Established 1961 19 Wednesday, March 25, 2020 Sports A-League football, Australia’s last active sport, pulls plug Players accept games may have to take place without fans: Barnes

SYDNEY: Australia’s last active sport, the A-League new entry rules took effect. soccer, pulled the plug on its season yesterday to “To get so close to completing the competition, curb the spread of coronavirus, with bosses saying it only to pull up a few weeks short, has been heart- had become “mission impossible”. The decision fol- breaking for the players, clubs and fans,” added John- lows the National Rugby League and the country’s son. “That said, the health and safety of our fans, most popular spectator sport, Aussie Rules, making players, volunteers and staff has always been the similar decisions over the past two days. overriding consideration for us.” Rugby union, cricket, basketball and other sports Australia has recorded more than 1,800 cases of had already shut down. The 11-team A-League, which COVID-19 with seven deaths. Although football is set played to empty stadiums last weekend, only had five to take a significant financial hit from the suspension, rounds left to complete Johnson insisted it would the season. But tightened survive, in contrast to government restrictions, doom and gloom predic- including state border tions that rugby league shutdowns, made it too faces a fight for its life. difficult to continue. “The game will sur- “The decision taken Mission vive this, of that I’m ab- was the result of the in- solutely sure,” he said. creased state and na- impossible “But will we need to tional requirements, in make changes, will things particular border con- look different, I’d say trols that the states, and yes.” New Zealand have imple- Meanwhile, players SYDNEY: Players from both teams walk past each other in an empty Bankwest Stadium, shuttered from mented,” said Football have accepted that play- fans due to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, during the round 24 A-League football match between Federation Australia chief James Johnson. ing games in closed stadiums might be the only way Sydney FC and the Western Sydney Wanderers at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney. — AFP “As a national competition that is played in almost to complete the English domestic league season, all parts of Australia, also in New Zealand, mission Bobby Barnes, deputy chief executive of the Profes- complicated became mission impossible.” FFA will re- sional Footballers’ Association (PFA), has said. campaign. “In an ideal world we’d be playing in front and there are contracts that have to be adhered to. view the situation over the coming weeks with a fur- English soccer has been suspended until at least of crowds but I think it’s more a case of there being “In order for us (the PFA) to be able to protect ther status assessment scheduled for April 22, with April 30 due to the coronavirus crisis, although the no alternative,” Barnes told The Athletic. “We’re not those players in terms of securing their salaries, if the goal being to reschedule the remaining games. Football Association, Premier League and EFL have in an ideal world and the players I’ve spoken to ac- that’s the only offer we have on the table to complete Two A-League teams, Wellington Phoenix and agreed to extend the season indefinitely. As the coro- cept that’s what it will have to be. the season, then that is what it will be.” Melbourne Victory, were already serving mandatory navirus pandemic leads to increasing restrictions “Football is about fans. But the reality for the vast The flu-like virus has infected more than 337,500 14-day quarantines after playing in New Zealand last across the country, Barnes said players were now majority of the players, particularly at the highest globally and killed over 14,600. Deaths from the virus week and failing to get back to Australia before tough looking at “realistic” options to finish the 2019-20 level, is their income is funded by television money in Britain jumped 54 to 335 on Monday. — Agencies

ernment,” SFA chief executive Ian US Soccer names Scottish FA Maxwell said in a statement. “While many of the instances have been anecdotal, I have seen it for my- sports executive tells clubs to self this weekend. Please stop it. I urge everyone involved in the game to do Wilson CEO stop training what we can to safeguard public health as best we can. “The message from the First Minis- LOS ANGELES: The beleaguered US EDINBURGH: The Scottish Football ter (Nicola Sturgeon), which was reit- Soccer Federation named longtime sports Association (SFA) has urged clubs to erated today, could not be clearer when executive Will Wilson as Chief Executive stop conducting training sessions and she said ‘the advice that is being given Officer, taking over from Dan Flynn who adhere to government guidelines on to people is not to be seen as optional’. retired in September. Wilson, 50, has the coronavirus crisis. Following a That applies to football as it does worked the last eight years as head of the meeting of their joint response group, across society.” NFL division of Wasserman Media Group, Will Wilson the SFA has reminded member clubs The joint response group said they where he served as the agent for his “in the strongest possible terms” to want their advice to be circulated as nephew, former Indianapolis Colts quar- “desist” training activities and follow widely as possible, including