Coronavirus Could Change Global Football AFP – Paris
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SPORT SPORT | 03 SPORT | 03 NBA: Lakers and Woods and Nets symptom Mickelson to free after 14-day play relief match isolation with NFL stars FRIDAY 3 APRIL 2020 Coronavirus could change global football AFP – PARIS Football has ground to a halt due Infantino says to the coronavirus pandemic, and the immediate concern is the things will be simple survival of many clubs because of the financial impact, but there is hope that the global totally different game could ultimately emerge better from this crisis. REUTERS – ROME “We are living through some- thing none of us were used to and Football will be totally different when it eventually resumes which will change us profoundly,” after the coronavirus outbreak, the head of global soccer Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti body FIFA Gianni Infantino said yesterday. told Corriere dello Sport. “Football will come back, and when it does, we’ll cel- Not since World War II has ebrate coming out of a nightmare together,” he told the the sport been forced to stop A man passes by a logo of the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship Italian news agency ANSA in an interview. across Europe. The sudden inter- displayed on a wall in Otopeni, Romania, in this March 16, file photo. “There is one lesson, however, that both you and me ruption has exposed the defi- must have understood: the football that will come after ciencies of a system intoxicated the virus will be totally different...(more) inclusive, more by huge sums of money. power belongs to the lucky few of whether salary caps could out of this crisis as well as we can, social and more supportive, connected to the individual Cutbacks are inevitable in the at the top, but even they are being finally be seen as a way forward, but let’s also put safeguards in countries and at the same time more global, less arrogant short term. hurt. That is likely to affect the despite the difficulties presented that manage player loads suc- and more welcoming.” “TV money will go down, transfer market, and huge by EU rules. cessfully moving forward,” He added: “We will be better, more human and more players and coaches will earn less. spending sprees on players could In Germany, the Bundesliga’s warned Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, attentive to true values.” Last week, Infantino told Tickets will cost less because become a thing of the past. four Champions League repre- general secretary of global Gazzetta dello Sport that it was the right time people will have less money. The “In two or three years, it will sentatives this season have players’ union FIFPro, as to take a step back and reform a sport where economy will be different and so not be possible to spend the sums pledged €20m ($22m) to help he called for “a much fixture lists have become overloaded and will football. Maybe it will be we have been seeing because crisis-hit clubs in an encouraging healthier set-up than we financial resources increasingly concen- better,” said Ancelotti. every country will be affected. In sign of solidarity. what have had lately.” trated in the hands of a few elite clubs. “As with most things, crisis is all likelihood a new footballing Meanwhile, lessons may also FIFA President He suggested there could be “fewer, an opportunity,” football historian world will emerge from this,” be learned about how TV revenue Gianni Infantino has but more interesting tournaments. and academic David Goldblatt, insisted former Bayern Munich is distributed in future. acknowledged the calls Maybe fewer squads, but more author of recent book The Age of president Uli Hoeness. It may also be time to rework for change, telling La balance. Fewer, but more Football, told AFP, before Already players at Barcelona the fixture calendar. The fashion Gazzetta dello Sport that c o m p e t i t i v e , sounding a warning. -- the richest club in the world -- for expanding existing tourna- “we can perhaps reform matches to “It could actually get worse. have agreed a 70 percent pay cut. ments -- like staging a 48-team world football by taking a s a f e g u a r d For there to be real change there Clubs across Europe are taking World Cup and 24-team Club step back. With dif- the health has to be a change in the way similar measures. World Cup -- is surely not ferent formats. Fewer of the power and ownership is dis- It is evidence that clubs, even sustainable. tournaments, maybe players.” tributed in the game.” in the elite, have been living on “It is now high time that we fewer teams, but At the moment the financial the edge, and it raises the question find some rules to say ok, let’s get more balanced.” Club Brugge declared AFC extends Asian Cup Belgian champions 2027 hosting deadline after season cancelled REUTERS – BRUSSELS AFP – HONG KONG current COVID-19 pandemic to allow member associations, many of whom have been affected Club Brugge have been declared Belgian QMMF launches The Asian Football Confederation by the global outbreak, sufficient time to meet champions after the remainder of the coun- extended the deadline for prelim- their internal processes and timelines,” it said. try’s professional league season was cancelled inary bids for the 2027 Asian Cup China will host the next Asian Cup in yesterday due to the coronavirus pandemic. online racing yesterday after the coronavirus 2023 but Saudi Arabia is the only country Brugge had a runaway 15 point lead at the pandemic caused major so far to throw its hat in the ring for 2027. top of the standings with one round of matches problems for football Qualifying for the 2023 Asian Cup, like left to play before the start of the post-season series for fans administrations. most other football worldwide, has been playoffs, involving the top six clubs. They were Expressions of put on hold as countries batten runners-up last season to Racing Genk, who THE PENINsuLA – DOHA interest will now be down to stop the were seventh when the league was suspended accepted until June 30, spread of the last month in the wake of the coronavirus The Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation three months after the novel corona- outbreak. (QMMF) has launched an online racing series original deadline of virus. Qatar, Media reports yesterday said it was hoped for residents in the country. March 31, the AFC hosts of the that the cup final plus the second division pro- With all sport activities in the country coming said in a next World motion final between Beerschot and OH to a standstill due to the COVID-19 pandemic, statement. Cup in 2022, Leuven could still be played if the government the QMMF hopes it will give the opportunity for “ T h e won the 2019 allowed. The decision to cancel the League motorsport fans to race against fellow residents decision Asian Cup where campaign came the day after a UEFA meeting online. w a s Akram Afif kissing the AFC Asian Cup trophy the tournament recommended that countries try to complete The QMMF yesterday said that the official taken in after Qatar’s historic title win in Abu Dhabi, expanded from 16 to 24 their seasons, even if it means playing on into game/console for participation is Gran Turismo light of the in this February 1, 2019 file photo. teams. August. Sport on PS4 with valuable cash prizes on offer for winners. Competitors will have to register on the game with their real names as there will be no nick- names allowed. Rugby: Jones extends England contract Competitors are divided randomly into three groups of 15. AFP – TWICkeNHAM so it’s a great opportunity for us to The organisers yesterday announced that all England head coach keep moving forward.” 45 spots are filled, however, gamers can still reg- Eddie Jones has signed a two-year Eddie Jones. Acknowledging the impact of ister with the QMMF. If any spot becomes extension to his contract as the coronavirus outbreak that has available, late entries will be entertained. England coach that will see him led to the suspension of major The races will start on April 5 with each remain in charge of the side until sport worldwide, and saw him take driver racing against competitors in his or her the end of the 2023 World Cup in a 25 percent pay cut this month, group. Each participant will be racing for three France, the Rugby Football Union Jones said: “The extension is a races each week (Sunday, Tuesday and announced yesterday. great honour for me, but in the Thursday) and the competitors will be notified The 60-year-old Australian current environment, it is only of the exact times. took charge following hosts Eng- right to acknowledge what a dif- The chosen car for every weekend will be land’s first-round exit at the 2015 ficult time the world is facing. announced two days before the start of the World Cup. “We are all looking forward to weekly competitions. The track on which every His current deal expires in 2021 a time when we can get back to race will be held will be announced to all com- but talks have been ongoing about playing rugby and use the sport as a petitors one night before. an extension since Jones guided force for good in bringing people There will be 10 minutes allocated for England to last year’s World Cup back together.” practice before each race which will be followed final in Japan, where they were Jones has guided England to two by 15 minutes for qualifying and 25 minutes of beaten by South Africa.