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As football restarts around Europe, France questions decision end to season early Paris (AFP) – It is the land of the world champions, but is it really a football country? That is the question some in France have been asking this week while its European neighbours work to bring the sport back after the coronavirus shutdown. Debate has raged ever since the French league decided to bring a premature end to the season in late April with 10 rounds of matches unplayed. In contrast, a fortnight has already passed since the German Bundesliga restarted. On Thursday Italy’s sports minister confirmed that Serie A will return on June 20, while La Liga and the Premier League both look set to be back underway by then. “Like idiots” was the headline on the front of L’Equipe on Friday, as the sports daily questioned why such a hasty decision was made by the league (LFP) to end the season. The LFP’s announcement at the time was based on French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s statement that the season “cannot restart” as the pandemic raged in late April. However, France has been steadily easing its lockdown in recent weeks and Philippe stated on Thursday that team sports could restart after June 21. “We will be the only major footballing country in Europe to stick to this decision and to have not conditioned it to the evolution of the pandemic and the easing of the lockdown,” wrote L’Equipe’s Vincent Duluc. France has officially recorded nearly 29,000 deaths from Covid-19, far more than Germany but fewer than Italy or the UK and fewer than Spain per head of population. France is not the only European football nation to have ended its season, with the Netherlands notably voiding the campaign altogether. Paris Saint-Germain were crowned champions for the third year running. Amiens and Toulouse were relegated and those clubs have since launched legal action. However, the leading voice against the early ending has been Jean-Michel Aulas, president of Lyon. They were seventh when the season stopped in mid-March and so were denied European qualification. Neither they nor PSG will now have any competitive action before the Champions League — in which both are still involved — is expected to restart in August. “I am fully convinced that what has happened was not for the good of the clubs or French football as a whole,” Aulas told Le Parisien. – Economic damage – His chief argument has been economic. Earlier in May the league said it would have to take out a government-guaranteed loan of some 225 million euros ($250 million) to tide over clubs impacted by the loss in income from broadcasters because so many games were left unplayed.

Paris (AFP) – It is the land of the world champions, but is it really a football country? That is the question some in France have been asking this week while its European neighbours work to bring the sport back after the coronavirus shutdown. Debate has raged ever since the French league decided to bring a premature end to the season in late April with 10 rounds of matches unplayed. In contrast, a fortnight has already passed since the German Bundesliga restarted. On Thursday Italy’s sports minister confirmed that Serie A will return on June 20, while La Liga and the Premier League both look set to be back underway by then. “Like idiots” was the headline on the front of L’Equipe on Friday, as the sports daily questioned why such a hasty decision was made by the league (LFP) to end the season. The LFP’s announcement at the time was based on French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe’s statement that the season “cannot restart” as the pandemic raged in late April. However, France ha

Where to find Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf on US TV in the Bundesliga, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30pm ET Looking to watch Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf What: Bundesliga, matchday 29 When: Game kicks off at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT; Saturday, May 30, 2020 Where: Live on FS1, TUDN, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial) With fuboTV, you can watch Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf and tons more Bundesliga games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast. Now with fuboTV, you can stream NBCSN, FS1, FS2 as well as beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Net, RAI Italia, Telemundo, Univision, Univision Deportes, UniMas, Eleven Sports, CBS, CSN, RAI Italia and YES. Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, Bundesliga, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and Euro 2020 qualifiers. The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle. Here are the steps to take to watch the Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf game with your free fuboTV trial: 1. Click on this link for the fuboTV 7-day trial. 2. Click on the red ‘Start for free’ button (see screengrab below) 3. On the login page, enter your e-mail address to sign up (or you can use your Facebook or Google logins) (see screengrab below) 4. After entering your login details and signing up for the free trial, you’ll be taken to the fuboTV main screen (see screengrab below) 5. From here, you can either scroll down the page to see the TV listings which include the Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf game (see screengrab below) 6. Or you can click on the ‘Guide’ button at the top to see all of the channels available to you, which will include FS1 featuring Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf (see screengrab below) SEE MORE: Schedule of Bundesliga games on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf on US TV in the Bundesliga, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30pm ET Looking to watch Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf What: Bundesliga, matchday 29 When: Game kicks off at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT; Saturday, May 30, 2020 Where: Live on FS1, TUDN, Sling Blue , Hulu + Live TV , AT&T TV , Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial) With fuboTV , you can watch Bayern Munich vs. Düsseldorf and tons more Bundesliga games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming serv

No room for error: fallen giants Werder Bremen battle to stay up Berlin (AFP) – They have spent more seasons in the Bundesliga than any other club but now Werder Bremen have just seven games left to avoid a humiliating relegation that would see them follow the same path to the second division taken by fallen German giants Hamburg and Stuttgart in recent years. Florian Kohfeldt’s embattled side are second from bottom of the Bundesliga before Saturday’s trip to Schalke, five points adrift of the relegation play-off position and six points from outright safety, albeit with a game in hand on their rivals. “We don’t have time for the slightest carelessness now,” admitted Kohfeldt, whose team have been given hope by their last two results, with a win at Freiburg being followed by a goalless midweek draw with Borussia Moenchengladbach. “We still have seven ‘finals’ left, and we have to stay focused.” One of those will be against Bayern Munich, against whom they lost 6-1 away in December. It is a while now since Bremen were able to compete with the very best sides in Germany, but the club from the Hanseatic city in the north of the country have a proud past. Four-time champions, they have been in the Bundesliga for every season bar one since the league’s introduction in 1963. They were relegated in 1980, but came straight back up. Werder have not appeared in Europe since the 2010-11 Champions League and it is 11 years since they lifted silverware, when Mesut Ozil scored the winner in the 2009 German Cup final against Bayer Leverkusen. That came days after Bremen reached the last-ever UEFA Cup final, which they lost to Shakhtar Donetsk. The last of their four Bundesliga titles was in 2004, a year in which they won the domestic double. – Hard times – But after a couple of close brushes with relegation in recent seasons, Bremen could now be set for the same fate as their near neighbours and arch rivals Hamburg, the former European Cup winners who dropped into the second division in 2018, in their case for the very first time. Stuttgart went the same way a year ago, another giant to have fallen on hard times while younger clubs like Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig have shaken up the established order in German football. Relegation would be an unthinkable blow for Werder, a proud club where Germany greats like Rudi Voeller and Karl-Heinz Riedle starred in the famous green shirt in the past.

