On 24Th Grand Slam Title
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TTENNISENNIS | Page 3 CRICKET | Page 7 Serena sets Masterful sights — again Morgan leads — on 24th England to win Grand Slam in 2nd T20 Monday, August 31, 2020 CYCLING Muharram 12, 1442 AH Alaphilippe does GULF TIMES it again on the Tour de France SPORT Page 4 FOOTBALL Al Sadd’s Akram Afi f bags Best Player award By Sports Reporter Doha Award winners Best Player: Akram Afif of Al towards resumption of football tar Qatar striker Akram Sadd activity this season. Afi f has won the Qatar Best Coach: Diego Aguirre of (This award is given by the Football Association’s Al Rayyan QFA Award Board of Trustees Best Player honours, it Best Under-23 Player: Tarek to organisations, groups or in- Swas announced yesterday. Salman of Al Sadd dividuals making a significant Akram, who plays for Al Sadd, Mansour Muftah Award for contribution towards football bagged 60.91 percent of the Top Scorer: Akram Afif of Al in the local community.) votes. He also shared the Man- Sadd and Yacine Brahimi of Al sour Muftah Award for the top Rayyan. Best Referees Award scorer with Yacine Brahimi of Football For All Award: Minis- The quartet of Abdulrahman Al Rayyan, with both scoring 15 try of Public Health, Ministry of al-Jassim, Taleb Salem (first as- goals. Interior, Aspetar Hospital and sistant), Faisal Eid (second as- Brahimi and Edmilson, of Al Qatar Red Crescent. For their sistant) and Abdullah al-Athba Duhail, were Akram’s rivals for great eff orts and contribution (Video Assistant Referee). the Best Player award but the Al Sadd player was clearly the favourite and it refl ected in the in the country. The QFA shunned the usu- voting. Diego Aguirre of Al Rayyan was al fanfare associated with the Al Sadd bagged another award declared with the Best Coach, the awards due to the coronavirus with Tarek Salman being de- Uruguayan winning 64.6 percent pandemic, instead choosing to clared the Best Under-23 Player of the votes. make a simple announcement. Al Sadd’s forward Akram Afif. Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre. FOCUS Messi misses virus test as Liga says his contract valid Without passing a coronavirus test, the Barcelona star will be unable to join Ronald Koeman’s first training session today AFP Barcelona, Spain ionel Messi missed a coronavirus test at Bar- celona’s training ground yesterday morning, club Lsources have confi rmed to AFP, raising the possibility he will now boycott pre-season to force a transfer. But La Liga have given a boost to Barca’s hopes of keeping Messi by announcing that the release clause in his contract, set at 700mn euros ($833mn), still ap- plies. Messi and his lawyers believe a separate clause means he should be allowed to leave for free this summer. Without passing a coronavirus test, Messi will be unable to join teammates for Ronald Koeman’s fi rst training session today, with the start of the new La Liga sea- son less than two weeks away. Messi was due for testing at 10.15am yesterday but according to sources at Barcelona, he failed to show up at the Ciutat Esportiva. The club’s captain and great- est ever player could now be punished with a fi ne and even a reduction in salary if the strike continues. Barcelona’s coach Ronald Koeman arrives for the Covid-19 tests yesterday. (Reuters) SUAREZ, VIDAL PRESENT Luis Suarez — his best friend and Mundo Deportivo, the Barce- fast. His snub yesterday comes strike partner — and Arturo Vidal lona daily with close links to the after he asked for a meeting, not were among those seen arriving board, wrote on Saturday how to negotiate, but to begin facili- for tests, despite both players Boys sit on a street as they wait for Barcelona’s squad to arrive for Covid-19 test, ahead of the resumption of their training today, in Barcelona, the club is defi ant, even if every tating an amicable and dignifi ed being told they should fi nd new Spain, yesterday. (Reuters) stance now could be a negotiat- departure. teams as part of a planned clear- ing ploy. Manchester City remain fa- out this summer. age his legal case if his departure “The contract is currently Yet Messi’s lawyers believe the 13-year-old boy, and where most “The more the days go by, the vourites to sign the 33-year- The meet-up was a chance for ends up being settled in court. in force and has a ‘termination clause that allows him to leave for expected him to continue all the fi rmer the board and president old, whose basic salary alone Messi to make his fi rst public ap- Barcelona insist a clause in- clause’ applicable if Lionel An- free refers