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Back to training, Coman hopes to complete season FIFA chief warns against Reuters | Munich and step onto a field that has goals,” the France internation- undesliga clubs returned al told Eurosport yesterday Bto training earlier this “We’re doing technical re-starting football too early week after almost a month off work, at a safe distance from due to the COVID-19 outbreak each other. It’s a bit like the Reuters | Bern and while the players are still end of the close season when to resume if things are not 100 being kept at a safe distance you resume training individ- IFA president Gianni In- per cent safe,” Infantino said. from each other Bayern Mu- ually.” fantino has warned against “If we have to wait a little nich forward Kingsley Coman Despite the resumption of Fre-starting football too ear- longer we must do so. It’s better is just happy to be back. training the German Football ly amid the coronavirus pan- to wait a little bit longer than to Squads have been split into League (DFL) made it clear demic, telling FIFA’s 211 member take any risks.” small groups or even pairs un- last week it was not known if associations yesterday that such Infantino reiterated that FIFA der strict measures to contain or when the season would behaviour would be irrespon- was assessing the financial im- the spread of the new coro- resume. sible. pact of the stoppage so it could navirus, which has infect- The season has been Soccer around the world has prepare the right response. ed over 110,000 and killed suspended until at least come to a standstill with do - “You have to know that we more than 2,000 people in April 30 with the DFL due mestic leagues on hold and ma- will be there and we will find Germany. to meet next Friday to jor tournaments such as Euro solutions together,” he said. “We had not decide the next step. 2020 and the Copa America “You will never be alone… (and) touched a ball Coman said he postponed for one year. the world will know where the on a football hoped all the effort “Our first priority, our prin- money goes and, equally impor- pitch for the players had put ciple, the one we will use for tant, why the money goes there. almost a in would not go to our competitions and encourage FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents the winner’s trophy to Liverpool’s “If football manages to have a month and waste. everyone to follow is that health following the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup Final football match discussion where everyone con- even if “We work, comes first,” Infantino said in a (file photo) tributes positively, and keeps in we’re split we work, and statement yesterday which FIFA gle human life. Everyone in the the season while in some coun- mind the global interest over the in small Kingsley I hope we can said was specially aimed at its world should have this very tries there are disagreements individual one, I am convinced groups it’s Coman finish the season oth- members. clear in their mind.” over whether players should our future can be better than a pleas - erwise all that work “I cannot stress this enough. Meanwhile, discussions are face pay cuts. our past, and we will be better ure to will have been for No match, no competition, no being held around the world “It would be more than irre- prepared for the times ahead,” play again nothing,” he said. league is worth risking a sin- over when and how to re-start sponsible to force competitions Infantino added. Man United’s Maguire offers More chaos at Barca as six directors quit Reuters | Barcelona food packages to elderly panish La Liga champions SBarcelona were in turmoil AFP | London “My family and I hope that Covid-19 crisis. yesterday after six board di - this provides a small comfort The is sus- rectors resigned criticising the anchester United cap- to people who might be strug- pended for the foreseeable clubs’s handling of a social me- Mtain Harry Maguire has gling.” future, but the 27-year-old re- dia scandal and the financial agreed to supply a food package England defender Maguire mains in contact with his Unit- implications of the coronavirus of everyday essentials to the has been at the forefront of ed team-mates and is adhering crisis. elderly during the coronavirus football’s bid to help with the to a regime his club have sent Two of the club’s four vice lockdown. pandemic. him. presidents, Emili Rousaud and Maguire and his father ap- He coordinated United’s re- “Like everyone, I’m keeping Enrique Tombas, were among proached Herrings Top Shop sponse to the PlayersTogether to the government advice and those to quit, joined by direc- in Mosborough, his hometown initiative, with Premier League trying to make the best of the tors Silvio Elias, Josep Pont, near Sheffield in the north of stars joining situation,” Maguire said. Jordi Calsamiglia and Maria England, about the idea of giv- forces to “My daughter is too young Texidor. ing the parcels to those aged help gener- to understand what’s going In a letter to fans, the direc- General view as flags are put on seats before a match (file photo) 70 and over or their carers in ate funds for on right now, but she’ll read tors pointed a finger at pres- the area. NHS chari- about these times in the years ident Josep Maria Bartomeu social media accounts to smear nate episode about the social “I am very proud of my Mos- ties during to come. and expressed doubts about future presidential candidates, media accounts, known as ‘Bar- borough roots - it’s where I the “I’m also keeping active and the board’s ability to handle the and former and current players, cagate’, which we learned about grew up and where my fami- following the training pro - implications of the pandemic, but he anyway rescinded the through the press. ly still live. I come back to gramme that United have given which has slashed income and club’s contract with the firm. “As our last act of service visit everyone as much me within the confines of led to a 70% players’ pay cut. I3 also denied any wrongdoing. to the club, we recommend as I can,” Maguire my back garden! [XXN2BJ00S] “We have arrived at this point that elections are called as said yesterday. “It’s not quite Old They asked Bartomeu to call because we cannot reverse the soon as circumstances permit Harry “There’s always Maguire Trafford but I still take presidential elections as soon way the club is managed in the so that the club can be man - been a real sense of pride in keeping the as possible and criticised the face of important challenges aged in the best way possible community in the area grass in good nick. I also club for hiring a third party, I3 in the future, especially in the and deal with the important which is more important than keep in touch with all my Ventures, earlier this year to post-pandemic era,” said the challenges of the immediate ever at the moment. In times team-mates and have found monitor social media coverage letter, which appeared in Span- future.” like these you think a lot about that contact to be really im - of Barca. ish media yesterday. There was no immediate re- your loved ones and those that portant, as well as family of Bartomeu has denied accu- “We also want to show our action from Barcelona or Bar- are more elderly. course.” sations the company created displeasure over the unfortu- tomeu. Real Madrid players agree to 10-20 per cent wage cut Reuters | Madrid said. avoids traumatic measures that The club said the move fol- affect the rest of the workers,” eal Madrid’s playing and lowed negotiations between said the statement. Rcoaching staff have volun- the team captains — Sergio It said it would also help deal tarily agreed to take a wage cut Ramos for the senior soccer with “the reduction in income of between 10 and 20 per cent side — and club directors. It said that the club is suffering these this year to help the club deal the decision would save hav- months as a result of the sus - with the stoppage caused by the ing to cut the wages of other pension of competitions and the coronavirus outbreak, the La employees. paralysis of a large part of its Liga side said in a statement on Spain has been badly hit by commercial activities.” Wednesday. the coronavirus outbreak with The players at Barcelona The club said the exact a death toll of 14,555. La Liga, and Atletico Madrid have also amount would “depend on the as with most football around taken pay cuts and La Liga has circumstances that may af - the world, is currently sus- asked other clubs to follow fect the closing of the current pended and it is not known suit. 2019/20 sports season.” Club when, or even if, the season will The Spanish sports daily directors have also agreed re-start. Marca said that a 10 percent cut to a wage cut as have mem - “This decision, taken by play- would save the club around 50 bers of its basketball team, it ers, coaches and employees, Real Madrid players during a training session (file photo) million euros.

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