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MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020

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LEON: French driver Sebastien Ogier (3L) and his co-driver (3R) of the Toyota Yaris WRT with their Sporting Director Kaj Lindstrˆm (C) flanked by Estonian driver Ott Tanak (2L) and his co-driver Martin Jarveoja (L) of Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC and Estonian rally driver (2R) and his co-driver (R) of the Ford Fiesta WRT, celebrate on the podium of the FIA in Leon, Guanajuato State, Mexico. — AFP Ogier wins shortened Rally of Mexico

PARIS: French driver Sebastien Ogier said the fending world champion Ott Tanak of Hyundai. from the top of the world championship standings to after coming fifth at Monte Carlo and fourth at Rally of Mexico should never have taken place Tanak led the early action Friday before suffering second some eight points behind Ogier. Sweden. after powering to a first win for his new team Toy- a badly damaged suspen- The Toyota man praised Otherwise, it was a weekend to forget for ota in Mexico. sion when hitting a rock his car’s performance here Hyundai as Spain’s overheated his en- The race was cut short by a day due to the coro- that saw him drop from in the dust and gravel after gine and Belgian suffered an elec- navirus, but the rally winner himself said it should first to fourth in one of Sat- steering it to victory in the trical problem. never have been raced at all given the circumstances. urday’s early runs. snow and cold at Sweden. “This was a tricky rally whichever way you look “Of course a win is a win,” said Ogier, who led After a bad crash ruined “The Yaris WRC felt at it,” said Hyundai team principal Andrea Adamo. the championship standings after this third rally on his chances in Monte Carlo Of course a good for our first rally on “We should have been up there because the car the circuit. Tanak was furious with gravel,” he said. was performing better,” he said. Even though Mexico “But respect for human life should be placed himself Sunday. “That acci- win is a win “Not an easy weekend, has been little affected by coronavirus, the organis- above all other things, and if we put our fans in dan- dent was my fault, I take all but fourth place after ers and local government cut the final day’s action on ger, then a victory is worthless,” said the 36-year- the blame, we had every- opening the road all of Saturday. old who is a six-time world champion. thing in place to win before yesterday is not so bad,” “This will allow teams and the media to return to The racing yesterday should have comprised that,” said the Estonian. said the 31-year-old. their countries with the anticipation of the imminent three specials, but the rally was terminated after the Welsh Toyota driver had a steady Finnish prodigy 19-year-old Kalle Rovanpera closure of their borders because of COVID-19,” said second full day, with Ogier 27 seconds ahead of de- weekend coming fourth in his Toyota and dropping was again in the mix coming fourth in his Hyundai Mexico Rally director Patrick Suberville. — AFP

“Anyway, I’m fine now,” he said on Instagram. ballers in England were being treated like guinea pigs. Serie A doctors “What to do now? Nothing, just rest. I just have to Players treated “I know how I feel. If any of my family get infected stay away from people.” Serie A as well as all sport in through me because I’ve had to play when it’s not safe, Italy has been suspended until April 3. But the Italian and they get seriously ill, I’d have to think hard about warn against Players’ Association (AIC) on Saturday slammed a like ‘guinea pigs’ ever playing again. I would never forgive the authori- “paradoxical situation” whereby pressure was being ties.” Many matches at non-league level were going return to training put on players by some clubs to return to training. LONDON: Former Manchester United star Wayne ahead as scheduled in Britain this weekend and “Today in Italy there are still football clubs which Rooney claims the British government and football Rooney believes Prime Minister Boris Johnson are either shamefully irresponsible, or live on Mars, authorities have treated players like “guinea pigs” “dodged” the issue by letting football make its own ROME: Serie A doctors have issued a joint warning or lack a minimum of dignity,” the AIC wrote. during the coronavirus crisis. While the rest of Euro- decision about playing on. advising against a return to club training after four On Saturday evening Italian authorities said 3,497 pean football was shutting down due to the growing The 34-year-old claimed money was key to the au- more players on Saturday tested positive for coron- cases had been recorded in the past 24 hours, bring- threat of the global pandemic, Rooney is angry it took thorities’ reluctance to cancel games. “The rest of avirus, bringing the tally in the Italian top flight to 11. ing the total to 21,157. The death toll now stands at several days for the Premier League and Football sport - tennis, Formula One, rugby, golf, football in Fiorentina’s Patrick Cutrone and German Pezzella 1,441, up from 1,266 on Friday. League to postpone their matches until April 3. other countries - was closing down and we were contracted the virus, the Tuscan club said, with Sam- Italy international Cutrone, 22, who joined It was only when Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta being told to carry on,” Rooney said. pdoria’s Fabio Depaoli and Bartosz Bereszynski later Fiorentina on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tested pos- “I think a lot of footballers were wondering, ‘Is it confirming they had also been diagnosed. last January, took to Instagram to reassure fans on his itive for the virus on Friday that football’s UK gov- something to do with money being involved in this?’” Serie A doctors said they had “strong concerns” condition. “Thanks to all of you for the support and erning bodies called a temporary halt to the season. Once the virus is under control, Rooney wants a rad- and “unanimously advise not to resume training until your messages of affection,” the former AC Milan Rooney, currently playing for second tier Derby, ical schedule shake-up which could see the current a clear improvement” in the situation. Four Fiorentina player said. felt they should have acted quicker and the former season being concluded as late as September, and the team members were diagnosed with Serbia forward “I’m fine, and at this moment I stay at home fol- England captain said he would “never forgive” the au- next two kicking off in winter-time as a result. Dusan Vlahovic also testing positive on Friday, along lowing the protocol I received. I recommend you thorities if his family fell ill as a result. “Why did we “We’re happy to play until September if the season with a club physiotherapist. strictly observe the indications provided every day wait until Friday? Why did it take Mikel Arteta to get extends to then, if that’s how it has to be. That’s our job. Seven Sampdoria players have tested positive, in- by the Institutions. #StrongerTogether #StayatHome ill for the game in England to do the right thing?” As long as we know we’re safe to play and it’s a safe cluding Italian midfielder Depaoli and Polish defender Thank you, Patrick.” Argentine Pezzella said earlier Rooney wrote in the Sunday Times. environment for spectators, we’ll play,” Rooney said. Bereszynski on Saturday, along with Juventus de- on Instagram: “The symptoms disappeared and I am “For players, staff and their families it has been a “The next World Cup is in November and December fender Daniele Rugani this week. Vlahovic, 20, re- at home following the procedures indicated by my worrying week - one in which you felt a lack of leader- 2022, so you could actually use this situation as an op- vealed that he had not realised anything was wrong club’s medical staff. “This will certainly soon be just ship from the government and from the FA and Premier portunity and say we’re going to finish the 2019-20 until he became feverish and his temperature rose to another story. Look after your health and that of League. “After the emergency meeting, at last the right season later this year, then prepare for 2022 by having 39 degrees, and he went to hospital. those around you. Hugs.” — AFP decision was made - until then it almost felt like foot- the next two seasons starting in winter.” — AFP