
Sports (85)
Suspension Of Premier League Extended Until April 30 Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Written by Cameraboy TVThe FA says that it "remains committed" to finding a way in which to conclude the season and is open to playing up until the end of June
The Football Association (FA) has confirmed that there will be no professional football in England, including the Premier League, until at least April 30 as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
Initially, fixtures in the country were suspended until the weekend of April 3-5 as a minimum, but this has been extended as the UK battles the pandemic, with more than 2,500 cases confirmed in the country.
The governing body released a statement on Thursday, which said: "The FA, Premier League, EFL and women’s professional game, together with the PFA and LMA, understand we are in unprecedented times and our thoughts are with everyone affected by Covid-19.
"We're united in our commitment to finding ways of resuming the 2019-20 football season and ensuring all domestic and European club league and cup matches are played as soon as it is safe and possible to do so.
"We've collectively supported UEFA in postponing Euro 2020 to create space in the calendar to ensure domestic and European club league and cup matches have an increased opportunity to be played and, in doing so, maintain the integrity of each competition.
"The FA’s Rules and Regulations state that “the season shall terminate no later than June 1” and “each competition shall, within the limit laid down by The FA, determine the length of its own playing season”.
"However, our Board has agreed for this limit to be extended indefinitely for the 2019-20 season in relation to professional football. Additionally, we've collectively agreed that the professional game in England will be further postponed until no earlier than Thursday, April 30.
"The progress of Covid-19 remains unclear and we can reassure everyone the health and welfare of players, staff and supporters are our priority.
"We will continue to follow Government advice and work collaboratively to keep the situation under review and explore all options available to find ways of resuming the season when the conditions allow.
"We would all like to re-emphasise that our thoughts are with everyone affected by Covid-19."
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi are two highest profile figures within English football to have tested positive for the disease, which has killed in excess of 100 people in the UK.
It was announced on Wednesday by Prime Minister Boris Johnson that schools would be closed from Friday onwards, but no parts of the country have yet been put into lockdown despite such measures being taken elsewhere in Europe.
Ighalo Ready To Take £6 Million Pay Cut To Remain At Manchester United
Written by Cameraboy TVOdion Ighalo will be happy to take a £6million pay cut in order to make his loan move to Manchester Unitedpermanent, according to The Sun.
He is currently on loan at Old Trafford from Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua until the end of the season.
However, he has impressed so far, and boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to retain his services for next season.
The striker currently earns £240,000-a-week from Shanghai, but reportedly wouldn't mind taking around a 50% pay cut to join United full-time.
Ighalo's contract runs until the start of 2021, but United have an option to buy him in the summer transfer window.
The 30-year-old has scored four goals in eight appearances so far, helping United put together a long unbeaten run.
Solskjaer said: 'he will improve and get better but he has qualities we saw in him and we needed and we will still need those qualities for next season, so let's see what we will do.
'He knows his job and what his role in the team is, and he's very good with his back to goal, great link player, but maybe the best thing about him is his personality, so he's got the whole lot really.
'He had three touches before his fourth was the finish. All them touches were high quality but he had to make them to create space for himself. But the strike is on the half-volley, great timing, no one would have saved that one so anyone would have been proud of that finish.'
Chelsea Player, Callum Hudson-Odoi Tests Positive For Coronavirus
Written by Cameraboy TVChelsea men’s team player Callum Hudson-Odoi had a positive test result for Coronavirus returned this evening.
This is coming few hours after Arsenal's head coach, Mikel Arteta was also confirmed to have tested positive to the virus.
Chelsea personnel who had recent close contact with the player in the men’s team building will now self-isolate in line with Government health guidelines. These will include initially the full men’s team squad, coaching staff and a number of backroom staff.
It is expected that those who did not have close contact with Callum will return to work in the coming days. In the meantime, the men’s team building, one of several separate buildings at our training ground, will remain closed. The rest of our training facility, Stamford Bridge and our other facilities are operating as normal.
Callum displayed symptoms similar to a mild cold on Monday morning and has not been at the training ground since then as a precaution. However, his test came in positive this evening and he will undergo a period of self-isolation. Despite testing positive for the virus, Callum is doing well and looking forward to returning to the training ground as soon as it is possible.
We will continue to adhere to Government and Public Health Guidelines with regard to our facilities and staff and will be discussing next steps with regards to upcoming fixtures with the Premier League on Friday morning. We will provide further updates as necessary via the club’s website.
We wish Callum a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to the club soon.
