Playing soccer matches in the long term without fans is unsustainable, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Friday as the spread of COVID-19 causes havoc with sporting events.
For the second successive weekend, some matches in Italy — including one between title rivals Juventus and Inter — are to be played in empty stadiums in a bid to stop the virus from spreading.
“I don’t think it is sustainable in the long term to play behind closed doors,” Infantino said ahead of a meeting of soccer’s lawmakers in Northern Ireland. “It can be a solution [to play without fans] to move on, but you cannot imagine a few months of a competition being played, several matches being played, behind closed doors.”
The next set of international men’s fixtures are this month, including Italy playing a friendly in England.
“I wouldn’t exclude anything at this moment,” Infantino said when asked if this month’s international games can be played. “We cannot underestimate and say it’s nothing, but we don’t have to overreact and panic. We have to follow the instructions given by the authorities.”
English Premier League clubs are wary of the virus.
Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce on Friday said his players are no longer greeting each other with handshakes, under medical advice.
Journalists heading to Arsenal for a pre-match news conference with manager Mikel Arteta yesterday were told to complete a questionnaire about their recent whereabouts before attending.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp said his club was acting like it would if there was an outbreak of flu.
“We take it really seriously but we cannot avoid everything,” Klopp said. “In the end, nobody tells us that we cannot play football, so as long as that doesn’t happen, we will play football.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was not getting too hung up on the virus.
“We are shaking hands [and] I love to hug,” Guardiola said, when asked if his club was taking any special precautions. “Not like Juergen [Klopp], he is a master of that — but I try.”
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Shohei Ohtani on Thursday delivered his first two-homer game of the season and had six RBIs as the Los Angeles Dodgers poured it on with five long balls in a 19-2 victory over the visiting Athletics. Max Muncy, Andy Pages and James Outman also hit home runs for the Dodgers, who left no doubt by taking a 13-2 lead following a seven-run third inning. Muncy and Kim Hye-seong each had three hits for Los Angeles. Dodgers right-hander Matt Sauer led off a bullpen game by allowing two runs in four innings. Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (1-1) finished with four scoreless innings after he
RSS