German Bundesliga from Sept 18
Frankfurt: Germany will start the 2020-21 season with cup games on September 11 before the Bundesliga resumes September 18. The winter break has been cut short to fit the season between postponed European tournaments. The calendar published Friday by the German soccer federation has the league starting more than a month after it did in 2019-20. That allows space for the Champions League and Europa League mini-tournaments in August and a block of national-team games. The Bundesliga will end May 22, in time for the European Championship, which start June 11 after being pushed back a year amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Super Cup is normally the German season-opener, but it’s been delayed to Sept. 30. To squeeze a full schedule of games between the postponed European tournaments, there’s an extra round of midweek games and the winter break has been slashed. (AP)
Miranda extends FC Goa stay as assistant coach
Mumbai: Former India midfielder Clifford Miranda has signed a contract extension with FC Goa to stay on as their assistant coach, the club announced on Friday. The 37-year-old will now be an integral part of the club’s coaching staff under new head coach Juan Ferrando for the upcoming Indian Super League season, as well as the AFC Champions League campaign. “I’m delighted to continue my tenure at FC Goa and want to help the team succeed in the coming season,” Clifford said in a media release. “I’m also looking forward to working with our new Head Coach Juan and together taking this team to new heights. Being able to work with FC Goa in the AFC Champions League is another exciting prospect for me,” he added. Under Miranda, who was guiding the team till the end of the season after head coach Sergio Lobera was sacked in January this year, FC Goa finished top of the ISL standings and subsequently became the first ever Indian club to book a place in the group stages of the AFC Champions League. Miranda, who has 44 caps for India, recently completed his AFC Pro Diploma Coaching course. (PTI)
Injured Henderson to miss rest of season for Liverpool
Liverpool: Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson will miss the rest of the season because of a left knee injury, manager Jürgen Klopp said Friday. The England midfielder was hurt in the second half of the 3-1 win at Brighton in the Premier League on Wednesday. Klopp said Henderson will not require surgery. “He won’t play again this season,” Klopp said, “but I am pretty positive he will start the new season for us.” (AP)
Wimbledon to allocate prize money despite cancellation
Wimbledon: Wimbledon will pay out $12.5 million in prize money to 620 players despite the tournament’s cancellation because of the coronavirus pandemic, the All England Club said Friday. After consulting with its insurance provider, club officials said 256 players who would have competed in the main draw will each receive 25,000 pounds ($31,000), while 224 players who would have competed in qualifying will each receive 12,500 pounds ($15,600). “Immediately following the cancellation of The Championships, we turned our attention to how we could assist those who help make Wimbledon happen,” All England Club chief executive Richard Lewis said. In addition, 120 players who would have competed in doubles will each receive 6,250 pounds ($7,800); 16 players who would have competed in the wheelchair events will each receive 6,000 pounds ($7,500); and four players who would have competed in the quad wheelchair events will each receive 5,000 pounds ($6,200). (AP)
Perez fastest in 1st practice for F1 Styrian GP in Austria
Spielberg: Racing Point driver Sergio Perez posted the fastest time in the first practice session for the Styrian Grand Prix on Friday. He was .096 seconds quicker than Red Bull driver Max Verstappen and .222 ahead of Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas, who won last Sunday’s season-opening Austrian GP. World champion Lewis Hamilton for Mercedes was fourth quickest in sunny conditions at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. After struggling in qualifying last week, Ferrari added a new front wing but Sebastian Vettel was only 10th fastest. The session was briefly interrupted after about 30 minutes, when the engine on Nicholas Latifi’s Williams car cut out and he pulled over to the side. There is a second practice later Friday. The GP is changing names from last week yet is still being held at the same track. It is surrounded by the Styrian mountains which is now being named after. (AP)
F1 adds inaugural Tuscan GP and Russian GP to 2020 calendar
Spielberg (Austria): Formula One added the inaugural Tuscan Grand Prix and Russian GP to this year’s race calendar on Friday. The Tuscan GP at the Mugello circuit will be held on Sept. 13, the week after the Italian GP in Monza. They will be followed by the Russian GP at the Sochi Autodrom on Sept. 27. It brings the number of races this season to 10, all in Europe, with F1 still hopeful of holding 15-18 races and finishing the season in December with races in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi. “We had great start to our season in Austria last weekend and we are increasingly confident in our plans to race throughout the remainder of 2020,” F1 chairman Chase Carey said. “We are equally excited to see Formula 1 race for the first time at Mugello, an occasion that will mark Ferrari’s 1000th Grand Prix.” Mugello is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) from Florence. (AP)
Indonesia to renovate venues of 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup
Jakarta: Hosts Indonesia will carry out renovation on six sports stadiums officially selected as venues for the 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the organizing committee of the event said on Friday. Iwan Budianto, Deputy Chairman of the Indonesia FIFA U-20 World Cup Organizing Committee (INAFOC), said that the committee has decided to start restoring the venues in August. “Because the grass will appropriately grow within four to five months,” he said at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Stadium in Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta. The 2021 FIFA U-20 World Cup is scheduled to be staged from May 20 to June 12, 2021. The official added that the committee has been waiting for legal support, namely a presidential instruction and a presidential decree, ahead of staging the prestigious international sports event. Secretary of the Indonesian Youth and Sports Ministry Gatot Dewa Broto said that the ministry is certain that both the legal supports will be available by the end of July. (UNI)