Coronavirus: Italy Suspends Serie A And All Sport Activities
Written by Cameraboy TVAll sport in Italy has been suspended until at least 3 April because of coronavirus, the country's prime minister Giuseppe Conte has announced.
This includes Serie A but not Italian clubs or national teams participating in international competitions.
Serie A - Italy's top flight - had already said all games would be played behind closed doors until 3 April.
Giuseppe Conte extended a series of strict quarantine measures, including a ban on public gatherings, to all of Italy.
Earlier, Italy's Olympic committee (CONI) recommended the move to suspend all sport at all levels after hosting a special meeting of sporting federations on Monday.
Italy has been the European country worst hit by coronavirus so far, with over 9,000 confirmed cases and more than 450 deaths.
"This situation has no precedent in history," a
CONI statement said.
The announcement from CONI came just after Sassuolo v Brescia kicked off in Serie A.
The game carried on and Sassuolo won 3-0.
It was also confirmed on Monday that Serie A side Roma's Europa League tie at Sevilla on Thursday will be played behind closed doors.
In rugby union, England's men's and women's Six Nations matches against Italy, which were scheduled to take place on 14 March and 15 March respectively, were postponed last week.
At the weekend, Italy's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora accused Serie A of being "irresponsible" for ignoring his calls for football to be suspended because of the outbreak.
He said it made "no sense" for football to continue when, at that stage, up to 16 million people had been placed in quarantine in northern Italy in a bid to contain the spread of the virus - but the weekend's games all took place behind closed doors.
Parma's fixture against SPAL on Sunday kicked off 75 minutes late as they awaited a decision on whether the match would go ahead after Spadafora's comments.
There have been reports on Monday that the French sports ministry had decided matches in Ligue 1 - the country's top-flight football competition - should be played behind closed doors or in front of no more than 1,000 spectators as a measure to limit the spread of the virus.
Paris St-Germain's Champions League last-16 match against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday will be played without fans because of coronavirus.
Nasarawa United Player, Chieme Martins Slumps, Dies On Pitch
Written by Cameraboy TVA member of Nasarawa United Football Club (NUFC), Martins Chineme, on Sunday evening slumped and died on football pitch at the Lafia Township Staduim in Nasarawa state.
The Solid Miners’ star mysteriously passed away during Sunday’s Nigeria top-flight game
Nasarawa United’s Chieme Martins has tragically passed away during Sunday’s Nigeria Professional League clash against Katsina United.
The player slumped after a collision with an opposing player.
When the game was still goalless, Martins collided with a Katsina United player and fainted.
Chairman of the League Management Company, Shehu Dikko anticipates an autopsy to establish the cause of the player’s death.
“We commiserate with Nasarawa United and the immediate family of the late player,” said Dikko in a statement.
“It is hoped that the findings of the autopsy would inform subsequent measures, if any, that has not been addressed by the existing standard procedure.”
Martial Shares Brutal Injury Pictures After Man Utd Win Against Man City
Written by Boma Bravura AlAnthony Martial could be fairly satisfied with his day's work on Sunday afternoon, scoring a goal and winning Man Of The Match as Manchester United beat Man City 2-0.
But it wasn't all easy for the Frenchman, who took to social media to share images of the wounds he picked up during the high octane derby.
Martial was struck down injured in the second half when he collided with the woodwork after pressing City goalkeeper Ederson. He ended up in the net and needed treatment from United's medical staff.
He initially played on but was eventually replaced on the 78-minute mark by Scott McTominay — who then scored the second and match-sealing goal from long range.
White the cuts look bad, it doesn't appear to be too serious a problem. Martial used a 'pained' and a 'laughing' emoji alongside his Instagram story post.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will hope Martial is fit to keep his place in the side, despite substitute Odion Ighalo having an excellent impact against City — as he has in many games since his January arrival.
United still have forward Marcus Rashford out injured with a double stress fracture in his back. Martial is likely to be fine and ready to feature as United travel to Austrian side LASK on Thursday night for the first leg of their Europa League last 16 tie.
Coronavirus: Premier League Ditches Pre-Match Fair-Play Handshakes
Written by Boma Bravura AlThe Premier League has announced that the pre-match handshakes between both teams and officials will take not place until further notice because of fears over the spread of coronavirus.
The measure comes the day after the government asked the league "to step up its contingency planning".
The teams will still line up as usual but the home team will walk past the away side without shaking hands.
