Gareth Southgate has defended his decision to pick players from Manchester City and Manchester United in his latest England squad despite prolonged campaigns for the two clubs. The England boss opted to call up players from the Etihad and Old Trafford for next month s Nations League fixtures away to Iceland and Denmark even though they featured in European club competitions in August. While Harry Maguire was removed from the squad after being given a suspended prison sentence in Greece, his United team-mates Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford are in the squad alongside City trio Kyle Walker, Phil Foden and Raheem Sterling. England s games come before the start of the new Premier League season, with both Manchester clubs given the opening weekend off after their long seasons. But Southgate is adamant there was no reason he should not have included players from the two teams in his own plans for next month. "If I was a club manager, I wouldn t be happy with this window where it is, for sure," he said on Tuesday. "I think they are two massive clubs with teams packed full of internationals who are used to dealing with these situations where their players go away. They accept probably better than any other clubs, or with less fuss than other clubs. "But everybody knows that this is a slightly unique period, not season but two seasons, really, so there is no ideal preparation for anybody." With a condensed 2020/21 fixture calendar leading into the postponed European Championship next summer, Southgate hinted a lack of winter break within the Premier League programme could be more of an issue than this international break. "I think the big concern for everybody will be where are we in December, January on everybody s load and what does that look like, no winter break for all of the clubs, which is surprising, really, given the context of the season and the number of games everybody s got to play," he said. "But resting a player in September is not going to resolve that issue, the issues are going to be later in the season."

The current season of the Egyptian Premier League will end by the end of October or the start of November, and there will be an interval of 10 days or two weeks ahead of the new season, chief executive of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) Walid El-Ataar revealed early on Tuesday. The prestigious domestic tournament usually ends in July, but this season it resumed in August after almost four months of suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic. Teams are yet to play 13 matches before ending the competition. “The interval between the current season and the new one [2020/2021] will be from 10 to 15 days,” the EFA official told ON Time Sports TV channel. “We are trying to play Egypt Cup matches in the empty days during this season. We are working hard to end the season perfectly,” he said. Title holders Ahly are firm favourites to win a fifth straight title since they top the table with 56 points after 21 games, 16 ahead of the nearest challengers, archrivals Zamalek.

There was something appropriate in the way that Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich celebrated his team’s Champions League triumph over Paris St Germain on Sunday. More than 90 minutes after the final whistle had blown on the 1-0 victory, Kimmich sat in the centre circle, in front of 65,000 empty seats at the Estadio da Luz, banging on a drum. It was not quite full-on social distancing - the full-back was joined in the middle of the field by team-mates Serge Gnabry and David Alaba - but it was poignant nonetheless. This has been a Champions League season that was stopped, like so many aspects of life, in March by the COVID-19 pandemic but which was completed in the Portuguese capital, albeit in highly unusual circumstances. Seven games in 11 days were played in two venues in Lisbon, culminating in Sunday’s final, but fans were not allowed into the stadiums with those present limited to a handful of team officials, security and medical staff and media. Somehow, despite the alien surrounds and the lack of anything resembling a football atmosphere, the players produced some memorable games with Bayern deservedly crowned European champions. “It has been an extreme challenge for us,” Aleksander Ceferin, president of European soccer’s governing body UEFA told Reuters before Sunday’s final. “The most challenging was everything connected to health and this virus which is spreading all around the world,” he said. “We try to control everybody, to be locked to be, separated from the rest of the world, but it is a huge task. That was the main challenge.” While players were kept in team hotels and training facilities, isolated from the outside world, UEFA carried out regular testing throughout the tournament and together with the Europa League, UEFA Youth League and Women’s Champions League, over 12,000 tests have been carried out. The Champions League final is supposed to be a festival of football though, a chance for fans to enjoy a weekend in a European city and celebrate their team’s success while partying night and day. But not even in a personal invite from the Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa could persuade more than a handful of supporters to travel to Lisbon for games they could not attend. “It is different, but today it is what we have to put up with in daily life, we have to adapt, but what is important is the love of the game that we have to preach and love for the team: Go Bayern!” said Jaice Domingues, a Brazilian living in Lisbon who was taking pictures next to the huge inflatable Champions League cup in the main Rossio square. Some fans from France waited at Paris St Germain’s hotel to try to raise their spirits when the team’s bus returned with the defeated players. Even amid his team’s celebration, Bayern coach Hansi Flick acknowledged the absent element to his team’s memorable sixth European Cup win. “What is missing are the fans. Maybe the future will bring games with fans again - this sport, or a stadium like this one here, simply deserves that”.

