German League Hopes for Restart Despite Ten Cases of Coronavirus
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FOOTBALL | Page 2 GOLF | Page 5 Ronaldo Varner has no awaited as fears about Serie A gets getting back back training to PGA Tour Tuesday, May 5, 2020 NBA Ramadan 12, 1441 AH Playoffs without GULF TIMES fans would be kind of epic: Johnson SPORT Page 3 FOOTBALL F1 ‘Draconian’ rules German league hopes to keep teams apart in Austria, says Red Bull boss for restart despite ten has indicated it would not stop DPA Berlin an Austrian Grand Prix at this stage if the sport comes up with a viable concept for preventing ormula One’s plan to fi- coronavirus infections. nally start the season in F1 is even considering a double Austria on July 5 includes header of races without fans in cases of coronavirus Fvery strict guidelines Spielberg. The rules say a world which will limit the risk of coro- championship needs a minimum navirus infection, Red Bull boss of eight races, with the sport’s German Football League reports that out of 1,724 tests, 10 had returned a positive Christian Horner said yesterday. bosses seeing if they can squeeze Red Bull owns the Spielberg track in 18 somehow this year — only result, three of which are already known to involve Bundesliga side Cologne where F1 hopes to get going be- four races less than the original hind closed doors after 10 races schedule which was due to start were postponed or cancelled due in Australia in March. to the pandemic. A new calendar is expected “Of course the screening and soon. However, some paddock testing and the restrictions that insiders are still not convinced are going to be in place are going that racing will start in July, with to be pretty draconian, but if it travel restrictions seen as one allows the sport to start up again, major issue. The Spielberg track I think it will be a blueprint for though has a private airport very other circuits to follow,” Horner close by. Even if developments in told Autosport.com. “I think the Covid-19 outbreak mean July when we do get going again, it’s 5 is too early to start the season, going to be like creating a tight Horner is convinced there will be group of people, probably less races at some point. than 80 people within a team, and they’re all going to have to stay in the same hotel, they’re all going to have to travel together, and they are not going to be able to interface with other teams.” Horner said there would also be rules against interacting with the local community as well, meaning the only time people will come close to each other at a race will be helmeted drivers in their cars on the track. “I think that there are going to be procedures in place that are designed to protect most of the competitors, and also take the necessary precautions for the hosts of these races as well, so it’s not going to be a standard grand prix format by any shape or form,” he added. The Austrian government has begun lifting a lockdown and Red Bull boss Christian Horner. Bundesliga side’s FC Cologne players attend a training session in Cologne, Germany, yesterday. (Reuters) AFP competition to restart since the season whole population and there is no reason Marcel Halstenberg told broadcaster Berlin was halted in mid-March hinge on the why it should be any different for profes- MDR. regular testing of players. The DFL did sional footballers.” Not all players are following the strict F1 agrees $145mn cap for not specify which clubs the positive tests The league’s plans to resume state that hygiene measures. In a video he posted ermany’s football league insist- came from, but the individuals concerned clubs are able to continue training even if to Facebook yesterday, former Chelsea teams in 2021, says Brawn ed yesterday the mass testing of have immediately been quarantined and a squad member or coach tests positive striker Salomon Kalou greeted Hertha London: Formula One has does for the small teams.” players and backroom staff was the local health authorities informed. for the coronavirus and is quarantined. Berlin teammates and staff with hand- agreed a $145mn budget cap Formula One’s season has yet “providing protection” after 10 The news of the positive tests comes Germany’s top clubs are desperate for the shakes, breaking guidelines to avoid con- for teams next year and will to start, with the first 10 races G continue to try and tighten that postponed or cancelled by the cases of coronavirus across the top two as the league is hoping to get the green season to be completed by June 30 in or- tact and earning the league’s wrath. divisions raised questions about its plans light to resume from Chancellor Angela der to claim a 300mn euros ($325mn) in- “The pictures of Salomon Kalou from for future seasons, manag- Covid-19 pandemic. A major to resume matches this month. Merkel’s federal government tomorrow. stalment of money due from the league’s the Hertha dressing room are absolutely ing director Ross Brawn said rewrite of the technical regula- Yesterday, the German Football League According to the regulations in force in television contract. unacceptable,” the DFL said. Hertha said yesterday. tions has been delayed to 2022, (DFL) reported that out of 1,724 tests, 10 Germany, anyone who has been in con- Thirteen of the 36 clubs in the top two they have suspended Kalou, who apolo- The Briton also told Sky with teams carrying over this had returned a positive result, three of tact with a positive case of coronavirus leagues are reportedly under severe fi- gised for the incident, from training and Sports television after a year’s cars to 2021. which are already known to involve Bun- must observe a 14-day isolation period. nancial pressure due to the pandemic. playing “with immediate effect”. teleconference with teams The budget cap had been desliga side Cologne. Horst Seehofer, Germany’s interior Some politicians also want league games The German league is aware that its and the governing FIA that a set initially at $175mn but some “The tests carried out over the past minister who has responsibility for sport, switched from pay-per-view broadcaster plans are under scrutiny. Anja Stahmann, much fairer prize fund would teams had wanted a more few days have fulfilled their purpose of has said he supports the plans for Bun- Sky to state channels to encourage fans chairwoman of German’s state ministers feature in a new commercial drastic limit closer to $100mn providing additional safety and thus pro- desliga teams to finish its interrupted to stay at home and not gather to watch for sport, called for “the greatest possi- agreement due by the end of to ensure the sport survives the tecting players as best as possible from season. However, yesterday Seehofer’s matches in public places which have a ble transparency” from the DFL. She also this year. crisis. Ferrari, the oldest and infection during team training or match- ministry football would not be allowed subscription. added fuel to the debate about whether “The budget cap initial objec- most successful constructor, es,” the DFL said in a statement. to deviate from the rules for the wider RB Leipzig, who were third in the table the league should resume. tives were a more competitive had opposed any reduction The positive results, around 0.5% of population. behind leaders Bayern Munich when the “In public, people are rightly saying field and I think with the situa- below $145mn. the total, all came from the first batch “Horst Seehofer stands by what he said league halted, are planning to keep their — ‘why should football resume behind tion we have now the sustaina- The cap does not include of tests as the German league prepares — anyone who has been in direct contact squad in semi-quarantine on their train- locked doors yet religious services are bility, the economic sustainabil- drivers’ salaries, with Britain’s to restart matches from the weekend of with a person who has tested positive ing grounds should games resume. still banned?’,” the Bremen-based politi- ity, of Formula One is a priority,” six times world champion Lewis May 16 in empty stadiums and with strict must be quarantined for 14 days,” inte- They will “possibly spend the night cian told Deutschlandfunk radio. “Why said Brawn. “That counts as Hamilton on an estimated hygiene measures. The league’s plans to rior ministry spokesman Steve Alter said. here as well. This is still being discussed,” are the playgrounds closed, but million- much for the big teams as it $35mn a year at Mercedes. become the first major European football “This is a principle that applies to the Leipzig’s German international defender aires are allowed to play football?” SWIMMING FINA postpones 2021 Fukuoka world championships to May 2022 Reuters swimming event in the Japanese city are will allow for some clarity in planning moves by athletics and football for the “However, we will continue to exert May 31-June 9, 2022. Tokyo May 13-29, 2022. “After liaising with for all concerned.” world championships in Oregon and our utmost efforts to eliminate Cov- Swimming’s new date also avoids any the relevant stakeholders and receiving Lausanne-based FINA had to move women’s European soccer champion- id-19 as early as possible to meet the overlap with the 2022 Commonwealth feedback from them, we have no doubt the championships because the 2021 ship respectively.