Coronavirus

Subterms

    More stories

    • 200 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Man Utd ace Jesse Lingard self-isolating and unavailable to Solskjaer after contact with positive coronavirus case

      by

      MANCHESTER UNITED have been dealt a blow after Jesse Lingard was forced into self-isolation.
      Red Devils boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed the England star came into contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus.

      Manchester United star Jesse Lingard is self-isolatingCredit: EPA

      Lingard, 27, has now been ruled out of United’s Champions League clash against Istanbul Basaksehir at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
      The Norwegian said: “We hope that the lads will recover quickly. Luke (Shaw) is out, Phil Jones (is) obviously out, still.
      “Jesse is still self-isolating because he’s been in contact with a COVID positive. He’ll be back soon.”
      ⚽ Read our Man United live blog for the latest news from Old Trafford

      Lingard has struggled for game time at United this season with his only two outings coming in the Carabao Cup wins over Luton and Brighton.
      The England international hasn’t actually made Solskjaer’s squad for the Premier League since the 6-1 humbling to Spurs.
      Meanwhile, Paul Pogba also missed United’s 1-0 win over West Brom on Saturday but the Frenchman may return to face Istanbul Basaksehir.
      Solskjaer added: “I hope Paul is going to be available.

      “He trained this morning, it’s still uncomfortable and (there’s) some pain, so we’ll make a decision on that in the morning (Tuesday).”

      Luke Shaw remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury with Solskjaer hopeful the England defender could be back quicker than expected.
      He said: “I hope nearer to four (weeks out) but with a recurrence of hamstring injuries you can’t risk anything and he’s still not training with us.
      “We’ll see how he reacts to the programme he’s on and to the rehab work. Hopefully it’s near four but probably nearer five or six.”

      Manchester United player Jesse Lingard, and presenter and football fan Maya Jama discusses their own mental health More

    • 238 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Brave dementia sufferer and Harrogate legend Jim Hague is lost without football while wife fears for his mental health

      by

      JIM HAGUE loves Harrogate Town and this lockdown is affecting his mental health far worse than most fans.
      For the 78-year-old suffers from dementia and being segregated from the club due to the government restrictions has had a detrimental effect on his life.

      Dementia sufferer Jim Hague is a legend on and off the pitch at Harrogate

      Jim is a club legend both on and off the pitch.
      The former striker – who started as a defender – remains their youngest first-team debutant at 14 and made a record 402 appearances, topping the Yorkshire club’s all-time scoring charts with 135 goals.
      He also served on the club’s committee and, six years ago, won an FA award as groundsman of the year.
      Yet – despite his condition – he is still involved with the Sulpherites and, right up to this second lockdown, was working at their Wetherby Road stadium with a team of maintenance volunteers every Monday and Friday.And that interaction with fellow Harrogate lovers gave him something to look forward to twice a week – especially with fans not allowed into the ground to watch games.

      Club record appearance holder and scorer Jim Hague helps tidy up ground
      Jenny – Jim’s wife for 54 years – told me: “He was sweeping leaves and cleaning the terraces out.“He had only just gone back after the first lockdown and they were doing so much work but now they’re not allowed in.“It’s been bad enough that he hasn’t been able to watch them play since March – although our son Jason has been able to stream the games for Jim.“But it’s been a hard time. Being able to watch games and go to the ground to meet old friends and lovers of Harrogate gave him a reason to get out of bed.“Harrogate has been his life and, for people with dementia, taking away something from them that they love and are used to is not good. It has a seriously negative impact. It’s the worst thing that could’ve happened to his life.“People with dementia need stability and anything out of the ordinary throws them into a downward spiral.“For Jim, his life revolved around watching Harrogate Town and being able to go down there to help.”

      People with dementia need stability and anything out of the ordinary throws them into a downward spiral.’
      Jenny Hague, Jim’s wife

      Jim left Harrogate when he was 16 to join Bolton Wanderers as a youth player. And he was such a promising talent, the legendary Nat Lofthouse spent a lot of time with him on the training pitch.Jenny, 76, said: “Nat would teach him how to head the ball – which is probably why he has dementia.”

      Bolton and England legend Nat Lofthouse taught Jim how to head the ball
      After around 18 months with Bolton, he joined Leeds but failed to make the grade there and returned to his beloved Harrogate to play in the Yorkshire League.Jim has a great story about his favourite Town manager – former pre-war Chelsea and England star John Townrow – that would send a modern-day HR department into meltdown.
      He said: “If we did something wrong in a game he used to punch us! It certainly taught us a lesson.”