Ahly coach Rene Weiler admitted that he was disappointed to see his side succumb to a 3-1 loss to Zamalek in Saturday s Cairo derby in the Egyptian Premier League, but said he is not too worried over the team s African Champions League prospects. Both sides clashed on Saturday with an eye on the Champions League semis, where Ahly will meet Wydad and Zamalek will take on fellow Moroccan side Raja in the semi-finals next month. Although Ahly pinned Zamalek in their own half for long spells, the White Knights managed to make the most of some devastating counter attacks to claim a derby win in the league for only the third time in the last 15 years. "I m disappointed and unhappy, especially after we wasted some goal-scoring chances. But this is football; we have to move on and prepare for the coming matches," Swiss coach Weiler, under whom Ahly look destined to win a fifth consecutive league title, told the post-match news conference. "But I m not worried [over Ahly s prospects] in the African Champions League," he added. Zamalek took a 13th-minute lead after surviving some early Ahly pressure, with winger Ahmed Zizo firing into an empty net after brilliant individual work from Moroccan winger Achraf Bencharki on the left. Ahly s central defender Yasser Ibrahim, at fault for Zamalek s opener after letting Bencharki skip past him, made up for the mishap to bring the Red Devils level two minutes past the hour mark, finding the net following a goal-mouth scramble. However, he was again overpowered as striker Mostafa Mohamed restored Zamalek s advantage in superb fashion, chesting a cross from Hazem Emam despite being closely marked by Ibrahim, swiveling and hitting an unstoppable volley into the bottom corner. Just as Ahly appeared close to leveling the score again after mounting a late onslaught, youngster Osama Faisal, who came on as a substitute in the final stages, slotted home into an empty net three minutes into the additional time to round off another breakaway and wrap up Zamalek s win. "We changed our strategy after falling behind in the first half but were not lucky enough," Weiler added. Ahly remain top of the table with 56 points, enjoying a comfortable 14-point lead over second-placed Zamalek.

The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) has said that Croatian referee Ivan Bebek will officiate Saturday s anticipated Cairo derby between Ahly and Zamalek in the 21st round of the Egyptian Premier League. The 43-year-old will be assisted by Goran Pataki and Ivica Modric and Fran Jovic as fourth official. Goran Gabrilo will serve as VAR referee, assisted by Tomislav Petrovic. Bebek is familiar with Egyptian football, having supervised a 2007 derby in the Egyptian Premier League. In that game, Ahly defeated Zamalek with a single goal. He was also one of the referees of the FIFA U-20 World Cup which Egypt hosted in 2009, refereeing a group-stage game between the hosts and Paraguay. Defending champions Ahly currently sit at the top of the league table, 17 points above second-placed Zamalek. The match will take place at Cairo International Stadium.

Barcelona have appointed Ronald Koeman as their next coach, the club said in a statement on Wednesday, as the Catalans look to rebuild after their 8-2 thrashing by Bayern Munich in the Champions League last week. Koeman, who has left his role as manager of the Netherlands, has signed a two-year-deal with Barcelona, who sacked Quique Setien on Monday after he presided over the club s worst defeat ever in European competition. Koeman, who will be officially presented at the Camp Nou stadium later on Wednesday, is dearly loved at Barca for his role in Johan Cruyff s hugely successful side known as the Dream Team and for scoring the goal that delivered the club s first ever European Cup in 1992. The defender later became the club s assistant coach before embarking on a career as a head coach, managing Dutch sides Ajax Amsterdam, PSV Eindhoven and Feyenoord plus Premier League sides Southampton and Everton and La Liga s Valencia. "Barcelona and Ronald Koeman have come to an agreement for him to be the team s coach until 30 June 2022," said Barca s statement. "A club legend and Barca s hero at Wembley who gave fans their first European Cup, Koeman is coming back to the Camp Nou. But this time he will be in the dugout to lead the team."

