one year on, the family of 3 liverpool fan who died from covid, ask why thousands of spanish supporters were allowed to travel to anfield. it's an italian job well done. manchester city thrash fiorentina to reach the quarter finals of the women's champions league. and the cross code rugby great, sonny bill williams has retired to make a return to the ring. hello and welcome to sportsday. for the past 12 months, we've reported on the impact of covid—19 on sport. it was exactly a year ago the coronavirus outbreak was declared a global pandemic and on that same day, liverpool faced atletico madrid at anfield in the champions league,

the last match to be played in front of a full house. despite madrid being being at the centre of the outbreak in spain, 3,000 atletico fans travelled to the match. liverpool supporter, richard mawson died just weeks after attending the game, his family says visiting fans shouldn't have been allowed. mairead smyth reports. this day last year, 3000 spanish football fans arrived for atletico madrid's match at anfield. and is a really sensible for fans who couldn't watch their team at home to be able to travel to liverpool and watch their team play with 50 to 51,000 locals? is that really sensible? the with 50 to 51,000 locals? is that really sensible?— with 50 to 51,000 locals? is that really sensible? the day covid-19 is declared a pandemic. _ really sensible? the day covid-19 is declared a pandemic. for— really sensible? the day covid-19 is declared a pandemic. for richie's i declared a pandemic. for richie's family, they believe it was the day that led to his death from coronavirus. he that led to his death from coronavirus.— that led to his death from coronavirus. ., ., , ., coronavirus. he loved the european names. coronavirus. he loved the european games- he — coronavirus. he loved the european games. he loved _ coronavirus. he loved the european games. he loved them _ coronavirus. he loved the european games. he loved them more - coronavirus. he loved the european games. he loved them more than l games. he loved them more than anything — games. he loved them more than anything. so it is sad, like thousands of other, to go to the

mass, _ thousands of other, to go to the mass, because the government has given— mass, because the government has given them — mass, because the government has given them the 0k, and everything was fine, _ given them the 0k, and everything was fine, which it turns out it wasn't — was fine, which it turns out it wasn't. . ., , ., ., wasn't. that game should never have one wasn't. that game should never have gone ahead- — wasn't. that game should never have gone ahead- in _ wasn't. that game should never have gone ahead. in hindsight, _ wasn't. that game should never have gone ahead. in hindsight, because i gone ahead. in hindsight, because spain _ gone ahead. in hindsight, because spain was — gone ahead. in hindsight, because spain was in — gone ahead. in hindsight, because spain was in lockdown _ gone ahead. in hindsight, because spain was in lockdown at - gone ahead. in hindsight, because spain was in lockdown at the - gone ahead. in hindsight, because| spain was in lockdown at the time. madrid _ spain was in lockdown at the time. madrid was — spain was in lockdown at the time. madrid was the _ spain was in lockdown at the time. madrid was the worst _ spain was in lockdown at the time. madrid was the worst affected - spain was in lockdown at the time. i madrid was the worst affected city. it was _ madrid was the worst affected city. it was a _ madrid was the worst affected city. it was a disaster— madrid was the worst affected city. it was a disaster waiting _ madrid was the worst affected city. it was a disaster waiting to - madrid was the worst affected city. | it was a disaster waiting to happen. soon _ it was a disaster waiting to happen. soon after— it was a disaster waiting to happen. soon after the _ it was a disaster waiting to happen. soon after the match, _ it was a disaster waiting to happen. soon after the match, richie - it was a disaster waiting to happen. soon after the match, richie fell. soon after the match, richie fell ill, two weeks later, he was taken to hospital. in the middle of the night, he was trying _ in the middle of the night, he was trying to— in the middle of the night, he was trying to get his breath, and i was in the _ trying to get his breath, and i was in the next — trying to get his breath, and i was in the next room. anyway, he goes in and gets— in the next room. anyway, he goes in and gets an _ in the next room. anyway, he goes in and gets an ambulance, and within minutes, _ and gets an ambulance, and within minutes, the ambulance was there. that was— minutes, the ambulance was there. that was the last time i'd seen them — that was the last time i'd seen them. going in the ambulance by himself. — them. going in the ambulance by himself, then two weeks after, through— himself, then two weeks after, through a — himself, then two weeks after, through a video screen. i will never. — through a video screen. i will never, ever get that vision out of my mind, — never, ever get that vision out of my mind, because you couldn't go to

