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Man United's Bailly taken off after 2nd clash of heads
Read full article: Man United's Bailly taken off after 2nd clash of headsManchester United's Eric Bailly receives treatment after a clash of heads during the English FA Cup semifinal soccer match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London, England, Sunday, July 19, 2020. (Andy Rain, Pool via AP)LONDON Manchester United defender Eric Bailly was wheeled off on a stretcher and wearing an oxygen mask after a second clash of heads during Sunday's FA Cup semifinal against Chelsea. Bailly had returned to action after an aerial collision with Chelsea defender Kurt Zouma. But during a lengthy stoppage, Bailly staggered on the touchline before being placed on a stretcher and wheeled off the Wembley touchline on a stretcher by medical staff wearing protective clothing as part of coronavirus prevention measures. There was applause from the few people inside Wembley, where fans are locked out due to the pandemic.
Analysis: Man City court win after flawed UEFA prosecution
Read full article: Analysis: Man City court win after flawed UEFA prosecutionCity fans are celebrating a squad of lawyers outsmarting UEFAs judicial machinery in extra time and saving the club from a devastating two-year Champions League ban. It is still the biggest sanction for an English club since City was fined 30 million euros in the original 2014 FFP case for overspending. Clubs across Europe made a combined profit of 140 million euros in 2018 compared to losses of 1.163 billion euros in 2009 before FFP was implemented. The CAS verdict only reinforces City fans grievances with European footballs governing body. Meanwhile, City could end an extraordinary season by lifting UEFA's biggest club prize for the first time: The European Cup.
The Latest: Madrid forward Vincius to repeat virus test
Read full article: The Latest: Madrid forward Vincius to repeat virus testAll rights reserved)The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane says forward Vincius Jnior will need to have another coronavirus test after an initial test result came out wrong.Zidane says the doctor informed me that the test had come out wrong and we were going to repeat it.Zidane says the Brazilian's test was not positive. It wasnt negative or positive.Spanish league players have undergone regular testing since the competition resumed last month. Some players and staff members at Valencia and Alavs tested positive in March. No player has tested positive since the competition resumed in empty stadiums. Madrid leads the Spanish league with four games left.
Refereeing criticism increases as Madrid nears Spanish title
Read full article: Refereeing criticism increases as Madrid nears Spanish titleReal Madrid's Sergio Ramos, right, scores the opening goal from a penalty shoot during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Athletic Club and Real Madrid at the San Manes stadium in Bilbao, Spain, Sunday, July 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)MADRID The closer Real Madrid gets to the Spanish league title, the stronger the accusations it is benefiting from the referees. Im tired of always talking about the same thing, Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said after the 1-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Real Madrid and its players deserve respect.The victory kept Madrid as the only team with a perfect record since the restart. When asked if Madrid was in the lead only thanks to VAR, Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu didn't do much to dismiss the insinuation.
Perfect storm: Mass gatherings in England stoke concerns
Read full article: Perfect storm: Mass gatherings in England stoke concernsLiverpool supporters celebrate as they gather outside of Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, June 25, 2020 after Liverpool clinched the English Premier League title. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock warned that authorities have the power to close beaches and other public spaces in England amid mounting concerns over the publics adherence to social-distancing rules. That's particularly true in Bournemouth, a coastal town in southern England that witnessed huge crowds of sun-seekers on its beaches in the past couple of days. Under lockdown restrictions in England, groups are limited to six people and people are advised to avoid public transport whenever possible. In Liverpool, the scenes were far more jubilant as the Reds ended a three-decade wait to be champions of England again.
The Latest: Man City allowed to play Liverpool at home
Read full article: The Latest: Man City allowed to play Liverpool at homeThe Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___Manchester City has been given permission to host Liverpool in the Premier League on July 2 at Etihad Stadium. The Man City-Liverpool match had been one of five games the police asked to be held at a neutral venue to keep away fans because of safety concerns. But Manchester City Councils safety advisory group says there are no objections to the match at Citys home stadium. The safety advisory group included representatives from the city council, Greater Manchester Police, fire and rescue services, and supporters groups. ___The rugby final of the postponed European Champions Cup has been set for Oct. 17 and the final of the second-tier Challenge Cup will be the day before.
Virus cases at Djokovic's event put sports under scrutiny
Read full article: Virus cases at Djokovic's event put sports under scrutinyGrigor Dimitrov, a three-time Grand Slam semifinalist from Bulgaria, said Sunday he tested positive for the virus. Borna Coric played Dimitrov on Saturday in Zadar and said Monday he has also tested positive for the virus. In a separate incident, Serbian soccer club Red Star Belgrade said five of its players had tested positive for the virus. There has also been an increase in virus cases among soccer players in other countries, notably Russia. Djokovics decision to fly home to Serbia before being tested has also attracted scrutiny.
Neymar loses lawsuit over signing bonus with Barcelona
Read full article: Neymar loses lawsuit over signing bonus with Barcelona(AP Photo/Christophe Ena)BARCELONA A Spanish court has ruled in favor of Barcelona in a dispute with former player Neymar over a signing bonus paid in part to the Brazil striker before he left for Paris Saint-Germain. The court on Friday rejected Neymars suit that Barcelona owed him 43 million euros ($48 million) from part of a signing bonus that it never paid the player. The court ruled instead that Neymar must pay Barcelona 6.7 million euros ($7.5 million), corresponding to part of the signing bonus it had already paid to the player. Barcelona and then player Neymar agreed to a new contact in 2016, which included a signing bonus of 64 million euros. The club paid the player 22.5 million euros in July 2016 and was supposed to pay him the remaining 43 million euros by July 2017.