      Jim loved playing for Harrogate “because the team was close-knit and had a real camaraderie.”

      Jim, far left, with Harrogate team after winning the West Riding Cup in 1973

      Jim, front row, far left, poses for Harrogate team photo in the 1967-68 season

      Harrogate Town celebrate winning promotion to League TwoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Jim had to call time on his playing career with Harrogate in 1973 at the age of 32 after he passed out while with his wife on a visit to the Yorkshire coastal village of Sandsend, near Whitby.Jenny explained: “He had a heart problem and that finished his playing days there.”But, incredibly, he made a comeback and went on to play into his early 40s for Collingham – a local village team.However, he was serving on Harrogate’s committee and later became the groundsman.And there is a great tale from December 2012 ahead of a crunch FA Cup second-round match with Hastings United.The club were struggling with a newly-laid pitch because Harrogate got 340 per cent more rain that winter compared to the previous year – and had five home games called off in a row.Ten minutes before what was then Town’s biggest match in their history, the referee threatened to postpone the match unless there was more sand treatment to the pitch.

      Jim had been given the day off to enjoy the occasion with his grandson Alfie but, as soon as he heard, he rushed out of the stand and, along with the under-17 squad that he had taught how to replace turf and repair diverts, got to work.And they got the pitch playable with one minute spare.Jim’s grand-daughter Olivia, 17, has also proudly represented the club in the girls’ section.

      Jim and Jenny Hague have been married to each other for 54 years
      Despite having dementia, Jim still was able to talk to me about his love of the club that is playing in the EFL for the first time in their history.He said: “I’m delighted and proud we’re in the Football League and playing well too.“Going way back to when I was playing in the old Yorkshire League, I wanted the club to go further and they certainly have done that.“When fans are allowed back, we will have a big crowd for the first game there for sure.“The club will always have a special place in my heart.”And Harrogate will always have a special place in their hearts for Jim Hague too.

      Elliott has a cheek claiming he owns Charlton

      WHAT a cheek of Paul Elliott to demand Thomas Sandgaard leaves Charlton Athletic – claiming he does not own the club.It’s almost as mad as Donald Trump claiming he won the US election.Elliott – along with lawyer sidekick Chris Farnell – are hated by the vast majority of the Addicks’ fan-base.I ran a poll on my Twitter page the other day and asked supporters what they would do if these two gentlemen somehow regained control – and 75 per cent said they would “boycott all matches”.Both of them enjoyed driving around in flashy £90,000 Range Rovers at Charlton’s expense while the club was on its knees.In fact, when Sandgaard took over they were days from going into administration.East Street Investments – the previous owners – took almost £1million out of the club on a fleet of cars for their executives. Meanwhile former chairman Matt Southall enjoyed a luxury £12,000-a-month Thames-riverside apartment, paid for by the club.It is clear to any reasonable person that the aim of Elliott and Farnell serving “sealed court orders” to Sandgaard’s legal team is to try to scare him into paying more money to them.Sandgaard, who says he is paying £1m a month at the moment to fund the club without fans, in the coming weeks wants to lobby the EFL in a bid to rid the game of dodgy owners.And, if they are not able to achieve that, then he will start a parliamentary petition with the aim of the government bringing in legislation.We should not allow another club to suffer the same fate as Bury.If football cannot self-regulate itself effectively, then the government most certainly can do it for them. More

    • 200 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Luka Jovic tests positive for coronavirus and OUT of Real Madrid clash with Villarreal this weekend

      by

      REAL MADRID star Luka Jovic has tested positive for coronavirus.
      The 22-year-old striker will miss the LaLiga game against Villareal this weekend.

      ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates

      Luka Jovic has tested positive for coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Jovic scored twice on international duty for Serbia on Wednesday in a 5-0 thumping of Russia.
      He played the full 90 minutes of the Nations League triumph.
      Eight days ago Jovic also played and scored in his side’s heartbreaking penalty shoot-out loss to Scotland that meant they failed to qualify for next summer’s Euros.

      Real Madrid released a short statement today.
      It read: “Real Madrid CF would like to inform that our player Luka Jovic has given a positive result in the Covid-19 tests carried out on Friday morning.”
      The news comes as team-mate Eden Hazard returned to training after coming out of quarantine following his own diagnosis.
      Real Madrid confirmed in a statement that Hazard and team-mate Casemiro contracted the virus.