There have been more than 90,000 cases of the virus in 87 countries.
Government tells Premier League to 'step up' coronavirus planningValencia v Atalanta in Champions League to be played behind closed doorsCoronavirus sport timeline
A statement on the Premier League's website said: "The Premier League fair-play handshake will not take place between players and match officials from this weekend until further notice based on medical advice.
"Coronavirus is spread via droplets from the nose and mouth and can be transmitted on to the hands and passed on via a handshake."
Premier League leaders Liverpool announced on Thursday that they would not be having mascots at Anfield.
They have also cancelled staff travelling to any high-risk countries and "reminded everyone of good hygiene practices".
The club also said there will be "hand sanitisers and/or antibacterial handwash in all the washrooms at Anfield" as well as hygiene information posters.
Last week Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said the club had stopped their morning handshake ritualwhile West Ham boss David Moyes said the players would be fist bumping instead of shaking hands.
Southampton also banned players from signing autographs or taking selfies with fans.
League One club Sunderland have also told their players to not go abroad during their upcoming break.
TRAGEDY! Top Rugby star Tony Onyango dies after collapsing at home
Written by Cameraboy TVA Top Kenya rugby star has died after he collapsed at his home.
28-year-old Tony Onyango reportedly collapsed on Tuesday night, March 3 at his home in Ngong, Kajiado County after returning from training.
The Kenya Simbas and KCB Rugby Club fullback was said to be in good health and even attended training in the evening ahead of the Kenya Cup playoffs set for this weekend before his sudden death.
Confirming his death, his Team Manager Philip Wamae said in a statement: "It is with seismic disturbance that we announce the sudden death of our KCB Rugby player Tony Onyango Opondo. This happened at his home in Ngong on the 3rd of March 2020. We will update on further details. We ask for your prayers during this trying time."
Onyango's body has been deposited at the Umash Funeral Home located opposite Armed Forces Memorial along Mbagathi Way, Nairobi.
He leaves behind a wife and a son.
AMAZING! 16 year old Nigerian striker Shola Shoretire seals deal with Manchester United FC
Written by Cameraboy TVYoung Nigerian striker Shola Shoretire has signed a deal with Manchester United, commiting his future to the Old Trafford club.
Shola who is eligible to represent Nigeria and England has signed scholarship forms with Manchester United until next year when he turns to a professional Man United player, rejecting the advances of many European clubs that wanted his signature.
Shoretire was fully promoted to United's U18 team before the beginning of this season and has appeared in 12 matches in the U18 Premier League.
On December 12, 2018, Shola became the youngest Manchester United player in history to feature in the UEFA Youth League and Cup game aged 14 years and 314 days after coming on as a substitute against Valencia U19s team.
After the win over Wigan on Friday where Shola scored for the Under 18 team after spending the day at school studying for his GCSEs, Under-18 coach Neil Ryan said: "He was at school today, all day! Then he came over to Old Trafford to play.
"It's incredible really. Different day for him compared to other players. ".
He said: "We want to keep them humble, hard-working.
Jurgen Klopp - Coach of Liverpool - the best team in the world presently, is not Afraid of Coronavirus.
Written by Cameraboy TVLiverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has allayed the fears of Liverpool fans who are worried that the government might cancel the premier league season due to the coronavirus outbreak, thereby denying Liverpool the opportunity to win their first English Premier League title.
Liverpool have had to wait since 1990 to win a league title and have never won the Premier League. According to reports, fans of Liverpool are scared that the EPL results this season might be cancelled as fears of the spread of the deadly coronavirus has forced sporting events around Europe to shut down.
Though there is no legislation in place stating that the final league standings this season be curtailed prematurely, Klopp has rubbished suggestions his side could be denied the title this season.
Klopp speaking to reporters on Monday said: ‘I don’t think that our fans are paranoid, I think people who are not interested are bringing up these stories. ‘I can’t believe that Liverpool fans are thinking about it, and I actually speak to Liverpool fans.
'If anybody wants to ask me about that, and how much sense it would make to delete all the results of this season and tell me who will play next year Champions League and stuff like this. Would be really interesting. ‘Nice story, always obviously some newspapers they always have to write something.
‘But when I saw it first time I really thought, “Wow! Really somebody thinks something like that?” But Liverpool fans are not silly enough to believe in these things.’
Liverpool maintain a 22-point lead at the top of the table.
