Football will “no doubt” return behind closed doors but it is “impossible” to know when that will be, says the body that represents Europe’s top leagues.

Paris St-Germain beat Borussia Dortmund in March in a Champions League tie held behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic

Alberto Colombo, the deputy general secretary of European Leagues, said the suspension of the season because of the coronavirus pandemic was “a huge crisis”.

“The vast majority” of the association’s members, which includes the Premier League and the English Football League, are prioritising a return to action, he said.

But he admitted that “a small number” of countries, including Belgium, were now considering cancelling their campaigns.

Football is suspended indefinitely across most of Europe because of the continued spread of Covid-19.

Premier League clubs are scheduled to meet on Friday to discuss the situation, but there is unlikely to be a resumption any time soon to a top-flight season that still has nine rounds of fixtures to play.

Last week, hopes were raised when German clubs became the first in Europe to return to training, albeit with precautionary measures in place, with talk of a resumption as soon as May.

But Colombo has urged caution, adding: “The priority so far has been on focusing on creating conditions to be able to resume competition during the summer should we be able.

“You need to resume training and develop your own protocols. There’s no doubt it will be behind closed doors, so the competition organisers have to develop medical protocols, training protocols, match-operation protocols.

“But, of course, it’s impossible to answer the question: ‘When we will be back playing?’ Nobody has these answers.

“Ultimately, we all know the governments of the countries are the ones in charge for lifting the various restrictions that apply to sport.”

Alberto Colombo, of the European Leagues group, whose members include 36 leagues including the Premier League, EFL and SPFL.

Germany has carried out more diagnostic swab tests – to establish whether an individual is infected with coronavirus – than other major European countries.

The Italian Football Federation hopes to begin testing players for the virus at the start of May, in preparation for the season to resume.

“There is no doubt that players’ health comes first, and also the health of all those involved in matches – staff of clubs, media, everyone has to be safe,” said Colombo.

“Doing testing is an important component part of these health measures. But at the moment there is not a common position in every country.”

Belgium’s Pro-League has annoyed European football’s governing body Uefa by cancelling its season over health concerns and financial issues, although ratification is still pending and a final decision has been delayed until 24 April.

“We know there are other leagues, but really a small number, that are having these considerations,” said Colombo.

“The vast majority has been focusing 100% on the resumption of their competitions.

“One of the reasons for us to maintain [this] as a priority… is to safeguard the integrity of the competitions.

“And, of course, we have to avoid jeopardising the excellent work and co-operation we have developed with Uefa during the past weeks.”

Colombo added that while restarting competitions would be “good”, they would respect “whatever decision a league may take”.

Uefa is set to hold a video conference meeting next week to decide on the next stage in its handling of the crisis.

Source – BBC News

FC Copenhagen‘s Michael Santos has been banned for three games by UEFA for assaulting a policeman during a Europa League game at Celtic in February.

Michael Santos celebrates scoring against Celtic in Europa League. Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

The Uruguayan forward was charged by police after he barged into an officer while celebrating Pep Biel‘s 85th minute goal in a 3-1 win over the Scottish side in the second leg of their round-of-32 tie on Feb. 27.

The policeman was looking to prevent Santos from getting any closer to away fans at Celtic Park and a Copenhagen steward was also charged with an offence by police as tempers flared.

“The Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body has decided to suspend. Santos for a total of three UEFA club competition matches for which he would be otherwise eligible,” UEFA said in a statement.

Copenhagen, who defeated Celtic 4-2 on aggregate, lost 1-0 in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie at Istanbul Basaksehir last month before the coronavirus pandemic forced the suspension of the competition.

Source – ESPN

The United States is currently slated to co-host the 2026 event along with Mexico and Canada.

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Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter believes that staging the 2022 World Cup away from Qatar is still a possibility amid fresh charges of bribery in the bidding process.

The U.S. Department of Justice issued an indictment last week charging that Russia and Qatar paid bribes to secure votes in the process that saw them awarded the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

According to the indictment, former Brazilian federation president Ricardo Teixeira, the now-deceased ex-COMNEBOL president Nicolas Leoz and a co-conspirator received bribes to ensure their votes for Qatar to stage the tournament.

The indictment raised the possibility that FIFA could opt to take the 2022 World Cup away from Qatar, though doing so would create a number of logistical challenges.

Chief among those would be finding a new host in a short period of time, but Blatter has offered up a pair of suggestions for a quick replacement.

“Germany could do it. But this would mean the World Cup being staged in Europe again after 2018,” Blatter said in an interview with Sport Bild.

“Europe therefore would not be first choice. The United States could do it instead of 2026. They are capable, it’s not rocket science! Japan could also do it. They also bid to host the 2022 World Cup.