the hospital. — my mind, because you couldn't go to the hospital, you couldn't turn up, it was— the hospital, you couldn't turn up, it was a _ the hospital, you couldn't turn up, it was a waiting game.— it was a waiting game. richie died on the 17th _ it was a waiting game. richie died on the 17th of— it was a waiting game. richie died on the 17th of april. _ on the 17th of april. 0h, on the 17th of april. oh, god... it haunts me to think 0h, god... it haunts me to think that— 0h, god... it haunts me to think that i_ oh, god... it haunts me to think that i couldn't do anything. i couldh't_ that i couldn't do anything. i couldn't even go because they ran out. ,, , couldn't even go because they ran out, ,, , ., couldn't even go because they ran out. ,, , ., , ., out. she is part of the bereaved families for _ out. she is part of the bereaved families forjust _ out. she is part of the bereaved families forjust uk _ out. she is part of the bereaved families forjust uk group. - out. she is part of the bereaved families forjust uk group. we l out. she is part of the bereaved i families forjust uk group. we are families for “ust uk group. we are in the families forjust uk group. we are in the process _ families forjust uk group. we are in the process of— families forjust uk group. we are in the process of requesting - families forjust uk group. we are in the process of requesting a - in the process of requesting a public— in the process of requesting a public inquiry _ in the process of requesting a public inquiry. if— in the process of requesting a public inquiry. if those - in the process of requesting a - public inquiry. if those supporters weren't— public inquiry. if those supporters weren't there. _ public inquiry. if those supporters weren't there, and _ public inquiry. if those supporters weren't there, and obviously - public inquiry. if those supporters weren't there, and obviously theyi weren't there, and obviously they were _ weren't there, and obviously they were on_ weren't there, and obviously they were on public— weren't there, and obviously they were on public transport, - weren't there, and obviously they were on public transport, and - weren't there, and obviously theyl were on public transport, and bars and restaurants— were on public transport, and bars and restaurants and _ were on public transport, and bars and restaurants and i'm _ were on public transport, and bars and restaurants and i'm100% - and restaurants and i'm100% convinced _ and restaurants and i'm100% convinced he _ and restaurants and i'm100% convinced he would _ and restaurants and i'm100% convinced he would be - and restaurants and i'm100% convinced he would be sitting| and restaurants and i'm100% - convinced he would be sitting next to me _ convinced he would be sitting next to me now — convinced he would be sitting next to me now— to me now. richie's family will never know — to me now. richie's family will never know exactly _ to me now. richie's family will never know exactly where - to me now. richie's family will never know exactly where or i to me now. richie's family will. never know exactly where or when to me now. richie's family will- never know exactly where or when he caught the virus. it was a european tie, ua file, the game's governing body said they wanted the match to go ahead, but a month later, the city council commissioned a report into the match. experts say with hindsight, it shouldn't have happened. welcome to the fact that the match

went ahead probably contributed to more cases of disease. that will be very hard to prove. there is some evidence that suggests that the cases went up, but of course, cases were going up everywhere. back then, there were no lockdowns in this country. sojust there were no lockdowns in this country. so just saying we will play this game behind closed doors might have led to the problem. the government _ have led to the problem. the government says _ have led to the problem. the government says the match took place under the clear health guidance at the time. for this family, today, they remember richie's last match. next month, they will mark the first anniversary of his death. 0h, anniversary of his death. oh, god... it's the face of everything, isn't it? christmas, birthday— everything, isn't it? christmas, birthday is, _ everything, isn't it? christmas, birthday is, anniversaries... it's hard _ birthday is, anniversaries... it's hard it's— birthday is, anniversaries... it's hard. it's really hard. there are some _ hard. it's really hard. there are some people out there that have got nobody. _ some people out there that have got nobody, they haven't got a voice. so exactly one year on, we still wait for full—houses at football.

it would have been packed at old trafford tonight, it's the last 16 in the europa league, they are approaching haltime against ac milan, that is the pick of the ties. these are all the first legs, four british sides still involved. it's goalless. 0ne it's goalless. one of them very debatable or handball. these are the first legs. four criticised still involved. newly crowned scottish champions rangers have also kicked off. they just equalised theyjust equalised with the goal there. we have got some late kick—offs as well, arsenal there in greece playing 0lympia. tottenham face, those are eight o'clock kick—offs. manchester city women are through to the quarter finals of the women's champions league. they had a healthy cushion from the the first leg against fiorentina and they soon put the tie out of sight, winning 5—0 in florence. nick parrott reports. with a 3-0 with a 3—0 advantage from the first

