Category sport-news

The Chief Executive Officer of German Football League (DFL), Christian Seifert. AFP

Germany’s first and second division football clubs have said they are ready to allow some fans back into stadiums next season if the country’s government gives the green light later this month.

The Chief Executive Officer of German Football League (DFL), Christian Seifert, said the possibility of fans in stadiums depend solely on the approval of authorities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If and when fans will return to the stadiums is not a decision for the DFL but for the political leaders,” he said during a press conference on Tuesday.

“The DFL does not expect or demand anything but we are preparing to take this small step [with fans in stadiums] when the time comes.

“Priority is not full stadiums but the health situation. We should not take unnecessary risks but we should also not capitulate and just expect it to go away.”

Benfica’s German midfielder Julian Weigl (L) challenges Sporting’s Cape Verdean Jovane Cabral (R) during the Portuguese League football match between SL Benfica and Sporting CP at Luz stadium in Lisbon on July 25, 2020. PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP

The health ministers of the individual German states are due to meet next week to discuss the matter and the new Bundesliga season starts on September 18. The German Cup first round starts a week earlier.

Seifert said that if fans were allowed into stadiums there would be no visiting supporters at least until the end of the year to minimise the risk of infection, no standing tribunes and no alcohol sales.

The Bundesliga became the first major football league to restart its season in May after a two-month break, earning praise for its health and safety protocols that were subsequently adopted by other European leagues. The league season ended in empty stadiums in May and June.

The German government has banned all events with large crowds until October 31.

The country fears a second wave of infections and the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 879 to 211,281.

In this file photo taken on November 30, 2019 Valencia’s Spanish midfielder Ferran Torres celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match between Valencia CF and Villarreal CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia. JOSE JORDAN / AFP

Manchester City announced the signing of Valencia winger Ferran Torres on a five-year deal on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old has signed a five-year contract, for a reported initial fee of £20.9 million ($27 million).

“I am so happy to be joining City,” Torres said in a statement released by the Premier League club. “Every player wants to be involved in attacking teams and Manchester City are one of the most attacking in world football.”

Guardiola is keen to strengthen his squad following the loss of their Premier League title to Liverpool — they have also agreed a £41 million fee for Bournemouth defender Nathan Ake.

“We have followed Ferran’s progress closely and have been very impressed,” said director of football Txiki Begiristain.

AFP

Henry Onyekuru in training at AS Monaco on August 4, 2020.

After completing half a season on loan at Galatasaray, Super Eagles player, Henry Onyekuru has returned to Monaco, where he has a contract until 2024.

The Nigerian International joined Galatasaray on a six-month loan deal in January and featured 10 times, scoring once and making two assists.

Onyekuru arrived Monaco from Everton last summer on a 13.5 million euros deal, excluding bonuses.

He had started the season impressively but soon lost favour with coach Leonardo Jardim, and was relegated to the bench.

Jardim was sacked in 2019 and replaced with Robert Moreno.

Onyekuru in training at AS Monaco on August 4, 2020.

In a recent interview with Channels Sports, the former KAS Eupen of Belgium player says he is ready for the Monaco challenge.

“There is nothing better than a coach who believes in you and gives you confidence,” he said.

“With that, you can give everything you have. You can express yourself because you know if you make a mistake, he will still push you to succeed.”

Onyekuru was a member of Nigeria’s bronze-winning team at the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Juventus’ Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) sits with Juventus’ Argentine forward Paulo Dybala prior to the Italian Serie A football match against As Roma on August 1, 20 20 at the Allianz stadium in Turin. Isabella BONOTTO / AFP

Argentine footballer, Paulo Dybala, has beaten his Juventus teammate Cristiano Ronaldo to the Italian Serie A Player of the Year award for the 2019/2020 season.

Serie A announced Dybala as the winner of the annual prize on Tuesday, stopping Ronaldo from retaining the title he won in his first year at the Allianz Stadium.

Italian football’s main governing body named the 26-year-old forward as the season’s most valuable player, while the club’s newest signing Dejan Kulusevski clinched the Young Player of the Year prize for an outstanding campaign at Parma.

Dybala has scored 11 goals in 33 Serie A appearances for Juventus this term and also recorded 11 assists.

He struggled to adapt to a new role in the team following Ronaldo’s arrival from Real Madrid in 2018 but has enjoyed good form since Maurizio Sarri’s appointment last summer.

Ronaldo might have thought he’d done enough to retain Serie A’s top individual accolade after contributing 31 goals to the Bianconeri’s cause, but his final tally was still five behind Lazio top striker Immobile, who earned the Capocannoniere – the title awarded to the highest goalscorer in the league.

There was more celebration for Juventus as Wojciech Szczesny received the best goalkeeper award.

Inter Milan’s Stefan De Vrij, Atalanta’s Alejandro Gomez, and Lazio’s talisman Ciro Immobile were acknowledged in defensive, midfield and forward roles.

Medics in full PPE due to COVID-19, wheel an injured Chelsea’s Spanish midfielder Pedro off of the pitch in the closing minutes of the English FA Cup final football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in London, on August 1, 2020. (Photo by Catherine Ivill / POOL / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Chelsea forward Pedro has undergone surgery on his shoulder ahead of an expected transfer to Roma, meaning he will not play for the Premier League club again.

The 33-year-old Spain international confirmed on social media his operation had been successful.

He landed awkwardly on his right shoulder when appearing as a substitute in Chelsea’s 2-1 FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal at the weekend.

Pedro will miss Chelsea’s Champions League last-16 second-leg clash at Bayern Munich on Saturday before he leaves Stamford Bridge.

“The surgery went well, I will be back soon,” Pedro posted on Instagram. “It was a pity not to win the FA Cup. Thank you for all your support.”

Chelsea tweeted: “We’re all wishing you a speedy recovery, @_Pedro17_!” in response to his update.

Pedro has spent five years at Chelsea after arriving from Barcelona in 2015, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League.

-AFP

Players vie for the ball during the German Cup (DFB Pokal) semi-final football match FC Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt in Munich, southern Germany on June 10, 2020.
Kai PFAFFENBACH / POOL / AFP

Football clubs in Germany’s top two divisions on Tuesday agreed to plans drawn up by the league which could allow the partial return of fans to stadiums from mid-September, despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the agreed plans drawn up by the German Football League (DFL) for the new season, which starts on September 18, fans would only be allowed to sit, alcohol at matches would be banned until October and there will be no away fans until the end of the year.

-AFP