London, United Kingdom | AFP | The English Premier League are eyeing a resumption of the season on June 8, behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, and reaching a climax on July 27, according to The Times. The paper claims football chiefs, along with other sports governing bodies, have …
Read More »Transfer talk ignores virus ‘reality’ – Man Utd’s Woodward
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has said talk of mega-money football transfer moves “ignore the realities that face the sport” because of the coronavirus outbreak. United have been linked with a £200 million ($247 million, 228 million euros) bid to lure England captain Harry Kane away from Tottenham …
Read More »Rubber bones and road crossing: Commentators get creative during lockdown
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Dogs chasing rubber bones, “competitive” road crossing and the thrills of grilled chicken have become the new currency for sports commentators looking to entertain fans during the coronavirus lockdown. With virtually no sport being played anywhere in the world due to the pandemic, under-employed TV …
Read More »‘Everything clouds over and goes dark’ – Iniesta on depression at Barcelona
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Andres Iniesta has described his struggle with depression while playing for Barcelona, which his mother says was a “bottomless pit” that caused her 25-year-old son to ask to sleep with his parents. Iniesta recalls his experience with the illness in a Rakuten TV documentary, ‘Andres Iniesta …
Read More »FUFA to receive sh2billion virus relief fund
FIFA to give members $150m to support overcome COVID-19 effects Lausanne, Switzerland | AFP | FIFA will release $500,000 (Ush 2billion) to each national football governing body to help handle financial troubles caused by the coronavirus, the global body said on Friday. FIFA will release a total $150 million (139 million euros) …
Read More »Bengals choose Burrow with first pick in ‘virtual’ NFL draft
Los Angeles, United States | AFP | Joe Burrow, who had a season for the ages in 2019 and was the overwhelming favorite to go No. 1, was snapped up by the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL’s first ever “virtual draft” on Thursday. Burrow was the massive odds-on favorite to go …
Read More »Don’t rush to restart La Liga, Bale warns
Madrid, Spain | AFP | Real Madrid star Gareth Bale says there should be no rush to restart La Liga during the coronavirus lockdown as the Spanish football federation plans tests and a return to training. Testing players is being discussed with a view to completing the Liga season and thereby …
Read More »Qualification for next Champions League should be ‘on sporting merit’, says UEFA
Paris, France | AFP | Qualification for the next Champions League should be “on sporting merit” if domestic leagues cannot be completed but countries should “explore all possible options” to finish seasons suspended because of the coronavirus crisis, UEFA said on Thursday. “If a domestic competition is prematurely terminated for legitimate …
Read More »German football targets May 9 restart but needs political green light
Berlin, Germany | AFP | German league football is ready to resume without spectators on May 9 but the final say rests with political leaders, the Bundesliga’s chief executive said Thursday. Following a meeting with Germany’s top clubs, Christian Seifert said the league was “ready” to return next month, which would …
Read More »Takeovers that changed Premier League history
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Newcastle United’s sale to a Saudi-backed consortium appears to be close to completion — a deal that could turn the long-time underachievers into a major Premier League power. The potential £300 million ($370 million) takeover will reportedly see Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund take …
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