      That news came just six days after Real Madrid star Eder Militao returned a positive test.

      Jovic scored twice as Serbia thrashed Russia 5-0 on WednesdayCredit: EPA

      Jovic has struggled to find his feet at Real Madrid since joining for £54million from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer.
      He has made only 13 starts for Los Blancos, and this season featured only four times.
      Jovic has only two goals to his name for the Spaniards.
      He netted 27 times in all competitions for Frankfurt that sealed his mega-money move.

      Premier League clubs are intersted in Luka Jovic – here is why More

    • 225 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Premier League under pressure again by MPs over why £50m Football League bailout not agreed amid coronavirus pandemic

      by

      PREM boss Richard Masters has again been asked by MPs to explain why the £50million lower division bail out has not been agreed.
      Masters and EFL chairman Rick Parry were both grilled by the DCMS all-party select committee last week over the continued stand-off.

      Richard Masters has come under pressure to solve the financial crisis that’s hit the football pyramidCredit: PA:Press Association

      Committee head and Tory MP Julian Knight said he would send out public letters to both men on a weekly basis until the situation was resolved.
      And now Knight has published the first batch of correspondence, telling both the Prem and EFL MPs are “disappointed that you have not yet come to an agreement that will ensure the survival of football clubs through the current pandemic.”
      Knight added: “There is enough money in the game to save football clubs but we are beginning to doubt whether there is enough leadership to make that happen. 
      “We urge you to stop squabbling and come to an agreement. 

      “Fans have been waiting too long. 
      “We expect, and the fans deserve, better.”
      SunSport revealed that Championship clubs gave the green light for the League One and Two sides to take advantage of the bail out after the Prem made a £200m loan offer for the EFL top flight.
      But Parry and his clubs are demanding the entire £50m is in the form of a grant, rather than just the first £20m with the rest on a loan, as the Prem proposed.

      EFL chairman Rick Parry was grilled by the digital, culture, media and sport committee Credit: PA:Press Association
      Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden and Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston both put extra pressure on Masters and Parry yesterday, insisting it was an obligation on football to sort out its Covid-19 problems.
      The Government is ready to green light a “fan-led review” of the game, and intends to use the Covid crisis stand-off as the starting point and justification for the process.
      Prem chiefs point out that by making 40 per cent of the money a grant, with the other 60 per cent a no-interest loan, they are actually offering Leagues One and Two better terms than the Government has in its new £300m sports “winter survival package”, which is demanding repayment of £250m at “low commercial rates”.
      But Knight warned: “We are losing patience. 
      “Fans have waited a long time for a solution that would safeguard their clubs but all they can see is squabbling at the top of the game. Football and its followers deserve better.
      “The current fiasco in reaching an agreement isn’t about the lack of money, but lack of leadership.

      “We’re putting the current leaders of the Premier League and the EFL on notice. We want to be kept in the loop about every discussion, every meeting, every call, every email, to save clubs at risk. 
      “Nothing should be withheld from the Committee, and so that fans can see what’s going on, we’ll make these updates public.
      “The predecessor DCMS Committee called for legislation to bring in an independent system of football licensing and regulation if the game wasn’t able to reform itself. That time may be fast approaching.” More

    • 213 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Rangers Covidiots Jordan Jones and George Edmundson handed SEVEN-match bans after breaking strict rules at house party

      by

      JORDAN JONES and George Edmundson have each been handed SEVEN-game bans after breaking Covid rules by attending a house party.
      The Rangers duo were hit with SFA charges earlier this month over their flouting of the restrictions.

      Rangers star Jordan Jones broke Covid rules by attending a house partyCredit: PA:Press Association

      And the disciplinary panel have now published their verdict on their website following a hearing earlier today.
      The pair’s seven-game bans mean they’ll miss Rangers’ clashes with Aberdeen, Falkirk, Ross County, Dundee United, Motherwell, St Johnstone and Hibs.
      They won’t be free to return to domestic action until the Ibrox club’s Premiership clash with St Mirren on December 30.
      Jones and Edmundson were among 10 covidiots who were punished by police over the party in Glasgow’s west end earlier this month.

      ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
      It’s understood the party was arranged after the players contacted young women on social media and they began messaging.
      The women – who were spending the night at a city centre hotel – were then invited to a house party before it was busted by cops.
      A video seen by The Scottish Sun shows revellers at a house party dancing and boozing from red cups.

