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      in Soccer

      Premier League in talks to allow 1,000 away fans in for last two rounds of fixtures before return to full capacity

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      PREMIER LEAGUE clubs will urge the Government to allow up to 1,000 away fans among the crowds for the last two sets of matches this season.Top-flight club bosses have agreed to switch the planned penultimate set of matches into the final midweek of the campaign, after the May 17 date set by PM Boris Johnson for crowds to return.
      Premier League clubs have asked the Government to allow 1,000 away fans in for the final 20 matches of the seasonCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The fixture swap means each Premier League club will have one home game in front of supporters, with the number capped at the lower figure of 10,000 fans or a quarter of the ground’s full capacity.
      But it was envisaged that only home supporters – in virtually all cases season ticket holders who have been locked out, apart from a handful of lucky supporters, since last March – would be allowed through the turnstiles.
      And at yesterday’s meeting of the 20 ‘shareholder’ clubs, it was agreed to ask the Government for a change of policy that would allow visiting fans to attend.
      The final set of fixtures includes a potential relegation decider between Fulham and Newcastle, with the capacity set at 4,000 supporters while Craven Cottage is still a partial construction site.
      Other matches in the penultimate set of games include a possible top-four clincher between Chelsea and Leicester.
      Meanwhile, the set of midweek games originally scheduled for May 11 and 12, including Chelsea versus Arsenal and Leicester at Manchester United, will be shunted back to the following weekend.
      Whether the Government will green light supporters travelling the length of the country to watch games is less clear.
      But the top-flight clubs feel it is worth making their case to help generate a ‘real’ atmosphere when crowds return.

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      Elsewhere, the clubs agreed next season will begin on the weekend of August 14, allowing the EFL kick-off to take centre stage – alongside the Community Shield – the previous weekend.
      But the decision to end the season on May 22 means the 2022 FA Cup Final will share top billing with the penultimate round of Premier League matches, rather than having a standalone date at the end of the campaign.
      Clubs are keen to create a better atmosphere with a section of travelling supporters inside groundsCredit: PA

      Premier League fans will be allowed back in stadiums for final game of THIS season at all ten matches More

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      in Motorsport

      British Grand Prix close to sell out with 500,000 over four days heading to watch Hamilton in huge post-lockdown party

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      THE British Grand Prix is close to selling out as F1 fans snap up tickets for Hamilton Mania.Ticket sales are through the roof with punters eager to see the Brit as he makes his bid for a record eighth world title.
      Fans may be witnessing Lewis Hamilton’s last Silverstone race in JulyCredit: PA
      Lewis Hamilton has only signed a 10-month deal with his Mercedes team in what could be his final home GP.
      Circuit chiefs are staying optimistic that the race will get the go ahead from the Government as part of their Covid-19 roadmap, on July 18.
      And that could mean around 500,000 people over the four-day event, making it one of the biggest sporting events in the world.
      Stuart Pringle, Managing Director of Silverstone, said: “We are on route to sell out of the general admission tickets by April and many of the grandstands are already 80 percent full.
      “If it is allowed to go ahead, the 2021 British Grand Prix could be one of the biggest crowds ever.
      “If you want to see him and win big at home, it could be the last year to see Lewis race at Silverstone.
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      “We all want something to look forward to. Summer holidays overseas look compromised, so come and have a celebration at Silverstone.
      “We always have a good atmosphere but I just think if we can have it, it could be the party to end all parties!”
      The British GP is subject to the Covid restrictions being lifted like the rest of the UK, but track bosses say they will refund ticket holders or roll them over to 2022, should the race be behind closed doors.
      Pringle added: “The buying behaviour is backed by a Covid guarantee so if they are prevented from coming due to Covid, we will offer them a full refund or will roll the booking over to another year.
      “We are very conscious that the fans have been very supportive of us, from last year to this year, and it has made a huge difference to our business.
      “It would have been very difficult to refund everyone their ticket money so it has kept us alive during a very difficult period for all sporting venues.
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      “They want to come and we want them to come. We hear the Prime Minister’s optimism and we also totally note his caution. That is understood.
      “It is clear that the Government have the intention to try and unlock the country by the time of the GP.
      “It is selling fast, it is going to be massive but we are also cautiously optimistic.”