“Fortunately, the 2022 World Cup will only have 32 teams and not 48 as [FIFA president Gianni Infantino] had planned. The organisational effort would not be bigger than 2018.”

The 2022 World Cup is slated to be the final tournament with 32 teams, with the field set to expand to 48 in 2026.

Should the United States host the 2022 event, a new host for 2026 would also need to be found with the U.S. currently slated to co-host the tournament along with Mexico and Canada.

Blatter is currently serving a six-year ban from football-related activities due to ethics violations from his time in charge of FIFA. The 84-year-old, however, continues to proclaim his innocence.

“The investigations are part of a major plot against me,” Blatter said, adding that he feels he should be made an honourary FIFA president if he is cleared of all charges.

“This would be the best reaction from FIFA,” Blatter said.

Source – Goal.com

Despite being contracted to the Rossoneri’s rivals, the striker has been backed as an ideal transfer option.

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AC Milan should sign Mauro Icardi from rivals Inter to take their attack to a higher level, according to Marco Simone.

Antonio Conte discounted Icardi from his plans upon taking over Inter ahead of the 2019-20 season, instead bringing in Romelu Lukaku to partner Lautaro Martinez.

The two-time Capocannoniere was consequently sent on loan to Paris Saint-Germain, where he has ousted club-record goalscorer Edinson Cavani from the starting line-up by scoring 20 goals in 31 appearances.

Simone believes AC Milan are too quick to judge their strikers but thinks Cavani or former Inter captain Icardi could provide the solution to a problem that will be heightened if Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s contract is not extended beyond the end of this season.

The Rossoneri sat seventh in Serie A with the fewest goals scored in the top half when the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I would keep [Rafael] Leao. He has strength and talent. Otherwise, if you always look at the flaws in those who have talent, you have to start from scratch all the time,” Simone, who won four Scudetti and two Champions Leagues with Milan, told La Gazzetta dello Sport .

“I wouldn’t have given up on [Krzysztof] Piatek. If Ibra leaves, Milan would be short a striker. I think [Napoli‘s Arkadiusz] Milik would do well, but I would try to bring Cavani and Icardi to Milan.

“Mauro would be a great signing and an ideal situation.”

AC Milan sacked chief football officer Zvonimir Boban after he publicly spoke out against CEO Ivan Gazidis over an approach for former RB Leipzig boss Ralf Rangnick.

Boban claimed Gazidis went behind his and technical director Paolo Maldini’s backs and agreed a deal for Ralf Rangnick to take over as coach and sporting director in December.

“It’s an immense loss,” Simone said. “It was too superficial and trivial to fire him because of a controversial interview. I think they used it as an excuse, it was already planned.

“When you choose two characters like Boban and Maldini, you know at the start the weight they have.

“They know how Milan are managed. Those who chose them had to continue with them together. They were the first two important pieces in starting again.

“I have some doubts that such a figure [Rangnick as coach and sporting director] can work in Italy. And then his role in practice would eliminate that of Maldini. The club must clarify the managerial structure.

“If Gazidis intends to have it as it is abroad, then the relationship with Paolo should be finished and maybe Rangnick could work.”

Source – Goal.com

The Welshman, who spent his entire career at Old Trafford, admits he could have taken on a new challenge had another winger not departed in 2003.

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Ryan Giggs admits David Beckham’s 2003 switch to Real Madrid contributed significantly to him remaining a one-club man, with Inter readying an approach for the Manchester United legend before another winger headed for the exits.

Two iconic figures at Old Trafford found themselves generating transfer talk while at the peak of their powers.

Both were proven winners and key parts of Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans, but a door was to be opened for one to take on a new challenge.

Giggs was aware of the speculation suggesting that he was a target for Serie A giants Inter, but never got as far as discussing a transfer to Italy.

That is because Madrid swooped in to add Beckham to their collection of ‘Galacticos’, with the England captain prepared to leave his comfort zone and enhance his reputation as a man who transcended his chosen sport.

Quizzed by Sky Sports on how close he came to leaving during a 14-year stint as a senior star with United, current Wales boss Giggs said: “Not really, but as a footballer you always want a challenge and I felt there was one at the start of every season, whether it was defending the league, winning it back, or having won a couple of leagues in a row and wanting to go on to win the Champions League. There was always a challenge.

“Around 2002-2003, the summer that David Beckham left, there was talk of me potentially going to Inter Milan.

“I hadn’t heard anything but I then didn’t have the greatest of starts to the next season but I ended up doing OK. There was a lot of talk of one of us going [at the end of the 2002-03 season].

“David ended up going, but that was probably the closest I ever got to leaving. But I never wanted to leave. I always wanted that challenge every year. I was part of a team that I loved playing for.”

