March 2020 – Page 3 – Football Flame

Month: March 2020

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NEWS

Coronavirus: Vladimir Putin says Russia virus situation 'under control'

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - MARCH 17, 2020: Russia's President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with members of the Russian Government at Moscow's Kremlin.Russian President Vladimir Putin says the coronavirus outbreak in his country is “under control” as the China-generated pathogen continues to take a heavy toll across the world.“We were able to contain mass penetration and spread of the pandemic,” Putin said at a government meeting in Moscow on Tuesday. “The situation is generally under control despite high risk level.”The Russian president made the comments after touring a new coronavirus information center in the capital that had been built to spot empty supermarket shelves with surveillance cameras and to track quarantined citizens during the coronavirus crisis.Russian President Vladimir Putin sa...
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Copa America Postponed Until 2021

A screen displays the logo of the Copa America 2020 during the draw of the football tournament at the Convention Centre in Cartagena, Colombia, on December 3, 2019.The Copa America has been postponed until next year due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus.The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) announced the news on Tuesday afternoon.The 12-team tournament, which had originally been scheduled to take place from June 12 to July 12 in Colombia and Argentina, follows the Euro 2020 championship in being pushed back by a year with global sport being brought to a virtual standstill by the coronavirus outbreak."This is an extraordinary measure for an unexpected situation and responds to the fundamental need to avoid the exponential evolution of the virus," said CONMEBOL presi...
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TRANSFERS

QPR complete the signing of Danish striker Marco Ramkilde

Marco Ramkilde of AaB Aalborg in action during the Danish Alka Superliga match between AaB Aalborg and FC Nordsjalland at Nordjyske Arena on October 21, 2016 in Aalborg, Denmark.QPR have completed the signing of young Danish striker Marco Ramkilde on a free transfer, subject to international clearance.The 21-year-old – who has represented his country at U16, U17, U18 and U19 level – will work with the club’s U23s squad.Ramkilde has penned an 18-month contract, which commits him to the R’s until summer 2021 and he is looking forward to his opportunity in west London.“On the first day of my trial at QPR, it felt like the perfect match,” he told www.qpr.co.uk. “I know this is a club with a lot of history and it is a great opportunity for me.“I am looking forward to showing what I can do. I wa...
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Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez open to PSG move

Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City carries the ball to take a corner during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Sheffield Wednesday and Manchester City at Hillsborough on March 04, 2020 in Sheffield, England.Manchester City attacker Riyad Mahrez is open to a move away from the defending Premier League champions amidst reports of interest from French giants PSG, according to Calciomercato. The Algerian has been a key player for Pep Guardiola's side this season in the absence of Leroy Sane, but now 29, City are prepared to listen to offers for Mahrez. PSG have been courting the experienced winger, who has had a direct hand in 23 competitive goals for City this season. After City were handed a two-year ban from the Champions League, Mahrez is eager to continue plying his trade in...
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Manchester United set price for Newcastle to sign Phil Jones

Manchester United's Phil Jones during the training session at the Aon Training Complex, Manchester. Manchester United will allow Phil Jones to leave Old Trafford this summer – should a club match their £12million price tag for the defender. The 28-year-old has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford and is arguably fifth choice behind Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe. Jones was surprisingly handed a new four-year deal last February, a move sanctioned by Solskjaer shortly before he was named manager on a permanent basis.But Jones has started just two Premier League games this season and he’s unwilling to spend another season on the fringes at the Theatre of Dreams.Steve Bruce is keen on Jones and the reports claims the Newcastle boss wants to sign the def...
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Italy to ask for Euro 2020 postponement

SAINT-PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - 2020/02/27: Logo of UEFA Euro 2020 at a countdown clock to the tournament.Italy’s football federation will ask for the Euro 2020 tournament to be postponed over the coronavirus outbreak in the hope of being able to complete the Serie A season, its president said on Sunday.“We will propose to UEFA the delay of the European championship,” Gabriele Gravina told the Sport Media set television channel, adding that, like Serie A, other leagues around Europe were also on hold.“We will try to get to the end of this championship because it is fairer and more correct after the many investments and sacrifices of our clubs.”Top-flight football across Europe has ground to a halt as a result of the spread of the coronavirus, with national and continental club competitions susp...
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Barcelona Reportedly keen on Lazio defender Luiz Felipe