      Inside the new-look Mercedes car Lewis Hamilton is bidding to win record eight F1 title in ahead of new season More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Manny Pacquiao’s £7m Manila mansion where boxing star had to isolate after partying with a coronavirus victim

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      BOXING legend Manny Pacquiao’s £7million mansion oozes luxury and features a huge dining table and swimming pool.The Filipino fighter is plotting his return to the ring and could probably afford to add another wing to his house if he can down Terence Crawford.
      The impressive Manila pad was purchased in 2012
      Pacquiao shares the home with his wife Jinkee (left) and five children
      Mikey Garcia is also an option for a contest in May as the 42-year-old sets up a comeback contest.
      A match-up with Conor McGregor was also touted last year, when Pacquiao found himself in a spot of pandemic bother.
      Koko Pimentel, a Filipino senator and leading figure in the country’s ruling party, was seen at the residence in the Manila borough of Makati last spring, shortly before testing positive for coronavirus.
      Pacquiao, now also a senator in the Philippines, was sent a letter that instructed him and his family to self-isolate.
      Pacquiao’s property on the outskirts of the capital city has been his home since 2012, when he bought it for £7m.
      The amazing mansion, which features a tennis court, pool and large dining room, is also home to his wife Jinkee and their five children.
      The property features a large swimming pool
      Pacquiao is arguably the Philippines’ most famous son
      Many rooms overlook the pool

      Errol Spence Jr has also been floated as a possible opponent for the ring king, although Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning trainer, Justin Fortune, believes such a fight would be one sided.
      He told SunSport: “Spence is a great fighter and a good champion, but he’s not the same guy that he was before, not at all.
      “We saw that when he fought Danny Garcia. Everyone raves about how hard Spence punches, well Danny Garcia came through 12 rounds.
      “Danny Garcia also never pulled the trigger that night, or else Danny would probably have beaten him, I think. You put Spence in there with someone like Pacquiao now, Pacquiao obliterates him, even at 42-years-old.
      There is plenty of space to get ready in the Pacquiao residency
      Neighbours told the boxer to isolate with his family in the home last spring
      The problems arose after a party guest and fellow politician fell ill
      Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao uses coronavirus self-isolation to train son at home More

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      in Soccer

      EFL announce first EVER clear round of coronavirus testing out of 5,524 with just two in Prem for seventh week running

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      EFL chiefs have recorded their first Covid-free testing round.A total of 5,524 players and staff from across all 72 EFL clubs gave samples last week.
      There were zero Covid-19 cases in the Football League this weekCredit: PA
      None of those tests came back positive, in a landmark week for the EFL.
      League chief executive Trevor Birch said: “These results are a testament to the hard work and efforts of all EFL clubs during what has been a particularly challenging period.
      “For 12 months we, like the rest of the society, have been dictated to by this virus.
      “However, the stringent protocols implemented across the board have ensured that we are now able to turn our attention to returning to a certain level of normality.
      “Our focus must be on maintaining this low transmission rate and then ensure supporters can return in full as quickly as is safe to do so.
      “Football remains one of the most heavily regulated areas of crowd management, with EFL clubs already demonstrating they can stage matches safely during a successful pilot programme earlier in the season.”
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      Premier League clubs have recorded two positive samples in each of the last seven weeks, with the last clear round of top-flight testing coming in the final week of last season.
      Leeds’ Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich has tested positive for the virus and will miss his country’s three World Cup qualifiers including next week’s match with England at Wembley.
      A solitary positive was recorded from the first round of 1,576 tests between Monday and Thursday last week, with a another positive result from the second round of 1,196 tests between Thursday and Sunday.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Boris Johnson risks fresh vaccine row over UK’s ‘greedy’ jab firms More

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      in Soccer

      Belgium striker Tuur Dierckx jailed for holding lockdown party after cops raid flat to find 14 guests breaking rules

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      BELGIAN striker Tuur Dierckx has been sent to PRISON … for holding a lockdown party.The former Club Brugge and Belgium Under-21 ace currently plays for KVC Westerlo.
      Belgium striker Tuur Dierckx has been jailed for a holding lockdown partyCredit: PA
      But the second-tier promotion hopefuls will now be without their star after a court sentenced him to a month behind bars for breaking coronavirus rules.
      According to Nieuwsblad a judge in Antwerp heard how police raided the player’s flat in the city last December after neighbours reported a late-night gathering.
      They found 14 guests, including four other footballers and three women from Holland.
      Dierckx told the court he has recently spent a day at a hospital seeing Covid-19 patients receive treatment, and recognised his mistake in hosting the party.
      Prosecutors had called for him to be locked up for three months and fined £3,600.
      But the court handed him a month-long jail term and a £700 fine, while his guests were fined lesser amounts.
      His lawyer Carl De Munck said: “It was a harsh sentence, but in line with the verdicts in similar cases.”
      Westerlo managing director Wim Van Hove added: “We don’t want to downplay what happened, but we think it is a stiff punishment.
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      “It clearly seems to be similar to comparable cases, so it is only logical.
      “We won’t punish Tuur any further.
      “We have already come down hard on him and fined him an undisclosed amount.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      England boss Gareth Southgate says he hopes Jude Bellingham will join squad More

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      in Soccer

      Nicola Sturgeon claims coronavirus cases could rise off back of Rangers fans wild celebrations after title win

