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Showing posts from August, 2020

Unfit, poor diet: Arnautovic ‘underestimated’ Chinese football Shanghai (AFP) – Marko Arnautovic says he underestimated the Chinese Super League after joining last year from West Ham United, admitting “I didn’t look after my body” and gorged on fizzy drinks. The Austrian forward signed for Shanghai SIPG for a reported 25 million euros and despite scoring nine goals in 15 games, came in for criticism in some quarters. “I underestimated it, I was not fit enough, I didn’t prepare myself as I should,” the 31-year-old said. “I didn’t train, I didn’t look after my body, I was eating, I was drinking fizzy drinks — Sprite, Coca-Cola, Fanta — all these sugar drinks that are not good for the body. “Eating at wrong times. Not sleeping because when I came to China it took me about three weeks until I could adapt to the time. “I went to bed at 6, 7 o’clock in the morning. I woke up 3, 4 o’clock in the afternoon, went to training, stayed up again all night, eating at wrong times.” Arnautovic, who joined SIPG in July last year, has made a fast start to the coronavirus-delayed new season. Playing alongside former Chelsea star Oscar and the Brazilian forward Hulk, Arnautovic has scored five goals in eight CSL matches to help SIPG make an unbeaten start to the campaign. He also laid on an assist for Oscar with a clever backheel in a recent 2-1 win over title rivals Beijing Guoan. “I don’t need to hear from any media, or I don’t need to hear it from any fans, the criticism,” said Arnautovic, previously also of Stoke City and Inter Milan. “I am my biggest critic so if I don’t do well I will tell myself, ‘You didn’t do well, you need to do better.'”

Shanghai (AFP) – Marko Arnautovic says he underestimated the Chinese Super League after joining last year from West Ham United, admitting “I didn’t look after my body” and gorged on fizzy drinks. The Austrian forward signed for Shanghai SIPG for a reported 25 million euros and despite scoring nine goals in 15 games, came in for criticism in some quarters. “I underestimated it, I was not fit enough, I didn’t prepare myself as I should,” the 31-year-old said. “I didn’t train, I didn’t look after my body, I was eating, I was drinking fizzy drinks — Sprite, Coca-Cola, Fanta — all these sugar drinks that are not good for the body. “Eating at wrong times. Not sleeping because when I came to China it took me about three weeks until I could adapt to the time. “I went to bed at 6, 7 o’clock in the morning. I woke up 3, 4 o’clock in the afternoon, went to training, stayed up again all night, eating at wrong times.” Arnautovic, who joined SIPG in July last year, has made a fast start to t

2020-08-31 Sport Boys - Melgar 1-0

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2020-08-31 Universidad Cesar Vallejo - Sport Huancayo 2-0

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2020-08-31 Academia Cantolao - Sporting Cristal 2-6

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2020-08-31 Cienciano - Universitario 1-3

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Italian clubs covet Messi but seek cheaper options Rome (AFP) – While some Serie A clubs are eyeing Lionel Messi longingly, their mantra as they prepare for the transfer window is “financial prudence”. The notion of Messi resuming his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo is appealing. And Italy offers possible tax advantages for Messi, who has had issues in that area in Spain. The Italian media has fuelled the dreams of Serie A fans by reporting this summer that his father Jorge Messi had bought an apartment in Milan. In recent seasons, even the top Serie A clubs have generally avoided competing in the transfer market with the wealthiest clubs in Spain, England and France and the coronavirus crisis has many clubs insisting they will be even more careful. Italian clubs value experience and, at 35, Ronaldo, one of the few stars to arrive from abroad for a big fee in recent seasons, will remain the headliner at Juventus. But the club have recognised that before they set off in pursuit of a 10th consecutive title they need to rejuvenate an ageing squad. They have brought in 41-year-old Andrea Pirlo for his first head coaching job and acquired 24-year-old Brazilian Arthur from Barcelona in a deal which saw 30-year-old Miralem Pjanic go the other way, covering nearly all of the theoretical 72-million-euro ($86-million) fee. Juventus are taking 22-year-old American Weston McKennie from Schalke on loan and allowing 33-year-old Frenchman Blaise Matuidi to leave for David Beckham’s Inter Miami. They are reportedly trying to usher out 33-year-old Sami Khedira and 32-year-old Gonzalo Higuain. Higuain, whom Juve snatched from Napoli in 2016 for 90 million euros, reportedly wants a payoff to cover the final year of his contract before leaving. Yet, proving that experience still counts for the Bianconeri, 34-year-old Roma centre-forward Edin Dzeko has reportedly been targeted to replace Higuain. Also in the veteran category is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at almost 39, who has signed for another season with AC Milan. Deprived of the Champions League since 2014, the club sees him as a mentor for a talented young generation which finished the season in style with a 12-match unbeaten streak in the league. – ‘Not a mascot’ – “I’m not here to be a mascot, but to help the club get back to where it deserves to be,” said Zlatan, who returned on Saturday to prepare for the new season, which starts on September 19. The highly sought-after and talented 20-year-old Sandro Tonali of Brescia could be part of Milan’s rebuilding. As for Inter, who chased Juve home last season, the aim is to strengthen the midfield, where Christian Eriksen, who arrived cheaply in January from Tottenham, has not so far been the answer. Antonio Conte, a manager with a reputation for seeking players who can deliver at once, is reportedly looking for experience in midfield and Italian media have mentioned 33-year-old Chilean Arturo Vidal of Barcelona and 29-year-old N’Golo Kante of Chelsea. Conte coached Vidal at Juventus and Kante at Chelsea. Inter have already added speedy 21-year-old Morocco international right-back Achraf Hakimi from Dortmund. Both Atalanta and Lazio, third and fourth last season, are banking on continuity. Lazio on Monday extended the contract of last season’s Serie A top scorer Ciro Immobile, who is 30, until 2025. In this generally cautious market, Napoli, desperate to return to the Champions League, have made the biggest splash, signing Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen from Lille for a fee of up to 80 million euros. But that means Napoli must sell and they have agreed to allow Brazilian midfielder Allan to join Everton. Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly could soon follow to England. Meanwhile, former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who ran AC Milan during an era when Serie A attracted almost all the most expensive stars, is making waves at Serie B club Monza, acquiring Dane Christian Gytkjaer and Croatian international Mirko Maric, the top scorers in last season’s Polish and Croatian leagues.

