British Government has approved the return of domestic competitive sport behind closed doors from June 1.

Major professional competitions have been shut down since March because of the coronavirus.

But with much of the country still in effective lockdown, Culture, Media and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden, said on Saturday the Government wants to “re-establish some normality in other parts of our lives” as he announced the return of Live sport.

“For more than two months after sport stopped and after weeks of round-the-clock discussions with medical experts and professional sports bodies, I’m delighted to announce today that the Government has published guidance which allows competitive sport to resume behind closed doors from Monday (June 1) at the earliest,” Dowden told a Downing Street news conference.

“Football, tennis, horse racing, Formula One, cricket, golf, rugby, snooker and others are all set to return to our screens shortly.”

Horse racing is set to be the first major sport back in action at Newcastle on Monday, with the first Classic meeting of the season, featuring 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, on June 6.

The guidance, drawn up in consultation with public health officials and governing bodies, forms the third stage of British sport’s return from lockdown.

Stage two, which allowed for close-contact and competitive training for elite athletes, was published last Monday.

It will now be up to individual sports to carry out their own risk assessments, with Dowden saying they “know their sport best”. As well as ensuring no spectators are present, sports bodies must ensure everyone entering a venue is screened for the coronavirus and anyone suspected of having Covid-19 must be placed in isolation.

Movement channels will be established, while social distancing must be maintained “where possible”, with players warned against physical contact celebrations with their team-mates.