6 June 27, 2020

Iran’s Behnam Yakhchali Named Asia’s Greatest Joins Rostock (Dispatches) - Ros- tock Seawolves basketball team Russian Player completed the signing of Iranian TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran inter- Much was expected of Azmoun international shooting guard Beh- national forward Sardar Azmoun has when he was snapped up by Kur- nam Yakhchali. The 24-year-old guard played been chosen as Asia’s Greatest Rus- ban Berdyev’s Rubin as an most recently at Shahrdari Gor- sian Premier League player. 18-year-old, and he has grown to be- gan in the Iranian Superleague. In In a poll conducted by the-afc. come a superstar of Asian football. four games he averaged 13.8ppg, com, 42 percent of participants vot- The first Iranian to play in the 6.3rpg and 4.3apg last season. ed for the Iranian forward. , the only Yakhchali also played for Mon- Azmoun sat above Mirdjalal Iranian to win the league title and key Kings (Chinese CBA) in Kasimov (UZB), Keisuke Hon- the youngest player from his coun- the Chinese league where in 11 da (JPN), Kim Dong-jin (KOR), try to score in the UEFA Cham- games he had very impressive (UZB), Mukhsin pions League, one of Azmoun’s stats: 16.1ppg, 5.2rpg, 3.2apg and Mukhamadiev (TJK), Vitaliy Den- most memorable spells came in 1.5spg. isov (UZB), Dmitri Khomukha the second-half of the 2018-19 sea- He has also been a member of (TKM), Vladimir Maminov (UZB) son, when he scored 12 goals in 16 Iranian international program for and (UZB) in matches upon joining title-bound some years. Yakhchali has regu- the poll. Zenit. larly played for Iranian senior Iranian guard Behnam Yakhchali team since 2012 and previously for U-19 National Team back in 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 2013. and 2020, Eurobasket reported. FIFA Agrees Massive $1.5bn COVID-19 Relief Plan Yakhchali has also played pro- Among many awards Yakhchali fessionally for other Iranian teams received Asia-Basket.com All- Zurich (Dispatches) - FIFA an- $1 million dollars to all national like Petrochimi and Shahrekord. Iranian Superleague Domestic nounced on Thursday that it had associations with an additional His team won Iranian Super- Player of the Year award in 2014 agreed a $1.5 billion relief plan to $500,000 specifically for wom- league Regular Season in 2013, and 2018. help deal with the impact of the en’s football. COVID-19 pandemic on the global Each regional confederation game. will receive a grant of $2 million. Title Race in Balance FIFA’s plan means world soc- FA’s will be able to apply for cer’s governing body will dip into loans, amounting to up to 35 But Madrid Seize Momentum its reserves to provide national percent of their audited, annual federations with a number of revenues up to a maximum of $5 grants and interest-free loans to million with confederations able cope with budget hits. to request up to $4 million. FIFA had already provided the “Both grants and loans can be immediate release of all funds directed by member associations from its ‘Forward’ projects and to the wider football community given the green light for such in their respective territories, in- FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during a press conference at grants to be used for COVID-19 cluding clubs, players, leagues, the Home of FIFA on June 25, 2020 in Zurich, Switzerland. relief plans — with a minimum of or others that have been affected 50 percent of released funds to be The third stage of the plans, Council on Thursday, allows for by COVID,” said FIFA president allocated to women’s football. unanimously backed by the FIFA a ‘universal solidarity grant’ of Gianni Infantino. Liverpool Win Premier League Title With Seven Games to Spare LONDON (Dispatches) - Thirty City seize power. Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has been on top form since the years of hurt came to an end for Inspirational manager Juergen return of La Liga Liverpool when they were con- Klopp has rekindled the Anfield MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid catalyst for four wins out of four, firmed as Premier League cham- flame though and delivered the and Barcelona are neck-and-neck the Frenchman coming back at his pions on Thursday courtesy of sec- club’s 19th top-flight title, one be- in the closest title race in Europe as sharp, confident and clinical best. ond-placed Manchester City’s 2-1 hind arch-rivals United’s record La Liga’s top two have enjoyed an Benzema’s touch and volley defeat by Chelsea. of 20, after finishing runners-up almost faultless return since Span- against Valencia may be goal of The result at Stamford Bridge to City in a thrilling race last sea- ish football resumed two weeks ago. the season while his link-up