England women's football team pledge funds for COVID-19 relief

The England women's football team will be making a donation to the Players Together fund to assist the National Health Services' (NHS) response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, Premier League players had launched the Players Together Fund, which primarily aims to help the NHS.

"The Senior England Women's football squad, otherwise known as the Lionesses, have been discussing the best way in which we could offer our support to the NHS and its frontline staff over the past few weeks," the England women's team said in an official statement.

"After discussions with a number of Premier League players, we are delighted to confirm that the whole of the Lionesses squad will make a collective donation to the #PlayersTogether fund, partnering with NHS Charities Together, in unison with the Premier League players in order to support the amazing NHS. Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives," it added.

This initiative is partnered with the NHS Charities Together -- an organisation for more than 150 registered charities to assist in raising and distributing funds for the fight against COVID-19 in the UK.

The country has so far recorded 12,107 deaths as a result of the illness.

The England women's team last played a match in March, when they went on to defeat Japan.

However, the side also went on to face losses against the United States and Spain in the SheBelievesCup.

Bournemouth latest to reverse coronavirus furlough decision

Bournemouth became the latest Premier League club to reverse a decision to furlough non-playing staff during the stoppage in play caused by the coronavirus outbreak, joining Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in making a U-turn on the issue.

The Cherries had initially opted to use the British government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to temporarily help pay staff during the stoppage.

"These measures were not taken lightly, given the operational pressures placed on clubs in such uncertain times," the club's board of directors said in a statement on Monday.

"However well-placed our intentions were, we are aware of criticisms levelled at Premier League clubs applying for this scheme.

"We have listened to our supporters and have reversed our decision to furlough these employees," the board added in the statement.

"We, as a board of directors, will ensure that the club can continue to operate while the season is suspended, and we will not be applying for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme".

Newcastle United remain as the only Premier League club to still be intending to take use of public funds to pay non-playing staff.

There has been widespread criticism of clubs using the system, with outcry from supporters behind the reversals at Spurs and Liverpool.