Sport THURSDAY 6 MAY 2021 A Women’s Club World Cup 'coming soon', says Infantino WhatW I’m sure is that this new competition will eventually become tthe best club event in the world, and help develop football on all continents.c It will offer a real possibility for clubs from all regions tto reach the highest level while giving the big clubs, especially EEuropean ones, a unique playing field in which to compete. FIFA President Gianni Infantino Sport | 19 EUROPA LEAGUE: SEMI-FINALS TODAY'S FIXTURES: AS Roma vs Manchester United (10:00pm), Arsenal vs Villarreal CF (10:00pm) Chelsea’s Mason Mount scores their second goal. Voting process begins for QFA Award THE PENINSULA – DOHA The Board of Trustees of the Qatar Football Asso- Chelsea outclass Real, to meet ciation (QFA) Award yesterday announced the start of the final voting process for nominating the Best Awards for the City in Champions League final 2020-2021 football season. AGENCIES – LONDON second best for much last commentator Jim Beglin yes- The Awards will be on week’s first leg which ended terday apologised for making offer for the best player of Goals by Timo Werner and 1-1. “culturally insensitive the QNB Stars League Mason Mount sent Chelsea Even with talisman Sergio remarks” about Paris Saint- (QSL), best under-23 into a Champions League final Ramos back after missing the Germain midfielder Angel Di player and the best coach, showdown with Manchester home leg they were outplayed Maria during the broadcast of selected via a voting City as they claimed a 2-0 win by Thomas Tuchel’s side again Manchester City’s semi-final process. over Real Madrid for a 3-1 as the German coach con- 2-0 victory. A total of 55 voting aggregate triumph at tinued his stunning impact in Di Maria was sent off for forms, in addition to Stamford Bridge yesterday. west London. kicking Fernandinho, and as indicative lists, have been German striker Werner, Chelsea should have the Argentina international sent to the parties partic- who has endured a stuttering killed the game as they walked off the field, Beglin ipating in the vote, first season at Chelsea, put created, and wasted, a said “it’s that Latino namely: coaches of QSL, them in control when he sackload of chances in a daz- temperament.” coach of the senior nodded in one of the easiest zling second-half display. He made an on-air national team, Under-23 goals of his career in the 28th But Mount’s close-range apology on Tuesday and later national coach, heads of minute after fellow German finish in the 86th minute expressed remorse on social agencies in the clubs, Kai Havertz had struck the meant the party could start in media. media agencies, a repre- bar. earnest. “I apologise for my cul- sentative of the QFA, a Thirteen-times European The final in Istanbul will turally insensitive remarks representative of the QSL, champions Real, who had be the second all-English during the Champions League Chelsea’s Timo Werner celebrates Chairman and members come through each of their champions League final in tie between Manchester City after scoring their first goal as Real of the Board of Trustees last three Champions League three seasons. and Paris Saint-Germain,” he Madrid’s Casemiro looks on. of the QFA Award as well semi-final ties, had been Meanwhile, CBS Sports wrote on Twitter. as a number of other bodies, including Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Players Association, United-Liverpool game rescheduled for May 13 Aspire and Old Players Committee. Sunday, May 9 will be AP – LONDON They face Aston Villa away Sunday’s high-profile game announced that only home fans restrictions as planned, and the final date for receiving on Sunday and now have a against arch-rival Liverpool was will be allowed into games when the Premier League has rear- the forms, after which the Manchester United’s game home game against Leicester on postponed after a fan protest the Premier League welcomes ranged its schedule to ensure final nomination forms against Liverpool will be played Tuesday followed by the Liv- against the Glazer family - back spectators to stadiums for each of its 20 teams plays at will be sorted, and the on May 13 after being postponed erpool game two days later. United’s American owners - the final two rounds of the least one game at home in names nominated for the because of protests by home fans The Leicester game had turned violent with some sup- season. front of fans. best prizes in each cat- at Old Trafford on Sunday. originally been scheduled for porters clashing with police and Supporters will return in a The next-to-last round of egory will be approved, It means United will play yesterday but was moved others invading the pitch inside reduced capacity from May 17, games will take place on May and then