Defending champions Ahly returned to winning ways on Monday with a 3-0 win over struggling Aswan to boost their confidence before next weekend s Cairo derby against Zamalek. Angolan winger Geraldo broke the deadlock as early as the 9th minute while veteran forward Walid Soliman and Aliou Badji secured the points of the game late in the second half on minutes 83 and 94 respectively. The victory extends Ahly s unbeaten run this season as they claimed their 18th victory in 20 games and bring back some calm to the Red Devils who had a frustrating week. A week that saw them drop rare points against El-Entag El-Harby (1-1) and off the pitch controversies including a shocking rejection from star winger Ramadan Sobhi to extend his stay and disciplinary decision to axe departing keeper Sherif Ekrami for social media comments. Ahly had a promising start of the game and looked determined to quickly score an opening goal. They eventually got what they deserved after only nine minutes when an excellent cross by Mohamed "Afsha" Magdi was met by Geraldo to head home from point blank to make amend for an earlier miss. The Cairo giants seemed the better side but a string of injuries made things difficult for Ahly as the game progressed. Defender Mahmoud Metwalli left in tears after 23 minutes with a knee injury while winger Ahmed El Sheikh had also to leave just before the break with a foot injury. The first half became less entertaining and lacked creativity. However both sides struck the woodwork in the first half. Aswan s forward Mostafa El-Badry latched onto a long ball to break the offside trap and send the ball past keeper Mohamed El Shennawy only to be denied by the post. At the other end Afsha s shot struck both uprights following an excellent combination with Ahmed Fathi and Amr El-Sulaya. After the interval Aswan upped their game though they still barely created any danger. But with their visitors moving forward in an attempt to get the equalizer, Ahly exploited their spaces at the back. Second half substitute Walid Soliman put the game beyond doubt with a powerful strike from inside the box while Senegalese striker Badji completed the rout with a powerful shot just from the edge of the area after being set up by an excellent back heel from El Sulaya. Just before the end of the game Geraldo has been limped off with a muscle strain to add to Ahly s injury woes before next Saturday clash against Zamalek.

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said that he plans to strengthen his squad ahead of next season following a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals in Cologne on Sunday. Having already fallen twice at the semi-finals stage in cup competitions this season, United were looking to go one better by reaching Friday’s Europa League final. And they looked to be on course to do just that after Bruno Fernandes converted their 22nd penalty of the season in the ninth minute in the RheinEnergieStadion. However, goals from Spanish winger Suso and former Newcastle United striker Luuk de Jong ensured five-time Europa League winners Sevilla will face either Inter Milan or Shakhtar Donetsk in the final, while ensuring United finish the season trophyless. “I cannot say when or if transfers are going to be done, but we are looking at it,” Solskjaer said. “It is a quick turnaround (until the start of the new season). We just have to be 100% sure when we do those deals. “The players worked so hard, showed the right mentality, but we need to strengthen the squad depth, of course. It will be a long season.” Missed chances cost United against Sevilla, whose goalkeeper Bono was in inspired form. Over the course of United’s quarter-final against FC Copenhagen and their semi-final on Sunday they had 46 shots but managed just two goals — both penalties. “The keeper’s had a fantastic game,” Solskjaer added. “Of course it’s disappointing that we don’t score. We know we have players who have the quality to score, but that’s the game. “When you don’t take your chances, it’s going to be hard.” Sevilla have reached their sixth UEFA Cup/Europa League final - at least twice more than any other side in the history of the competition - with the victory over United taking them to 20 games unbeaten in all competitions. “This is the best Manchester United of the last few years and the form team in England, so it is normal that we had to suffer,” said Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui. “This was a team effort. If you beat a team like United in a semi-final, you have to do it as a unit. That’s what we did tonight. I’m really proud of my team. “We are very excited for the final, but it will be the hardest game yet and we have to prepare.”