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Former Real Madrid Goal Keeper and Present Leeds Keeper - Kiko Casilla; handed eight-match ban for racism act
Written by Cameraboy TVThe FA have handed Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla an eight-match ban that will be applied with immediate effect, following an investigation into alleged racist comments made to Charlton Athletic's Jonathan Leko in September.
Following a lengthy investigation, the Spaniard has been found guily.
"Leeds United acknowledge that Kiko Casilla has been found guilty of breaching FA Rule E3 during our Sky Bet Championship game with Charlton Athletic in September 2019," a statement from the club started.
"Casilla has been banned for eight games following the verdict from the FA.
"We would like to make it clear that we do not tolerate any form of discrimination within our football club and we are a leader in the fight against discrimination within our wider community.
"However, it is important to recognise that Kiko has always denied making any racist comment.
"The FA panel have based their decision on the balance of probability rather than proving Kiko to be guilty beyond reasonable doubt, which we have always believed is the more appropriate burden of proof."
The independent regulatory commission's explanation will be published in the coming week.
FIFA reject plans for La Liga and Premier League to stage games abroad
Written by Cameraboy TVLa Liga and the Premier League have both been dealt a setback in their plans to stage games overseas, after the FIFA voiced their opposition to the idea.
Hosting Spanish top flight matches abroad has been the subject of much discussion since the idea was proposed by Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu last year.
The Premier League have also floated the concept, with Richard Scudamore first suggesting a 39th game that would be held overseas in 2008.
However, it seems unlikely that either league’s plans will get the go ahead after FIFA criticised the idea at a meeting on Thursday.
A statement from the organisation’s Football Stakeholders Committee (via Rob Harris) backed the Council’s previous opposition to non-domestic based games.
“Official domestic matches should take place on the territory of the member association concerned,” they stated.
Barca are in favour of overseas games but they have been opposed by the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) as well as by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
La Liga have had proposal for games to be played in the United States turned down in each of the last two seasons. Most recently plans to stage Atletico Madrid’s meeting with Villarreal in Miami were scrapped in November of last year.
Bartomeu suggested in February last year (via BBC) that they should considered allowing three overseas games a year in order to challenge the Premier League’s popularity across the globe.
“If we want La Liga to be strong, we are to play in these games,” he said.
“At Barca we have sometimes been talking to La Liga and have been telling them that if you want to promote La Liga more and more, then we should have three games of the year outside – one in America, one in the Middle East and one in Asia.”
Europa: Manchester United Trashes Club Brugge 5 - 0 as Ighalo Scores his first goal for the English club
Written by Cameraboy TVOdion Ighalo scored his first goal for Manchester United as they cruised into the Europa League last 16 at the expense of Club Bruges with one of their best performances of the season.
Bruno Fernandes scored his second United penalty in a week after Simon Deli was sent off for a ludicrous handball to block Daniel James' shot.
The Portuguese, who was at the centre of everything, had a hand in the second as he lifted a pass over the top to Juan Mata, who squared for full debutant Ighalo to tap in from six yards.
And Scott McTominay, making his first start following an injury, side-footed in a third to wrap the tie up before half-time.
Fred scored his first two goals of the season in the final 10 minutes as United got the big scoreline their performance deserved.
Club Bruges brought thousands of noisy fans to Old Trafford to help with a good atmosphere - but their players could not match their efforts and created nothing of note.
The draw for the last 16 takes place on Friday at 12:00 GMT - with United able to face any of the other teams left, including Wolves and Rangers.
Ighalo goal highlight of dominant United display
If United were to draw up a blueprint for the perfect half, it would probably have been something like "goals for the January signings and the hometown favourite on his full return from injury. Oh, plus a red card so we only have to play the second half against 10 men".
United were excellent - although Bruges did not look as dangerous as they did in the 1-1 first-leg draw - with the Old Trafford faithful appreciating what they were watching.
The undoubted turning point of the game was when Deli dived to stop James' effort with his hand - even though goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was diving behind him.
He was sent off - a decision upheld after a long VAR delay which did not seem necessary - and Fernandes kept his composure to stroke home his penalty with a stuttered run-up, just as he did against Watford.
Boyhood United fan Ighalo, a January loan signing from Shanghai Shenhua, made his first start because of an injury to Anthony Martial and took advantage by scoring into an empty net.
The biggest cheer of the night was probably for McTominay, who guided the ball home from 20 yards following Fred's cutback. It was his first start after two months out with a knee injury.
The game seemed to be drifting to a close until Fred stepped up to score twice - first converting Jesse Lingard's cross from close range and then scoring from the edge of the area from Tahith Chong's pass.