Giggs took in 963 appearances for United, scoring 168 goals, and helped himself to an enviable haul of major honours.

When he retired in 2014 his collection included 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cup wins, two Champions League crowns and a Club World Cup.

Source – Goal.com

The Red Devils star fired a broadside at his strongest critic, claiming to have been unaware of the pundit’s notoriety.

Photo by Getty/Goal

Manchester United star Paul Pogba has has hit back at Graeme Souness, claiming he ‘didn’t even know who’ the Liverpool legend was.

During his role as a pundit for Sky Sports and The Times, Souness has been a vocal critic of Pogba, recently suggesting  the World Cup winner would easy to play against and also accused him of not taking his injury rehabilitation seriously .

When asked about Souness’ regular criticism, Pogba revealed he initially didn’t know who the former Reds captain was – insisting he prefers to focus on playing the game.

“I didn’t even know who [Souness] was,” Pogba said to UTD Podcast.

“I heard he was a great player and stuff like that. I don’t know the face but the name [I do].

“Like I said I’m not someone that watches a lot of [punditry], I watch a lot of football but I don’t stay after the game to listen to what they say about ‘Why they did this’ or ‘why they did that’.

“I like to focus on football.”

Pogba also discussed his view of criticism in general, adding that he tries not to pay attention to what others have to say.

‘I guess they miss me, I don’t know? I’m not someone that looks at always at Sky News,” he said.

“After the games, when I watch it again I watch the game, not the comments. When you know football, you don’t need someone to tell you what’s happening.

“Obviously what I hear when people are saying ‘Paul is doing this…Paul…Paul’ I don’t know. ‘One day maybe I will meet them [the critics] and ask them because I really want to know why.

“I am doing my recovery, I can be somewhere else and I hear something but I’m just doing my recovery, you know?’ If they want to speak they are allowed to speak, it’s their job to speak.

“I am used to it now. I am really used to it, it doesn’t bother me. It’s good to hear good stuff instead of bad stuff but when you play football, you know yourself. It’s what your manager and team-mates want, the rest is just talk. It’s selling stuff I think.”

Pogba has been troubled by an ankle injury for most of the season, making only eight appearances in all competitions and 71 minutes since the end of September.

The 27-year-old was nearing a return to the Red Devils first team when the coronavirus pandemic first halted football, with the Premier League’s return date now indefinite .

Pogba has been consistently linked with a move to Real Madrid and Juventus after claiming he was ready for a new challenge in the summer.

His agent Mino Raiola has also been vocal about wanting Pogba to continue his career away from Old Trafford .

The France international’s contract at Manchester United expires in June 2021 – but has an option to extend for a further 12 months.

Pogba has played 143 times for United in his second at the club, scoring 31 goals and creating a further 31, after spending four successful years with Juve.

His best season came for the Red Devils last term, when contributed 13 goals and nine assists in the league despite playing a deeper midfield role for the majority of the season.

Source – Goal.com

The Blaugrana say they will bring criminal action in the wake of allegations that higher-ups are using club funds to line their pockets.

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Barcelona have hit back at former vice president Emili Rousaud after he alleged that one of the club’s executives was using club funds to line his own pockets.

Rousaud was one of six Barcelona board members to inform club president Josep Maria Bartomeu of their decision to resign from their respective positions last week.

He was joined by fellow vice president Enrique Tombas and directors Silvio Elias, Maria Teixidor, Josep Pont and Jordi Clasamiglia in the aftermath of a proposed overhaul of the club’s hierarchy.

Goal learned that several members were informed by Bartomeu that they will have no part to play in the new-look team of directors, and that group included Rousaud, who had previously been tipped as one of the president’s proposed successors.

It was far from the only scandal involving the board this year, with reports alleging that the club hired a social media firm to disparage players in an effort to boost Bartomeu’s reputation while a highly-public spat between Lionel Messi and Eric Abidal soon followed.

On their way out, the resigned members called for the leadership to be reviewed as soon as possible, while Rousard took things one step further by alleging that someone from the board was benefitting from taking the club’s money.

In the wake of that claim, Barcelona have denied all allegations of corruption.

“In the face of grave and unfounded allegations made by Mr Emili Rousaud, the club’s former Vice President, in a number of media interviews, the Board of Directors categorically denies any action that could be described as corruption and have agreed to bring the corresponding criminal action accordingly,” a club statement reads.

“In this regard, the Board wishes to emphasise that in the light of these allegations, PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC), the company in charge of conducting the audit on the monitoring services of social networks contracted by the club, have reiterated that its work is still ongoing and, therefore, is without any provisional or definitive conclusions.

“The Board of Directors have agreed that, once the audit is completed, it will analyse the content and conclusions derived from it, publish them, and will make their decisions and take appropriate measures based on their final result.”