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne was named the Premier League Player of the Season on Sunday, becoming just the third Belgian to win the award for the league s top performer. The 29-year-old set up 20 goals in the 2019-20 campaign, equalling the record for most assists in a Premier League season set by Arsenal striker Thierry Henry in 2002-03. He also scored a personal best 13 goals but was unable to help City defend their top-flight crown, with Pep Guardiola s side finishing 18 points behind champions Liverpool. De Bruyne beat Liverpool trio Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Southampton striker Danny Ings, Leicester City s Golden Boot winner Jamie Vardy and Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope to the award. De Bruyne s former City team mate Vincent Kompany and ex-Chelsea winger Eden Hazard are the two other Belgians to win the accolade. Alexander-Arnold was named Young Player of the Season earlier this week, while Juergen Klopp won the Manager of the Season award.

Lionel Messi might never have been faced with a more daunting task at Barcelona than engineering a victory against Bayern Munich in Lisbon on Friday. The only surviving former winners of European club football s greatest prize -- with five titles each -- meet in a heavyweight Champions League quarter-final behind closed doors at the Estadio da Luz. It is not often that Messi s Barcelona come into such a big European tie as the underdogs, but they have this time, with Quique Setien s team having lost out to Real Madrid in the Spanish title race while Bayern appeared flawless on the way to winning a German league and cup double. Messi is now 33, yet Barcelona appear more reliant on him than ever. He scored twice against Bayern in the quarter-finals in 2009 when Barcelona went on to win the Champions League under Pep Guardiola. He hit four against Arsenal the following year and five against Bayer Leverkusen in 2012 but on both occasions, Barca were favourites. Messi also sank Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2011 when his double in the first leg of the semi-final, including one of the finest goals the competition has ever seen, transcended a rivalry that had been dragged to its ugliest point. And he was part of perhaps the tournament s greatest comeback, the 6-1 destruction of Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 after Barcelona lost 4-0 in the first leg of that last-16 tie. Yet this time threatens to be different. With Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann alongside him, Frenkie de Jong and Sergio Busquets behind him and Jordi Alba out wide, Messi should not be on his own. Even in defence, Gerard Pique still has a claim to be the best defender in La Liga and Marc-Andre ter Stegen is among the most impressive goalkeepers in the world. "Bayern are playing really well and are full of confidence but we have the weapons to beat them," Griezmann told Barca TV. - Isolated Argentine - But the sense remains that Messi must perform if Barcelona are to defeat Bayern, widely seen as the favourites to lift the trophy on August 23, at the end of the express knock-out tournament in Lisbon. It will take something very special not only to lift his own team out of the doldrums but also to neutralise an opponent that many believe are the most complete side in Europe. Barcelona therefore must first of all hope that Messi shows no ill effects from the ankle knock he suffered in last weekend s last-16, second-leg win over Napoli -- he has been back training normally. The Catalans should certainly wonder how it got to this point, given they spent more than 500 million euros ($590m) over the last three seasons, bringing in players that should have complemented, not isolated, the Argentine. The worry is that Bayern might not just beat Barcelona at the Estadio da Luz, but humiliate them. If they do, Setien is likely to pay with his job, even if he only took over as coach in January, replacing Ernesto Valverde, who was also unable to shake this current crop into life. The alternative is a statement performance that vindicates Setien, establishes him for next season and sends Barcelona into the semi-finals with the kind of momentum that could even take them all the way. "We have to be optimistic, we are in good shape," said Setien after the Napoli game. However, it would be a surprise to see Barcelona go on and lift the trophy, and it seems unthinkable they could do it without an intervention from Messi, who must be wondering too how the club that won the treble five years ago have come to rely on him so completely. The challenge is not beyond Messi. But Barcelona must know he deserves more.

