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Rooney criticises BFA issues revised schedule England authorities over coronavirus response of league football matches Reuters | London ayne Rooney has criti- TDT | Wcised England’s football authorities over how long they he Football took to suspend matches in the Association (BFA) an- country amid the coronavi- Tnounced yesterday a re- rus outbreak, saying it felt like vised schedule of matches in players were being treated like the 2019/2020 Nasser bin Ham- “guinea pigs”. ad Bahrain Premier Football The Premier League, Eng- League. lish Football League, Women’s The new dates come fol - Super League and men and lowing the postponement women’s FA Cup competitions of the men’s national team’s were suspended on Friday fol- matches in joint-qualifica- lowing an emergency meeting Derby County’s English striker Wayne tion for the FIFA World Cup sparked by Arsenal boss Mikel Rooney reacts during the English 2022 and the AFC Asian Cup Arteta testing positive for the FA Cup fifth round football match in 2023. virus a day earlier. Derby (file photo) Only seven weeks of play re- “Why did we wait until Fri- main in this year’s league. day? Why did it take Mikel were wondering, ‘Is it some- Action is set to resume with Arteta to get ill for the game thing to do with money being the 12th round of play this in England to do the right involved in this?’ Thankfully weekend on Friday and Satur- thing?,” the former England football made the right call day. On these days, Al Ahli take and Manchester United cap- in the end. We had to put the on Al Hala, face off with tain wrote in a column for the season on hold. Manama, Al Najma go head to Sunday Times. “If people’s lives are at risk, head with Al Shabab, “For players, staff and their that has to come first.” face East Riffa and families it has been a worrying Rooney, currently at sec- take on in a titanic clash week — one in which you felt ond-tier Derby County, also between the league’s current a lack of leadership from the proposed restructuring the top two teams. government and from the FA fixture calendar once football Matches will then contin - Action from East Riffa’s goalless draw last week with Manama and Premier League. resumed. ue until the end of March and “After the emergency meet- “We’re happy to play until all through April, with the in the middle of the standings ing, at last the right decision September if the season ex- last two weeks of the league STANDINGS with 15 points apiece, while was made. Until then it almost tends to then, if that’s how scheduled to take place in May. P W D L F A Pts Ahli are seventh on 11 points. felt like footballers in England it has to be. That’s our job,” As these games are scheduled Al Hidd 11 9 1 1 19 8 28 Busaiteen are eighth with were being treated like guinea he said. “As long as we know to be held during the Holy Muharraq 10 8 1 1 22 10 25 eight points, while Shabab and pigs.”” we’re safe to play and it’s a safe Month of Ramadan, their tim- East Riffa 11 6 2 3 14 10 20 Hala round out the classifica- Rooney said he would nev- environment for spectators, ings have yet to be set by the Riffa 10 6 0 4 28 19 18 tion in the bottom two plac - er have been able to forgive we’ll play. BFA. Al Najma 11 4 3 4 17 16 15 es with seven and five points, the authorities if anyone in “The next World Cup is The final play date is set for Manama 11 3 6 2 13 13 15 respectively. his family had contracted the in November and December May 8 when five matches are on Al Ahli 11 3 2 6 14 15 11 Meanwhile, the BFA con- virus through him. 2022, so you could actually the cards, taking place at differ- Busaiteen 11 2 2 7 11 19 8 firmed last night that the pend- “The rest of sport — tennis, use this situation as an op - ent venues. Al Shabab 11 2 1 8 9 26 7 ing match between Muharraq Formula One, rugby, golf, foot- portunity and say we’re go - Heading into Week 12, Hidd Al Hala 11 1 2 8 10 21 5 and Riffa will be played tomor- ball in other countries — was ing to finish the 2019-20 sea- are atop the league table with row at the Khalifa Sports City closing down and we were son later this year, then pre- 28 points from 11 matches. They fending champions Riffa, have with 20 points from their 11 stadium in . The match being told to carry on,” he pare for 2022 by having the are just three points ahead of only played 10 games to date. games, followed by Riffa on is scheduled for a 6.30pm kick- added. next two seasons starting in Muharraq, who along with de- East Riffa are currently third 18. Najma and Manama follow off. “I think a lot of footballers winter.”

Vertonghen’s family held at knifepoint Brave CF postpones all Van Dijk fears Liverpool will during home events until further notice invasion win title in empty stadium AFP | London AFP | London we just have to deal with it. But an Vertonghen’s fam- when it happens, we are still Jily were held at knife- irgil Van Dijk fears Liver- bringing the title to our fans, point during a terrifying Vpool will be forced to cele- definitely.” burglary while the Totten- brate their first English title for Liverpool could have ham defender was away 30 years in an empty stadium as wrapped up the title on Monday KNOW WHAT with his Premier League a result of coronavirus chaos. with a win at Everton if Man- club. All Premier League games chester City were beaten by British police said four have been postponed until at Burnley on Saturday, but both Liverpool could have men wearing balaclavas and least April 3 due to the spread those games were postponed, wrapped up the title armed with knives broke of the global pandemic. along with the rest of the Pre- on Monday with a into Vertonghen’s house Premier League chiefs are set mier League programme. while the Belgian interna- to meet on Thursday to discuss Some have suggested the win at Everton if tional’s wife and children if it will be possible to continue season should be scrapped Manchester City were were inside. the season and, if so, in what for safety beaten by Burnley on The 32-year-old was format. reason, Saturday in Germany for Totten - Games could be played be- which ham’s Champions League hind closed doors, which would would chiefs to decide if Liverpool last 16 second leg de - mean Liverpool, who are 25 Virgil leave should be given the title even feat against Leipzig on points clear of second placed Van Premier though the campaign did not Tuesday. Manchester City, winning the Dijk League reach its scheduled 38-game Vertonghen was an un- TDT | Manama face the difficult challenge title without their fans being conclusion. used substitute as Totten- of responding to the corona- present. Sport is expected to be sub- ham lost 3-0 to crash out of iven the global spread of virus (COVID-19), which the That is a depressing prospect jected to further restrictions the competition. GCoronavirus (COVID-19), World Health Organization for Liverpool defender next week, with British “We have been sup - BRAVE Combat Federation an- has now declared a pandemic. Van Dijk. Prime Minister Boris John- porting Jan and his family nounced that the upcoming Our hearts and thoughts are “If we won it in an son reportedly ready to through this terribly trau- #BRAVECF35, #BRAVECF36 and with all those affected by COV- empty stadium and the announce a ban on major matic time,” a Tottenham #BRAVECF37 have been post- ID-19, as well as their families, fans weren’t there, I’d public gatherings. spokesperson said. poned until further notice. friends and loved ones,” BRAVE be gutted for them,” The sporting pro - “We encourage With the current situation, CF said in a statement. he told several British gramme has once anyone who has any the BRAVE CF team are com- BRAVE CF joined the steps newspapers yesterday. again been decimated information to pelled to take action in helping being taken by organizations “Obviously, if there are yesterday, although come forward to minimize the spread of to halt the spread of the virus, no fans at Anfield, then i t the Super League to help the the virus. and have initiated an aware- will be a bit of a blow. No one match between Castleford police “BRAVE CF’s core val- ness and action campaign, wants to play games without and St Helens, the All England with their ue - to empower one an- United We Fight, #BraveCom- the fans. badminton Championship and investiga- other and grow as one batsCovid19 executed by KHK “Until a decision is made on Olympic boxing qualifiers are tion.” entity, guides us as we Heroes Foundation. how we go on from here, then still going ahead in Britain. Jan Vertonghen