Rome (AFP) – While some Serie A clubs are eyeing Lionel Messi longingly, their mantra as they prepare for the transfer window is “financial prudence”. The notion of Messi resuming his rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo is appealing. And Italy offers possible tax advantages for Messi, who has had issues in that area in Spain. The Italian media has fuelled the dreams of Serie A fans by reporting this summer that his father Jorge Messi had bought an apartment in Milan. In recent seasons, even the top Serie A clubs have generally avoided competing in the transfer market with the wealthiest clubs in Spain, England and France and the coronavirus crisis has many clubs insisting they will be even more careful. Italian clubs value experience and, at 35, Ronaldo, one of the few stars to arrive from abroad for a big fee in recent seasons, will remain the headliner at Juventus. But the club have recognised that before they set off in pursuit of a 10th consecutive title they need to rejuvenate an

Barcelona hold their breath as Messi weighs up pre-season return Madrid (AFP) – The first indication of how determined Lionel Messi is to leave Barcelona and how ugly this dispute could become will be gauged at the club’s training ground on Sunday. Barca’s greatest ever player is due at the Ciutat Esportiva on Sunday morning for coronavirus tests, which must be taken and passed if he is to join Ronald Koeman’s first pre-season session on Monday. Messi’s attendance or absence will be his first public demonstration since the burofax that stated his intention to leave for free arrived in the offices of Camp Nou on Tuesday evening and shocked the world of football. Barcelona’s newly-appointed sporting director Ramon Planes said on Wednesday the expectation was Messi would be present on Sunday for testing and then training on Monday as usual. But while Messi was initially inclined to comply and avoid escalating tensions further, his lawyers have since advised him to stay away, Catalunya Radio were reporting on Saturday. Taking part in the team’s pre-season programme ahead of La Liga starting on September 12 could damage his legal case if his departure ends up being settled in court. Barcelona insist a clause included in Messi’s contract that allowed him to go for free this summer had to be activated by June 10 and is therefore no longer valid. The only way Messi will be allowed to depart, the club argue, is through his release clause, set at 700 million euros ($833 million) until his contract expires on June 30, 2021. But Messi’s side believe the clause refers not to a specific date but to 10 days after the end of the season, which this year was extended into August due to the pandemic, with the Champions League final only played last weekend. If the Argentinian refuses to show up for tests on Sunday, and by extension pre-season training on Monday, it will suggest there is no going back. The assumption will be that Messi is prepared to do whatever it takes to quit the club he joined as 13-year-old boy, and where most expected him to continue all the way through to retirement. – Barca standing firm, for now – Instead, bitterness and resentment could accompany the unthinkable process of Messi being punished by Barcelona for absence, in the form of fines or a reduction in salary. If he returns, those supporters who stormed Camp Nou in protest this week, may feel an inkling of hope. Cajoled by team-mates — although many of them expect to leave too — Messi could be persuaded to stay. Mundo Deportivo, the Barcelona daily with close links to the board, wrote on Saturday how the club is adamant the Argentinian will remain. “The more the days go by, the firmer the board and president Josep Maria Bartomeu are in not moving from their position,” it read. “Which is not to sell and, if possible, to renew the contract of Messi.” Yet every stance is arguably now a negotiating ploy and Messi’s return on Sunday might only offer false hope to the fans. Bartomeu made it known through the Spanish press on Thursday that he would resign if Messi said publicly that he was the problem and agreed to change his mind. But Messi has instead asked for a meeting, not to negotiate, but to begin facilitating an amicable and dignified departure. “Messi’s decision to leave Barca irreversible,” read Diario Sport on Saturday. Manchester City remain favourites to sign the 33-year-old, whose basic salary alone amounts to around 60 million euros. If Barcelona and Messi decide to avoid a lengthy legal process, a compromise selling price of around 100 million euros could be within reach for City, while eliminating their less wealthy rivals. Messi has reportedly spoken to City coach Pep Guardiola already but others remain in the running, including Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Juventus. The Italian sides would likely require a much-reduced price to afford any deal. But Juve might view the chance to combine Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as an historic sporting and commercial opportunity too good to pass up. All of them will be watching eagerly on Sunday.

Madrid (AFP) – The first indication of how determined Lionel Messi is to leave Barcelona and how ugly this dispute could become will be gauged at the club’s training ground on Sunday. Barca’s greatest ever player is due at the Ciutat Esportiva on Sunday morning for coronavirus tests, which must be taken and passed if he is to join Ronald Koeman’s first pre-season session on Monday. Messi’s attendance or absence will be his first public demonstration since the burofax that stated his intention to leave for free arrived in the offices of Camp Nou on Tuesday evening and shocked the world of football. Barcelona’s newly-appointed sporting director Ramon Planes said on Wednesday the expectation was Messi would be present on Sunday for testing and then training on Monday as usual. But while Messi was initially inclined to comply and avoid escalating tensions further, his lawyers have since advised him to stay away, Catalunya Radio were reporting on Saturday. Taking part in the team

