NEWS – Page 85 – Football Flame

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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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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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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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Ronaldinho arrested in Paraguay over fake passport claims

Brazilian retired football player Ronaldinho (C) arrives at Asuncion's Justice Palace to testify about his irregular entry to the country, in Asuncion, on March 6, 2020. - Former Brazilian football star Ronaldinho and his brother have been detained in Paraguay after allegedly using fake passports to enter the South American country, authorities said Wednesday.Retired footballer Ronaldinho has been arrested in Paraguay after authorities said he entered the country with falsified documents.The 39-year-old Brazilian and his brother, Roberto Assis, were taken to a police station in Asuncion shortly before 10pm on Friday, Paraguay’s prosecutors office said in a statement.Ronaldinho’s lawyer Sergio Queiroz confirmed the arrest and said his legal team in Paraguay has filed an injunction to releas...
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Yuri breaks Granada's hearts to set up all-Basque final

Yuri Berchiche of Athletic Bilbao celebrates scoring his team's goal during the Copa del Rey Semi Final second leg match between Granada CF and Athletic Club at Nuevo Los Carmenes on March 05, 2020 in Granada, Spain.Athletic Club are through to the Copa del Rey on away goals after a late strike from Yuri Berchiche broke Granada hearts in the teams’ semi-final second leg at Los Carmenes on Thursday.The Basques took a slender 1-0 lead into this match after Iker Munian’s strike separated the sides at San Mames three weeks ago and it looked like Gaizka Garitano’s side might pay for their poor finishing in Bilbao as Granada too the lead early in the second half.Darwin Machis crossed from the left and Carlos Fernandez glanced a superb header past Unai Simon to level the tie after 48 minutes and ...
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Odion Ighalo scores twice to fire Manchester United into FA Cup quarters

Odion Ighalo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 0-3 during the FA Cup Fifth Round match between Derby County and Manchester United at Pride Park on March 5, 2020 in Derby, England.Odion Ighalo scored twice in Manchester United’s 3-0 win over Derby County on Thursday night as we booked our place in the FA Cup quarter-final, where we’ll face Norwich away.All the talk before the game was about United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney, who now has the role of player/coach at Derby, but it was Ighalo who stole the plaudits.With Marcus Rashford ruled out for much of the remainder of the season, Ighalo was the surprise January signing from China, but to his credit, he’s done well in the limited appearances he’s had. With three goals in two starts, he’s picking up ...
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Gelson Martins handed six-month ban for pushing referee

Gelson Martins #11 of Monaco moves in to push referee Mikael Lesage after receiving a red card during the Nimes V Monaco, French Ligue 1, regular season match at Stade des Costieres on February 1st 2020, Nimes, France.Monaco winger Gelson Martins has been suspended for six months by the French league after pushing a referee during a game last month.The 24-year-old Portugal international shoved Mikael Lesage in the chest, moments after the referee had sent off his teammate Tiemoe Bakayoko during a 3-1 loss at Nimes on Feb. 1.Martins was also sent off by Lesage, and had been provisionally suspended.But the French league's disciplinary committee made his suspension permanent “for an act of brutality” after its weekly meeting on Thursday.
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Real Sociedad Beat Mirandes, Advance to 2020 Spanish Copa del Rey Final

Mickael Malsa of CD Mirandes competes for the ball with Mikel Oyarzabal of Real Sociedad during the Copa del Rey semifinal 2nd leg match between Mirandes and Real Sociedad at Estadio Municipal de Anduva on March 04, 2020 in Miranda de Ebro, Spain.Real Sociedad became the first club to book their place in the final of the Spanish Copa del Rey knockout competition for the first time in 32 years after a 1-0 win away to second division Mirandes on Wednesday night.Mikel Oyarzabal's first half penalty gave the side from San Sebastian a win on the night and made good their 2-1 win from the first leg to give them a 3-1 triumph on aggregate.There was little two choose between the two sides in the first half, with neither team allowing the other space in midfield. The best chance was for Real Socied...
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Mbappe hat-trick fires PSG into French final

Kylian MBAPPE of PSG celebrates after putting his side 5-1 ahead during the French Cup semi-final between Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint Germain on March 4, 2020 in Lyon, France. Kylian Mbappe hit a hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain cruised into the final of the French Cup with a thumping 5-1 win at Lyon on Wednesday.The World Cup winner took his goal tally in all competitions to 30 during a win that was eased by Fernando Marcal being sent off just before Neymar put the French champions ahead in the 64th minute from the penalty spot.The defeat Lyon ends a five-match unbeaten run that included an impressive 1-0 win over Juventus in the Champions League and the weekend's triumph over local rivals Saint-Etienne.Mbappe equalized for the away side with a simple tap-in just three minutes...
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FA Cup Results:Man City and Leicester advance to quarter-finals, Tottenham knocked out by Norwich City on penalties