Qualifying matches in Asia for the 2022 Qatar World Cup have been postponed until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic, world governing body FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation said in a statement on Wednesday. The second round of Asian qualifiers were originally scheduled to take place during the international windows in October and November but they would not go ahead due to the “COVID-19 situation in many countries”. It marks the second time the qualifiers, which also serve as the road to the 2023 Asian Cup in China, have been pushed back as matches in March and June were also postponed due to the pandemic. “With the aim of protecting the health and safety of all participants, FIFA and the AFC will continue to work together to closely monitor the situation in the region and to identify new dates for the respective qualifying matches,” the statement said. “Further details on the new dates for the next round of qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and the AFC Asian Cup 2023 will be announced in due course.” The AFC also suspended its elite club competition, the Asian Champions League (ACL), in early March because of the virus. Qatar will be the regional hub for matches in West Asia when the ACL resumes on Sept. 14. Malaysia was named the centralised hub in East Asia with matches in the region due to restart in October.

The Scottish Premiership matches of champions Celtic and Aberdeen will be postponed due to breaches of Scotland s strict coronavirus quarantine rules in a "yellow card" to the sport, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Tuesday. Sturgeon warned that clubs would put the new season in jeopardy if they failed to respect the rules. Celtic s game with St Mirren on Wednesday will not go ahead after Belgian defender Boli Bolingoli admitted he had failed to observe quarantine protocols after a trip to Spain. Anyone returning to Scotland from Spain must spend two weeks in quarantine. Bolingoli, 25, played in the 1-1 draw with Kilmarnock on Sunday, the team s second match of the season. The Scottish government is already furious at eight Aberdeen players who visited a bar last week. Two of them subsequently tested positive, forcing the postponement of last Saturday s game with St Johnstone. Aberdeen s home game with Hamilton on Wednesday is now off as well and Saturday s match between Celtic and Aberdeen has also been postponed. - Yellow card - Sturgeon said Bolingoli s case was a "flagrant breach of the rules." "As a minimum, you should not be expecting to see Aberdeen and Celtic play over the course of the coming week and we ll see what the other conclusions are," said Sturgeon. Sturgeon -- whose administration by coincidence held talks with Premiership managers and captains on Monday -- issued a thinly-veiled threat. "Consider today the yellow card. Next time it will be the red card because you will leave us with absolutely no choice." Although Bolingoli apologised for his behaviour, Celtic did not hide their fury in a statement released later on Tuesday, saying: "It is difficult to imagine a more irresponsible action in current circumstances." Bolingoli apologised to his manager, teammates, supporters "and so many others for letting them down so badly". "I am guilty of a major error of judgement," the 25-year-old added. "I know what I did was wrong and I know that I must now deal with the consequences." Celtic said Bolingoli would feel the full force of their disciplinary procedures. "Celtic unreservedly condemns and apologises for the behaviour of the player Boli Bolingoli in travelling to Spain without informing the club and in failing to observe quarantine restrictions," the club said. "It is difficult to imagine a more irresponsible action in current circumstances and we find it beyond explanation. "The club will take immediate action through our own disciplinary procedures. "Celtic are in touch with every SPFL club today, and with all relevant authorities, to apologise for the fact that one of our employees has created so much additional difficulty through his actions." Celtic manager Neil Lennon said he was "absolutely livid" at what he called "a total betrayal of trust." Steven Gerrard, manager of Celtic s bitter rivals Rangers, said the message coming out of the talks with the administration had been crystal clear about clubs responsibilities. He said the "severity" of the warnings had shown "how important it is that everyone behaves in the right way". "And it is a concern and a worry because if mistakes continue to happen, there is no doubt about it, the football season will be cancelled and that s not what I want or what anyone wants at Rangers, or throughout Scottish football."