2020-08-29 Alianza Lima - Cusco FC 0-0

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Neymar, Nike part ways after 15 years Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Nike said Saturday it had parted ways with Neymar, ending one of its most high-profile sponsorship deals a decade and a half after signing the star striker as a 13-year-old prodigy. “I can confirm Neymar is no longer a Nike athlete,” a spokesman for the US sportswear giant, Josh Benedek, said in an email to AFP, without giving further details. Media reports said the 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil talisman was in talks with Nike’s German rivals Puma. Brazilian news site UOL said Neymar and Nike had failed to reach a deal on how much money he would be paid for renewing his contract. It said negotiations between the company and the footballer’s agents had run into trouble months ago. Neymar’s communications team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Puma likewise did not immediately respond to questions about reports the company was in talks to sign him. Neymar, who is fresh off the heartbreak of narrowly losing the Champions League final to Bayern Munich, currently holds the record for the most expensive football transfer in history. PSG paid 222 million euros to bring him from Barcelona in 2017. Forbes magazine, which ranks him the world’s seventh highest-paid celebrity, estimates his earnings for this year, including sponsorship deals, at $95.5 million.

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Nike said Saturday it had parted ways with Neymar, ending one of its most high-profile sponsorship deals a decade and a half after signing the star striker as a 13-year-old prodigy. “I can confirm Neymar is no longer a Nike athlete,” a spokesman for the US sportswear giant, Josh Benedek, said in an email to AFP, without giving further details. Media reports said the 28-year-old Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil talisman was in talks with Nike’s German rivals Puma. Brazilian news site UOL said Neymar and Nike had failed to reach a deal on how much money he would be paid for renewing his contract. It said negotiations between the company and the footballer’s agents had run into trouble months ago. Neymar’s communications team did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Puma likewise did not immediately respond to questions about reports the company was in talks to sign him. Neymar, who is fresh off the heartbreak of narrowly losing the Champions Lea

Sydney FC bank on big-game experience in A-League final Sydney (AFP) – Sydney FC coach Steve Corica believes his “big-game players” will give the team a key advantage over Melbourne City on Sunday as they gun for back-to-back A-League Grand Final titles. The Sky Blues have been dominant this year, winning the domestic premiership with four games of the coronavirus-interrupted regular season left, to ensure a spot in the play-offs despite a late form slump. They regained their mojo to overcome Perth Glory 2-0 in the semi-finals and head into the decider on home turf as hot favourites to become the first team to be crowned champions five times. Seven of their starting line-up against Perth were involved in last year’s final while Socceroo Ryan McGowan and German playmaker Alex Baumjohann have brought a wealth of European experience in their first campaign. “It definitely helps. Big-game players, they’ve got the experience,” Corica said. “They’ve been there before. A lot of them played in the game last year.” “It definitely plays a part but you just have to back up on Sunday and make sure we obviously get the tactics right and put on another performance like that,” he added. “Because you’re going to need another one like that to beat a very good Melbourne City team.” In the A-League’s 15-year history, only one team has successfully defended a championship title — Brisbane Roar in 2012 — and Corica is fully aware of the significance of winning on Sunday. “There’s only one team in the history of the A-League to go back to back so that would be a very good achievement from the club,” he said. In contrast to Sydney’s success, Erick Mombaerts’ City are in their first Grand Final, looking to emulate Roar, who also won on their maiden appearance, under former Australia coach Ange Postecoglou in 2011. The French tactician, who began his coaching career with Paris Saint-Germain, has revolutionised the side since taking over 14 months ago, encouraging free-flowing football and high-intensity attacking. But he said only a win on Sunday would make their season a success. “I’m very happy that this situation happened with me,” he said after they beat Western United 2-0 in the semis. “We have done a very good season, it’s a first time to reach a final but now we have one more game to win. “It’s not enough to reach the final. Now it’s very important to expect to win this.” They will be heavily relying on striker Jamie Maclaren to keep hitting the target after his 22 goals in the regular season saw him crowned Golden Boot winner. The A-League kicked off last October and was nearing the end of its regular season when it was suspended in mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Rebooting the event proved a logistical nightmare with borders between some Australian states shut, but it finally resumed in July.

Sydney (AFP) – Sydney FC coach Steve Corica believes his “big-game players” will give the team a key advantage over Melbourne City on Sunday as they gun for back-to-back A-League Grand Final titles. The Sky Blues have been dominant this year, winning the domestic premiership with four games of the coronavirus-interrupted regular season left, to ensure a spot in the play-offs despite a late form slump. They regained their mojo to overcome Perth Glory 2-0 in the semi-finals and head into the decider on home turf as hot favourites to become the first team to be crowned champions five times. Seven of their starting line-up against Perth were involved in last year’s final while Socceroo Ryan McGowan and German playmaker Alex Baumjohann have brought a wealth of European experience in their first campaign. “It definitely helps. Big-game players, they’ve got the experience,” Corica said. “They’ve been there before. A lot of them played in the game last year.” “It definitely pla

