule

Thursday, November 14:

Turkey vs. Iceland, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDN)

Portugal vs. Lithuania, 2:30 p.m ET (TUDN)

France vs. Moldova, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra)

England vs. Montenegro, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra2)

Czech Republic vs. Kosovo, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra3)

Albania vs. Andorra, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra4)

Serbia vs. Luxembourg, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra5)

Friday, November 15:

Finland vs. Liechtenstein, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra3)

Armenia vs. Greece, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra2)

Norway vs. Faroe Islands, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra)

Switzerland vs. Georgia, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra5)

Denmark vs. Gibraltar, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra7)

Spain vs. Malta, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDN)

Romania vs. Sweden, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra6)

Bosnia and Herzegovina vs. Italy, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra4)

Saturday, November 16:

Cyprus vs. Scotland, 9:00 a.m. ET (TUDN)

Azerbaijan vs. Wales, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra)

Slovenia vs. Latvia, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra2)

San Marino vs. Kazakhstan, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDNextra3)

Russia vs. Belgium, 12:00 p.m. ET (TUDN)

Northern Ireland vs. Netherlands, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra4)

Germany vs. Belarus, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDN)

Croatia vs. Slovakia, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra5)

Israel vs. Poland, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra7)

Austria vs. North Macedonia, 2:30 p.m. ET (TUDNextra6)

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