SPORT SPORTS | 06 SPORT | 07 DhoniD won't Don't rush to playpla for India restart La Liga, aagain, says Real Madrid Harbajan star Bale warns SATURDAY 25 APRIL 2020 China hints at 2030 ambitions with new stadiums AFP – SHANGHAI Metropolis Daily, calling it “a Chinese Super League new era for Chinese football”. (CSL) champions China is in the throes of a multi- Most will be used for the Guangzhou Evergrande billion-dollar splurge on new newly expanded 2021 Club last week began football stadiums, ramping up World Cup and the 2023 AFC ambitions to be a superpower Asian Cup, but President Xi construction on their in the sport and host a World Jinping has his eyes on the ¥12bn ($1.7bn) new home. Cup as early as 2030. biggest prize of all. The building spree is taking “I think China’s desire to Evergrande Group also place despite the coronavirus apply for the World Cup is very intends to build two more pandemic which has brought clear,” said Ji Yuyang, a jour- 80,000-seater stadiums much of the world to a stand- nalist for the Oriental Sports still, ravaging economies and Daily. in China. putting live sport on hold. Ji said it was a matter of But with the outbreak when, not if, China bids. The country will have receding in China, where it FIFA President Gianni A rendering at least 12 major new emerged in December, Chinese Infantino said in June that he of Guangzhou football stadiums two Super League (CSL) champions would welcome a Chinese bid Evergrande’s new years from now and most Guangzhou Evergrande last to stage the 2030 World Cup, 100,000-seat of them will be used for week began construction on the next one up for grabs. soccer stadium their ¥12bn ($1.7bn) new home. Guangzhou Evergrande’s the newly expanded 2021 in Guangzhou, Club World Cup and the With a capacity of 100,000, new stadium made headlines Guangdong province, 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the lotus flower-shaped because of its vast scale and China. stadium will for a time trump bold design. Barcelona’s Camp Nou -- which But it jarred because most is set for expansion -- as the sport in the world is shut down 50,000 for home matches spectators.” Most stadiums cur- stadium for CSL side Shanghai Professor Simon Chadwick world’s biggest football arena, and economies, including needs such a big arena. rently used by Chinese football SIPG is scheduled to be finished said that aside from China’s once it is completed by the end China’s -- the second largest -- “I think Evergrande may teams were built for multiple next year. World Cup aspirations, the rush of 2022. are reeling from coronavirus. have two considerations. First, sports. They are falling into dis- Shanghai Stadium, the on new stadiums sends a Evergrande Group, a major Moreover, Guangzhou is not a 100,000-seat stadium might repair and facilities for fans are biggest arena in the city and message that “China is devel- property developer founded by holding Asian Cup games and come in handy if China hosts a poor. SIPG’s former home, is also oping and becoming healthier one of China’s richest men, said the stadium will not be ready World Cup final or opening cer- Replacing them with undergoing major renovation. and stronger. it also intends to build two more for the Club World Cup, even emony,” said Ji. gleaming, football-specific Ji said that while the Ever- “There’s something about 80,000-seater stadiums in though the tournament is “Another point is that Ever- arenas fits with Xi’s master plan grande Group were likely the iconography and symbolism China. poised to be put back from the grande will be able to make a to transform the sport in the paying for Guangzhou’s new of the stadiums, particularly the The country will have at summer of 2021 because of the statement by saying that they country on and off the pitch. stadium, in some other Guangzhou development,” said least 12 major new football sta- pandemic. have the largest professional In Shanghai, which has instances it was a combination Chadwick, director of the Centre diums two years from now, said Critics also queried why a football stadium in the world, ambitions of holding the of the club and local for the Eurasian Sport Industry the state-run Southern club that averages about with the largest number of Olympics, a 33,000-seat government. at Emlyon Business School. Ministry wants Bundesliga players Players may lack fitness if to wear masks if action returns Bundesliga AFP – BERLIN resumes in May Germany’s ministry of labour wants footballers to wear masks as AFP – BERLIN protection against the coronavirus FIFA to give member if Angela Merkel’s government gives Footballers may not have the green light for the Bundesliga to