Where to find Arsenal vs. Liverpool Community Shield on US TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Arsenal vs. Liverpool in the US, we have all of the details for you about the FA Community Shield. The match will be shown live on US streaming (and you can watch it on your TV too). Cup: Community Shield Genre: Sports Looking to watch English soccer matches online from your office, 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 via legal streaming: Who: Arsenal vs. Liverpool What: FA Community Shield When: Game kicks off at 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT; Saturday, August 29, 2020 Where: Live on ESPN+ With ESPN+, you can watch Arsenal vs. Liverpool and tons more soccer games with a monthly subscription. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One. Now with ESPN+, you can Bundesliga, stream Serie A, UEFA Nations League, Championship, League One, League Two, FA Cup, League Cup, Copa America, US Open Cup, International Champions Cup, Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Eredivisie, Danish Superliga, Chinese Super League, Indian Super League, Australian A-League, Sweden’s Allsvenskan, MLS out-of-market games and USL. ESPN+ is only $5.99/month. In addition to all of the soccer coverage, ESPN+ also includes UFC, MLB, MLS, NHL, select PGA TOUR golf, Top Rank Boxing, cricket and Grand Slam tennis from Wimbledon to the US Open and Australian Open. Plus you get instant access to your favorite college sports like football, basketball, lacrosse, softball and more. There’s also the daily ESPN FC show, 30 For 30 documentaries, exclusive access to studio programs and more. Even better, ESPN is now offering the Disney+ bundle that includes ESPN+, Hulu and Disney+ for only $12.99 per month. Not only do you get all of the soccer with ESPN+, but you also get hit movies and TV shows with Hulu AND you get Disney+ that features Star Wars, Marvel movies, Disney movies and shows, films from Pixar and feature documentaries from National Geographic. SEE MORE: Schedule of Premier League games on US streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Arsenal vs. Liverpool in the US, we have all of the details for you about the FA Community Shield. The match will be shown live on US streaming (and you can watch it on your TV too ). Cup: Community Shield Genre: Sports Looking to watch English soccer matches online from your office, 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 via legal streaming: Who: Arsenal vs. Liverpool What: FA Community Shield When: Game kicks off at 11:30am ET / 8:30am PT; Saturday, August 29, 2020 Where: Live on ESPN+ With ESPN+ , you can watch Arsenal vs. Liverpool and tons more soccer games with a monthly subscription. With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your computer, smartphone, tablet, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Chromecast, PlayStation 4 and XBOX One. Now with ESPN+, y

Referees ‘damaging reputation’ of Chinese football: state media Shanghai (AFP) – Chinese Super League referees are under coming under increasing fire, with state media Friday accusing “the judges in black” of damaging the reputation of the country’s top football competition. Former Marseille forward Romain Alessandrini was sent off Thursday during Qingdao Huanghai’s 2-1 defeat by Hebei China Fortune, among three red cards and a penalty dished out in two matches that evening. The latest controversial calls sparked intense discussion among fans and media about the quality of officiating in the CSL, which in 2017 introduced foreign referees for some matches to improve standards. Mark Clattenburg, the former Premier League referee, and Serbian Milorad Mazic were drafted in last year. However, because of coronavirus travel restrictions, matches this season are all officiated by Chinese referees. After seven rounds of games, four of the 16 clubs — including Rafael Benitez’s Dalian Pro — have complained to the Chinese FA about decisions against them, said Sohu Sports. “Referees frequently steal the spotlight,” Sohu said. There has also been consternation about the inconsistent use of the video-assistant referee and the time it has often taken to reach a conclusion after consulting VAR. “Controversies and penalties by local referees continue to damage the reputation of the league,” state-run Shanghai Observer said in a headline. “The Chinese Super League must call back foreign referees to enforce key games.” “Once again, the judge in black inexplicably grabs our attention,” it added, referring to Thursday’s matches. Frenchman Alessandrini, who has been one of the stars of the coronavirus-delayed campaign, could face further punishment after spitting following his sending-off. He got his marching orders in the 78th minute for kicking out at Pan Ximing after the Hebei defender scythed him down from behind. Pan escaped without being booked by referee Zhang Lei. Zhang instead booked Hebei’s Zhang Chengdong, who was later sent off for a second yellow card which also left many scratching their heads. But Friday’s Oriental Sports Daily said Chinese fans frequently make referees the scapegoat. “Thousands of mistakes are always the fault of the referee,” it said in a column. “There is a saying in Brazil that everyone is a head coach. In the current Super League in China, everyone is a referee.” CSL coaches and players face stiff bans if they talk about match officials or confront them, and journalists are not allowed to ask questions about referees in press conferences. Then Shanghai SIPG coach Andre Villas-Boas was hit with an eight-game touchline ban in 2017 after “insulting” a referee.

Shanghai (AFP) – Chinese Super League referees are under coming under increasing fire, with state media Friday accusing “the judges in black” of damaging the reputation of the country’s top football competition. Former Marseille forward Romain Alessandrini was sent off Thursday during Qingdao Huanghai’s 2-1 defeat by Hebei China Fortune, among three red cards and a penalty dished out in two matches that evening. The latest controversial calls sparked intense discussion among fans and media about the quality of officiating in the CSL, which in 2017 introduced foreign referees for some matches to improve standards. Mark Clattenburg, the former Premier League referee, and Serbian Milorad Mazic were drafted in last year. However, because of coronavirus travel restrictions, matches this season are all officiated by Chinese referees. After seven rounds of games, four of the 16 clubs — including Rafael Benitez’s Dalian Pro — have complained to the Chinese FA about decisions against them

