TENNIS | Page 2 CRICKET | Page 3 ‘Big Three’ Three West join campaign Indies players against racial turn down injustice England tour Thursday, June 4, 2020 MOTORSPORT Shawwal 12, 1441 AH No race cancellation GULF TIMES if driver contracts coronavirus: F1 boss SPORT Page 5 FOCUS Plan in motion for football action to return in Qatar Training will resume on June 10 after the first round of Covid-19 testing for players and referees on June 8-9 hmed Khellil Abbassi, and QSL. Journalists won’t be Executive Director of allowed to cover matches at the Competition and Foot- Qatar coach Sanchez names squad for venue and QSL will provide the Aball Development at the summer training camp media with all necessary details. Qatar Stars League (QSL), speaks As far as the Host Broadcaster about the general plan for play- By Sports Reporter Ayyash, Sultan al-Berik, Asim is concerned, we co-ordinated ers to return to training after the Doha Madbo, Karim Boudaif, Abdullah with them to explain the precau- end of their annual vacation in Abdel Salam, Ismail Mohamed, tionary measures and the need to preparation for the resumption Abd al-Rahman Mohamed, reduce the number of workers to of 2019-20 QNB Stars League. atar coach Felix Mohamed Montari, Al-Moez a minimum, knowing that all of Excerpts: Sanchez yesterday an- Ali, Saad al-Sheeb, Meshal Bar- these steps to be followed will be Qnounced a squad of 34 sham, Pedro Miguel, Khoukhi evaluated according to the devel- The competitions will return players for a summer training Boualam, Tariq Salman, Abdel opments that take place. after a long break. How do you camp, Qatar Football Associa- Karim Hassan, Mohamed Waad, view it? tion (QFA) has confirmed. The prepare for the 2022 FIFA World Hassan al-Haydos, Akram Afif, FIFA recently approved five It’s a positive step towards Spaniard has invited the players Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Youssef Hassan, Mahdi Ali, substitutions in a match for returning to normal life after a for the June 12-July 3 camp after qualifiers set to be held later Hammam al-Amin, Moayad the remainder of this season. break. We should all adapt to and co-ordinating with QFA, the Qa- this year. Qatar has three more Hassan, Ahmed Alaa, Musab Will it be implemented? coexist with the current situa- tar Stars League and the clubs. matches to qualify for the 2023 Khader, Ahmed Fathi, Jassem The five substitutions ap- tion, so that things will return to QFA said the players and the AFC Asian Cup to be held in Jaber, Youssef Abdel Razzaq, proved by FIFA will be imple- how they were before the corona- coaching staff will strictly adhere China. Mohamed Salah, Abdulaziz mented, allowing teams to use a virus pandemic (Covid-19), tak- to medical protocols outlined by Hatem, Fahd Younis, Ahmed maximum of five substitutes on ing into account safety and secu- Ministry of Public Health. SQUAD: Mohamed al-Bakri, Moeen and Ahmed Suhail three occasions during a game. rity measures for everyone. The Qatar squad will gather to Bassam al-Rawi, Mohamed Coach: Felix Sanchez What’re the latest develop- We noticed a lot of engage- ments on the extension of play- ment from the players during Asian football getting ‘closer’ to return: official ers’ contracts with the clubs? the break, through the com- AFP John said: “We are approaching ing in June or July and Thailand Work is currently underway to mitment to distance training. Ministry of Public Health, taking Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia closer to the return of football.” scheduled for September. co-ordinate with competent au- How did you see that? into account the examples and “We have to wait for all the John said the AFC was “still thorities in order to finalise the This period was very impor- protocols for leagues that have domestic leagues to start first,” in discussion” about when its matter as early as possible. tant for players to maintain fit- resumed again. sia’s Champions League is added John, when asked about competitions will restart, declin- ness, as we noticed a great com- Also, according to the protocol getting closer to a return the return of the AFC’s club ing to reveal a possible date. About the resumption of this mitment being shown by them. and general plan, there’ll be three Abut it will have to wait tournaments. Asked if there were any propos- season’s Ooredoo Cup… Has The technical staff also devel- phases: until domestic competitions are The AFC Champions League, als to change the tournaments’ it been included in the general oped appropriate programmes The first phase is the begin- back in action, a senior football Asia’s top club competition, and home-and-away format to avoid plan and calendar? for distance training and they ning of training after