11 TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2020 sports

Benzema deepens France rift by ridiculing ‘go-kart’ Giroud AFP | Madrid (Kylian) Mbappe get seen more while he rolls his sleeves Cancel season if it’s not eal Madrid’s Karim Ben- up and does the dirty work. Rzema has mocked France “But does everyone like his striker Olivier Giroud by liken- game? I don’t know.” ing himself to a Formula One During the 2016 and 2017 car and Giroud a go-kart. seasons ahead of up Russia Benzema has not played 2018, Giroud scored 16 goals over by June, says Kane for France since 2015 and for France in 24 games. watched from afar as Giroud He also played every match Kane said extending Premier League would have a knock-on effect, impacting Euros, World Cup spearheaded the team’s World at the World Cup and although Cup triumph in Russia two he failed to find the target in AFP | London years ago. Russia, his team came home start of what would be the 2020- benefit in that. But obvi- this campaign once the current With over 500 appearanc- with the trophy. 21 season in August, as has been ously I don’t know too lockdown in Britain is over. es for Real Madrid and in his France coach Didier Des- ngland captain Harry suggested in some quarters. much about behind Kane does not think dragging 11th season with the Spanish champs has sidelined Benze- Kane said on Sunday the “I know the Premier League the scenes and finan- out the season will help anyone giants, no questions remain ma since a legal case in 2015. EPremier League season will do everything they can cially. though, especially if it delays the over Benzema’s playing skills. The case involving should be cancelled if it can - to finish the season, and that “Probably the limit next term. Asked about the Chelsea Benzema allegedly not be completed by the end of they are looking at every for me is the end of “The further this season is forward during a question trying to facilitate June because of the coronavirus option possible,” Kane June. If the sea- pushed on, it would have such and answer session on In- a scheme to black- pandemic. said in an Instagram son’s not com- a big knock-on effect for next stagram on Sunday night, mail fellow France The English top-flight is cur- Live conversation pleted by the season, with the Euros in 2021, Benzema said: “You can’t international rently suspended until at least with former Liv- end of June and even World Cup 2022. But confuse a Formula One Mathieu Valbuena April 30 due to the COVID-19 erpool star Jamie we need that’s just my opinion,” he said. car with a go-kart, over a compromis- outbreak, with a likely further Redknapp. to look “Football is secondary at the and I’m being ing private film on a delay to be announced soon. “I think, for at the moment. I know there still have kind. I know stolen mobile phone. There is no clear idea about me, we do need options to be plans in place, and I’m sure I’m a Formula The investigation when or if football will be able to to try to finish and just everyone is trying to do that. One car... is ongoing and Ben- resume, but Euro 2020 has been the season. But look for- “All that is out of my hands “It works zema is now waiting cancelled, which opens a win- there needs ward to next sea - though, there’s nothing I can do because to hear if he will face dow to bring domestic seasons to be a point where son.” personally, so from my point of he’s there, a criminal trial. to a conclusion in the summer. enough is enough. Premier League view we’ve just got to wait and that’s it. Benzema has scored But Tottenham striker Kane “Playing into July matches could po- see what happens. Hopefully It’s not 19 goals in 32 appearanc- does not want Premier League or August and push- tentially be staged this clears up as soon as possi- going to es for Real Madrid this chiefs to let the current cam- ing next season back behind closed doors ble, and we can try to get back be spec- season while Giroud paign go past June or even the I don’t see too much in a bid to complete to normal.” tacular. has largely been a back- Harry Kane (Antoine) up player for Chelsea, Griez- despite a decent run of mann and form in February. Serie A hits back Karim Benzema Mourinho to take Spurs training via at Italy sports minister over Rashford helps feed children video amid coronavirus lockdown ‘bubble’ remark Reuters | London during virus shutdown Reuters | Rome ottenham Hotspur manag- AFP | London Ter Jose Mourinho and his taly’s Serie A league has coaching staff will put play- Ihit back at the country’s anchester United for- ers through their paces from sports minister Vincenzo Mward Marcus Rashford I think when times are home starting this week as the Spadafora after he said the is working to get food to chil- tough it is important club holds live video training country’s top clubs were dren who rely on free school that two clubs who sessions amid the coronavirus living in a bubble and crit- meals after the coronavirus