MLS’s Garber condemns RSL owner comments, league probes report of racist remarks Los Angeles (AFP) – Major League Soccer will investigate a report of racist comments by Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen, the league said Thursday. In the report by The Athletic, former RSL head scout Andy Williams recounted incidents of racist comments that he alleged were made by Hansen. “We are deeply concerned about the allegations made in a report published this evening concerning language used by and the conduct of Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen,” MLS said in a statement. “Major League Soccer has zero tolerance for this type of language or conduct and will immediately commence an investigation.” That announcement came shortly after MLS commissioner Don Garber condemned comments Hansen made on his players’ decision to sit out a game Wednesday in protest of the police shooting of James Blake in Wisconsin. Hansen told a Salt Lake City radio station he was upset about the boycott, taking the decision to skip the game as a personal insult. “It’s like someone stabbed you and then you’re trying to figure out a way to pull the knife out and move forward,” Hansen told radio station KXRK. “The disrespect was profound to me personally.” Real and visiting Los Angeles FC decided not to play about an hour before their scheduled kickoff, following the lead of the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks and several Major League Baseball and MLS squads who sat down in protest of police shootings of African-Americans, including that of Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Five of six scheduled MLS matches on Wednesday were not played. “I appreciate Dell Loy Hansen’s efforts to build the sport of soccer in Utah,” Garber said in a statement, commending Hansen’s commitment not only to MLS but also to women’s and youth soccer. “However, I strongly disagree with the comments he made today, the way they were expressed, and they do not reflect the views of MLS. “This is a time for all of us to work together in the pursuit of racial equality and social justice,” Garber said. The Athletic report put a further spotlight on Hansen, who also owns the National Women’s Soccer League’s Utah Royals. “The allegations regarding Dell Loy Hansen contained in published reports are shocking and run counter to everything the NWSL stands for,” the NWSL said in a statement. “We will immediately begin an investigation, and if these reports are substantiated, take all appropriate actions.”

Los Angeles (AFP) – Major League Soccer will investigate a report of racist comments by Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen, the league said Thursday. In the report by The Athletic, former RSL head scout Andy Williams recounted incidents of racist comments that he alleged were made by Hansen. “We are deeply concerned about the allegations made in a report published this evening concerning language used by and the conduct of Real Salt Lake owner Dell Loy Hansen,” MLS said in a statement. “Major League Soccer has zero tolerance for this type of language or conduct and will immediately commence an investigation.” That announcement came shortly after MLS commissioner Don Garber condemned comments Hansen made on his players’ decision to sit out a game Wednesday in protest of the police shooting of James Blake in Wisconsin. Hansen told a Salt Lake City radio station he was upset about the boycott, taking the decision to skip the game as a personal insult. “It’s like someone stabbed yo

Lampard must deliver after Chelsea spending spree London (AFP) – Chelsea coach Frank Lampard is under pressure to deliver a serious Premier League title challenge after a spending spree fuelled by his desire to catch champions Liverpool. Lampard showed promise in his first season by steering the Blues into the Champions League with a fourth place domestic finish. But Arsenal exposed the flaws that were visible in Lampard’s side all season with a 2-1 win against their London rivals in the FA Cup final. Having finished 33 points behind the Reds and 15 adrift of second placed Manchester City last term, the response from the Stamford Bridge hierarchy has been emphatic. City set the record for the biggest total spend by a Premier League club when Pep Guardiola splashed out £223.8 million ($295 million) ahead of the 2017-18 season. But Chelsea are on course to shatter that mark. After enduring a transfer ban in the 2019 summer window before failing to sign a single player during the 2020 January market, owner Roman Abramovich sanctioned the kind of money-is-no-object recruitment drive that was commonplace when he first bought the club. After relying on a cadre of promising youngsters to kick-start his reign, Lampard has prioritised proven talents in the transfer market. He paid a combined £141 million for Leipzig striker Timo Werner, Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech and Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell. The west Londoners are expected to wrap up their £90 million swoop for Bayer Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz this week, which would take them past City’s record spree. Malang Sarr has also arrived on a free transfer after the 21-year-old centre-back left Nice, but he is seen as one for the future and will be sent on loan. That won’t be the end of Lampard’s overhaul as Brazilian centre-back Thiago Silva is set to join Chelsea for free this week after leaving Paris Saint-Germain following their Champions League final defeat. Lampard will hope the lavish investment reaps the same rewards for his club as City enjoyed in 2018, when they were crowned champions thanks in large part to the spending of owner Sheikh Mansour. – Great expectations – Chelsea have not won the Premier League since 2017, failing to finish in the top two since then as City and Liverpool established a formidable duopoly. Klopp’s side will be the team to beat when the new campaign kicks off on September 12 and City can never be discounted while Guardiola is in charge. But Chelsea are in the title conversation after bringing in so many quality additions. Now it is up to Lampard to ensure his team fulfil those burgeoning expectations. Often frustrated by Chelsea’s failure to break down stubborn, defensive opponents last season, Lampard must find a way to harness the talents of Christian Pulisic, Werner and Ziyech in what should be a vibrant front three. Together with Havertz and Chilwell, those five were involved in a mammoth 131 goals in all competitions for their respective teams last season. Lampard can also call on Tammy Abraham, Olivier Giroud and Callum Hudson-Odoi to freshen up his attack. Getting a disparate group of new recruits to gel successfully is no easy task. But scoring goals shouldn’t be a problem and Lampard will hope Silva and Chilwell can solidify a defence that often conceded far too easily last term. Chelsea allowed 54 league goals last season, 21 more than Liverpool and 19 more than City. Chilwell should be an upgrade on Marcos Alonso and Emerson at left-back. The 35-year-old Silva is expected to provide leadership and experience at the heart of the defence, but it remains to be seen how he adapts to the unique physical demands of the Premier League. Kepa Arrizabalaga, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper, was dropped towards the end of the season, but veteran back-up Willy Caballero is not significantly better than the error-prone Spaniard. If Lampard can land a new keeper before the window shuts, he will be perfectly placed to turn Chelsea’s from pretenders to genuine title contenders.

