Marseille Match Postponed After 'Savage'
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14 Sports Monday, February 1, 2021 Marseille match postponed after ‘savage’ fans attack training ground Angry supporters demonstrate against team’s leadership, poor results MARSEILLE: Marseille hit out at a “frenzy of have been a tragedy. Everyone is shocked, players violence” as their game against Rennes in France’s and staff. These are not real supporters, they are Ligue 1 on Saturday was postponed after hun- hooligans, delinquents, people who have no dreds of angry supporters broke into the club’s respect for anything.” training ground and caused widespread damage in The French league reacted to the incidents by a protest. postponing Marseille’s home game against Rennes, The hardcore Ultras, who were demonstrating that was scheduled for Saturday evening, “to a later against the club leadership and the team’s poor date”, even though it was due to go ahead behind recent run of results, assembled in the afternoon in closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic. front of Marseille’s La Commanderie training Marseille were second in Ligue 1 when last sea- ground, throwing smoke bombs and firecrackers. son ended early because of the pandemic. However, “Several hundred Ultras used force and violence they have lost their last three league matches and to get into the training ground, including the first have slid 14 points behind leaders Lyon, albeit with team’s building,” the club said in a statement. “A two games in hand. frenzy of unjustifiable violence put the lives of A 2-1 win for Lens at Montpellier on Saturday those present in danger. Thefts were committed saw Marseille slip to seventh place. They have won and vehicles damaged. Five trees were burnt just one of their last nine games in all competitions down...several hundred thousand euros worth of and are due to visit Lens in midweek before hosting damage was caused.” fierce enemies Paris Saint-Germain next weekend. Local police in France’s Bouches-du-Rhone On Friday coach Andre Villas-Boas admitted he department earlier said 25 arrests were made and expected to leave at the end of the season. “The seven police officers were injured after “300 OM place needs a clear-out... I’m responsible for the MARSEILLE: A security agent walks at the entrance of Olympique de Marseille’ Robert-Louis-Dreyfus training cen- supporters violently attacked police officers present results and right now they’re awful,” the tre (formally known as La Commanderie) in Marseille, southeastern France yesterday, the morning after angry to secure La Commanderie”. Sports daily L’Equipe Portuguese former Porto, Chelsea and Tottenham fans broke in. —AFP reported that Marseille’s Spanish defender Alvaro Hotspur coach said. Gonzalez was struck on the back by a projectile as For several weeks supporters have organized he went to confront the supporters. protests before home matches, which are all being “Follow AVB, get out of here”, “Parisians, get out porters working at the club. “We are all astonished: staff, coaching staff and played behind closed doors. On Saturday an of here”, “Give us back OM”, read some of them. “JHE: No Marseille fans at OM? Get out of players. We were not expecting a savage horde to increased number of banners attacking club leader- Eyraud, who was born in Paris, was a frequent tar- here”, said one banner unfurled above a motorway, turn up and destroy everything,” Marseille presi- ship, including Eyraud, were hung around the city get after he angered fans during a conference on and “JHE, Marseille vomits you out” said another at dent Jacques-Henri Eyraud told Canal Plus. “I on motorway bridges, roundabouts and even the management when he talked about the “danger” of the Prado roundabout, a few meters from the Stade think we avoided an even worse situation. It could Corniche overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. having too many Marseille residents or club sup- Velodrome. — AFP Ooredoo sponsors Int’l Show Jumping Bayern stay Championship 7 points clear KUWAIT: Ooredoo Telecom, the first to introduce innovative digital services in Kuwait, sponsored the in Bundesliga International Show Jumping Championship organ- BERLIN: Bayern Munich remained seven ized by Kuwait Riding Club. The three day event, points clear at the top of the Bundesliga follow- commenced on January 28, 2021, Ooredoo Kuwait ing a 4-1 victory over Hoffenheim on Saturday was the platinum sponsor to the championship, as Robert Lewandowski continued his incredi- which happened for the first time in the State of ble scoring run with his 24th league goal this Kuwait, and held at Kuwait Riding Center in Sabhan season. Industrial Area. It was a well-deserved victory for Lewandowski scored for the ninth straight Ali Al- Kharafi, when he won the Showjumping Bundesliga game, while Jerome Boateng, championship cup. Mijbil Alayoub, Senior Director, Thomas Mueller and