Berlin (AFP) – They have spent more seasons in the Bundesliga than any other club but now Werder Bremen have just seven games left to avoid a humiliating relegation that would see them follow the same path to the second division taken by fallen German giants Hamburg and Stuttgart in recent years. Florian Kohfeldt’s embattled side are second from bottom of the Bundesliga before Saturday’s trip to Schalke, five points adrift of the relegation play-off position and six points from outright safety, albeit with a game in hand on their rivals. “We don’t have time for the slightest carelessness now,” admitted Kohfeldt, whose team have been given hope by their last two results, with a win at Freiburg being followed by a goalless midweek draw with Borussia Moenchengladbach. “We still have seven ‘finals’ left, and we have to stay focused.” One of those will be against Bayern Munich, against whom they lost 6-1 away in December. It is a while now since Bremen were able to compete with the ve

2020-05-28 Deportivo Saprissa - Limon 1-0

from Football Highlight Video https://ift.tt/2ZKvtwI

Istanbul hopes to host new, ‘historic’ Champions League final Istanbul (AFP) – Fifteen years after the “Miracle of Istanbul” that cemented Steven Gerrard’s status as a Liverpool legend, the Turkish metropolis was supposed to host its second Champions League final on Saturday. But that was before the coronavirus pandemic wreaked worldwide havoc. On March 23, UEFA suspended Champions League matches until further notice as Europe’s football competitions were hit hard by the virus. Although no date has been announced for the resumption of games, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) hopes the final will be played in August — the month when Istanbul is usually sunk into the hot and humid summer torpor. In the meantime, Turkish fans are eagerly waiting, hoping that the Istanbul final will be played. Atakan Bodan, a member of the ultrAslan, Istanbul giants Galatasaray’s main fan group, feels the suspension of the top football leagues has “robbed him of joy in his life”. “I’m holding out with the Bundesliga and a few matches in the Belarusian championship, (but) I want the Champions League to resume,” he said. “It would of course be a source of pride to host a new final in Istanbul,” Bodan said. “(Istanbul) is a city of football, we are passionate.” – ‘Ready’- All football fans remember the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul and Liverpool’s stunning comeback and penalty shoot-out victory over AC Milan after trailing 3-0 by half-time. The final of the 2020 edition was set to be held on Saturday at the same venue, the Ataturk Olympic Stadium. Today, the uncertainty reigns not only over the date of a possible resumption of the Champions League, suspended during the last 16, but also on the rest of the competition as speculation abounds whether will it return as normal, if there will be no return legs, or even if a “Final four” tournament will be staged. “Whatever the scenario — final or mini-tournament — we are ready,” said the TFF, highlighting Turkey’s infrastructure and record against the pandemic. Ankara claims to have brought “under control” the fatal virus which, according to official figures, has caused about 4,500 deaths among some 160,000 confirmed cases in the country. In terms of infrastructure, Istanbul, a major tourist destination, has a large hotel fleet. And in addition to the Ataturk Stadium, the city can make available the home grounds of Galatasaray, Fenerbahce and Besiktas, which hosted the UEFA Super Cup clinched by Liverpool against Chelsea last August.

Istanbul (AFP) – Fifteen years after the “Miracle of Istanbul” that cemented Steven Gerrard’s status as a Liverpool legend, the Turkish metropolis was supposed to host its second Champions League final on Saturday. But that was before the coronavirus pandemic wreaked worldwide havoc. On March 23, UEFA suspended Champions League matches until further notice as Europe’s football competitions were hit hard by the virus. Although no date has been announced for the resumption of games, the Turkish Football Federation (TFF) hopes the final will be played in August — the month when Istanbul is usually sunk into the hot and humid summer torpor. In the meantime, Turkish fans are eagerly waiting, hoping that the Istanbul final will be played. Atakan Bodan, a member of the ultrAslan, Istanbul giants Galatasaray’s main fan group, feels the suspension of the top football leagues has “robbed him of joy in his life”. “I’m holding out with the Bundesliga and a few matches in the Belarusian champ

Twenty-five years on: Glory for Ajax and the Bosman ruling which changed football Paris (AFP) – When Patrick Kluivert scored the winner for Ajax in the 1995 Champions League final, it might have been the start of another period of domination in Europe for the fabled Dutch side. Instead it was a victory which in many ways marked the end of an era for the club who had won the European Cup three years running in the 1970s, and for the game as a whole. Since that night a quarter of a century ago in Vienna, when the Amsterdam side defeated AC Milan 1-0, only once has a club from outwith the continent’s four leading leagues — Italy, Germany, Spain and England — lifted the trophy. That was Porto, winners in 2004 under Jose Mourinho. The Champions League final that was due to be played in Istanbul this weekend before being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic would once again have been won by one of the established giants — the only clubs not from the big four leagues when the competition was suspended were French sides Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon. Football was already changing before Ajax raised the trophy aloft at the Ernst Happel Stadium, following the introduction in 1992 of the Champions League as well as the Premier League in England. But the most fundamental change came a few months later in the shape of the Bosman ruling. In December 1995, after a five-year battle, the European Court of Justice ruled in favour of Belgian footballer Jean-Marc Bosman in his fight to be allowed to leave his club, RFC Liege, on a free transfer as his contract had expired. Previously clubs could retain the registrations of players even once their contracts finished, and demand transfer fees for them. As Bosman told the BBC in 2015, “it was illogical”. But it did help smaller clubs ward off larger predators. – Exodus – That was to be no more, and the free movement of players has helped revolutionise the game. At Ajax, that triumphant team coached by Louis van Gaal was not immediately torn apart in 1995, even if 19-year-old Clarence Seedorf left for Sampdoria and Frank Rijkaard retired. Seven of those who started in Vienna also started the 1996 final, which Ajax lost on penalties to Juventus. Then the exodus began, with Michael Reiziger and Edgar Davids heading to AC Milan for free. Kluivert, who came off the bench to prod home the winner in Vienna, ended up at Milan in 1997. Winston Bogarde made the same move.