London (AFP) – Chelsea coach Frank Lampard is under pressure to deliver a serious Premier League title challenge after a spending spree fuelled by his desire to catch champions Liverpool. Lampard showed promise in his first season by steering the Blues into the Champions League with a fourth place domestic finish. But Arsenal exposed the flaws that were visible in Lampard’s side all season with a 2-1 win against their London rivals in the FA Cup final. Having finished 33 points behind the Reds and 15 adrift of second placed Manchester City last term, the response from the Stamford Bridge hierarchy has been emphatic. City set the record for the biggest total spend by a Premier League club when Pep Guardiola splashed out £223.8 million ($295 million) ahead of the 2017-18 season. But Chelsea are on course to shatter that mark. After enduring a transfer ban in the 2019 summer window before failing to sign a single player during the 2020 January market, owner Roman Abramovich sanctio

2020-08-27 Melgar - Carlos Stein 0-2

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2020-08-27 Universitario - Universidad Universidad San Martin 2-0

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Henderson expects Liverpool to make statement against Arsenal London (AFP) – Jordan Henderson has urged Liverpool to show their hunger to retain the Premier League title when they face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Saturday. Just five weeks after Liverpool captain Henderson lifted the Premier League trophy, Jurgen Klopp’s side kick off the new season in the glamour friendly at Wembley. While their Premier League title defence doesn’t get underway until September 12, the Reds are keen to lay down an early marker to their title rivals. Henderson knows FA Cup winners Arsenal will pose a good test of Liverpool’s desire for more silverware after beating the champions 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium late last season. Liverpool have been getting back to business at a training camp in Austria and England midfielder Henderson is pleased with the attitude he has seen from his team-mates so far. “We’ve been cracking on, really working hard. New season, new start and a lot more things we want to go on and achieve,” Henderson told Liverpool’s website. “I’m really excited to see what we can do this season, another big season for us. Hopefully we can take confidence from the last year or two but we need to stay hungry and need to keep the desire to go and want more. “I can certainly see that from the first days that I’ve watched training in pre-season.” Having ended the club’s 30-year wait to win the English title, just a year after clinching the Champions League crown, it would be understandable if Henderson and company took their foot off the gas this term. Klopp has yet to make any major new signings and they will face a renewed challenge from Manchester City, big-spending Chelsea and Manchester United’s emerging young side. But Henderson, whose team finished 18 points ahead of second-placed City, has no doubts Liverpool are up to the task of keeping their rivals at bay. – ‘Always wanting more’ – “You’ve got to look at the players in the squad and the manager as well, it’s always about looking forward and wanting more and improving,” he said. “Just to keep going and win as many trophies as we can because we’ve proven that over the last few years we’re a top team. “Pre-season is no different. You’ve got to train so hard to be ready for the first game of the season, which for us comes against Arsenal in the Community Shield. “We’ve got to be right at it come that first game and we’ve got another chance to win silverware. “After that, the Premier League starts pretty quick after that as well, so you need to be ready.” For Arsenal, the curtain-raiser to the new season offers Gunners boss Mikel Arteta an opportunity to gauge his side’s progress heading into his first full campaign in charge. The Spaniard’s impressive work after arriving from Manchester City in December culminated in FA Cup glory against Chelsea, a success keyed by Arteta’s astute tactics and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s brace. Since that memorable victory, Aubameyang has kept Arsenal waiting as they try to persuade him to extend a contract that expires at the end of this season. Arteta is confident Arsenal’s captain will commit his long-term future to the club, while Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi could be brought back from exile after being banished towards the end of last season. Ozil and Guendouzi were frozen out over Arteta’s concerns about their commitment and attitude respectively. “I have been really clear that everybody starts from zero,” Arteta said. “All the time in football, what you did two weeks ago or two years ago doesn’t matter. It is what you are able to contribute to the team now so everybody is going to have the same opportunities. “They have to show with their performance and attitude that they are better than their team-mates or they are somehow contributing to what we want to achieve this season.”

London (AFP) – Jordan Henderson has urged Liverpool to show their hunger to retain the Premier League title when they face Arsenal in the Community Shield on Saturday. Just five weeks after Liverpool captain Henderson lifted the Premier League trophy, Jurgen Klopp’s side kick off the new season in the glamour friendly at Wembley. While their Premier League title defence doesn’t get underway until September 12, the Reds are keen to lay down an early marker to their title rivals. Henderson knows FA Cup winners Arsenal will pose a good test of Liverpool’s desire for more silverware after beating the champions 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium late last season. Liverpool have been getting back to business at a training camp in Austria and England midfielder Henderson is pleased with the attitude he has seen from his team-mates so far. “We’ve been cracking on, really working hard. New season, new start and a lot more things we want to go on and achieve,” Henderson told Liverpool’s website.