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      FIRST MINISTER Nicola Sturgeon fears that the ‘small’ number of Covid-19 cases linked to last weekend’s Rangers’ title celebrations could rise given the virus’ incubation period. Thousands of Rangers fans broke coronavirus laws as they celebrated the club’s title number 55 triumph last weekend across Glasgow – including outside Ibrox and in George Square.
      First Minister Nicola Sturgeon fears Covid cases may rise after the Rangers fan partiesCredit: AFP
      Cases after the George Square incident are still being worked through
      The SNP chief revealed she felt the Ibrox club could’ve done more to stop last weekend’s illegal party scenes.
      Fears remain that Scotland’s showpiece fixture would be canned following scenes of blatant lockdown rule breaches, although both clubs have presented a united front asking fans to stay at home.
      The subject of the Old Firm match WASN’T mentioned during the first minister’s statement – although she did chime with comments from chief medical officer Gregor Smith that the incident had caused a rise in cases.
      It can take anything up to ten days for Covid sufferers to register symptoms of the virus – while others could be passing it on whilst asymptomatic.
      Sturgeon said: “In terms of the case numbers, we have seen an increase in the last week.
      “As the Chief Medical Officer said last week there have been a small number of cases of people that were gathering as part of the football incident last weekend.
      “We may see more of that given the incubation of the virus that may not have fully worked its way through yet.
      “But we also need to be really opened eyed about this. 
      “This is a virus, so any time we open up and people start to come together there is greater opportunity for transmission.”

      Justice secretary Humza Yousaf said on Friday that the Scottish Government wouldn’t hesitate to “defer” the game – unless he is sure fans wouldn’t square off against each other.
      There has then followed days of consistent media messaging from both clubs to their fans.
      Ibrox skipper James Tavernier sent a video message to the supporters urging fans to stay at home.
      Manager Steven Gerrard also penned a letter asking the club’s fans to do likewise.
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds
      Rangers captain James Tavernier urges Gers fans to stay at home and not gather for next Sunday’s Old Firm match More

    • 238 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Premier League coronavirus cases at just TWO again for sixth successive week as new strict protocols continue to work

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      PREMIER LEAGUE Covid testers recorded just two positive tests again – for the SIXTH successive week.
      Testers found one positive sample among 1,473 players and club staff between Monday and Thursday last week.

      Premier League Covid testers recorded just two positive tests for the sixth week in a rowCredit: AP

      There was a further solitary positive result from the second round of 1,191 tests between Friday and Sunday.
      The latest futures are further proof of the success of the enhanced protocols introduced after the start of the New Year.
      Since the introduction, there have been a total of just 27 positive tests across the 20 top-flight clubs.
      That is compared to 110 positives in the previous five weeks either side of Christmas.

      The last completely clear round of testing, though, was in the final week of last season in July.
      Meanwhile, SunSport can reveal Premier League stars are to be enlisted to encourage Brits under 30 to get the Covid jab.
      Clubs have been asked to use the ‘star power’ at their disposal to help roll out the vaccine.
      It comes after an Office for National Statistics poll revealed one in six people aged between 16 and 29 claim they may not get the jab.

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      Experts say the age group is more likely to see Covid as no threat to them.
      They point out this attitude risks giving the killer a foothold to keep spreading.
      Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has written to the top football clubs seeking help after last month asking them to encourage more ethnic minority Brits to get the jab.
      A Whitehall source confirmed: “The Premier League are involved.”
      The source added that assistance was being sought from “people younger groups look up to”.
      Tory MP Julian Knight, meanwhile, has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock urging him to launch a publicity drive to promote take up of the jab.
      The Sport Select Committee chairman said: “This campaign should enlist the help of major sporting figures from the likes of the Premier League in order to put out the message that vaccination is safe, and the right thing to do for yourself and loved ones.”

      UK daily Covid deaths fall to lowest in FIVE MONTHS with 52 fatalities and 4,618 cases More

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      in Soccer

      Premier League stars to be enlisted to encourage Brits under 30 get Covid vaccine

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      PREMIER League aces are to be enlisted to encourage Brits under 30 to get the Covid jab.
      Clubs have been asked to use the “star power” at their disposal to help roll out the vaccine.

      🦠 Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates…

      Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has written to the top football clubs seeking helpCredit: Reuters
      It comes after an Office for National Statistics poll revealed one in six people aged between 16 and 29 claim they may not get the jab.
      Experts say the age group is more likely to see Covid as no threat to them.
      They point out this attitude risks giving the killer a foothold to keep spreading.

      Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has written to the top football clubs seeking help after last month asking them to encourage more ethnic minority Brits to get the jab.
      A Whitehall source confirmed: “The Premier League are involved.”

      The source added that assistance was being sought from “people younger groups look up to”.
      Tory MP Julian Knight, meanwhile, has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock urging him to launch a publicity drive to promote take up of the jab.

      The Sport Select Committee chairman said: “This campaign should . . . enlist the help of major sporting figures from the likes of the Premier League in order to put out the message that vaccination is safe, and the right thing to do for yourself and loved ones.”

      UK daily Covid deaths fall to lowest in FIVE MONTHS with 52 fatalities and 4,618 cases
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