Paris (AFP) – When Patrick Kluivert scored the winner for Ajax in the 1995 Champions League final, it might have been the start of another period of domination in Europe for the fabled Dutch side. Instead it was a victory which in many ways marked the end of an era for the club who had won the European Cup three years running in the 1970s, and for the game as a whole. Since that night a quarter of a century ago in Vienna, when the Amsterdam side defeated AC Milan 1-0, only once has a club from outwith the continent’s four leading leagues — Italy, Germany, Spain and England — lifted the trophy. That was Porto, winners in 2004 under Jose Mourinho. The Champions League final that was due to be played in Istanbul this weekend before being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic would once again have been won by one of the established giants — the only clubs not from the big four leagues when the competition was suspended were French sides Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon. Football w

Football mentor has hands full during virus lockdown London (AFP) – Fitness coach and mentor Wayne Richardson has had his hands full dealing with footballers’ mental health issues in a period of unprecedented uncertainty during the coronavirus lockdown. Richardson and his staff have spoken to about 150 players, from professionals all the way down to the grassroots during football’s hiatus. Players have reported a number of issues, from being unable to play PlayStation with their friends to a lack of training facilities at home, but there is a common thread. “Commonplace from grassroots, academy, scholar to first-team, players are finding it boring,” he told AFP by phone from his home in Manchester in northern England. “‘I cannot go to my girlfriend’s, I cannot drive here or there, go to the shop.’ We have to try and keep that in check and tell them it won’t last forever.” Richardson set up his company, Richardson Sport, with Emma Hughes in 2010. His team including fitness coaches, nutritionists, psychologists and sports mentors. Richardson, whose recent clients include Manchester United player Odion Ighalo, says uncertainty is rife among players, although some are now preparing for a return to action. “We work on some areas we don’t usually spend a lot of time on, listening to their worries,” he said. “Some don’t know if they will be asked to sign a new contract and we focus on ‘are there other options for you like another career, further education?'” – Mental health – The Professional Footballers’ Association released figures earlier this month from a survey carried out during the pandemic that showed more than a fifth of current and former players had reported being depressed or had considered self-harm. Richardson himself experienced a profoundly upsetting episode in 2006. He had spent hours talking to a footballer whose girlfriend had told him she was pregnant by somebody else. Richardson advised the player to take a paternity test. “I received a text message off one of the guys (friend of the footballer) ‘Wayne, he won’t be in tomorrow’,” said Richardson. “I will never forget this part — ‘x has been found hanged’. It just shows you don’t know what is going on behind the scenes.” Richardson said players also needed practical help. “They might have been offered new contracts and then got injured and the coach might have said unfortunately ‘we don’t know whether we can keep you on’,” he said. “That creates doubt for that player firstly in getting himself fit and what will happen next.”

London (AFP) – Fitness coach and mentor Wayne Richardson has had his hands full dealing with footballers’ mental health issues in a period of unprecedented uncertainty during the coronavirus lockdown. Richardson and his staff have spoken to about 150 players, from professionals all the way down to the grassroots during football’s hiatus. Players have reported a number of issues, from being unable to play PlayStation with their friends to a lack of training facilities at home, but there is a common thread. “Commonplace from grassroots, academy, scholar to first-team, players are finding it boring,” he told AFP by phone from his home in Manchester in northern England. “‘I cannot go to my girlfriend’s, I cannot drive here or there, go to the shop.’ We have to try and keep that in check and tell them it won’t last forever.” Richardson set up his company, Richardson Sport, with Emma Hughes in 2010. His team including fitness coaches, nutritionists, psychologists and sports mentors.

Premier League return: the issues to resolve London (AFP) – Premier League football is set to return on June 17 after a three-month coronavirus-enforced absence. Nothing realistically will stop Liverpool from being crowned English champions for the first time in 30 years. But there are a whole host of other issues to sort out, including relegation and next year’s European places, with the drama set to take place in empty, echoing stadiums. AFP Sport takes a look at what still needs to be resolved. When will Liverpool be champions? Liverpool were 25 points clear of Manchester City and just two wins away from becoming English champions for the first time since 1990 when the league was suspended in March. But while COVID-19 may have delayed their title party, nobody seriously believes it is not going to happen. Two more wins would make it mathematically impossible for City to catch Liverpool but the Reds could triumph by winning their first game if City lose at home to Arsenal on June 17. Jurgen Klopp’s men can also break two of City’s most cherished records — they need 19 points from the remaining 27 to beat the Manchester club’s total of 100 points from the 2017/18 season and they could also better City’s record title-winning margin of 19 points from the same campaign. Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson lifted the Champions League trophy in a packed stadium in Madrid last June but is preparing for a different experience this year. “Of course it would feel different because if you win any trophy and receive it without any fans there, it would be pretty strange,” he told the BBC. Champions League battle Intriguingly, the battle for the top four might instead be a battle for the top five. Liverpool are assured of their place in the Champions League and the other top-four places are currently occupied by Manchester City, Leicester and Chelsea. But as things stand, City cannot compete in Europe’s top club competition for the next two seasons after being banned for financial fair play breaches. Pep Guardiola’s side have appealed, however, and could still compete if the suspension is overturned. If it is upheld, whoever finishes fifth will take their place in next season’s Champions League. Manchester United currently occupy that position but Wolves and Sheffield United are both just two points behind Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team. Eighth-placed Tottenham and Arsenal, one spot lower, will also fancy their chances of finishing fifth with a late charge.

London (AFP) – Premier League football is set to return on June 17 after a three-month coronavirus-enforced absence. Nothing realistically will stop Liverpool from being crowned English champions for the first time in 30 years. But there are a whole host of other issues to sort out, including relegation and next year’s European places, with the drama set to take place in empty, echoing stadiums. AFP Sport takes a look at what still needs to be resolved. When will Liverpool be champions? Liverpool were 25 points clear of Manchester City and just two wins away from becoming English champions for the first time since 1990 when the league was suspended in March. But while COVID-19 may have delayed their title party, nobody seriously believes it is not going to happen. Two more wins would make it mathematically impossible for City to catch Liverpool but the Reds could triumph by winning their first game if City lose at home to Arsenal on June 17. Jurgen Klopp’s men can also break

Villa boss Smith’s father dies from coronavirus – club London (AFP) – The father of Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has died after contracting the coronavirus, the English Premier League club announced late Wednesday. Villa said 79-year-old Ron Smith, a lifelong fan of the Birmingham side, had been suffering from COVID-19 for four weeks. “The Aston Villa family are saddened to announce that Ron Smith, the father of our current head coach Dean, has passed away at the age of 79,” said a club statement. “Ron, who had recently been living in a care home after being diagnosed with dementia six years ago, contracted coronavirus four weeks ago and after a short spell in hospital passed away with his family at his side. “A lifelong supporter, Ron was a steward at Villa Park for many years and passed on his love of the club down to his children. “As well as being a regular at home games, Ron was also there to witness that greatest of days in May 1982 when Villa lifted the European Cup in Rotterdam. “The thoughts of everyone at the football club are currently with Dean and his family at this most distressing of times and we would kindly ask for the family’s privacy to be respected.” Smith is not the only Premier League boss to lose a close relative to the virus, with COVID-19 also claiming the life of the 82-year-old mother of Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola last month.