enough time to get match fit if nations $150m of return next month. the German league resumes The German Football League next month amid the corona- (DFL) confirmed yesterday that they virus pandemic, warns virus relief funds are ready for the Bundesliga to Eintracht Frankfurt director AFP – LAUSANNE resume from May 9, albeit without Fredi Bobic. fans in stadiums and with strict “Should the politicians FIFA will release $150m to its member football asso- player hygiene measures in place. decide that we can play Bun- ciations to help handle financial troubles caused by The final decision will be made desliga football again, we will the coronavirus, the global governing body said by German Chancellor Merkel and need full team training again yesterday. state leaders, who are due to meet at some point,” Bobic, 48, a FIFA said that “all operational funding” for 2019 in Berlin on Thursday. former Germany striker, told and 2020 would be distributed amongst the 211 Germany has been less affected Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge broadcaster RTL. member associations in the next few days “as the first than other European countries by and Joerg Wacker wearing protective masks, made out of fan scarves, “You need at least 14 days, step of a relief plan to assist the football community the pandemic, but currently has 5,321 originally produced for the Bayern Munich vs Chelsea Champions League ideally about three weeks.” impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic”. deaths due to the virus. Bundesliga clubs have been match in this file photo. Each national governing body will receive According to magazine Spiegel, back in training for three $500,000, that FIFA says would normally be delivered the Federal Ministry for Labour has weeks, but so far only in small “upon fulfullment of specific criteria”, but will release drafted safety guidelines which “It’s an interesting idea, but, for quarantined in a hotel for the groups, observing social dis- those funds and any “remaining entitlement for 2019 include a recommendation that me, not one you can put into duration of the season amid hopes tancing and strict hygiene and 2020”. players and match officials wear a practice.” it can be completed in Germany by measures to reduce the risk of FIFA president Gianni Infantino said that the funds mask which would “not slip in Bayer Leverkusen’s medical June 30. infection. were the “first step of a far-reaching financial relief sprints, headers and challenges”. advisor Dr. Karl-Heinrich Dittmar Players have already given a Defending champions plan we are developing to respond to the emergency “Should the masks slip, the game says masks would not be necessary mixed response to the idea of being Bayern Munich were four across the whole football community”. must immediately be stopped”, as the league is planning to regularly isolated for the nine remaining points clear at the top of the “It is FIFA’s duty to be there and support the ones according to the draft, and because test players and club staff if the games of the season. table when the league season that are facing acute needs,” added Infantino. the masks would get wet fast due to league resumes. “I personally would find it was halted on March 13. “This starts by providing immediate financial exertion, they should be “replaced “Wearing a mask is uncom- extremely difficult to spend the next However, Bundesliga bosses assistance to our member associations, many of which every 15 minutes at the latest”. fortable, breathing is impeded,” said few weeks in a hotel and not be able said yesterday that they will be are experiencing severe financial distress.” The Bundesliga’s top clubs are Dittmar. to see my family,” Eintracht ready to resume from May 9. The funds come from the Forward 2.0 programme, sceptical. “This wouldn’t work in football, Frankfurt defender Danny da Costa The German Football which was launched in 2016 and will provide $1.746bn “You might be able sprint once but I don’t think it is necessary -- told reporters. League (DFL) still needs the in total over the 2019-2022 period. with a face mask on, but not several with testing, the risk of infection is However, Bayern Munich go-ahead from Angela Mer- Last month FIFA announced the creation of a times,” RB Leipzig’s sports director extremely low.” forward Thomas Mueller said being kel’s government and state football aid fund but it has since not given any addi- Markus Kroesche told daily paper Another suggestion in the min- placed in quarantine may be the only leaders, who will meet in tional details on its operation or scope. Bild. istry guidelines is that each team be way to get the season finished.