leg, manchester city manager, gareth taylor, felt comfortable enough to make five changes to his side. with steph horton rested, alan wake was handed the captain's armband and lead by example. the gamejust handed the captain's armband and lead by example. the game just eight minutes old when she secured their passage to the quarterfinals. job seemingly done early, there was a momentary lapse of concentration, but this was the only time goal keeper was troubled. the defence were all over the place. handing city the chance for a second goal, which caroline weir gratefully accepted. white struck again just after the half—hour mark, but she wasn't able to claim a haptic before being taken off in the second half. city have plenty of dangerous players, though. sam came on after the interval and the american at a two more goals to complete the rank. it was an easy victory, but whoever they face in the quarterfinals will provide a much harder challenge. nick parrott, bbc news. city going a step further than they

did last season and the women's champions league. into the quarterfinals. still to come in sportsday, we'll have more on women's game. as the football association make a pledge to help educate the top players to try and stop the exodus to the us. it'sjust always it's just always something i've it'sjust always something i've been interested _ it'sjust always something i've been interested in growing up. i used to watch _ interested in growing up. i used to watch csi, — interested in growing up. i used to watch csi, criminal minds, law and order— watch csi, criminal minds, law and order with — watch csi, criminal minds, law and order with my mum. the former all blacks coach steve hansen said sonny bill williams was the best athlete he'd ever worked with. tributes from rugby league have also been pouring in for the 35—year—old who has decided to retire from both codes at the age of 35. in union, he won two world cups with new zealand and a super rugby title with the chiefs. in league, he was an nrl premiership champion with the roosters and the bulldogs. he's now going to concentrate on his boxing career adam wild reports.

to be considered one of the greatest of all time is an incredible feat. to be recognised as that in two sports is quite astonishing. to retire from both to focus on your third sports, well, it could only be him. a rugby union legends, a rugby league superstar, his is a career unparalleled, and perhaps there may just be something more to come. today, he announced his retirement from rugby saying it wasn't perfect journey, but the lessons have helped shape him into the man, and the journey wasn't perfect, it was pretty close. he journey wasn't perfect, it was pretty close-— journey wasn't perfect, it was re close. . ., . ., pretty close. he was a game changer for many people- _ pretty close. he was a game changer for many people. he _ pretty close. he was a game changer for many people. he was _ pretty close. he was a game changer for many people. he was blessed - pretty close. he was a game changerl for many people. he was blessed with a mix of mum and dad jeans that allowed him to do things that no one else on the planet could do. what an absolute blessing he's been to all of us. either code of rugby, rugby league van or a rugby union fan, it's been entertainment from the first time they picked up the ball. rugby league is first time they picked up the ball. rugby leagu— first time they picked up the ball. rugby league is where it started at nrl winner with _

rugby league is where it started at nrl winner with the _ rugby league is where it started at nrl winner with the canterbury - nrl winner with the canterbury bulldogs, switching codes to rugby union in france and back in new zealand. his first return to rugby team with the sydney roosters, pulled another title and brought another return to rugby union. still, it's his performances at international level that elevated him into a global sporting icon twice a rugby union with the image of him giving away his metal to a young fan after the 2015 final melted the hearts of the sporting world and confirmed what many already knew. there was no one in the game quite like him. by then, he had already played in a rugby league world cup final and in between all of that, he had incredibly found time to master rugby sevens, representing new zealand at the rio 0lympics. wonderful tackle from him. this olympics. wonderfultackle from him. �* , wonderful tackle from him. as did his sister. but _ wonderful tackle from him. as did his sister. but sonny _ wonderful tackle from him. as did his sister. but sonny is _ wonderful tackle from him. as did his sister. but sonny is the - wonderful tackle from him. as did his sister. but sonny is the kind i wonderful tackle from him. as did his sister. but sonny is the kind of

sportsman who never knows when enough is enough, and rugby wasn't the end of it. another career as a boxer ran alongside, a sporting polymath unlike any other in the modern world, a career that took him around the globe, eventually reaching toronto, and a spelling rugby league super lead. but now it's all over, and the praise and thanks have begun. new zealand rugby league called his career outstanding, the all blacks crowned him the off—load cane. even rivals like australia says it was a pleasure to play against him, and also, scary. whilst the referee congratulated for the work on and off the field. so what next? well, sonny says he will return to the ring to give boxing another go. 0ne ring to give boxing another go. one final chapter in the extraordinary career of one of modern sport's true greats. adam wild, bbc news. let's get more on this from our rugby union correspondent chris jones, what a player chriswhat set him apart?