Barbra Banda: Zambian woman footballer packing a punch in China Shanghai (AFP) – Barbra Banda defied her parents on the way to becoming the first Zambian woman to play professional football in Europe, then as captain led her country to a maiden Olympics. She is also an undefeated boxer. Not bad for someone who is still only 20. The latest chapter in Banda’s journey saw her leave Spain for China, where she had to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks ahead of the new season because of the coronavirus. Underlining that Banda is not one to waste time, the prolific striker scored just 23 minutes into her debut Sunday in the Chinese Women’s Super League for Shanghai Shengli. It was some goal, Banda picking the ball up just inside her own half, racing past two defenders and slotting home as Shanghai won 5-0. She scored twice more on Wednesday. “I started playing football when I was a very tender age, it was somewhere between six or seven years old,” Banda told AFP by telephone from the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming, where the league is taking place behind closed doors because of the pandemic. “Actually by the time I started, I used to play with boys because the academy that I was playing for didn’t have the lady’s team.” That made Banda tougher. “Whether anyone made a comment about me I was just determined because I really wanted to play football,” she said. “I thought it was my career so I wouldn’t mind what people say, I’ll keep on playing with the boys.” Her parents, concerned that football was damaging her schooling and saying it was not a sport for girls, were another obstacle. “In fact I just used to run away,” said Banda, who was born in the Zambian capital Lusaka, laughing at the memory from when she was a single-minded 11-year-old. “I just had to get my boots (from home) without them knowing that I’m going to play football because if they know this they won’t allow me. “I would throw them (boots) out the window, then go out the door, and they’d think maybe she’s just going outside, and then I’d go round to get them.” – Boxer, Olympian – Banda has justified her devotion to football, spending 15 productive months in Spain with EDF Logrono before moving to China in January. In March, just as coronavirus was bringing almost all sport to a halt, the then-19-year-old captained Zambia’s women to qualify for their first Olympics, upsetting the odds. It is fair to say that her parents are now fully behind her. “It’s just brought the happiness in the country and everyone now is talking about women’s football because in Africa it’s not really that developed,” said Banda, who has scored at least 28 goals in 32 games for the “Copper Queens”. “So they were only concentrating on men’s teams, but now at least they’re talking about women.” The Tokyo 2020 Games were put back a year because of the virus, delaying also Zambia’s historic tilt at a medal, but Banda says it means they now have more time to prepare. It is a reflection of Banda’s sporting prowess that it is not inconceivable that she could have made it to Tokyo by another route — as a boxer. Inspired by compatriot Catherine Phiri, who held a world title in 2016-2017, Banda tried boxing at the age of 16. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she had the talent for it, racking up five victories in five professional fights. “Actually I’m good, I’m very good,” she said. Banda then had to make a choice, but after all she had battled with, there could be only one winner.woman “My mind was too much into football so that’s why I couldn’t concentrate much into boxing,” she said. “I said I have to go with the way I’m more comfortable with.”

Shanghai (AFP) – Barbra Banda defied her parents on the way to becoming the first Zambian woman to play professional football in Europe, then as captain led her country to a maiden Olympics. She is also an undefeated boxer. Not bad for someone who is still only 20. The latest chapter in Banda’s journey saw her leave Spain for China, where she had to quarantine in a hotel for two weeks ahead of the new season because of the coronavirus. Underlining that Banda is not one to waste time, the prolific striker scored just 23 minutes into her debut Sunday in the Chinese Women’s Super League for Shanghai Shengli. It was some goal, Banda picking the ball up just inside her own half, racing past two defenders and slotting home as Shanghai won 5-0. She scored twice more on Wednesday. “I started playing football when I was a very tender age, it was somewhere between six or seven years old,” Banda told AFP by telephone from the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming, where the league is taking

2020-08-26 Corinthians - Fortaleza 0-1

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2020-08-26 Cusco FC - Sport Boys 2-0

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2020-08-26 Ayacucho FC - Sport Huancayo 1-1

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2020-08-26 UTC Cajamarca - Universidad Cesar Vallejo 1-3

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2020-08-26 Mannucci - Deportivo Llacuabamba 1-0

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Messi divorce: ‘bombshell’ fax signals end of era, legal fight at Barcelona Madrid (AFP) – Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave — on a free transfer — in a “bombshell” fax on Tuesday that is expected to trigger a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Signalling the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi is the record scorer and has won four Champions League titles, the disgruntled Argentine wants to terminate his contract “unilaterally” by triggering a release clause, a source told AFP. Relations have plummeted this year and speculation swirled about Messi’s departure after this month’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich, which left Barca without a trophy for the first time since 2007. The 33-year-old’s demand sparked protests against Barcelona’s under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu outside the Camp Nou where Messi, synonymous with the club’s most successful period, is worshipped by fans. “I don’t see him anywhere else. I can’t believe it,” said Ruben Tejero, 28, one of about 100 fans at the stadium calling for Bartomeu to resign. “I prefer to think it’s an ultimatum given to management for Bartomeu to go.” Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan are among those to have been linked to Messi, who is among the greatest players in history and has wages to match, with a reported weekly salary of nearly a million euros. – Drastic changes – Barcelona have yet to react officially but are understood to believe Messi’s release clause expired in June, and that he remains under contract until the end of the 2021 season. “In principle, this clause expired on June 10, but the unusual nature of this season disrupted by the coronavirus opened the way for Messi to ask to be released from his contract now,” wrote Spanish sports daily Marca. “It’s the first step towards opening negotiations over his departure, on the basis of which his release clause amounts to 700 million euros ($828 million).” Messi joined Barcelona’s youth academy at the age of 13 and made his debut in 2004 as a 17-year-old, before going on to score a club record 634 goals. But his future at Barca was thrown into serious doubt by the 8-2 loss to Bayern, the first time Barca had conceded eight goals in a game since losing to Sevilla 8-0 in the 1946 Spanish Cup. The defeat has sparked drastic changes. Coach Quique Setien was sacked after barely six months in charge, and sporting director Eric Abidal was also dismissed. According to Spanish media, Messi met with new coach Ronald Koeman last week and told the Dutchman he saw himself “more out than in” at the club. Koeman has vowed to “fight to put Barca back on top” and said at his unveiling he was hopeful Messi would remain at the club for several more years. But Koeman has reportedly told Luis Suarez he is no longer part of Barca’s plans, delivering a similar message to Arturo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic and Samuel Umtiti. – ‘Rock bottom’ – “The club needs changes,” said defender Gerard Pique following the Bayern demolition. “Nobody is untouchable, least of all me. Fresh blood is needed to change this. We’ve hit rock bottom.” Argentine sports daily Ole described Messi’s wish to leave as a “complete bombshell”, but he has had regular disagreements with the club’s board in recent times. The Lisbon loss, Barca’s heaviest in Europe, exposed an ageing team that Messi repeatedly had said was simply not good enough. He said it in February and again in July, when a rant in the aftermath of handing Real Madrid the title turned into a brutal, but honest, assessment of their season. As his relationship with the club hierarchy grew increasingly strained, Messi also reacted publicly when Abidal appeared to blame the players for the sacking of Ernesto Valverde in January. He also led the fightback from the Barcelona players over a dispute with the board in March regarding pay cuts during the coronavirus pandemic. “Respect and admiration, Leo. All my support, friend,” tweeted Barca great Carles Puyol, a long-time former team-mate of Messi, to which Suarez replied with two applause emojis. Vidal also tweeted: “When you shut a tiger in a cage he doesn’t give in, he fights back.”