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero (centre) and Sheffield Wednesday's Joey Pelupessy (right) battle for the ball Sheffield Wednesday v Manchester City - FA Cup - Fifth Round - Hillsborough 04-03-2020 . Manchester City won a 20th consecutive domestic cup tie to move into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday as Tottenham crashed out on penalties to Norwich on Wednesday.Sergio Aguero scored the only goal for the holders eight minutes into the second half as Wednesday goalkeeper Joe Wildsmith failed to get a strong enough hand to the Argentine's low strike.A solitary goal was scant reward for the dominance of Pep Guardiola's men as the Catalan was rewarded for naming a strong line-up against the Championship side.Riyad Mahrez and Gabriel Jesus missed gloriou...
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Juventus In Lockdown As Three Players Test Positive For The Coronavirus

General view of the Allianz Stadium on 17 February 2020 in Turin.Juventus has quarantined the entire Under-23 team and halted all the club's training sessions following the news that three players from Serie C side Pianese had tested positive for the coronavirus.The club took the decision late on Saturday with the Under-23 team having played Pianese, who later reported three of their players had the fast-spreading illness.No Juventus players have shown any symptoms of the illness, but as a precautionary measure Juve's Under-23 team has been told stay at home for the next week.Updates from the Italian government state 1,128 people in Italy have confirmed cases of coronavirus, with 29 deaths. People have been advised to remain indoors and avoid contact with other people.A statement from Crem...
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Europa League: Man United advances to last 16, Arsenal knocked out

Odion Ighalo of Manchester United celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 2-0 during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 second leg match between Manchester United and Club Brugge at Old Trafford on February 27, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom. Manchester United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, A.S. Roma, and Inter Milan cruised into the Europa League last 16, while Arsenal were knocked out in extra time on Thursday.United breezed to a 6-1 aggregate win over 10-man Bruges after a 5-0 return-leg rout of the Belgians at Old Trafford, while Wolves advanced with a 6-3 overall victory against Espanyol despite a 3-2 second-leg defeat in Spain.Odion Ighalo celebrated his first start for Man United with his maiden goal for the club after Bruno Fernandes had fired the home side ahead with a 27th...
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Europa League: Eriksen scores first Inter goal, Ajax lose, United held

Christian Eriksen of FC Internazionale scores the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between PFC Ludogorets Razgrad and FC Internazionale at Ludogorets Arena on February 20, 2020 in Razgrad, Bulgaria.Inter Milan midfielder Christian Eriksen scored his first goal for the club since last month’s move from Tottenham Hotspur to set up a 2-0 win at Ludogorets Razgrad in their Europa League last 32, first leg on Thursday.Getafe pulled off a surprise 2-0 home win over last year’s Champions League semi-finalists Ajax Amsterdam, while Manchester United were held 1-1 at Club Brugge in wet and windy conditions.Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Diogo Jota scored a second successive hat-trick in the competition to lead his side to a 4-0 victory over Espanyol.Inter were frustr...
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Olympiakos 0-1 Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette grabs critical away goal

Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his teams first goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 32 first leg match between Olympiacos FC and Arsenal FC at Karaiskakis Stadium on February 20, 2020 in Piraeus, Greece.Olympiakos may be prolific and unbeaten in domestic competitions, but its first Europa League game of the season was more like a reality check for the Reds, who went down 1-0 at home to Arsenal on Thursday.The Gunners have had a patchy season to date, but have kept alive their only hope for some silverware this season after emerging victorious from a battle that is always hard to give at Olympiakos.The Greek side will feel hard done by the result, as the match was fairly balanced, the two sides shared possession and chances and both got close to scoring – exc...
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Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal to show 'courage' ahead of hostile Olympiacos test

Mikel Arteta the Arsenal Head Coach during the Arsenal Europa League Press Conference at the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel on February 19, 2020 in Athens, Greece.Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he wants his players to show courage when they face Olympiakos Piraeus in the Europa League at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium later on Thursday.Arsenal are expecting a hostile reception for the first leg of their round of 32 tie in Piraeus, where Olympiakos have lost just once -- against Bayern Munich -- this season.Arteta told reporters he wanted his side to keep their heads up even if things were not going their way."They can have the best intention but they need to go to a stadium like here and when they make a mistake or a bad decision, have the courage to try again and play again," he add...
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Cristiano Ronaldo's late penalty salvages a tie for Juventus against Zlatan Ibrahimovic and AC Milan