well, what didn't set him apart? steve hansen they're talking about his athleticism, and as adam wild summed up in that piece there, there are very, very few athletes that can hold a torch to him, and the way he was able to switch between boxing, rugby union, rugby league, look at the years, 2015 rugby world cup, he was in the olympics, 2017 he is playing against the british and irish lines also fasting ten hours a day as a devout muslim for ramadan. certain extraordinary athletes but highly skilful as well. his off—load is set up a match to finally try in that 2015 world rugby cup final it will live on in their memory, and then to sort of up as a cultural icon as well giving his metal to a fan after that game, his work off the field, his faith, and just the way he conducted himself a proper cultural icon. yeah, sports person like very few others. you

cultural icon. yeah, sports person like very few others.— cultural icon. yeah, sports person like very few others. you touched on his faith they're _ like very few others. you touched on his faith they're coming _ like very few others. you touched on his faith they're coming up _ like very few others. you touched on his faith they're coming up to - like very few others. you touched on his faith they're coming up to me - his faith they're coming up to me can you credits his conversion to islam 13 years ago now is turning his own life around, but he has really used as platform, his fame to promote that faith and also highlight various issues. yes he has, he highlight various issues. yes he has. he has _ highlight various issues. yes he has, he has highlighted - highlight various issues. yes he has, he has highlighted issuesl highlight various issues. yes he l has, he has highlighted issues in china, as i touched upon there, he has been observing ramadan and playing rugby at the same time, it's an extraordinary statement. that was in 2017, but doing it all in such an un—fussing and humble way, yeah, as someone who really is cut from a different cloth, we often do use superlatives to describe our sportsmen and women, but here was a guy who kind of transcended sport off the field and on it as well. was able to do some things other athletes couldn't do on the way he could bounce around league, union, boxing, trying his hand out again, it's something pretty special. that

is pump at its absolute best, he was a superstar rugby player. he will be remembered for so much more. you know he will— remembered for so much more. you know he will check himself right into the boxing as well. unbeaten in seven heavyweight bouts that he had to fit into him as he was saying. six nations is back, bit of arrest we are into the put notes in they will be one away from the grand slam, slightly tougher task for france as they look to maintain their unbeaten record. yes. maintain their unbeaten record. yes, those two, maintain their unbeaten record. yes, those two. the _ maintain their unbeaten record. yes, those two, the only _ maintain their unbeaten record. yes, those two, the only two _ maintain their unbeaten record. ye: those two, the only two teams who could win the grand slam from as you say. it's one wales should be able to avoid, and potentially set up that big showdown against france in paris a week on saturday. —— she stink a few in his side, for his first start at fullback, but it's of french side that come to took in a fully loaded, you know? they have 12 players are so that are suffering

from coronavirus a week or two ago. they have all recovered and they have gone through the outstanding centre back. so it's one of the best french teams to come to twickenham in living memory as they try to do something that no french team has done since 2005 and beat england and twickenham in the championship. brute twickenham in the championship. we will see how it goes and obviously follow it across the bbc with chris and the rest of the team. many thanks, chris. let's have a quick look at some of the days other headlines. the tokyo 0lympics president has denied reports that they'll stage the games without foreign spectators. seiko hashimoto says discussions are continuing with a decision due to be made in the next fortnight. the number of fans allowed into venues will be confirmed next month. britain's geraint thomas is up to 13th in the tirreno adriatico race in italy. he was in the bunch behind french riderjulian alaphilippe who won today's second stage. belgium's wout van art retained the overall lead. the paris—nice, the race to the sun,

is also taking place. ireland's sam bennet took his second stage win, but slovenia's premoz roglitch still leads after five stages roger federer has been beaten in the second round of the qatar 0pen. this was his comeback tournament after a year out of action, but he was defeated in three sets by nikoloz basilashvili, the world number 42 from georgia. the players championship, the unofficial fifth golf major, is under way at sawgrass in florida. rory mcilroy is the reigning champion but he's going to struggle to make the cut after a dreadful first round he was starting on the back nine, began with a double bogey and then had a nightmare on the 18th, he hit his first tee shot into the water... and then just moments later he hit his third shot, from the drop zone, into the water again! he ended up with a quadruple—bogey eight. he finished his round on seven over par.

matthew fitzpatrick is having a much better day though.