London (AFP) – The father of Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has died after contracting the coronavirus, the English Premier League club announced late Wednesday. Villa said 79-year-old Ron Smith, a lifelong fan of the Birmingham side, had been suffering from COVID-19 for four weeks. “The Aston Villa family are saddened to announce that Ron Smith, the father of our current head coach Dean, has passed away at the age of 79,” said a club statement. “Ron, who had recently been living in a care home after being diagnosed with dementia six years ago, contracted coronavirus four weeks ago and after a short spell in hospital passed away with his family at his side. “A lifelong supporter, Ron was a steward at Villa Park for many years and passed on his love of the club down to his children. “As well as being a regular at home games, Ron was also there to witness that greatest of days in May 1982 when Villa lifted the European Cup in Rotterdam. “The thoughts of everyone at the football cl

China coach Li Tie wants discipline to improve fortunes Shanghai (AFP) – Coach Li Tie is taking a tough line with his players on and off the pitch as he attempts to rescue China’s hopes of reaching the World Cup for only a second time. Li’s squad wrapped up a 17-day training camp in Shanghai Tuesday with a 4-0 victory over Chinese Super League (CSL) side Shanghai Shenhua in a friendly held behind closed doors. The CSL season has been indefinitely postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Li has been able to gather the national squad as he attempts to stamp his authority on them. Li, whose side also defeated former CSL champions Shanghai SIPG 4-1 in a friendly last week, said: “Although we have won the two warm-up games, I saw some problems and we still need to improve. “The players worked very hard and I thank them for that,” added the former Everton midfielder, who succeeded Marcello Lippi as China coach in January. “I hope that after returning to their clubs the players will always remember their identity as members of the national team and will continue to maintain high standards and strict discipline.” Brazilian-born striker Elkeson, one of three naturalised players in China’s squad, scored a penalty in the victory over FA Cup winners Shenhua. The 43-year-old Li took over from Lippi after the Italian World Cup winner quit for a second time in November following a 2-1 loss to Syria. Defeat left China fighting to keep their 2022 World Cup chances alive and Li appears to believe that discipline is crucial if they are to qualify for Qatar. Li insists that players and staff must all eat breakfast together at 8:30 am to help foster unity, state-run Beijing Youth Daily said. “Compared with his predecessor, Li Tie puts more emphasis on mental state, fighting spirit and stricter discipline,” said Oriental Sports Daily, noting “particularly strict” rules on heavy and oily food. China, who have reached the World Cup only once, in 2002, face the Maldives in their next 2022 qualifier. No date has been set because of coronavirus. China are 76th in the FIFA rankings, sandwiched between Bolivia and Uganda, and the team has long been derided at home as a national embarrassment.

Shanghai (AFP) – Coach Li Tie is taking a tough line with his players on and off the pitch as he attempts to rescue China’s hopes of reaching the World Cup for only a second time. Li’s squad wrapped up a 17-day training camp in Shanghai Tuesday with a 4-0 victory over Chinese Super League (CSL) side Shanghai Shenhua in a friendly held behind closed doors. The CSL season has been indefinitely postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Li has been able to gather the national squad as he attempts to stamp his authority on them. Li, whose side also defeated former CSL champions Shanghai SIPG 4-1 in a friendly last week, said: “Although we have won the two warm-up games, I saw some problems and we still need to improve. “The players worked very hard and I thank them for that,” added the former Everton midfielder, who succeeded Marcello Lippi as China coach in January. “I hope that after returning to their clubs the players will always remember their identity as members of the

Serie A meeting Italian Government to discover fate of season Milan (AFP) – Serie A hopes of following Germany and Spain back onto the pitch will be decided on Thursday during a meeting with the Italian government which will determine the fate of the season in football-mad Italy. Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora will tell Italian football federation and Lega Serie A bosses if the health conditions are right to return after nearly three months. The Italian season has been on hold since March 9 amid the coronavirus pandemic which has killed almost 33,000 people in the country. Football clubs returned to group training on May 19 but competitive action remains suspended until mid-June. Indications are that Spadafora and the government’s Scientific Technical Committee will agree to both the health protocol proposed and to start the season again. In the case of a favourable decision on Thursday, Lega Serie A have scheduled a meeting for Friday morning to examine “the different calendar hypotheses” for the remaining Serie A and Italian Cup matches. Lega Serie A bosses want competition to resume on the weekend of June 13-14, starting with four postponed fixtures — Atalanta-Sassuolo, Verona-Cagliari, Inter Milan-Sampdoria and Torino-Parma. They hope the season would resume fully on June 20, with the goal of awarding the league title, defining promotions and relegations, before playing Italian Cup semi-finals, with the final in early August. The closing stages of the European club competitions could also be played in August. Three Italian clubs are still in the Champions League and two in the Europa League – ‘Risking safety’ – But not everyone agrees with a return to the pitch and the packed schedule required with teams needing to play three matches a week, in hot summer conditions. Brescia and Torino, situated in the northern regions of Lombardy and Piedmont respectively, which accounted for nearly 60 percent of Italy’s COVID19 deaths, have consistently opposed to a return. “To finish this championship is forcing it in my opinion,” Brescia captain Daniele Gastaldello said this week. “It’s risking the safety of the players.” Brescia are sitting last in the league, and have nothing to gain by concluding this nightmare season. Torino president Urbano Cairo, whose club are 15th, would also gladly abandon the season. “I bow to the majority choice,” said Cairo, voicing his concerns over “the short time between the end of this season and the start of the next one,” scheduled for September 1. AC Milan’s Swedish froward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, one of the big stars of the championship, has already suffered a calf injury in training, and could be out for a month.

Milan (AFP) – Serie A hopes of following Germany and Spain back onto the pitch will be decided on Thursday during a meeting with the Italian government which will determine the fate of the season in football-mad Italy. Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora will tell Italian football federation and Lega Serie A bosses if the health conditions are right to return after nearly three months. The Italian season has been on hold since March 9 amid the coronavirus pandemic which has killed almost 33,000 people in the country. Football clubs returned to group training on May 19 but competitive action remains suspended until mid-June. Indications are that Spadafora and the government’s Scientific Technical Committee will agree to both the health protocol proposed and to start the season again. In the case of a favourable decision on Thursday, Lega Serie A have scheduled a meeting for Friday morning to examine “the different calendar hypotheses” for the remaining Serie A and Italian Cup matc