with means Liverpool have an unas- son. But Barca’s performances have Hazard could finally offer an an- sailable 23-point lead over City As the Chelsea game moved been less convincing than their re- swer to the void left by Cristiano sults and a draw away at Sevilla Ronaldo. with seven games left. into stoppage time at an empty has allowed Madrid to clear a two- Hazard’s fitness is still a worry. Liverpool were last champions stadium in London, 350km away point deficit and reclaim first place The Belgian came off after an hour of England when they won the outside Anfield, Liverpool fans due to a superior head-to-head. against Mallorca on Wednesday as old First Division title in 1989-90 began lighting red flares as the Liverpool’s German manager Jurgen Klopp (third right) talks to his Beneath them, Atletico Madrid Zinedine Zidane appears keen to players during a drinks break during the English Premier League after which a decline in fortunes celebrations began in earnest. have surged into third, their con- manage his minutes. football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in saw Manchester United and Arse- Also watching from afar was an cerns of missing out on Champi- But the defense has been rock Liverpool, north west England on June 24, 2020. nal, then Chelsea and Manchester emotional Klopp. ons League qualification evapo- solid again, with Thibaut Courtois rating almost entirely as their making a crucial save against Va- top-four rivals have crumbled lencia that might yet prove a piv- Australia, NZ to Co-Host 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup around them. otal moment. That steel, and Ben- PARIS (Reuters) - Australia and federations and the 2023 version The three-month suspension has zema, makes Madrid favorites. New Zealand will co-host the 2023 will also be the first in the tourna- also had varying effects at the Barcelona have taken 10 points FIFA Women’s World Cup, beating ment’s history that will feature 32 bottom, where Celta Vigo and Ei- out of 12 and even a draw away Colombia 22-13 in a vote by FIFA’s teams, eight more than the previous bar have managed to pull away, at Sevilla hardly deserves to be ruling council. editions. leaving Real Mallorca, Leganes called a slip-up. Since Brazil and Japan withdrew “The bidding process was high- and Espanyol with a mountain to Yet their performances have left the race earlier in June, the vote ly competitive. We would like to climb. the unavoidable sense that they on Thursday became a one-on-one thank both of the bidders for their Here, AFP Sport draws five con- will drop more points during the battle. remarkable work. It was really, re- clusions from the first two weeks run-in and perhaps against diffi- The combined bid was initially ally well prepared,” FIFA President since La Liga resumed. cult opponents coming up. regarded as the favorite since it Gianni Infantino said. When Real Madrid restarted, They play away at a resurgent earned a superior score from FIFA’s The vote was split along continen- technical evaluation of the bids, 4.1 tal lines as Europe joining South many wondered whether the re- Celta Vigo on Saturday before out of five, far more than that of Co- America in voting for Colombia, covery of Eden Hazard might pro- hosting in-form Atletico Madrid lombia which was only 2.8. which Infantino said he was “sur- pel them ahead of Barcelona down three days later. They then visit The World Cup is scheduled to 2023. Women’s World Cup to be held in prised” by UEFA members’ deci- the final straight. Villarreal, who have shot up into take place from July to August It will be the first time that the two countries from different con- sions. But Karim Benzema has been the contention for the top four. Fed Cup Finals in Budapest Moved to 2021

PARIS (AFP) - The Fed Cup ten- the ITF announced Friday. called off in response to the virus reschedule the postponed Finals in significant logistical and regulato- Eight Fed Cup play-off ties to nis finals in Budapest have been re- The revamped 12-team women’s outbreak. 2020,” the ITF said in a statement. ry challenges that mean hosting an be held at various venues around scheduled for April 13-18, 2021 af- competition was initially due to “Due to the ongoing challenges “In addition to the Laszlo Papp indoor mass gathering while guar- the world were also put on hold in ter they were postponed indefinitely take place on indoor clay in the presented by the COVID-19 pan- Arena being unavailable over the anteeing the health and safety of March. They will be played next due to the coronavirus pandemic, Hungarian capital in April but was demic, it has not been possible to latter part of the year, there remain all involved will not be feasible.” February.