Cristiano Ronaldo of Juventus celebrates his goal with his team-mates Gonzalo Higuain during the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 13, 2020 in Milan, Italy.Cristiano Ronaldo's injury-time penalty grabbed Juventus a 1-1 draw at AC Milan in their Italian Cup semi-final, first leg on Thursday as his incredible scoring run continued. The 35-year-old has now scored 12 goals in his last eight games in all competitions after the Portuguese ultimately got the better of old rival Zlatan Ibrahimovic despite being largely anonymous for much of the match. Milan paid for Theo Hernandez's 71st-minute red card as they failed to close out a game they had dominated for long periods and led through Ante Rebic.Juve will now be favourites to...
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Real Sociedad 2-1 Mirandes: Real Madrid loanee Martin Odegaard scores winner in Copa del Rey semi-final first leg against second-division minnows

Martin Odegaard of Real Sociedad celebrates 2-1 during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Real Sociedad v Mirandes at the Estadio Anoeta on February 13, 2020 in San Sebastian Spain.It took a long while, but Martin Odegaard is delivering the goods.The teen phenom whose recruitment carried a captive audience five years ago is now a 21-year-old proven playmaker in two leagues.Odegaard scored again Thursday as Real Sociedad took a Copa Del Rey semifinal first-leg lead with a 2-1 win over second-tier Mirandes.The second leg is March 5 in Castile and León, where Mirandes looks to make history as a Copa del Rey finalist from outside La Liga.Mikel Oyarzabal gave Real Sociedad a ninth-minute lead on Thursday before Matheus Aias leveled the score for Cinderella in the 39th. Odegaard found t...
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PSG hammer Dijon, Lyon beat Marseille to reach French Cup semis

Kylian MBAPPE of Paris Saint Germain during the French Cup Soccer match between Dijon and Paris at Stade Gaston Gerard on February 12, 2020 in Dijon, France.Paris Saint-Germain cruised into the semi-finals of the French Cup on Wednesday after thumping Dijon 6-1 in a match that saw the French champions benefit again from comical own goals.PSG were ahead just 47 seconds after kick off thanks to Wesley Lautoa shanking Mitchel Bakker's low cross into his own net to the bemusement of his teammates.It was the second own goal in a week to be scored for PSG, who also saw Lyon's Fernando Marcal slam a stunning effort past his own goalkeeper at the weekend.However the hosts were level in the 13th minute thanks to a impressive low curling effort from Mounir Chouiar, which squeezed past Kaylor Navas.W...
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Athletic beat Granada in 1st leg of Copa del Rey semifinal

Iker Muniain of Athletic Club competes for the ball with Maxime Gonalons of Granada during the Copa del Rey Semi-Final 1st leg match between Athletic Club and Granada at San Mames Stadium on February 12, 2020 in Bilbao, Spain.A 42nd minute goal scored by Athletic Club Bilbao captain Iker Muniain gave his side a slender 1-0 advantage to take to Granada after the first leg of their Copa del Rey semifinal on Wednesday night.Muniain was left with a tap-in after Inaki Williams outpaced the Granada defense before sending over a low ball for the attacking midfielder to side-foot into an empty net to give Athletic Club a win they deserved after dominating for almost the entire 90 minutes in packed San Mames Stadium.Although Granada's veteran striker Roberto Soldado had the first chance of the game...
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Fabian Ruiz's Goal Leads Napoli Past Inter in Coppa Italia Semi-Final Leg 1

Fabian Ruiz of SSC Napoli competes for the ball with Christian Eriksen of FC Internazionale during the Coppa Italia Semi Final match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on February 12, 2020 in Milan, Italy.A stunning goal from Spanish midfielder Fabian Ruiz gave Napoli a 1-0 win at Inter Milan in the first leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final after the visitors dominated a cagey game at the San Siro on Wednesday.Ruiz curled a delightful left-foot shot past Inter goalkeeper Daniele Padelli in the 57th minute after a one-two with right back Giovanni Di Lorenzo.Inter lacked energy after Sunday’s spectacular 4-2 comeback win against bitter city foes AC Milan in their league derby and Napoli bossed the midfield in the first half.Dries Mertens fired over the bar wi...
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