Scientist slams decision to hold Liverpool match and Cheltenham Festival London (AFP) – Liverpool’s Champions League game with Atletico Madrid and racing’s showpiece Cheltenham Festival “caused increased suffering and death” by going ahead in March, a leading scientist told the BBC on Tuesday. Professor Tim Spector, who leads the United Kingdom’s largest Covid-19 tracking project, said rates of cases locally “increased several-fold” following the events. Cheltenham attracted over 250,000 spectators to southwest England on March 10-13 and Liverpool played the Spanish side at Anfield on March 11 in front of a 52,000 crowd. Figures seen by the BBC show in the last week of March, Liverpool and Cheltenham were among the areas with the highest number of suspected cases. The figure from the Covid-19 Symptom Study show an estimated five to six percent of the population, aged 20 to 69, having symptoms in those two regions. The British government had advised that people should feel free to attend such events despite governments of other countries cancelling events at that time. Prime Minister Boris Johnson attended England’s Six Nations home game with Wales along with his then pregnant girlfriend Carrie Symonds on March 7. Britain’s Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said at the time there was “no reason for people not to attend such events or to cancel them at this stage”. Professor Spector, though, says having seen the subsequent statistics this advice was wrong. “I think sporting events should have been shut down at least a week earlier because they’ll have caused increased suffering and death that wouldn’t otherwise have occurred,” he said. – ‘No request’ – The government replied that the blame could not be laid solely at the door of the sporting events. “There are many factors that could influence the number of cases in a particular area, including population density, age, general health, and the position of an area on the pandemic curve,” it said in a statement. However, Edge Health, a firm which analyses data for Britain’s National Health Service, has estimated the Champions League match was “linked to 41 additional deaths” at nearby hospitals between 25 and 35 days later, compared with similar hospital trusts that were used as a control. Imperial College London and Oxford University have estimated Spain had around 640,000 positive coronavirus cases at the time of the match compared to 100,000 in Britain at that stage. About 3,000 Spanish spectators were present when Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool lost to Atletico in the second-leg last 16 tie.

London (AFP) – Liverpool’s Champions League game with Atletico Madrid and racing’s showpiece Cheltenham Festival “caused increased suffering and death” by going ahead in March, a leading scientist told the BBC on Tuesday. Professor Tim Spector, who leads the United Kingdom’s largest Covid-19 tracking project, said rates of cases locally “increased several-fold” following the events. Cheltenham attracted over 250,000 spectators to southwest England on March 10-13 and Liverpool played the Spanish side at Anfield on March 11 in front of a 52,000 crowd. Figures seen by the BBC show in the last week of March, Liverpool and Cheltenham were among the areas with the highest number of suspected cases. The figure from the Covid-19 Symptom Study show an estimated five to six percent of the population, aged 20 to 69, having symptoms in those two regions. The British government had advised that people should feel free to attend such events despite governments of other countries cancelling eve

Football makes gleeful return to coronavirus-scarred Wuhan Wuhan (China) (AFP) – For nearly three months football enthusiasts in Wuhan were left kicking their heels indoors as the coronavirus raged in the Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak. But since the harsh lockdown on the city of 11 million people ended in early April amateur footballers have been gleefully ripping off their face masks and lacing up their boots again. “It was a long time to be in lockdown so we had to do some exercise at home,” said Wang Zijun, 42. “I used to juggle the ball with my son at home and pass the ball to each other, and sometimes we went to the underground garage to do exercise.” Another player who finally enjoyed a run-out on a warm evening under floodlights said it was liberating to be able to kick a ball again with friends and team-mates. They did so without their masks covering their faces, although some players kept them dangling around their necks. “Before the lockdown was lifted everyone felt so oppressed,” said the 45-year-old, who would only give the surname Wen. “We need to do physical exercise. After the lockdown was lifted, we resumed training one time per week. I’m very happy.” Professional footballers were affected too. Wang Shuang, a Wuhan native and star of China’s women’s team, who are pushing for a place at the Tokyo Olympics, resorted to kicking a ball against a wall on a roof. Chinese Super League (CSL) team Wuhan Zall and third-tier Wuhan Three Towns have both returned to the central city after being forced to train elsewhere at the height of the outbreak. The CSL season was supposed to begin on February 22 but has been indefinitely postponed by the health alert, which has since eased in China.

Wuhan (China) (AFP) – For nearly three months football enthusiasts in Wuhan were left kicking their heels indoors as the coronavirus raged in the Chinese city at the epicentre of the outbreak. But since the harsh lockdown on the city of 11 million people ended in early April amateur footballers have been gleefully ripping off their face masks and lacing up their boots again. “It was a long time to be in lockdown so we had to do some exercise at home,” said Wang Zijun, 42. “I used to juggle the ball with my son at home and pass the ball to each other, and sometimes we went to the underground garage to do exercise.” Another player who finally enjoyed a run-out on a warm evening under floodlights said it was liberating to be able to kick a ball again with friends and team-mates. They did so without their masks covering their faces, although some players kept them dangling around their necks. “Before the lockdown was lifted everyone felt so oppressed,” said the 45-year-old, who woul

When China went to war on endemic football corruption Shanghai (AFP) – When Tianjin Tianhai surprisingly thrashed Rafael Benitez’s Dalian Yifang 5-1 to stay in the Chinese Super League in November, disgruntled fans were quick to allege corruption — the legacy of a murky past that exploded into scandal 10 years ago. Benitez, who led Liverpool to the 2005 Champions League title, was perplexed by one of the heaviest defeats of his coaching career, saying: “This is a game that I don’t quite understand.” Despite fan complaints to the Chinese Football Association (CFA), no case was brought and there is no evidence of wrongdoing. But the haste with which some supporters claimed match-fixing was proof that deep scars remain, a decade after a major crackdown on graft that ensnared a string of leading figures in Chinese football. Allegations of organised gambling, crooked referees and match-fixing had dogged the sport in the world’s most populous country for years. Coupled with the national side’s poor performances, fans were disillusioned, attendances suffered and sponsors fled. It was in this climate in January 2010 that Nan Yong, supremo at the CFA, and two other senior CFA figures were hauled in by police on allegations of bribe-taking and match-fixing. When police raided a Beijing villa belonging to Nan they discovered gold, diamonds and watches that he confessed he accepted from clubs and referees. In a widening corruption investigation, scores of CFA officials, club executives, referees, players and agents were questioned in the following months. According to some, the crackdown was at the behest of Xi Jinping, the then vice-president of the country who has since become China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. Xi has pledged to make China a leading football power. “It is an open secret that the chaos in Chinese soccer is not a matter of (only) one rotten egg spoiling the whole pudding,” the state-run China Daily said in January 2010, urging an overhaul. CFA officials routinely fixed matches, including national team and league games, by buying off players or referees, state media alleged. Some CFA officials also reportedly accepted pay-offs from players desperate to be in the national team — a practice that was also widespread among at club level. – Torture claim – In February 2010, Guangzhou Pharmaceuticals — who would later be rebranded as Guangzhou Evergrande, winning eight league titles and two Asian crowns — and Chengdu Blades were relegated for paying bribes. Referees began disappearing into police custody too, among them Lu Jun, who officiated at the 2002 World Cup and the Olympics, earning the nickname “Golden Whistle”.