Monday s Egyptian Premier League match between Masry and Harras El-Hodoud has been postponed indefinitely after 16 Masry members tested positive for coronavirus, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) announced. "Amid attempts to play the match on time, scans on Monday morning revealed that 12 cases of Masry team members are still testing positive for coronavirus. The EFA board decided to postpone the match due to limited time," reads a stament by the EFA. On Sunday, the Port-Said based club announced that 12 players and four members of the technical staff tested positive for coronavirus after they took PCR tests during a training camp in Alexandria. Masry s management asked the EFA to postpone the game, but the governing body initially turned down their request and blamed the club for the infections. "The EFA managment decided that league matches would only be postponed in the future if 10 players of one team test positive for the coronavirus. The board also asks all teams to follow all the precautionary messures for the safety of their players and technical staff members in order to keep the competition going," the EFA s Monday statment added. Masry are the second team to confirm more than a dozen coronavirus cases after El-Entag El-Harby, who had their match against FC Masr rescheduled after 19 players and non-playing staff had tested positive. After being given the green light by the government to resume the league competition, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) ordered all clubs to run PCR tests ahead of every game. The domestic competition restarted on Thursday after a five-month hiatus due to the pandemic. Masry had their latest PCR tests after Thursday s 1-0 loss to Zamalek. Almost three dozen cases were discovered at several clubs, although all of the infected members only had mild symptoms. Holders Ahly are leading the league table with 49 points after playing 17 matches, 16 points over second placed Arab Contractors, who played one game more. Masry lie in tenth place with 20 points from 17 matches.

Sixteen coronavirus cases were detected at Egyptian Premier League club Masry after they ran PCR tests during a training camp in Alexandria, the Port-Said based club announced on Sunday. "12 players and four members of the technical staff tested positive for coronavirus," Masry s football director Abdel-Zaher El-Saqqa told Egyptian media. The announcement came one day before Masry s scheduled league game against Haras El-Hodoud on Monday. The match is now likely to be postponed. Masry are the second leg to confirm more than a dozen coronavirus cases after El-Entag El-Harby, who had their match against FC Masr rescheduled after 19 players and non-playing staff had tested positive. After being given the green light by the government to resume the league competition, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) ordered all clubs to runPCR tests ahead of every game. The domestic competition restarted on Thursday after a five-month hiatus due to the pandemic. Masry had their latest PCR tests after Thursday s 1-0 loss to Zamalek. Almost three dozen cases were discovered at several clubs, although all of the infected members only had mild symptoms. Holders Ahly are leading the league table with 49 points after playing 17 matches, 16 points over second placed Arab Contractors, who played one game more. Masry lie tenth with 20 points from 17 matches.

Serie A club Inter Milan have signed forward Alexis Sanchez on a permanent three-year deal from Manchester United, both clubs confirmed on Thursday. British media reported that United had cut their losses and terminated the Chilean s contract to get him off their books. Sanchez had signed with Inter on loan at the start of the 2019-20 season following a disappointing spell at United where he scored only five goals in 45 matches. "Everyone at Manchester United wishes Alexis Sanchez all the best in his future career as he joins Inter Milan on a permanent transfer," United said in a statement. United had been looking to offload the 31-year-old who earns around 390,000 pounds ($513,552) a week according to British media, with Inter agreeing to pay less than half his wages when they signed him on loan. United had signed the Chile international in January 2018 after he netted 80 goals in 3-1/2 years at Arsenal, but he failed to reach those heights at Old Trafford under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The former Barcelona man had said last year that he had no regrets about joining United but wished he had played more minutes, even as fans were left frustrated by his performances and lack of goals. While he did not return to his prolific best at Inter, scoring only four Serie A goals this season, he did turn provider to top the club s charts with eight assists as they finished runners-up behind Juventus. United are already working towards signing Sanchez s replacement, with the club being linked with Borussia Dortmund s promising 20-year-old forward Jadon Sancho who could cost the Premier League side around 100 million pounds.