to clubs, terback Andrew Luck. rivaled set of experience and expertise to team players are seeking $66 million in back the social distancing advice outlined parents, players, match officials, staff Prior to spearheading the Wasserman soccer in America. pay under the Equal Pay act and the Civil by the government. and supporters. Scottish football has agency’s NFL operations, Wilson spent four “His global perspective, background in Rights Act, is set to go to trial on May 5. The “I would urge our members, and es- been suspended until at least April 30 years working for Major League Soccer and marketing and growing sporting events and United States are also still trying to rebound pecially our Affiliated National Associ- due to the coronavirus outbreak, but it’s marketing arm Soccer United Marketing, extensive experience in the sports business from the failure of the men’s team to qualify ations responsible for grassroots the SFA added there still remains un- eventually serving as executive vice presi- will be invaluable in growing soccer at all for the 2018 World Cup. football, to ensure clubs observe social certainty about when the 2019-20 sea- dent of international business and special levels. “Soccer is the world’s game and Will “I’m very excited to be joining US distancing guidance outlined by gov- son may resume. — AFP events for SUM. is the perfect person to help us grow it to Soccer,” Wilson said. “I have always ad- Wilson’s relationship with MLS commis- America’s game.” mired the federation from afar and have sioner and US federation board member Parlow Cone herself only took over the long felt that the US Soccer crest is one heartbreaking for someone trying to Don Garber goes back further. The two president’s office this month, stepping up of the best brands in the business. “US Coronavirus live their dreams.” The British Boxing worked for NFL Europe in the 1990s, with from vice president after president Carlos Soccer has an amazing fan base and our Board of Control (BBBofC) said on Wilson serving as general manager of the Cordeiro resigned amid a furore over what supporters are waiting for us to get could force Monday it had extended a ban on all league’s Scottish Claymores. Wilson also superstar Megan Rapinoe branded “blatant things back on track both on and off the events under its jurisdiction until the worked as the managing director of NFL sexism” in the federation’s response to a field,” he said. “I’m incredibly energized end of April. Mexico. “We are thrilled Will is joining US gender discrimination lawsuit by the US and excited about the work in front of us many fighters The Tokyo Summer Olympics, Soccer as our CEO,” said US Soccer Presi- women’s team. to continue striving to become America’s which many amateurs use as a platform dent Cindy Parlow Cone. “He brings an un- The lawsuit, in which women’s national preeminent sport.” —AFP out of the sport before turning professional, look likely to be postponed a year to 2021. “Look at the Olympics — these people have LONDON: The coronavirus pan- grafted for four years to achieve their year deal with running back Dion Lewis, ac- returning to the New York Jets on a one- demic could force many boxers to dream and fight in Tokyo,” commented Cowboys Pro cording to multiple reports. Lewis, 29, spent year, $5 million deal, multiple outlets re- leave the sport for financial reasons, Hearn. the past two seasons with the Tennessee Ti- ported. Linebacker James Burgess, New leading British promoter Eddie Hearn “There’s no chance of these tans, but he didn’t get much work in 2019 York’s leading tackler last season, also will said on Monday. Hearn, whose Match- Olympics taking place so what are they Bowl Frederick due to Derrick Henry’s standout campaign. be back with the club. He reportedly agreed room Boxing promotes world heavy- going to do? Everything is going to be He will now back up another standout run- to a one-year deal. weight champion Anthony Joshua, told a complete reshuffle of every sport.” retires ner, Saquon Barkley. • Robert “Woody” Widenhofer, a former the BBC that those fighters starting out Joshua, the WBA, WBO and IBF cham- • The Los Angeles Rams will feature a in the sport or at the bottom of the lad- pion, is due to fight Bulgaria’s IBF new look when they take the field this sea- and Vanderbilt and Missouri head coach, der faced tough times. mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in DALLAS: Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl center son. The Rams revealed new team colors died Sunday. He was 77. Anchored by their “If this drags on to September, Oc- June but that fight could slip to July or Travis Frederick stunningly announced his and a different logo as part of a rebranding “” defense, the Steelers won tober, November, December, we’ll have later but everything is still up in the air. retirement on Monday. Frederick, who effort that has been in progress since the four championships during fighters that have not boxed this year,” Hearn, who has cancelled or turned 29 last Wednesday, was a Pro Bowl franchise returned to Los Angeles in 2016 Widenhofer’s tenure as the linebackers said Hearn. “The fighters at the top end rescheduled a number of other fights selection in five of his six NFL seasons. after more than two decades in St. Louis. coach (1973-78) and defensive coordinator are going to be fine but the fighters with no certainty of those happening, Frederick revealed his