Shanghai (AFP) – When Tianjin Tianhai surprisingly thrashed Rafael Benitez’s Dalian Yifang 5-1 to stay in the Chinese Super League in November, disgruntled fans were quick to allege corruption — the legacy of a murky past that exploded into scandal 10 years ago. Benitez, who led Liverpool to the 2005 Champions League title, was perplexed by one of the heaviest defeats of his coaching career, saying: “This is a game that I don’t quite understand.” Despite fan complaints to the Chinese Football Association (CFA), no case was brought and there is no evidence of wrongdoing. But the haste with which some supporters claimed match-fixing was proof that deep scars remain, a decade after a major crackdown on graft that ensnared a string of leading figures in Chinese football. Allegations of organised gambling, crooked referees and match-fixing had dogged the sport in the world’s most populous country for years. Coupled with the national side’s poor performances, fans were disillusioned, a

Where to find Dortmund vs Bayern Munich on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Dortmund vs Bayern Munich on US TV in the Bundesliga, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Dortmund vs Bayern Munich will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Dortmund vs Bayern Munich Kickoff: Tuesday, 12:30pm ET Looking to watch Dortmund vs Bayern Munich online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Dortmund vs Bayern Munich What: Bundesliga, matchday 28 When: Game kicks off at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT; Saturday, May 26, 2020 Where: Live on FS1, FOX Deportes, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial) With fuboTV, you can watch Dortmund vs Bayern Munich and tons more Bundesliga games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast. Now with fuboTV, you can stream NBCSN, FS1, FS2 as well as beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Net, RAI Italia, Telemundo, Univision, Univision Deportes, UniMas, Eleven Sports, CBS, CSN, RAI Italia and YES. Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, Bundesliga, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and Euro 2020 qualifiers. The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle. Here are the steps to take to watch the Dortmund vs Bayern Munich game with your free fuboTV trial: 1. Click on this link for the fuboTV 7-day trial. 2. Click on the red ‘Start for free’ button (see screengrab below) 3. On the login page, enter your e-mail address to sign up (or you can use your Facebook or Google logins) (see screengrab below) 4. After entering your login details and signing up for the free trial, you’ll be taken to the fuboTV main screen (see screengrab below) 5. From here, you can either scroll down the page to see the TV listings which include the Dortmund vs Bayern Munich game (see screengrab below) 6. Or you can click on the ‘Guide’ button at the top to see all of the channels available to you, which will include FS1 featuring Dortmund vs Bayern Munich (see screengrab below) SEE MORE: Schedule of Bundesliga games on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Dortmund vs Bayern Munich on US TV in the Bundesliga, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Dortmund vs Bayern Munich will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Dortmund vs Bayern Munich Kickoff: Tuesday, 12:30pm ET Looking to watch Dortmund vs Bayern Munich online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Dortmund vs Bayern Munich What: Bundesliga, matchday 28 When: Game kicks off at 12:30pm ET / 9:30am PT; Saturday, May 26, 2020 Where: Live on FS1, FOX Deportes, Sling Blue , Hulu + Live TV , AT&T TV , Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial) With fuboTV , you can watch Dortmund vs Bayern Munich and tons more Bundesliga games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you ca

No home rule: Bayern out to show Dortmund who’s boss Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich aim to continue the Bundesliga’s current trend of teams winning on the road behind closed doors when they face Borussia Dortmund in a potential title decider on Tuesday. Leaders Bayern arrive at second-placed Dortmund four points clear and on course for an eighth straight title. “For us this is a very decisive week,” insisted Bayern forward Thomas Mueller. “We’ve clearly set ourselves the goal of three victories this week and taking a giant step forward” towards the league title. Bayern warmed-up by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-2 at the weekend and also host relegation-threatened Fortuna Duesseldorf this Saturday. Since the Bundesliga resumed ten days ago, behind locked doors due to the coronavirus, home advantage has counted for little with 10 of the 18 games played won by the away team. Bayern and Dortmund are among only three clubs — the other being Hertha Berlin who thrashed neighbours FC Union 4-0 on Friday — to have won at home since the restart. Hansi Flick’s Bayern are eager to continue the trend and again assert their dominance over Dortmund, who they routed 4-0 in Munich last November. “We’re looking forward to Tuesday – I hope that we can show what makes us strong and leave Dortmund’s stadium with a smile,” added Mueller. Signal Iduna Park would normally be packed with 82,000 fans for a visit of Bayern, but the terraces will remain empty on Tuesday. “It will still be a hard day’s work,” Mueller added. “We’re marching, Dortmund is marching.” Dortmund winger Raphael Guerreiro is in form with three goals in his last two games and was on the scoresheet in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Wolfsburg. The Portugal star also netted twice in the 4-0 rout of arch rivals Schalke the previous weekend in the Ruhr derby. Dortmund are waiting on the fitness of key defender Mats Hummels, who injured his Achilles’ tendon at Wolfsburg. In the Bayern camp, midfielder Thiago Alcantara has a groin strain while centre-back Jerome Boateng picked up a leg knock on Saturday. Having beaten Bayern 2-0 at home in the pre-season Super Cup match last August and 3-2 in the league in November 2018, Dortmund are eager to again send the Bavarians home disappointed. “I hope we can get the next victory,” said Dortmund’s Swiss centre-back Manuel Akanji. “Since I’ve been here, we’ve always lost to Bayern away, but won at home. I want to keep this series going.”

Berlin (AFP) – Bayern Munich aim to continue the Bundesliga’s current trend of teams winning on the road behind closed doors when they face Borussia Dortmund in a potential title decider on Tuesday. Leaders Bayern arrive at second-placed Dortmund four points clear and on course for an eighth straight title. “For us this is a very decisive week,” insisted Bayern forward Thomas Mueller. “We’ve clearly set ourselves the goal of three victories this week and taking a giant step forward” towards the league title. Bayern warmed-up by beating Eintracht Frankfurt 5-2 at the weekend and also host relegation-threatened Fortuna Duesseldorf this Saturday. Since the Bundesliga resumed ten days ago, behind locked doors due to the coronavirus, home advantage has counted for little with 10 of the 18 games played won by the away team. Bayern and Dortmund are among only three clubs — the other being Hertha Berlin who thrashed neighbours FC Union 4-0 on Friday — to have won at home since the rest