being tested official told AFP yesterday. the second-tier AFC Cup have potential infections, John said The Ooredoo Cup is part of followed the players, either in negative for Covid-19. Training Football is gradually resuming both been on hold since March, talks were ongoing. this season’s plan and its remain- person or via GPS devices. will resume on 10th June. around the world after closing along with World Cup and John said it was a “positive ing schedule will be announced I want to take this opportunity The second phase is team down because of the coronavi- Olympic qualifiers. sign” that sport was beginning for completion at a later time to thank the clubs, coaches and training in group after being test- rus, although most leagues are Of the 12 countries involved in to return around the world, when approved. players for the great co-opera- ed negative on Covid-19 on the still yet to return. the Champions League, South adding that the AFC had several tion from their side during this second examination. Asian Football Confederation Korea is the only league back in contingency plans to cope with How will the changes this difficult period, which reflects The third phase is the start of general secretary Windsor action, with four more restart- travel restrictions. season affect the start of the on the professionalism and disci- official competitions and match- 2020-21 season and the cal- pline that we’ve achieved. es conforming to the approved Ahmed Khellil Abbassi, Executive endar in general? precautionary measures and pro- Director of Competition and League schedule be an- will be used after co-ordination co-operation with all parties FIFA has given the confedera- The QSL has taken many nec- tocol for match-day operations. Football Development at QSL. nounced? and co-operation with the Minis- concerned to ensure the safety of tions the option to play or post- essary measures to ensure Also, an educational video to Co-ordination is currently tak- try of Culture and Sports, and Su- all and it will be announced be- pone the national team matches players’ safety when they re- explain the protocol and general players will also be applicable ing place between all authorities preme Committee for Delivery and fore the start of competitions. scheduled in the September FIFA turn to training. What’re the plan, and a workshop will be or- to the referees. There’s co-or- concerned to develop the final Legacy, and the venues will be an- window. Furthermore, the AFC most prominent among them? ganised to explain each phase for dination/arrangement with the schedule and it’ll be announced nounced along with the schedule. Are there arrangements for the has until now not announced its Ensuring the health and safety technical, administrative, and Referees’ Committee of Qatar officially after its approval. media and Host Broadcaster? calendar amendments. Therefore, of players as well as technical medical staff for players. Football Association and Video What are the precautionary Press conferences for clubs we are awaiting the decisions on and administrative staff is one of Assistant Referee (VAR) technol- As the weather gets hotter, measures to be taken during before and after the matches those dates to finalise the plan for the most important priorities of Is there co-ordination/ar- ogy will be used in all games. will the air-conditioned sta- the matches? will be cancelled, and there’ll the 2020-21 season, in alignment QSL. Accordingly, we’ve devel- rangement for referees? diums be used for matches? A protocol for match-day op- only be statements through the with the Asian and international oped a protocol approved by the All procedures involving the When will the QNB Stars Yes, air-conditioned stadiums erations has been developed in social media platforms of clubs calendars. (QSL) HORSE RACING Al Shaqab Racing’s Snan races to second straight win in France Agencies La Teste-de-Buch, France Qatar Racing’s Medal Winner strikes at Newcastle On the second day of racing’s The Roger Fell-trained and Callum winner on his first return in England, Qatar Racing’s Rodriguez-ridden Cockalorum and only start as a Medal Winner was a comfortable was locked in a dead heat with four-year-old on the winner and doubled his tally in the Simon & Ed Crisford-trained and all-weather at Pau in Betway Heed Your Hunch Handi- Silvestre De Sousa-ridden Cape A cap at Newcastle on Tuesday. Cavalli for the second place. January, the Al Shaqab Racing- owned and bred Snan kept his Trained by Archie Watson in Medal Winner is by Al Shaqab 100 percent strike rate on the turf Lambourn, the four-year-old grey Racing’s sire Olympic Glory, who track in the Prix Ba Toustem at La gelding sat just behind the leaders stands at Haras de Bouquetot.