With play currently suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, Barcelona currently sit atop La Liga having amassed a two-point lead over longtime rivals Real Madrid.

Source – Goal.com

The Brazilian has revealed that a fellow countryman was determined to exact revenge on the Norwegian striker in the Champions League.

Instagram.com/NeymarJR

Neymar planned to mock Erling Haaland after Paris Saint-Germain‘s Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund in advance, according to Marquinhos.

The two sides were drawn against each other in the last 16 of this season’s competition, with the first leg taking place at Westfalenstadion on February 18.

Dortmund secured a 2-1 victory in front of their own supporters thanks to a superb brace from Haaland, who celebrated scoring by adopting a meditation pose on the side of the pitch.

Neymar, who scored PSG’s only goal of the game, was motivated for revenge in the return leg in Paris, particularly after a photo emerged on social media of Haaland in Paris with the caption: “My city, not yours.”

The Brazil international inspired an impressive turnaround for Thomas Tuchel’s men at Parc des Princes on March 11, opening the scoring in a match which was played behind closed doors due to the rising number of coronavirus cases across Europe at the time.

Neymar imitated Haaland’s celebration for the cameras, and PSG went on to book their place in the quarter-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win after Juan Bernat doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time.

The French champions celebrated wildly after the final whistle despite the absence of fans in the stadium, and Neymar led the entire squad in a mass-group photo copying Haaland’s pose once again.

The 28-year-old then took to Instagram to post an image of himself celebrating in one final dig at the Dortmund star, accompanied with his own “Paris is our city, not yours” message.

PSG midfielder Marquinhos says Neymar’s actions were pre-meditated, admitting that a fellow countryman is not one to avoid any potential confrontations.

“He likes that. Neymar is not just a football player, he is not afraid and always responds to provocations,” the 25-year-old said during an interview with YouTube channel Desimpedidos.

“After his goal, I asked him if he had taken everything out. He warned me, I told him to wait until the end of the match, but he told me to leave it and not to stop it.”

UEFA issued PSG with a formal warning for “unsportsmanlike conduct” after the match, but the club avoided a fine.

Tuchel’s side are now within sight of a maiden Champions League triumph, but it is not yet known whether it will be safe for the current season to resume amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis which has seen all major leagues and competitions shut down for the foreseeable future.

Source – Goal.com

The keeper, known as ‘The Cat’, made 729 appearances for Chelsea and kept 208 clean sheets, winning the 1965 League Cup and 1970 FA Cup.

Photo by Istimewa

Chelsea have announced the death of former goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, who passed away at the age of 78 after a battle with long-term illness.

The man nicknamed ‘The Cat’ due to his superb reflexes between the sticks featured in 729 games for Chelsea over the course of two spells at the club, putting him second in the club’s list of all-time appearances behind Ron Harris.

He helped Chelsea to win the 1965 League Cup, the 1970 FA Cup, and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971.

In a lengthy tribute statement on their website, Chelsea said: “Peter Bonetti’s position in the pantheon of Chelsea footballing gods is unassailable. He was the Cat who broke the mould, defied the odds, drew the gasps, earned the cheers and got the cream. All in front of an adoring Stamford Bridge.”

Born in Putney, Bonetti came through the Chelsea youth system along with fellow future Blues stars Bobby Tambling and Terry Venables, and made his first-team debut aged just 18 in a 3-0 victory over Manchester City in April 1960 – the first of 208 clean cheets he would keep for the club.

Bonetti held the record for the most clean sheets as a Chelsea goalkeeper until January 2014, when Petr Cech surpassed him.

First choice for the Blues through the 1960s and 70s, Bonetti was part of a generation of goalkeepers who began to redefine the art of the position into what it resembles today, with an emphasis on dominating the penalty area to collect crosses, and starting out attacks by playing the ball out from the back.

He was also one of the first goalkeepers to wear gloves – initally sporting gardening gloves during matches, he later had his own Peter Bonetti-branded kit of the type which is now synonymous with the position in the modern game.

After retiring, Bonetti continued to be a pioneer for the Blues, appointed as their first-ever specialist goalkeeper coach in 1983. He also worked with the England national team at the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Bonetti also won seven caps for England, and served as number two behind Gordon Banks during the team’s run to glory at the 1966 World Cup. After an FA-led campaign years later which persuaded FIFA to reward every squad member, Bonetti was presented with a medal by Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Downing Street in 2009.

He played in the 1970 World Cup quarter-final against West Germany after Banks was struck down by food poisoning, as the holders were beaten 3-2 in Mexico.

As well as Chelsea, Bonetti also had a brief spell with US side St. Louis Stars in the North American Soccer League, and finished his career with a season at Dundee United.

Source – Goal.com