retirement in a The Rams are returning to their royal blue (1979-83). coming through, small hall fighters, said boxing would survive but the same lengthy letter, citing his bout with the au- and gold colors, as opposed to the navy • The San Francisco 49ers signed line- ones starting their careers or those could not be said for all the promoters toimmune disease Guillain-Barre syndrome blue and light gold and white that were backer Joe Walker to a one-year deal, NFL who do not have a sponsorship deal and businesses. “If you don’t run a sus- as a factor. He missed the 2018 season due prevalent for the team in the past. Media’s Tom Pelissero reported. Walker, 27, face big concerns. tainable business, very quickly this is to the illness in which the body’s immune • is having difficulty registered 65 tackles and one forced fumble “They will have to give up the sport going to unfold on you like a ton of system attacks nerves, but he returned to be connecting the dots behind Brady’s deci- in 16 games (11 starts) last season with the of boxing and get a job and that’s bricks,” he said. — Reuters a standout again last season. sion to leave the Patriots in favor of the Arizona Cardinals. • The New England Patriots shed ties Buccaneers. Bradshaw, a Hall of Fame • The Dallas Cowboys are in talks with with another familiar face, releasing kicker quarterback and long-time NFL analyst for free agent defensive tackle Dontari Poe, date to be decided,” the southerners Stephen Gostkowski. Franchise quarterback FOX Sports, said in an interview with The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported. Napoli, Lazio said in a statement. “The resumption Tom Brady, who helped the team win six Athletic that he feels there’s more to the The two-time Pro Bowl selection regis- of training sessions will be established Super Bowl titles, announced last week he story. Bradshaw contends that there maybe tered four sacks and 22 tackles in 11 games in relation to the evolution of the was leaving the franchise, and he signed something more to prove for Brady, who last season with the Carolina Panthers. He backtrack health emergency regarding the with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday. will turn 43 in August. had season-ending surgery for a torn spread of Covid 19.” Gostkowski, 36, had a role in three of those • The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms quadriceps in November. on training Napoli are sixth in Serie A and last championships and is franchise’s all-time with quarterback Jordan Ta’amu, who led • Quarterback P.J. Walker, an XFL stand- trained on March 12, before their leading scorer (1,775 points). He was enter- the XFL with 12 touchdown passes. Ta’amu’s out for the Houston Roughnecks, signed Champions League last-16 second leg ing the final season of his two-year, $8.5 agent told media outlets that the undrafted with the Panthers. Walker played at Temple MILAN: Italian clubs Napoli and against Barcelona was postponed. million contract after missing the majority of player turned prolific quarterback of the St. for head coach Matt Rhule and spent time Lazio have both postponed their They had been planning to return to the 2019 season due to an ailing left hip. Louis Battlehawks will join the Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts in 2017 and 2018 planned return to training this week training today. The south of Italy has • NFL legend Peyton Manning turned champions. as an undrafted free agent. Rhule was hired due to the coronavirus pandemic which not been as badly hit by the virus as the down overtures to be part of ESPN’s • The New Orleans Saints reportedly as head coach of the Panthers in January. has killed over 6,000 people in Italy. epicentre in northern Lombardy. “Monday Night Football” broadcasting came to terms with two players, including • Linebacker Barkevious Mingo signed a Italian football has been on hold League rivals Lazio and Cagliari also crew, the New York Post reported. The the XFL’s interceptions leader. Former one-year deal with the Chicago Bears. The since March 9 because of the COVID- pushed back the date for a return to publication cited sources saying Manning Houston Roughnecks cornerback Deatrick one-year deal for the 29-year-old is worth 19 outbreak which has become the training. Capital club Lazio — just a wasn’t willing to commit to the weekly Nichols is joining the Saints, according to $1.19 million, according to multiple reports. Mediterranean nation’s biggest disaster point behind champions and Serie A schedule throughout the NFL season. Man- his agent, and defensive end Noah Spence —The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms since World War II. But some clubs had leaders Juventus — have had said they ning has declined multiple opportunities to will remain with New Orleans, per multiple with veteran nose tackle Al Woods, his been thinking of resuming training be- wanted to start training as early as be a game analyst since retiring as a player media reports. agency announced. NFL Network reported hind closed doors. Monday, as had Sardinian outfit following the 2015 season. • Linebacker Jordan Jenkins, who the contract is worth $2.75 million, with $1 “SSC Napoli announces that Cagliari. All sport in Italy has been sus- • The New York Giants agreed to a one- recorded a team-best eight sacks in 2019, is million guaranteed. — Reuters sports activities are suspended until a pended until April 3. — AFP