Luiz Felipe Ramos Marchi of SS Lazio in action during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and FC Internazionale at Stadio Olimpico on February 16, 2020 in Rome, Italy.Barcelona are reportedly pretty keen on Lazio defender Luiz Felipe who could cost around €20m, according to a report in Italy.The Corriere dello Sport (via Football Italia) reckon the 22-year-old has caught the eye of Barcelona scouts after a pretty fine season with the Serie A side.Lazio are currently second in the table in Italy, just a point behind leaders Juventus after 26 games played.Luiz has made 23 appearances in all competitions for Simone Inzaghi’s side who are unlikely to let him go without a fight.The report reckons he’s in talks about a new contract at the Stadio Olimpico because his current deal expires in 2022....
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Lionel Messi 'to spend $4million' to help get Ronaldinho out of jail

Lionel Messi of Barcelona congratulates Ronaldinho after he scored Barcelona's first goal during the La Liga match between Valladolid and Barcelona at the Jose Sorillo stadium on November 1, 2007 in Valladolid, Spain.Lionel Messi is preparing to put up $4million to help release Ronaldinho from Paraguayan jail following news of the Brazilian's arrest last week, according to reports.Ronaldinho, 39, was arrested by authorities for travelling with a fake passport, while he is also allegedly under investigation for additional crimes.The Brazil legend is thought to have travelled to the South American country on the invitation of a casino owner and was planning to take part in a children's soccer clinic and to launch his book 'Genius of Life'.After being taken by police, a judge denied Ronaldinh...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Report: Liverpool set to be awarded Premier League title if season ends

Head coach Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool FC looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and Atletico Madrid at Anfield on March 11, 2020 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.It was always going to take something completely extraordinary to deny Liverpool their first league title in so long this season, but the Coronavirus crisis almost delivered on that.It’s still not completely clear what will happen with many competitions around the world, but it seems there were genuine fears that the Premier League season would be written off and that would leave Liverpool without their title.That would’ve been extra cruel after they crashed out of the Champions League and FA Cup in recent weeks, while they also lost their unbeaten record so there was a danger that...
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NEWS

Europa League RESULTS: Manchester United hit five past LASK, Wolves draw at ten-man Olympiakos, Rangers lose

Daniel James of Manchester United celebrates scoring their second goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg match between LASK and Manchester United at Linzer Stadion on March 12, 2020 in Linz, Austria. The match is played behind closed doors as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).Manchester United took a big step towards the Europa League quarter-finals by thrashing Austrian side LASK Linz 5-0 on Thursday in their last 16 first-leg tie at an empty Linzer Stadium due to the coronavirus pandemic.Three other fixtures were also played behind closed doors, including Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 1-1 draw at 10-man Olympiakos.The match in Athens was given the go-ahead despite the Greek club’s owner Evangelos Marinakis saying earlier on Thursday he had contracted ...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi tests positive for coronavirus

Callum Hudson-Odoi of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Chelsea FC at The King Power Stadium on February 01, 2020 in Leicester, United Kingdom.Chelsea's players and coaching staff were ordered into isolation as Callum Hudson-Odoi became the first Premier League player confirmed to have the new coronavirus late on Thursday.The news casts the viability of this weekend's games further into doubt after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tested positive, also throwing their team into lockdown."Chelsea men's team player Callum Hudson-Odoi had a positive test result for coronavirus returned this evening," a club statement said."Chelsea personnel who had recent close contact with the player in the men's team building will now self-isolate in line with government health g...
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BUNDESLIGA

Emre Can: Former Juventus Midfielder Departed Because Of Maurizio Sarri

Emre Can of Borussia Dortmund controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes on March 11, 2020 in Paris, France. The match is played behind closed doors as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).Can returned to the Bundesliga with Dortmund, initially on loan for a fee of  €1 million (A$1.8m) and the transfer will become permanent if agreed parameters are met.The Germany international featured frequently for Juve under previous coach Massimiliano Allegri - 37 appearances in his first season - but found game time extremely hard to come by after Sarri took over."The main reason I left Juventus was because I wanted to play football again," the 26-year-old all-action mi...
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LALIGA

OFFICIAL: La Liga postpone 2019-2020 season due to coronavirus

A view of the LaLiga logo at a roofop viewing party of El Clasico on 01 March 2020.It’s now official. La Liga announced this Thursday that the next two weeks of the 2019-2020 season have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak in Spain. The suspension could go even further if needed.This decision was made after Real Madrid announced their quarantine following a basketball player testing positive for the virus a week after playing an Euro league game in Milan. The football and basketball teams use common facilities in Valdebebas.UEFA have not announced their decision about next week’s Champions League games and Real Madrid were set to face Manchester City in the return leg of the Round of 16. Considering that the whole squad is now in quarantine, it seems fairly obvious that UEF...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Jordan Henderson insists Liverpool will be inspired by pain from Atletico Madrid defeat as they push to win the Premier League title