Can United go all the way?
The fans sang manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's name as United blew Bruges away.
The convincing victory will get supporters wondering whether they can win the trophy they lifted in 2017 - and the Champions League place that comes with it.
They are only three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea but this does give them a fallback plan.
A European trophy for Solskjaer to add to his Norwegian titles with Molde would be welcome too.
Based on this performance against a smaller team, and some of United's showings against the big boys under Solskjaer, there is no reason for them to fear the likes of Inter Milan, Roma, Sevilla or Bayer Leverkusen.
Who is left in the Europa League?
Rangers
Shakhtar Donetsk
Roma
Inter Milan
Wolfsburg
Manchester United
LASK
Olympiakos
Basel
Sevilla
Bayer Leverkusen
FC Copenhagen
Istanbul Basaksehir
Getafe
Wolves
Red Bull Salzburg or Eintracht Frankfurt


Man of the match - Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd)
Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed a glaring chance with the last kick of the match as Arsenal crashed to a shocking Europa League defeat at the hands of Olympiakos.
Aubameyang, so often the Gunners' saviour, looked like he had once again rescued his side from an abject showing when his superb scissor kick - which cancelled out Pape Abou Cisse's opener - put them in the driving seat with seven minutes left of extra time.
But the visitors punished awful set-piece defending for a second time on the night as Youssef El Arabi poked home in front of their raucous travelling fans.
And there was still time for the unmarked Aubameyang to somehow screw wide from five yards out and condemn Mikel Arteta's side to their first defeat of 2020.
For large periods of a flat game a full-strength Arsenal XI were frustrated, frustrating and feeble in front of goal - with their first shot on target not arriving until the 77th minute.
Olympiakos were hardly buccaneering in their approach, especially considering they had lost the first leg in Athens, but carried out their gameplan perfectly to steal a famous win and progress to the last 16.
Limp Gunners lose route to Champions League
Arteta had talked in the build-up of having three routes into Europe for next season but this competition was surely his best bet of an unlikely seat at the Champions League top table.
To go out in such limp fashion will leave the manager livid - and for most of the night he was the most animated member of the Arsenal contingent.
Familiar failings were their undoing as the Greek side twice scored from set-pieces.
First, Aubameyang allowed 6ft 6ins centre-back Cisse a totally free header from a corner, and then David Luiz appeared to leave a cross from a half-cleared 120th-minute corner and gift El Arabi a lunging tap-in.
Olympiakos came to defend deep and in numbers, to frustrate Arsenal and then to hopefully score from a corner. It was a strategy they pulled off impeccably.
But they must have expected an Arsenal forward line of Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Nicolas Pepe - recruited at a cost of around £215m - to cause more problems.
The four managed just one shot on target between them before Aubameyang's brilliant late goal that briefly had Arsenal progressing.
Ozil's cross was nodded on by substitute Gabriel Martinelli and the Gabon striker rearranged himself masterfully to crack an acrobatic effort into the back of the net.
The home fans, who greeted the full-time whistle with apathy rather than anger, roared into belated life but it was the supporters at the other end who will now have their eyes on Friday's draw.
'We had a lot of intentions in this competition'
Arsenal looked to have done the hard part last week when they ground out a 1-0 win in Greece. After all, the club had progressed from all 17 of their European ties when winning the first leg away from home.
But from early on they looked short of ideas and moved the ball so slowly across midfield.
For all the money spent up front the most likely route to goal all night looked like coming through teenage left-back Bukayo Saka, a constant outlet, but when he did provide a beautiful cross at the end of Arsenal's best move of the game, Lacazette was offside as he converted from close range.
Saka and Pepe - a deeply frustrating figure to watch - both put in nine crosses but they were easy to defend.
Arteta could point to decisions that did not go his side's way - a yellow card shown to Ousseynou Ba for a foul on the edge of the area could have been red, and an offside flag that could have been raised in the build-up to Olympiakos' winner.
But the truth is Arsenal just did not create enough to win. Arsenal had won three in a row coming into the game and this was their first defeat in 11, but there is still much to be done.
"It hurts a lot. We had a lot of intentions in this competition," Arteta said.
"We were in control but conceded a set-piece to put us in a difficult position. We created a lot of chances and got ourselves in a good position. If you concede four goals from set-pieces in two games it makes it very difficult."
To add injury to insult, Arsenal also lost defender Shkodran Mustafi to a hamstring problem.