Mallorca hopes trailblazing tourists kickstart economy
Read full article: Mallorca hopes trailblazing tourists kickstart economyBut Spains Balearic Islands are betting that their Mediterranean blue waters, warm sun and sandy beaches are enough to lure back the tourists that their residents' livelihoods depend on. The beach is empty, German tourist Martin Hofmann said Wednesday while walking along the beach of Palma, Mallorca's main city. In Spains Balearic and Canary Islands, however, the dependence on tourism jumps to over 30% of their economies. The Balearic Islands economy is on course for a very deep recession, said Carmen Planas, the president of the business group. But until then, the Balearic Islands are off-limits for visitors, even for Spaniards from the mainland, except for the trial run of German tourists.
Spanish league to file charges against fan who invaded field
Read full article: Spanish league to file charges against fan who invaded fieldA supporter invades the pitch during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Mallorca and FC Barcelona at Son Moix Stadium in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, Saturday, June 13, 2020. With virtual crowds, daily matches and lots of testing for the coronavirus, soccer is coming back to Spain. The Spanish league resumes this week more than three months after it was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP Photo/Francisco Ubilla)MADRID The Spanish league said Sunday it will file criminal charges against the fan who ran onto the field during Barcelonas match at Mallorca. The Mundo Deportivo sports daily said the fan is of French origin but has lived in Mallorca his whole life.
EA Sports in the game with Premier League and La Liga
Read full article: EA Sports in the game with Premier League and La LigaSevilla and Betis players warm up before the start of their Spanish La Liga soccer match in Seville, Spain, Thursday, June 11, 2020. The Premier League and the Italian league should be next in the coming weeks. Electronic Arts will supply crowd noise for Spains La Liga and Englands Premier League which the company has gathered over the years for its FIFA Soccer franchise. The important thing is hopefully it enhances the experience for someone watching a game, said EA audio artist Paul Boechler. The one thing the Premier League will not use is virtual crowds.
Minneapolis reform plan would require insurance for officers
Read full article: Minneapolis reform plan would require insurance for officersAlondra Cano, a City Council member, speaks during "The Path Forward" meeting at Powderhorn Park on Sunday, June 7, 2020, in Minneapolis. The focus of the meeting was the defunding of the Minneapolis Police Department. Under the list of recommendations, officers would be required to carry their own professional liability insurance, an idea that aims to hike out-of-pocket insurance rates for officers who engage in high-risk conduct. They have no further excuses.The groups' recommendations came a day after nine of the 12 members on the Minneapolis City Council said they back disbanding the department. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Spanish league not ruling out fans in stadiums this season
Read full article: Spanish league not ruling out fans in stadiums this seasonSpanish league clubs are now allowed to train with groups of up to 14 players as the league stays on track to restart in less than three weeks. (AP Photo/Paul White)MADRID The Spanish league is not ruling out the return of fans to stadiums this season. Until recently, Tebas and the government were not considering having fans back in any of the stadiums until next season. Tebas also confirmed that fans will have the option to watch matches with virtual crowds including supporters' chants when it restarts this week. Tebas said the league had been testing virtual crowds along with video game company EA Sports, which will provide the audio that it uses in its FIFA titles.
Liga to resume with Real Madrid playing at training center
Read full article: Liga to resume with Real Madrid playing at training centerMADRID The Spanish league is resuming in less than two weeks with Real Madrid playing its games at the club's training center. Madrid will host Eibar on June 14 at the 6,000-capacity Alfredo Di Stfano Stadium, a venue used mostly by the clubs B team at the Ciudad Real Madrid center on the citys outskirts. Madrid is not stopping renovation work at the Santiago Bernabu Stadium as all remaining league games are likely to be played without fans because of the coronavirus pandemic. Defending champion Barcelona, which has a two-point lead over Real Madrid after 27 rounds, will resume at Mallorca on June 13, while Atltico Madrid visits Athletic Bilbao the following day. Clubs in the first and second divisions are scheduled to begin full squad training on Monday.
Coronavirus crisis restricts Heysel disaster remembrance
Read full article: Coronavirus crisis restricts Heysel disaster remembrance(AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)BRUSSELS Authorities and fans on Friday marked the 35th anniversary of the Heysel Stadium tragedy where 39 people died during violence at the 1985 European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus. Flowers and wreaths were laid at a remembrance plaque at the King Baudouin Stadium, which was renovated and renamed after the tragedy. Prior to the final, hooligans from a stand holding Liverpool fans smashed their way into an adjacent section for Juventus supporters. In the ensuing chaos, the victims were either trampled or suffocated to death as they tried to flee the violence. The disaster was instrumental in improving stadium safety across the continent, and hooliganism has lost much of its violent edge.
The Latest: Postponed Belgian Cup final now set for Aug. 1
Read full article: The Latest: Postponed Belgian Cup final now set for Aug. 1The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The postponed Belgian Cup final has been rescheduled for Aug. 1. That is one week before the start of the leagues next season. Belgian soccer authorities say the match between Club Brugge and Antwerp will take place in an empty King Baudouin Stadium. Club Brugge has the opportunity to secure a league-cup double after it was awarded its 16th Belgian title this month following a decision to end the current season prematurely because of the coronavirus pandemic. The new season is set to start on Aug. 7.