Serge Gnabry also hit the Corporate Communications, Ooredoo Kuwait, said: net at the Allianz Arena. “4-1 is a very good “Kuwait International Show Jumping Championship result for us. We have won our last four games is the ultimate opportunity to bring the true Arabian - that is our yardstick,” said head coach Hansi culture to the world, in which it gathered elite riders Flick, whose side have regained form after from the entire world. Indeed, we, at Ooredoo back-to-back league and cup defeats earlier Kuwait looks to future with sponsoring such unique everyone feels welcomed to be educated about the positioning the State of Kuwait as a sports tourism this month. events that allow us to support the community, equestrian world, ignites us to continue delivering destination that hosts major sports events.” Kuwait The European champions exacted perfect improve unity and cooperation among countries, a forward-thinking championships that meet the Riding Center was established in 1996 as the first revenge for their only defeat of 2020 after los- and promote healthy competition.” needs of this contemporary and innovative genera- private riding center in the country. It trains more ing by the same 4-1 scoreline at Hoffenheim last Khalifa Al-Kharafi, Member of the Board of tion. Through its sponsorship, Ooredoo Kuwait than 500 riders and 120 horses, and competes September. Bayern were all business in Munich Directors of the Kuwait Riding Club, said: “Our with its pioneering role in supporting communities, locally and internationally, hence, the majority of as Boateng headed the hosts into an early lead. vision symbolized by building a place where contributes to honoring the Arabic culture and the horses are showjumping horses. Mueller then added a second having earlier struck the post. It was 2-1 at the break as Hoffenheim striker Kuwait bags three Andrej Kramaric, who netted twice in the reverse meeting with Bayern, volleyed home a cross for his fifth goal in three games. However, medals at Asian Bayern moved up a gear in the second half. Lewandowski tapped home having typically shooting tourney been in the right place at the right time after a Kingsley Coman shot was parried. It became a By Abdellatif Sharaa rout when Coman won the ball back and chipped over the defense for Gnabry to fire KUWAIT: Kuwait’s shooting team on Saturday between the legs of Hoffenheim goalkeeper won three silver medals at the Asian Online Oliver Baumann with an hour gone. Shooting Championship organized by the Kuwait A fifth Bayern goal was disallowed following Shooting Federation. The event featured more than a VAR review with Leroy Sane offside in the 400 shooters from 22 countries. Kuwait’s shooter build-up before Benjamin Pavard turned home. Saud Habib came second winning the silver at However, Mueller still saw room for improve- Men’s Skeet competition. Habib’s compatriot ment. “Because it was relatively easy for us to Nasser Al-Maqlad also ranked second with the sil- get into the danger zone up front, we missed a ver at Trap game and Iman Al-Shammaa won silver trick or two at the back” said Mueller, who at Women’s Skeet contest. President of the Arab praised the assured performance of goalkeeper and Kuwait Shooting Federations, and Secretary Manuel Neuer. General of Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) KUWAIT: Kuwaiti shooters participate in the Asian Online Shooting Championship. Second-placed RB Leipzig kept pace with Duaij Al-Otaibi congratulated the Kuwaiti athletes Bayern in the table after Christopher Nkunku on their splendid performance and remarkable out- Otaibi dedicated this achievement to HH the Amir He also thanked those who were involved in organ- scored in a hard-fought 1-0 home win over comes during the championship, which featured the Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, HH the izing the tournament, as well as all participating Bayer Leverkusen. Peter Bosz’s Leverkusen most outstanding shooters in the continent. He Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al- federations. Duaij thanked President of ASC Sheikh dropped to fourth after a third defeat in the last expressed pride for “good results” made by the Sabah, HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al- Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah for fortnight. Eintracht Frankfurt replaced them in Kuwaiti shooters. Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the Kuwait people. his efforts to enhance the game in Asia. third as Portugal striker Andre Silva scored twice, taking his tally this season to 16 league goals, in a 3-1 home win over Hertha Berlin. about their chances of overturning Atletico’s con- were dangerous, though, and drew level before the Real Madrid siderable lead in the table. And with Real Madrid interval as Jorge Miramon’s cross to the back post Sancho shines slipping up again, it may now take a seismic col- was expertly caught on the half-volley by Morales.