      Another image shared on social media shows Edmundson sitting in the same living room littered with red cups and leftover bottles of beer, with the caption reading: “Omg I can’t believe Edmunson and Jones have been suspended for this hahahah.”

      Rangers ace George Edmundson will miss SEVEN gamesCredit: PA:Press Association

      An image on social media appeared to show Edmundson in the same room as the party

      After being made aware of Jones and Edmundson’s actions the following morning, Rangers immediately suspended the pair.
      And they were both made to self-isolate for 14 days as a precaution.
      The Ibrox club’s managing director, Stewart Robertson, said at the time: “The chairman Douglas Park, Ross Wilson, Steven Gerrard and I discussed this matter as soon as it was brought to our attention.
      “We are completely aligned in our action and the standards that are being set at Rangers.
      “We will not tolerate behaviour that does not follow those standards and it is totally unacceptable for any of our players to be involved in anything that puts at risk the excellent protocols that have been put in place at Rangers.”
      Rangers boss Steven Gerrard didn’t rule out Jones and Edmundson still having a future at the club.
      But he admitted he would speak to club captain James Tavernier before making a decision.
      He said: “I will speak to Tav and decide what to do from there.
      “The players are going to have to take their medicine and punishment like men.
      “I’m sure at some point they will have to give an explanation to their team-mates.”

      British Ambassador to Portugal Chris Sainty plays Rangers tune on piano ahead of Benfica Europa League clash More

    • 188 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Premier League fearing coronavirus D-Day with top stars returning from international duty after positive tests

      by

      PREM bosses face Covid-19 D-Day today as they discover how many of their returning international stars are available for this weekend.
      It threatens to disrupt preparations for the start of the most intensive period of action of the entire season, with 10 Prem rounds scheduled between this weekend and January 2.

      Premier League clubs face an anxious wait to see how many positive tests there have been during the international breakCredit: AFP – Getty

      Even before the round of tests, Liverpool are definitely without Mo Salah for their game with Leicester, Arsenal lost both Mohamed Elneny and Sead Kolasinac, with doubts over Willian, while Spurs cannot field Matt Doherty against Manchester City. 
      But League chiefs are privately more concerned about how many players could be ruled out for the next two weekends – as any infected cases that go undetected initially emerge in the coming days.
      Every player coming back to their clubs from their national team duties must test negative for the virus before being allowed to meet or train with their club-mates.
      The FA allowed clubs to test their England players before they left Wembley after last night’s win over Iceland.

      By using the LAMP test, which turns around the results of the nasal swabs within 30 minutes, the players and their clubs were informed of the outcomes before they arrived back home.
      While some overseas stars were tested at airports on their arrival back in the UK and others at their homes, the remainder will have to provide samples when they turn up in the club training ground car parks.

      Liverpool will be without Mo Salah after he tested positive while away with EgyptCredit: Reuters
      But even if the initial results are negative, that will not mean the end of the situation.
      Prem chiefs confirmed late on Monday that 16 positive tests had been returned from the 1207 players and staff sampled, only two fewer than in the previous FOUR weeks combined.

      And that was before those away on international duty returned to their clubs.
      Spurs defender Doherty, remember, had tested negative before the game against Wales but positive 48 hours later. 
      Time in which the virus was spreading through his body and able to infect others.
      Tottenham also had major concerns over Heung-min Son.
      Nine of Son’s South Korea team-mates, including Hee-chan Hwang, who hugged the Spurs ace after netting inside 16 seconds of the friendly win over Qatar in Austria, tested positive this week.
      It is also more than likely that some players who return negative samples over the next couple of days and then play at the weekend will be positive by the start of next week. The tests do not boast 100 per cent success rates.
      That raises the prospect of infections spreading even in the bio-secure Prem bubbles, with fears that next weekend could be a bigger issue than this one.

      Prem clubs agreed in the summer that, as long as 13 senior players were Covid-free, games would have to go ahead – unless all the senior goalkeepers were infected.
      So far, the Prem show has gone on. 
      But, if it is ever going to be derailed, that will come over the next fortnight. 

      Liverpool star Mo Salah tests positive for coronavirus after linking up with Egypt national team More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac tests positive for coronavirus and will miss Bosnia’s Nations League clash vs Italy

      by

      ARSENAL defender Sead Kolasinac has tested positive for coronavirus while on international duty with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
      The 27-year-old returned a positive result for Covid-19 on Wednesday morning and will now miss tonight’s Nations League clash against Italy.