Madrid (AFP) – Six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi told Barcelona he wants to leave — on a free transfer — in a “bombshell” fax on Tuesday that is expected to trigger a legal battle over a buy-out clause worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Signalling the end of an era at Barcelona, where Messi is the record scorer and has won four Champions League titles, the disgruntled Argentine wants to terminate his contract “unilaterally” by triggering a release clause, a source told AFP. Relations have plummeted this year and speculation swirled about Messi’s departure after this month’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich, which left Barca without a trophy for the first time since 2007. The 33-year-old’s demand sparked protests against Barcelona’s under-fire president Josep Maria Bartomeu outside the Camp Nou where Messi, synonymous with the club’s most successful period, is worshipped by fans. “I don’t see him anywhere else. I can’t believe it,” s

From Ballon d’Or to abject humiliation: why Messi seeks pastures new Madrid (AFP) – When Lionel Messi won an unprecedented sixth Ballon d’Or in December last year, the speculation had already begun over his career at Barcelona. The 33-year-old Argentine footballing genius was increasingly unable single-handedly to rescue his imploding club, as he had done so often in the past. Barcelona, despite lifting the La Liga title, had collapsed at the end of the 2018-19 season, losing a 3-0 semi-final lead, including two Messi goals, to Liverpool in the Champions League. They then dropped the Copa del Rey final 2-1 to Valencia, where the Argentine was again on the scoresheet, this time though just a late consolation. But all that paled in comparison to Barca’s barren 2020, capped by a shocking humiliation in Lisbon. – Bayern embarrassment – The abject 8-2 quarter-final embarrassment against Bayern Munich in Lisbon 12 days ago meant a first season since 2007 without a trophy for Barcelona. It marked the first time Barca had conceded eight goals in a game since losing to Sevilla 8-0 in the 1946 Spanish Cup. But far more significant than that, it convinced the twinkle-toed talisman his final footballing years lay elsewhere. The fallout was immediate. Coach Quique Setien was sacked after barely six months in charge while sporting director Eric Abidal was also dismissed. Even the appointment of former Camp Nou fan favourite Ronald Koeman as head coach last week could not convince Messi to stay. The Dutchman has indicated he will embark on a clear-out and, at 33 years old, Messi must feel he doesn’t have time to wait until Koeman’s rebuilt Barca are able to challenge Europe’s elite. On Tuesday, Messi informed Barcelona he wanted “unilaterally” to terminate his contract by triggering a release clause, sending shockwaves across the world of sport. There will be no shortage of clubs eager to employ Messi, who could be snapped up on a free transfer, but the favourites look to be Manchester City, led by his former Barcelona mentor Pep Guardiola. They were close to European glory again this season, and the addition of four-time Champions League winner Messi could give the Guardiola the X-factor he needs to win the one trophy missing from the Manchester City cabinet. The growing turmoil enveloping Barcelona has been reflected in Messi’s diminishing statistics. Though he managed 31 goals in all games during the virus-interrupted campaign just ended, it was his lowest return since 2007-08, when he was just 20. – Irreplaceable – Barcelona have insisted in the past they had plans for coping with Messi’s retirement, whenever it came, but the truth is their number 10 is irreplaceable. He has spent his entire professional career with Barcelona, winning a club-record 33 trophies, including 10 La Ligas, four UEFA Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups and six Spanish Cups. Equally effective as a mesmerising playmaker or lethal goalscorer, Messi holds the records for most goals and most hat-tricks in La Liga and has scored more than 700 senior goals for club and country. But his greatest year was long ago. In the 2011-12 season, under Guardiola, he became Barcelona’s all-time top goalscorer at just 24 years old, breaking Cesar Rodriguez’s 232 goal mark which had stood for 57 years. That year Messi netted a Liga record 50 goals on the way to a European all-time record season tally of 73, breaking Gerd Mueller’s 67 goals scored in the 1972–73 German season. Almost a decade on, Messi still harbours unfulfilled ambitions, including another Champions League crown and an elusive major trophy with Argentina to add to his 2008 Olympic gold. With time running out on a career that has seen a record six Ballon d’Ors and six Golden Shoes, those are major factors in convincing him to end his playing days away from the club that has been his home since he arrived as a 13-year-old.

Madrid (AFP) – When Lionel Messi won an unprecedented sixth Ballon d’Or in December last year, the speculation had already begun over his career at Barcelona. The 33-year-old Argentine footballing genius was increasingly unable single-handedly to rescue his imploding club, as he had done so often in the past. Barcelona, despite lifting the La Liga title, had collapsed at the end of the 2018-19 season, losing a 3-0 semi-final lead, including two Messi goals, to Liverpool in the Champions League. They then dropped the Copa del Rey final 2-1 to Valencia, where the Argentine was again on the scoresheet, this time though just a late consolation. But all that paled in comparison to Barca’s barren 2020, capped by a shocking humiliation in Lisbon. – Bayern embarrassment – The abject 8-2 quarter-final embarrassment against Bayern Munich in Lisbon 12 days ago meant a first season since 2007 without a trophy for Barcelona. It marked the first time Barca had conceded eight goals in a game

2020-08-25 Deportivo Municipal - Cienciano 0-1

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