From ‘dust’ to glory, Liverpool’s ‘miracle’ of Istanbul Paris (AFP) – Steven Gerrard said Liverpool did not “believe in miracles” and Jamie Carragher thought his “dreams had turned to dust”, but 15 years ago Rafael Benitez’s side pulled off one of football’s greatest heists to beat AC Milan in the Champions League final. The English side were underdogs before kick-off in Istanbul despite edging out Chelsea in the semi-finals and a strong Juventus outfit in the last eight, but were completely written off when 3-0 down at half-time in their bid for a fifth European Cup. But, roared on by 40,000 travelling supporters in the club’s first final in the competition since the Heysel disaster of 1985, Liverpool fought back in a crazy six-minute spell before eventually triumphing on penalties. The much-fancied Milan, who had won the title in 2003 at Old Trafford, took the lead inside 50 seconds through captain Paolo Maldini’s volley — the first time Liverpool had conceded first in a Champions League game since their famous group-stage win over Olympiakos. It was to get worse for Liverpool as, with defensive midfielder Dietmar Hamann sitting on the bench despite a brilliant performance against Chelsea, winger Harry Kewell hobbled off injured midway through the first half. “The 2007 (Milan) team was technically inferior to the 2005 team, who remain the best team with the best performance in a final,” then-Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti later said when asked about the teams he took to three Champions League finals, winning the other two, including against Liverpool in 2007. “The 2005 team were better than the one in 2003.” That class shone in a blistering first-half display by the Italian giants, as Hernan Crespo tapped in after a rapid 39th-minute counter-attack which started with Liverpool appealing for a penalty after an apparent handball by Maldini. “The quality of (Andrea) Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf and Kaka cut us to shreds,” Gerrard later wrote in his autobiography. – Gattuso ‘thought it was all over’ – Just when it looked like Liverpool might limp into half-time only two goals behind, Milan delivered what appeared to be the killer blow as Kaka’s defence-splitting pass released Crespo to chip a sumptuous finish over the advancing Jerzy Dudek. “You could just tell by Gennaro Gattuso’s demeanour that he thought it was over,” said Gerrard. “All I was thinking of then was, ‘How do we get a bit of pride and respect back?'” Carragher wrote in his autobiography: “My dreams had turned to dust.

Paris (AFP) – Steven Gerrard said Liverpool did not “believe in miracles” and Jamie Carragher thought his “dreams had turned to dust”, but 15 years ago Rafael Benitez’s side pulled off one of football’s greatest heists to beat AC Milan in the Champions League final. The English side were underdogs before kick-off in Istanbul despite edging out Chelsea in the semi-finals and a strong Juventus outfit in the last eight, but were completely written off when 3-0 down at half-time in their bid for a fifth European Cup. But, roared on by 40,000 travelling supporters in the club’s first final in the competition since the Heysel disaster of 1985, Liverpool fought back in a crazy six-minute spell before eventually triumphing on penalties. The much-fancied Milan, who had won the title in 2003 at Old Trafford, took the lead inside 50 seconds through captain Paolo Maldini’s volley — the first time Liverpool had conceded first in a Champions League game since their famous group-stage win over Ol

Football clubs forced to rethink recruitment strategy as virus impacts transfer market Paris (AFP) – Around Europe, football is waking up from the coronavirus shutdown, but it is different to before for players and supporters and it is changing behind the scenes too. While the German Bundesliga returns in stadiums devoid of fans, the sport is preparing for an economic crisis which will impact all levels of the game. That will be particularly visible in the transfer market, where it has become the norm to see leading clubs splash out 100 million-euro fees. Damien Comolli has observed events from afar having left his role at Turkish club Fenerbahce in January. The ex-Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur sporting director told AFP he foresees fees dropping by “between 30 and 50 percent compared to the usual prices, and a reduction of 70-75 percent in terms of activity.” In particular, the loss to clubs from matchday revenue as a result of games being played behind closed doors will impact budgets. When it comes to signing players, those in charge of recruitment at clubs have also simply not been able to do their jobs. – Time to take stock – “The biggest part of my job is following up on targets for the next transfer windows,” says Martyn Glover, head of scouting and recruitment at English Premier League side Southampton. Scouts usually spend much of their time clocking up road and air miles to watch prospective signings in action. “I would expect to be abroad every week at some point,” says Glover, who previously worked at Everton. “I might fly to Paris to watch PSG and then the next day to Germany to watch somebody else. My week would probably be three or four live games of football.” Robert McKenzie has a similar a role at Belgian second-tier outfit Leuven, who in 2017 were taken over by King Power, the Thai owners of Leicester City. Usually he would be on the road watching up to 20 games a month, eyeing up targets. “The current situation obviously has significant implications for what has historically been the most important part of the process: the assessment of players in live games,” he tells AFP. “I do often think to myself when will be the next time I’m actually sat in a football stadium watching a game? Who knows!” However, he acknowledges that the shutdown has afforded him the luxury of time to take stock and assess options. In contrast, Newcastle United made headlines when their head of recruitment, Steve Nickson, was placed on furlough along with the whole scouting department, stopping a crucial section of the club from functioning.

Paris (AFP) – Around Europe, football is waking up from the coronavirus shutdown, but it is different to before for players and supporters and it is changing behind the scenes too. While the German Bundesliga returns in stadiums devoid of fans, the sport is preparing for an economic crisis which will impact all levels of the game. That will be particularly visible in the transfer market, where it has become the norm to see leading clubs splash out 100 million-euro fees. Damien Comolli has observed events from afar having left his role at Turkish club Fenerbahce in January. The ex-Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur sporting director told AFP he foresees fees dropping by “between 30 and 50 percent compared to the usual prices, and a reduction of 70-75 percent in terms of activity.” In particular, the loss to clubs from matchday revenue as a result of games being played behind closed doors will impact budgets. When it comes to signing players, those in charge of recruitment at clubs h

‘Not on pitch but on console’: Euro 2020 kicks off without footballers Paris (AFP) – Euro 2020 may have been swept from the calendar due to coronavirus, but UEFA’s video-game eTournament version kicks off on Saturday regardless. Instead of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo racing around the pitch, gamers will slug it out, contesting the first ever eEuro from their armchairs. “The weight of the whole thing is on our shoulders,” said 21-year-old Frenchman Lotfi Derradji, who comes from the Paris suburbs but ‘plays’ for Monaco where he was crowned French champion in 2018. “We will represent France not on the pitch but on the console, we’re getting huge amounts of support,” said Derradji’s international and club teammate, Walid Rachid Tebane, who won the individual European title in June 2019. “We are disappointed that the Euros have been postponed but at the same time it switches more attention on to us,” added Derradji, who has been playing with international French striker – and gaming enthusiast – Antoine Griezmann. These two bespectacled eSports professionals earn 2,000-6,000 euros a month, but can boost that with the 40,000 euros up for grabs this weekend and its commercial tie-ins. – Electronic version – Using a Playstation console, the group matches are a single two-versus-two contest. Matches in the knockout stages will be best of three contests and a mixture of one-versus-one and two-versus-two. The final will be best of five. “A Kylian Mbappe will always be more fluid to play with than a Mitroglou but in the game he isn’t better than him,” explains Derradji, referring to Kostas Mitroglou a Greek striker who is on Marseille’s books. “It will never replace real football though, let’s not get carried away. “It’s not always easy to convince people about an event where the competitors are sat down.” But the popularity of on-line games such as Fortnite and League of Legends with a young audience is seen by UEFA as a sign that the landscape is changing. UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein says the lockdown has been a boon for eSports. “The (games and emergence of gamers) represent an opportunity to be seized,” he says. “We have seen an explosion of events over the past few months because it represents an alternative for sports fans,” he told AFP. “And some of them have attracted significant audiences.” He added: “We hope for a minimum of four million viewers over the weekend.” “We have seen that fans deprived of sports are tuning in to watch esports competitions even if they had never done that before.”

