Even the most reclusive of hermits would not struggle to notice the chaos that is engulfing the globe at the moment.

The COVID-19 coronavirus is spreading through the world, countries are being put in states of emergency and people are stocking up on toilet paper like it’s the apocalypse.

Vast swathes of the workforce are being asked to work from home and often in times like these, sport is the only solace. However, that too has fallen by the wayside as practically any sporting event you can think of has been postponed or outright cancelled.

Chief amongst these of course is the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was designated as a ‘participants-only event’ two weeks ago before finally succumbing to the pandemic as the decision-makers suspended the season outright without a lap being raced.

Last Friday, Formula 1 and the FIA, in consultation with the Bahrain International Circuit and the Bahrain Motor Federation, announced the postponement of the race.

Shaikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, chief executive of the BIC, said:

“We have been in continuous discussions with F1 and the FIA in recent weeks, as the situation with regards to COVID-19 has evolved globally. The mutually agreed decision to postpone the race is the right thing to do, given recent developments and the overwhelming priority to protect the health of all concerned.

“We will be working closely with our partners at F1 and the FIA on monitoring the global situation and hope to be able to welcome the return of F1 later this year, once it is right to do so.

“Finally, our thoughts go out to all those who have been affected by the COVID-19 virus.”

It is out of the question that it was the right thing to do. Not only from the obvious standpoint of putting lives at risk and letting thousands of multinational personnel in the country (and that’s just the teams!) but from a sporting standpoint.

Sport really is nothing without fans. Yes, the race could be held purely for the TV cameras, but where is the fun in that? Where’s the theatre? Drivers often talk about feeding off the crowd’s energy, so without any of that you’d be able to sense the vacuum where the atmosphere used to be and probably get a much poorer race with drivers not at the peak of their game.

Having purchased a year’s beIN Sports subscription just two weeks ago when I moved into my new apartment, to say this is timed poorly is an understatement! The Premier League, Six Nations, England cricket tours, The Masters, Formula 1, maybe even the Olympics in July … all gone for the foreseeable future.

The correct, and only, decision was made, but it doesn’t make it any less frustrating. Sport is a major part of my life; not just playing but watching, supporting and indeed writing about it.

What am I going to do for the next two, three, four, maybe more, months? I might even have to talk to my wife!

Just kidding, I’m not married, but I imagine many will have that dilemma! I think it’s perfectly OK to be disappointed or upset at the lack of sporting action.

As is inevitable, you will get many bastions of moral superiority on social media saying you have no right to be miffed since there are more important things at stake, i.e. people’s lives.

Whilst true, I don’t think it’s wrong to be gutted at universal postponements. Sport is built on passion, support and following through thick and thin. It’s most certainly thick right now but the dark clouds will thin eventually and things will be back to normal.

The Bahrain Grand Prix has a good chance of returning later this year (might I suggest as a double–header with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November?) and if not, there’s always next year.

Incidentally, hopefully that mantra is the case for Liverpool’s title ambitions. I’ll be happy to see all postponed sporting events rearranged for later in the year, but if there’s just one thing that has to be cancelled and declared null and void, I think we’d almost unanimously agree it should be this year’s Premier League.

Please, for the good of mankind!