have a huge social pandemic. icised the millionaire sala- shutdown. following that we do Spurs’ players are in self-iso- ries of some players. The 22-year-old England come together and lation with Britain in lockdown The exchange came with international has teamed up and the Premier League sus- Serie A, like football around with charity FareShare to help make a difference pended until at least April 30. the rest of the world, at a children in the Manchester when things which are The players so far have been standstill because of the area after schools were closed. bigger than football working through their own in- coronavirus pandemic. Ita- And he revealed that his own happen. So credit to dividual training programmes ly is Europe’s worst-affected childhood had inspired him to both clubs, designed by the coaching and Jose Mourinho, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur looks on as his team train country with 10,779 deaths want to make a difference to MARCUS RASHFORD sports science teams, and Eng- during a training session (file photo) and a total of 97,689 con - the next generation. land midfielder Harry Winks firmed cases. “In the past I have done a lot positive.” said they were still adjusting to work later. The important thing Tottenham said both for- In an interview with the of work in regards to children Manchester United and the new routine. is to get it done.” wards will continue their indi- Rome-based newspaper and when I heard about the Manchester City have joined “It’s a bit strange for all of us, On Sunday, the club said it vidual rehabilitation and train- La Repubblica on Sunday, schools shutting down, I knew forces to donate to food banks but I’ve got my head around it,” gave Steven Bergwijn and Son ing programmes during their Spadafora said that sport that meant free meals for some in the area. Winks told the club’s website. Heung-min permission to re- time away. was not just about football kids that they are not getting at “I think when times are “We’ve all been given a sched- turn to their home countries. Bergwijn is recovering from and that he would propose school,” Rashford told the BBC. tough it is important that two ule, but it’s flexible, we can do it Son flew to South Korea for an ankle injury picked up spending 400 million euros “I remember when I was at clubs who have a huge social in our own time. personal reasons, while Bergwi- against Burnley earlier this ($443 million) to develop school I was on free meals following that we do come “So, for instance, I might have jn returned to the Netherlands month, while Son sustained a grass roots sport around the and my mum wouldn’t together and make a differ- a lie in one day, but then I’ll ahead of the birth of his child. broken arm last month. country. get home until around six ence when things which o’clock so my next meal are bigger than football would have been about 8 happen. So credit to both o’clock. I was fortunate, clubs,” Rashford said. and there are kids in Rashford was sidelined Xavi wants ‘total harmony’ to return to Barcelona as coach much more difficult with a back injury situations that don’t when the Premier AFP | Madrid Neymar would be a “spectacular “I am clear that I want to re- get their meals at League season was signing”, and singled out former turn to Barca, I am very excit- homes.” suspended earlier avi Hernandez has reiterat- Spain defender Carles Puyol ed,” said Xavi, who was asked Rashford said this month. Xed his desire to coach Bar- and the one-time Dutch winger if a change of board would be fundraising had The forward said he was celona in the future but suggests Jordi Cruyff as people he would needed for it to happen. “Obvi- gone well. making good progress but he will not return until a differ- like to work with. ously I would like to be in tune “We have got admitted he was missing ent board brings a new sense of Yet the relationship between with everyone,” he said. “In the to the £100,000 football. direction to the club. Barcelona’s board, led by pres- dressing room there can’t be a ($124,000) mark, “It’s just about patience,” Hernandez is in charge of Al- ident Josep Maria Bartomeu, negative or toxic atmosphere.” Al-Sadd’s coach Xavi is thrown into the which means he said. “I have been work- Sadd in Qatar and turned down and the players has remained “Everything has to fit,” Xavi air by players as they celebrate a win we get to feed ing hard on the bikes and an approach in January after tense, with Lionel Messi’s public added. “I would like to come in 400,000 chil- following the programme Barca sacked Ernesto Valverde, In an interview with Span- criticism of technical secretary with people from my environ- dren so it’s that I have been given which led to the surprise ap - ish newspaper La Vanguardia Eric Abidal among a number of ment that could form a good been very from the club. pointment of Quique Setien. published on Sunday, Xavi said off-field controversies. team.” Marcus Rashford