After much debate over whether it s viable to resume the Egyptian Premier League, the domestic competition comes back to life on Thursday following a five-month hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic. The league has been suspended since mid-March with just half the matches played, leaving many clubs puzzled as to how the season could be completed without disrupting the next edition, which normally starts in October at the latest. The current season will now last until October at least but the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) said it will make sure no further disruptions will occur in the following season. "The coming season must end by 30 June because Egypt will take part in the Olympics," the head of the EFA s competitions committee Hossam El-Zanati said, referring to the 2020 Tokyo Games that was delayed to next year because of the pandemic. "I hope the Egyptian national team would not have any commitments during FIFA s international match calendar in October, so that we can finish the league in time." Despite the initial opposition of a handful of clubs, including Cairo s popular club Zamalek, who went as far as threatening to withdraw from the competition, the EFA insisted that restarting the league was a "state decision." But the governing body said the health and safety of players and staff was a priority, introducing a raft of precautionary measures and warning clubs that any failure to comply would have dire consequences. Every club have run several rounds of PCR tests before the league s resumption, with more than three dozen cases detected. Further tests will be carried out before the start of every round. Although all of those who tested positive only had mild symptoms, one case was particulary alarming. At a single club, El-Entag El-Harby, 19 coronavirus cases were detected, prompting the EFA to postpone their opening game against FC Masr and issue a stern warning to other clubs. "We cannot expect any similar outbreaks at other clubs because El-Entag s case has its own circumstances and was dealt with in this context," the EFA said in a statement. "However, the discovery of such a big number of infections at one club is considered medical negligence … responsibility lies on every club to implement all precautionary measures to ensure the safety of everyone. "Otherwise, clubs could be subject to severe sanctions, like what happened in other countries that witnessed similar outbreaks." On the pitch, runaway leaders Ahly are destined to win a fifth straight title. The Red Devils sit top of the table on 49 points, 16 ahead of nearest challengers Arab Contractors, who played a game more. For Ahly s perennial rivals Zamalek, the priority would be finishing second and earning an African Champions League spot. They lie fourth with 31 points, two behind Arab Contractors, who played two matches more. The league will restart with a rescheduled match between Zamalek and Masry on Thursday. The game will be played behind closed doors.

Nearly 10 years after Fenway Sports Group took over Liverpool, owner John W. Henry said that he could not be prouder of the club after they won their first top flight league title for 30 years. Liverpool claimed the Premier League title in June with seven games to spare after the season resumed following a three-month suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Juergen Klopp, the Anfield club had won their sixth Champions League crown last season but Henry said getting their hands on the league title for a 19th time was the icing on the cake. "It was a long time coming," Henry told the club website here "I just want to say (to the supporters) that you ve waited a long time for this ... this really feels sort of like the gift that keeps on giving. “Every day I get up, it’s front and centre that we won (in) England finally. “So, that’s my wish for you, that every morning you get up for the next, as long as you can accomplish it, think about what we accomplished this year in Europe, England and I hope you feel as proud as I do.” Henry, whose Fenway Sports Group took over Liverpool in October 2010, also praised Klopp for his role in the club’s success. “I could go on and on about Juergen and how his heart is larger than his frame, how his enthusiasm affects all of us positively every day,” the 70-year-old American businessman said. “But I think what’s important is he is determined every day to do the right thing, whether it’s with regard to what happens on the pitch, whether it’s regard to nutrition for the club... and that rubs off.”

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Monday the final dates and venues of both the semis and final of the Confederation Cup and Champions League after being approved by the CAF Emergency Committee. The CAF revealed that the African Confederation Cup semi-final matches will be played as previously determined on 22 September, while the final will be on 27 of the same month and all games will be behind closed doors. On 29 July, the African football governing body announced that the Confederation Cup semis will be held in a one-leg format; unlike the Champions League semifinals that will be played in the original two-leg format. According to CAF’s statement on Monday, the first match of the Confederation Cup between Egypt’s Pyramids FC and Guinea’s Horoya will be played at Mohammed V Complex stadium, Casablanca. The second match between Morocco’s RS Berkane and Morocco’s HUSA will be at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat. The prestigious tournament final will be played at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium; however, all matches will be played behind closed doors. The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) previously asked the CAF to apply the same format of the final stages to both the Champions League and Confederations Cup to ensure fair play. The CAF Champions League semifinals include two teams from Egypt and two teams from Morocco, as Ahly faces Wydad Casablanca while Zamalek will play against Rajaa Casablanca. Regarding the Champions League, no changes were made to the dates and Venues announced by the CAF on 29 July. The first leg matches will be played in Morocco on 25 and 26 September, and the second leg matches will be hosted by Cairo on 2 and 3 October. The final match of the continental club tournament will take place on 16 or 17 October, but under certain conditions determined by the CAF. If Ahly and Zamalek win their semifinal games, the final will be held in Cairo, and if Wydad and Rajaa defeat the Cairo giants, then the final will be held in Morocco. If the final includes a team from each country, the game will be hosted by a neutral venue. The CAF started receiving bids from the countries who want to host the African Champions League final starting Wednesday until 7 August. All continental sports activities have been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, including the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, which were originally scheduled to be played on 1 May.