Paris (AFP) – Euro 2020 may have been swept from the calendar due to coronavirus, but UEFA’s video-game eTournament version kicks off on Saturday regardless. Instead of Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane or Cristiano Ronaldo racing around the pitch, gamers will slug it out, contesting the first ever eEuro from their armchairs. “The weight of the whole thing is on our shoulders,” said 21-year-old Frenchman Lotfi Derradji, who comes from the Paris suburbs but ‘plays’ for Monaco where he was crowned French champion in 2018. “We will represent France not on the pitch but on the console, we’re getting huge amounts of support,” said Derradji’s international and club teammate, Walid Rachid Tebane, who won the individual European title in June 2019. “We are disappointed that the Euros have been postponed but at the same time it switches more attention on to us,” added Derradji, who has been playing with international French striker – and gaming enthusiast – Antoine Griezmann. These two bespectacl

Where to find Gladbach vs. Leverkusen on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Gladbach vs. Leverkusen on US TV in the Bundesliga, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Gladbach vs. Leverkusen will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Gladbach vs. Leverkusen Kickoff: Saturday, 6:30am ET Looking to watch Gladbach vs. Leverkusen online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Gladbach vs. Leverkusen What: Bundesliga, matchday 27 When: Game kicks off at 6:30am ET / 6am PT; Saturday, May 23, 2020 Where: Live on FS2, FOX Deportes, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial) With fuboTV, you can watch Gladbach vs. Leverkusen and tons more Bundesliga games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast. Now with fuboTV, you can stream NBCSN, FS1, FS2 as well as beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Net, RAI Italia, Telemundo, Univision, Univision Deportes, UniMas, Eleven Sports, CBS, CSN, RAI Italia and YES. Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, Bundesliga, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and Euro 2020 qualifiers. The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle. Here are the steps to take to watch the Gladbach vs. Leverkusen game with your free fuboTV trial: 1. Click on this link for the fuboTV 7-day trial. 2. Click on the red ‘Start for free’ button (see screengrab below) 3. On the login page, enter your e-mail address to sign up (or you can use your Facebook or Google logins) (see screengrab below) 4. After entering your login details and signing up for the free trial, you’ll be taken to the fuboTV main screen (see screengrab below) 5. From here, you can either scroll down the page to see the TV listings which include the Gladbach vs. Leverkusen game (see screengrab below) 6. Or you can click on the ‘Guide’ button at the top to see all of the channels available to you, which will include FS2 featuring Gladbach vs. Leverkusen (see screengrab below) SEE MORE: Schedule of Bundesliga games on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Gladbach vs. Leverkusen on US TV in the Bundesliga, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Gladbach vs. Leverkusen will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Gladbach vs. Leverkusen Kickoff: Saturday, 6:30am ET Looking to watch Gladbach vs. Leverkusen online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Gladbach vs. Leverkusen What: Bundesliga, matchday 27 When: Game kicks off at 6:30am ET / 6am PT; Saturday, May 23, 2020 Where: Live on FS2, FOX Deportes, Sling Blue , Hulu + Live TV , AT&T TV , Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial) With fuboTV , you can watch Gladbach vs. Leverkusen and tons more Bundesliga games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game

Where to find Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund on US TV in the Bundesliga, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund Kickoff: Saturday, 9:30am ET Looking to watch Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund What: Bundesliga, matchday 27 When: Game kicks off at 9:30am ET / 6:30am PT; Saturday, May 23, 2020 Where: Live on FS1, UniMas, TUDN, Sling Blue, Hulu + Live TV, AT&T TV, Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial) With fuboTV, you can watch Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund and tons more Bundesliga games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Roku, Apple TV or hook it up to your TV with Google Chromecast. Now with fuboTV, you can stream NBCSN, FS1, FS2 as well as beIN SPORTS, beIN SPORTS en Español, beIN SPORTS Connect, NBC (in select cities), CNBC, USA, FOX (in select cities), FOX Soccer Plus, FOX Deportes, FOX Sports Net, RAI Italia, Telemundo, Univision, Univision Deportes, UniMas, Eleven Sports, CBS, CSN, RAI Italia and YES. Plus fuboTV, the legal streaming service, also streams Serie A, La Liga, Liga MX, World Cup, Women’s World Cup, MLS, UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Primeira Liga, Ligue Un, World Cup qualifiers, Bundesliga, select USMNT games, select USWNT games, select Mexico games, select England games and Euro 2020 qualifiers. The fuboTV app is available for Windows PC, Mac, Apple iPhone, Apple iPad, Apple TV, Android smartphones, Android tablets, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Amazon Kindle. Here are the steps to take to watch the Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund game with your free fuboTV trial: 1. Click on this link for the fuboTV 7-day trial. 2. Click on the red ‘Start for free’ button (see screengrab below) 3. On the login page, enter your e-mail address to sign up (or you can use your Facebook or Google logins) (see screengrab below) 4. After entering your login details and signing up for the free trial, you’ll be taken to the fuboTV main screen (see screengrab below) 5. From here, you can either scroll down the page to see the TV listings which include the Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund game (see screengrab below) 6. Or you can click on the ‘Guide’ button at the top to see all of the channels available to you, which will include FS1 featuring Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund (see screengrab below) SEE MORE: Schedule of Bundesliga games on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund on US TV in the Bundesliga, you’ve come to the right place. For viewers in the US, Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund will be shown on TV and streaming (more details below). Match: Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund Kickoff: Saturday, 9:30am ET Looking to watch Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action. We Recommend: US Only. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming: Who: Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund What: Bundesliga, matchday 27 When: Game kicks off at 9:30am ET / 6:30am PT; Saturday, May 23, 2020 Where: Live on FS1, UniMas, TUDN, Sling Blue , Hulu + Live TV , AT&T TV , Vidgo and fuboTV (free trial) With fuboTV , you can watch Wolfsburg vs. Dortmund and tons more Bundesliga games with a 7-day trial. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on