Atletico Madrid's Angel Correa (left) and Liverpool's Jordan Henderson battle for the ball Liverpool v Atletico Madrid - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - Second Leg - Anfield 11-03-2020 .Jordan Henderson said Liverpool will use the heartbreak from their Champions League exit as fuel for their first ever Premier League title.He said after the painful defeat: “Tonight and tomorrow it will not feel nice, but we've got to use it and finish the season well. “We've got the derby next, so that's what the focus needs to turn to very quickly.”Only weeks ago, Liverpool were fighting for a historic treble but following defeats against Chelsea in the FA Cup and now Atletico, a league title is the only trophy remaining for what would still be a remarkable season for the club.The league has el...
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SERIE A

Juventus Player Tests positive for Coronavirus

Juventus player Daniele Rugani during a training session at JTC on March 10, 2020 in Turin, Italy.A player for Juventus, the Italian soccer champion, has tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, the club announced Wednesday, a worrisome development for a sport — and a country — struggling to contain the outbreak.The player, the 25-year-old defender Daniele Rugani, is believed to be the first athlete in Italy’s top division to test positive. The team said in a statement that Rugani was “currently asymptomatic,” but that the club was following isolation procedures required by law for him and anyone who has had contact with him.Rugani is not the first player in Europe to test positive for the disease — a German team, Hannover 96, confirmed earlier on Wednesday ...
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NEWS

Coronavirus: NBA season suspended after player tests positive

Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz reacts after dunking during the third quarter of the game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on March 06, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts.The NBA has put its season on hold after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for COVID-19.Utah’s game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City was called off moments before tip-off due to the confirmation of the positive test.Jazz player Rudy Gobert is understood to be the player to have tested positive.The NBA announced it would suspend the season until further notice."The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice," the league said in a statement."The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic."It c...
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FIFA reschedules Congress due to virus outbreak

Gianni Infantino is elected FIFA President for the 2019-2023 term of office during the 69th FIFA Congress at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles on June 5, 2019 in Paris, France.FIFA has pushed back its Congress to September from June due to the coronavirus outbreak, the world soccer body said on Wednesday. The 70th FIFA Congress will now be held on September 18 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.The FIFA official statement reads: “On account of the spread of COVID-19, numerous international bodies and public health authorities have advised against the organisation of international events. Concerns over the health and well-being of participants, as well as travel restrictions in many countries, have resulted in the cancellation or postponement of many such events in various parts of the world.“Mindfu...
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Chile to quarantine Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal

Chile's midfielder Arturo Vidal (R) and Chile's forward Alexis Sanchez smile during a training session at La Manga Club Football Centre in Cartagena on October 11, 2019 on the eve of the international friendly football match Chile vs Colombia.Chilean duo Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal will be quarantined when they return to the country ahead of their World Cup qualifier at home to Colombia on April 1.Sanchez will be returning to Chile from Inter Milan where the situation with coronavirus is severe, while Barcelona midfielder Vidal will be travelling from Spain, where there is also a growing outbreak of the virus.Chile's health minister Jaime Manalich told reporters on Tuesday of the precautions that will be in place given the global outbreak of coronavirus.Chile are due to face Uruguay in...
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Man United Reportedly lead the race to sign 23-year-old Bundesliga star

Denis Zakaria of Borussia Moenchengladbach looks on during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Moenchengladbach and TSG 1899 Hoffenheim at Borussia-Park on February 22, 2020 in Moenchengladbach, Germany.Manchester United are the frontrunners to sign Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria, according to a report in England.Sky Sports in Germany, as quoted by The Daily Star, is reporting that Manchester United are interested in a swoop for the 23-year-old at the end of the season.The same article states that Zakaria has been attracting interest from some top European clubs following his excellent form for the Bundesliga outfit this term.According to the same story, Manchester United’s bitter rivals Liverpool FC are interested along with Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and Bundesli...
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UCL

Josip Ilicic nets four as Atalanta reaches Champions league Quarters

Josip Ilicic of Atalanta scores his sides fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Valencia CF and Atalanta at Estadio Mestalla on March 10, 2020 in Valencia, Spain.Atalanta's Josip Ilicic scored four goals in a stunning individual display to lead them to a 4-3 Champions League round of 16, second-leg win over Valencia, that completed an 8-4 aggregate victory at an empty Mestalla on Tuesday.The Spanish side's stadium was shut to supporters as part of measures to stop the spread of coronavirus, with the visitors coming from a high-risk zone in the north of Italy.Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby conceded two penalties in the first half, both converted by Ilicic, either side of Kevin Gameiro's equaliser.Gameiro headed home a second and Ferran Torres ...
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