Manchester City struggle to prevent the best teams from scoring against them and their central defenders could be targeted in Friday s Champions League clash against Spanish champions Real Madrid, former England skipper Wayne Rooney said. Pep Guardiola s City lead Real after they won the away leg of their last-16 tie 2-1 in March, before Europe s elite club competition was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rooney, who won the competition with Manchester United in 2008, said City have their best opportunity yet to lift the trophy for the first time. "City may never have a better chance to win the Champions League," Rooney wrote in his column for the Sunday Times. "Sergio Ramos is suspended which is a huge loss to the Real defence and I think City will score. Whether they are solid enough at the back themselves is my only question. "Real will target their centre halves and it s a worry that this season every other (Premier League) Big Six club beat City... This shows Guardiola s team can struggle to keep the best sides out." Rooney said he expected Real to allow City to dominate possession and then aim to hit them on the counter. "I saw Zinedine Zidane do it in his first spell as Real coach when he played against Guardiola-style teams in big games, and it brought him successes," Rooney added. "Yet my money is still on City. They don t have to chase the game. They don t have to score. They can even afford to lose 1-0 and go through, and in the first leg they surprised Madrid by sitting in themselves. "It was the first time I ve seen Guardiola play like that and I ve a feeling he ll do the same at the Etihad. It could be a game of cat-and-mouse."

Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis said on Thursday that the Italian club s Champions League last 16, second leg game against Barcelona should be moved from Spain where there is a new wave of coronavirus cases. "I hear a lot of perplexity and fear coming from Spain and they acting as if nothing is wrong. What does it take to say, Don t go to Barcelona but rather go to Portugal, Germany or Geneva ?" De Laurentiis told journalists. Barcelona are due to host Napoli on August 8 in the Camp Nou with both sides 1-1 after the first leg in Naples in February, with the winner going on to the quarter-finals in Lisbon, Portugal. "It they have decided that the Champions League is in Portugal and the Europa League in Germany, I think we can go to Portugal or Germany for the round of 16, I don t understand why we should stay in a city that presents major problems."

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Wednesday that the African Champions League semifinals will be played in the original two-leg format instead of the one-leg format that had previously been approved by the CAF, while the Confederation Cup will be held in the one-leg format. The CAF Champions League semifinals include two teams from Egypt and two teams from Morocco, as Ahly faces Wydad Casablanca while Zamalek will play against Rajaa Casablanca. The CAF decided that the first leg matches will be played in Morocco on 25 and 26 September, and the second leg matches will be hosted by Cairo on 2 and 3 October. The final match of the continental club tournament will take place on 16 or 17 October, but under certain conditions determined by the CAF. If Ahly and Zamalek win their semifinal games, the final will be held in Cairo, and if Wydad and Rajaa defeat the Cairo giants, then the final will be held in Morocco. If the final includes a team from each country, the game will be hosted by a neutral venue. The CAF announced that they will start receiving bids from the countries who want to host the African Champions League final starting Wednesday until 7 August. Confederation Cup Meanwhile, the Confederation Cup will be hosted by Morocco after the CAF announced that the semifinals will be held on 22 September, while the final will take place at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on 27 September. The CAF has decided that the semifinals will be played in the one-leg format as Egypt’s Pyramids FC will face Guinea’s Horoya at Mohamed V Stadium, while the two Moroccan sides Nahdat Berkane and Hassania Agadir will meet each other at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. All continental sports activities have been suspended since March due to the coronavirus pandemic, including the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup, which were originally scheduled to be played on 1 May.