the winners will three Premier League games in forward. United are second in Old Trafford. subject to the British gov- 18-19. The final round is on be announced. five days. the Premier League. Meanwhile, it was yesterday ernment easing lockdown May 23. Tokyo organisers delivered on COVID-19 protocols: Coe REUTERS – SAPPORO, JAPAN ability to stage an event on the decide by June how many local field of play, it also demon- spectators they would allow World Athletics chief Sebastian strated the ability to deliver into venues, if any. Coe yesterday gave Tokyo across other complexities Coe, who was the chief Olympic organisers high marks including, of course, the organiser of the 2012 London for a marathon test event they COVID-19 protocols,” Coe told Games, said it was important staged in Sapporo, saying they a news conference. that the Olympics were were able to deliver both on the All participants, including delivered successfully and operation of the race and on staff and media, had to log their safely. their COVID-19 counter- temperature and answer a “I know that each and every measures. health questionnaire daily in the international sports federation The Sapporo Challenge Half week leading up to the event, are absolutely committed to Marathon 2021 was held yes- either through a mobile app or adhering to the protocols and terday as a dress rehearsal for on paper. the processes with rigour,” the the marquee Olympic event Organisers urged spectators Briton added. with less than three months not to come and watch the race, A spectator (right) raises a sign reading ‘It The Olympic marathon and before the Summer Games with event staff holding signs is impossible to hold the Olympics, face up race walk events are scheduled begin. reading: “To prevent infection, to reality’ along the race route during the to be held from August 5 to 8 in Six international athletes please refrain from watching.” half-marathon as part of Hokkaido-Sapporo Sapporo. participated in the event in the Nevertheless, a handful of Marathon Festival 2021, a testing event for the They were originally northern city and had to go observers turned out for a Tokyo 2020 Olympics marathon, yesterday. scheduled to be held in Tokyo through stringent testing pro- glimpse of the action. but the International Olympic tocols before and after entering Staff wore masks and some- Committee (IOC) decided in Japan. times face shields and plastic resurgence in coronavirus world’s biggest multi-sporting They have already decided not October 2019 to move the “The organising committee gloves. infections, and organisers are event safely with about 15,000 to let in international spectators, events to Sapporo to avoid the here not only demonstrated the Japan is battling a wrestling with how to hold the athletes expected to participate. and have said they would worst of Tokyo’s summer heat. THURSDAY 6 MAY 2021 SPORT 19 A Women’s Club World Cup 'coming soon', says Infantino ITF seeks new REUTERS – MANCHESTER have invested heavily in their eventually become the best club host city for women’s sides in recent years. event in the world, and help develop FIFA President FIFA President Gianni Infantino says Infantino has previously floated football on all continents. It will offer a new Women’s Club World Cup is the idea of the Women’s World Cup, a real possibility for clubs from all Billie Jean being planned as part of a plan to for national sides, being played every regions to reach the highest level gets legal win “revolutionise” the female game. two years rather than the current while giving the big clubs, especially King Cup finals In an interview with French four year cycle. European ones, a unique playing AP – GENEVA sports newspaper L’Equipe, The Club World Cupup is beingbeing field in which to Infantino said he was looking expanded from a relativelyely low-klow-keyey compete,”compete,” In a big legal winw for FIFA president Gianni AP – LONDON forward to the first edition of the tournament involving seveneven teams,teams, hehe said.said. Infantino, a spespecialc prosecutor investigating his already agreed new 24-team men’s including just one from EEurope,urope, to a meetings withwith Switzerland’sS former attorney The International Tennis Federation Club World Cup but said a women’s 24-team event includingg eight sidesidess general has beenbee removed from the case, a is seeking a new host city for the version was in the pipeline too. from Europe which FIFAA hohopespes wilwilll federalfederal court saidsai yesterday. finals of the Billie Jean King Cup, “My dream is also to see the birth be a major revenue generator,generator, TheThe SwissSwiss federalf criminal court said it formerly the Fed Cup, after of the very first Women’s Club World similar to the World Cupp itself.