      Arsenal star Sead Kolasinac has tested positive for coronavirusCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      The defender featured in Bosnia’s 3-1 defeat to the NetherlandsCredit: EPA

      His team-mate Ibrahim Sehic has also been ruled out of the League A Group 1 fixture after testing positive for the virus as well.
      Kolasinac played the full 90 minutes as his country fell to a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands on Sunday.
      He then trained with his Bosnia team-mates on Tuesday night before returning a positive result the following morning.
      ⚽ Read our Arsenal live blog for the latest news from The Emirates

      And Kolasinac, who must now enter a period of self-isolation, has become the latest Arsenal player to miss Sunday’s trip to Leeds.
      The former Schalke star is also a major doubt for the Gunners’ Europa League clash against Molde a week on Thursday.
      Arsenal are already without Mohamed Elneny for the away game at Elland Road after the Egyptian tested positive days after international team-mate Mo Salah also contracted the virus.
      The 28-year-old midfielder is showing no symptoms and is now back in Cairo isolating.

      Meanwhile, Willian will reportedly have to prove he has not got Covid-19 before being admitted back to training after jetting to Dubai.

      Current UK travel advice states international travel from England is restricted ‘except in limited circumstances such as work or education’.
      But the Gunners star posed for a photo with popular Turkish chef and butcher Nusret Gokce – aka Salt Bae – at one of his steak houses in the United Arab Emirates.
      As reported by The Telegraph, Willian is now back in England but was not forced to self-isolate.

      Arteta says Arsenal are inconsistent and something needs to be improved More

    • 200 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      Football fans could return to stadiums before Christmas as Government push for supporters in low-risk areas

      by

      FOOTBALL fans could be allowed back into stadiums as early as NEXT MONTH, according to reports.
      Premier League and Football League clubs could welcome supporters back into stadiums in December under plans drawn up by the Govenment, according to Sportsmail.

      Football fans could return to stadiums as early as next month as the Government draw up potential plans, say reportsCredit: Reuters

      The Department of Culture, Media and Sport are said to have submitted proposals which would allow fans in areas where coronavirus infection rates are low to attend games for the first time since March.
      While the Government are yet to officially agree to the proposal, the DCMS’s involvement is encouraging.
      On Tuesday, France confirmed they will not welcome fans back to stadiums until January at the earliest.
      Football fans have long bemoaned not being allowed to re-enter stadiums, while other sports and activities have welcomed back crowds, albeit in limited numbers.

      ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
      Last month, West Ham boss David Moyes vented his frustration.
      The Scot was left baffled after West Ham’s clash with Manchester City was played behind closed doors, but the match was screened in an indoor cinema just a ten-minute walk away.
      Moyes said: “People are going watch a game in a cinema, close to here, why can we not be sitting outside in the open air doing it?

      “Please come out and give us an explanation as to why we can’t do it.”

      Boris Johnson vowed to get football a much-needed financial bailout on SundayCredit: AFP or licensors

      Fans being welcomed back to stadiums would provide a much-needed cash injection to a number of clubs who are reeling from the financial repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
      On Sunday night, Boris Johnson vowed to get a football bailout ‘sorted’ as he committed to the biggest spending on infrastructure in 70 years.
      The PM ordered his minister Oliver Dowden to get the Premier League to cough up cash to help struggling clubs.
      Johnson also vowed to get fans back into stadiums when lockdown is lifted next month.
      Speaking to around 60 Northern Tory MPs on Zoom, he added: “I pledge that when we come out of lockdown on December 2 we will work to have the crowds to come back.
      “Don’t run away with it but we need to do much better and bring the fans back.”
      The current lockdown is running until December 2, as things stand.
      The first round of fixtures therefore available for fans to return begin on Saturday December 5.
      Tottenham host Arsenal in the North London derby in the pick of that weekend’s game, with Chelsea vs Leeds, Liverpool vs Wolves and West Ham vs Manchester United also to be played.
      However, stadiums will not be at capacity, with social distancing measures still strictly in place.
      In August, Brighton welcomed 2,524 fans for their side’s pre-season friendly against Chelsea, with the event a roaring success.
      Originally football bosses and the Government had hoped to get fans back into stadiums from October 3, with plans shelved after a rise in Covid cases.
      Culture secretary Dowden claimed the sheer number of fans who travel the country to follow their teams made sport a different animal to the likes of the cinemas and theatres.

      Harry Kane reveals what happened with Arsenal trial and tells Piers Morgan he won’t ever return to Tottenham rivals More