not to a specifi c date way through to retirement. Josep Maria Bartomeu are in not amounts to around 60mn euros. pearance since the burofax stat- cluded in Messi’s contract that dres Messi decides to activate but to 10 days after the end of the moving from their position,” it If Barcelona and Messi decide ing his intention to leave arrived allowed him to go for free this the early unilateral termination season. SUPPORTERS STILL HOPING read. “Which is not to sell and, if to avoid a lengthy legal proc- in the offi ces of Camp Nou on summer had to be activated by of the contract,” La Liga said in a Given last season was extended Supporters, some of whom possible, to renew the contract of ess, a compromise selling price Tuesday evening. June 10 and the only way the statement. into August due to the pandemic, stormed Camp Nou in protest Messi.” of around 100mn euros could be Instead, his absence off ers a 33-year-old will be allowed to “In compliance with the regu- with the Champions League fi nal last week, remain hopeful Messi Bartomeu made it known within reach for City, while elim- clear indication of his determi- depart now is via the payment of lations and procedure in these only played last weekend, they might still be persuaded. through the Spanish press on inating their less wealthy rivals. nation to secure a move and how 700mn euros. cases, La Liga will not de-regis- maintain Messi’s request to leave Outside the training ground Thursday that he would resign Messi has reportedly spoken to ugly this dispute could now be- La Liga, who were always likely ter the player from the (Spanish came within the agreed period. yesterday morning, a young boy if Messi said publicly that he City coach Pep Guardiola already come. to take the side of the club, agree football) federation unless they His absence yesterday suggests wearing a Messi shirt sat with was the problem and agreed to but others remain in the running, Taking part in the team’s pre- that Messi’s release clause is still have previously paid the amount he is prepared to do whatever it his head in his hands, hoping his change his mind. including Paris Saint-Germain, season programme could dam- valid. of said clause.” takes to quit the club he joined as hero could yet return. But Messi has remained stead- Inter Milan and Juventus. Gulf Times 2 Monday, August 31, 2020 FOOTBALL LIGUE 1 SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP Celtic bounce back from Euro exit to Wins for nine-man beat Motherwell AFP they would reach the interval Glasgow, Scotland with the game goalless but For- rest broke the deadlock after a fi ne run from Callum McGregor. Nantes and 10-man eltic bounced back from Polish forward Klimala re- their midweek Champi- placed Mohamed Elyounoussi ons League exit to beat for the start of the second period Motherwell 3-0 yester- to give the Parkhead side a more Lille came away from Reims with a 1-0 win Cday and stay in touch with early natural focal point, with Christie Scottish Premiership pacesetters moving wide. while St Etienne beat Lorient 2-0 thanks to a Rangers. Motherwell proved dogged double from Romain Hamouma Neil Lennon’s side were opponents, if rarely threatening Monaco knocked out of the Champions in attack. League qualifi ers by Hungarian Former West Ham player Reuters side Ferencvaros on Wednesday Ajeti, introduced with about 20 Metz, France and were again unconvincing be- minutes to go, grabbed Celtic’s fore winger James Forrest scored second when he took a pass from fi ve minutes before the break. Kristoff er Ajer and hammered onaco won 1-0 at Bottom-placed Motherwell, a shot from 12 yards past goal- Metz despite going who are winless after six match- keeper Trevor Carson. down to 10 men ear- es, proved stubborn opponents In added time Jullien accepted ly in the second half, but late goals from substitute a pass from Jeremie Frimpong Mwith Benoit Badiashile scoring Albian Ajeti and Christopher Jul- and rolled his shot past Carson to the winner emphatically from lien sealed their fate. add gloss to the scoreline. a set piece in their Ligue 1 clash Celtic, aiming for their 10th Lennon said his side were much at the Stade Saint-Symphorien successive title, moved to within improved in the second half. “First yesterday. six points of Rangers with two half was a little bit lukewarm,” he Badiashile pounced on a loose games in hand after their win at told the BBC. “I didn’t think we ball in the box from a free kick Parkhead. had the tempo I like the team to in the fi rst half to volley home Lennon was critical of some play at, but it was a great fi rst goal.