11 MONDAY, APRIL 6, 2020 sports Man City will not seek virus furlough offer AFP | last year’s Champions League of salaries, were criticised by final, Tottenham, have also former players Jamie Carragh- anchester City say they used the furlough option, along er, Dietmar Hamann and Stan will not be furloughing with Newcastle, Norwich and Collymore. Memployees at the tax- Bournemouth. Gary Lineker, speaking to payer’s expense after a number Britain’s Press Association the BBC on Sunday, also ap - of clubs took said City’s stance was approved peared to question the clubs’ advantage of the British govern- and staff informed before actions. ment’s scheme to fund non-play- Liverpool’s position became “The big clubs, you’d have ing staff during the coronavirus public. thought, would have been savvy epidemic. “We can confirm, follow - enough to perhaps try to help On Saturday, table-topping ing a decision by the chair - more of their workers when Liverpool became the fifth man and board last week, that players are earning so much Premier League club to an - Manchester City will not be money,” he said. nounce a furlough, accessing utilising the UK government’s But Liverpool fan group Spirit the government’s job retention coronavirus job retention of Shankly supported the club’s scheme, which means the public scheme,” the club said in a move. purse will cover 80 percent of statement. “The use of the furlough wages. “We remain determined to scheme maintains that com- There has been considerable protect our people, their jobs mitment (to treat staff fairly) criticism from former players, and our business whilst at the and it ensures that all low - who believe the safety net is not same time doing what we can to er-paid staff who run a vari - being used as intended. support our wider community ety of contracts will continue Liverpool announced a £42 at this most challenging time for to receive 100 per cent of their million ($51 million) pre-tax everybody.” wage. That’s got to be seen as profit in February. Liverpool, who are topping a positive,” the group said in a Liverpool’s opponents in up the remaining 20 percent Manchester City fans wave flags during a match (file photo) statement.

World T20 organisers hopeful despite Sri Lanka T20 Pressure grows for shortened team need fine- IPL behind closed doors potential clash with other sports tuning, says coach Arthur Reuters | Melbourne Reuters | Colombo rganisers expect this year’s Twenty20 World ri Lanka’s Twenty20 OCup to be a success even Ssquad needs some ad- if it has to vie with Australian justments, said coach Mick- rules football and rugby league ey Arthur, who will be over- for viewers due to the COVID-19 seeing the team’s bid for a pandemic, the head of the or- second 20-overs World Cup ganising committee said on title later this year. Sunday. In home fixtures last Indian cricket fans wave national tricolour flags during the 2019 Indian The Oct. 18-Nov. 15 tourna- month, Sri Lanka swept a Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 final ment was slotted into Austral- three-match one-day series AFP | Mumbai ia’s sports calendar between the against West Indies but lost months. end of the football season and two Twenty20 Internation- “Let’s say July-August is the the beginning of summer crick- als. layers are putting pressure earliest,” said Kevin Pietersen, et to draw maximum attention. “Our T20 side is still going Pon cricket authorities to the former batsman. With both the Australian to take some fine-tuning and plan a shortened Twenty20 “I do truly believe the IPL A general view of Sydney Cricket Ground (file photo) Football League ( AFL) and this was amplified against Indian Premier League later should happen. I think every National Rugby League (AFL) sport ... and T20 is the format al Cricket Council (ICC) has a very strong West Indies in the year to “kickstart” the single player around the world seasons suspended due to the that appeals to the broadest maintained there is no change team that simply had too sports economy after the coro- is desperate to play the IPL,” pandemic, they may now clash possible demographic,” he said. in its plans, and Hockley hoped much power for us,” Ar - navirus lockdown. he said on Indian broadcaster with the Twenty20 World Cup “We’re very encouraged al- they would not require any thur said in a chat with Sri The world’s richest cricket Star Sports. when they resume. ready by the take up in terms either. Lanka Cricket (SLC) media tournament has been post- Pietersen suggested the “In the event they have ex- of ticket sales.” “We’re wanting to give our- unit. poned until April 15, which eight-team tournament be tended seasons...we still think The women’s tournament selves the best possible chance “I think the most im - coincides with the end of In- shortened from its normal the World Cup is a really strong proved a big success, with hosts of going ahead as planned, so portant thing is building a dia’s 21 day nationwide shut- eight-week duration and proposition that might not Australia beating India in the there’s no imminent or quick method to win games based down to halt the spread of the played behind closed doors. come here again for 10 or 20 March 8 final to defend their decision,” he said. on the resources that you pandemic. “There could be a way in years,” Nick Hockley, CEO of title. “Hopefully it’s all resolved have at your disposal and But with the number of which to get some money into the organising committee, told The organisers expect the and we go ahead. In the event then making sure that the cases and deaths rising and the franchises, into the econo- Australian Associated Press men’s tournament to replicate that it isn’t completely resolved, players are under no illu- India isolated from interna- my by having a situation where (AAP). that success despite uncertain- we are looking at all the differ- sion as to what that method tional travel, few believe any you use maybe three venues “People love a World Cup. ty around it. ent scenarios. Which is only is based on our strengths,” sport will be possible in the which are completely closed Cricket is Australia’s national The governing Internation- prudent,” he added. he said. sub-continent for at least three to fans,” said Pietersen.

Ex-Honduras president disgraced by FIFAgate dies aged 76 RCB burdened by AFP | Tegucigalpa title pressure - Kohli Callejas was born on Novem- 40 officials implicated in the Reuters | New Delhi ber 14, 1943 in Tegucigalpa. vast corruption scandal known onduran ex-president Ra- A former student of the Uni- as FIFAgate which came to shake oyal Challengers Ban- Hfael Callejas, who pleaded versity of Mississippi in the the football world. Rgalore need to redis- guilty in the United States for his United States, he served as pres- Callejas was accused of re- cover the joy of cricket part in the sweeping FIFAgate ident of Honduras from 1990 ceiving bribes in exchange for if they are to end their football corruption scandal, died to 1994. awarding Florida-based Media Indian Premier League Saturday aged 76, his family said. As president, he implemented World the television broadcast- (IPL) title drought, cap - Callejas passed away of a heart a neo-liberal economic policy, ing and commercial rights to tain Virat Kohli has attack in a hospital in Atlanta, privatizing many public servic- Honduras’ qualifying match- said. Georgia, his family said. es. es for the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Star-studded Bangalore “We are deeply saddened to He was also head of the coun- World Cups. have reached three finals announce that our beloved hus- try’s football federation from He pleaded guilty in a US of the Twenty20 league but band, father and grandfather 2002 to 2015, and is also a for- court. But Callejas also suffered are one of only three exist- has flown into the arms of the mer member of FIFA’s Television from leukemia and his sentenc- ing franchises -- along with Lord,” his wife Norma Gaborit FIFA president Sepp Blatter (R), gives a medal to the President of the National and Marketing Committee. ing was postponed many times Delhi and Punjab -- not to de Callejas said in a statement. Football Federation of Honduras, Rafael Callejas (L) (file photo) As such he became one of the due to his health problems. have won the title.