Atletico-Chelsea match in Champions League moved to Romania
Nyon, Feb 10: The Champions League match between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea will take place in Romania this month because of pandemic-related restrictions on travel from England. The first leg of the last-16 matchup will be played in the Arena Nationala in Bucharest on Feb. 23 instead of in Madrid on the same day, UEFA said. Chelsea said it will host the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 17. Four Premier League teams have already seen the venues switched for their next games in Europe because of concerns about an aggressively transmissible COVID-19 variant spreading in England. Liverpool and Manchester City are both headed to Budapest, Hungary, for Champions League matches against Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach, respectively, in the next two weeks. (AP)
Man United, Arsenal games in Europa League moved to Italy
Nyon, Feb 10: Manchester United and Arsenal had their next Europa League games moved to Italy because of pandemic-related restrictions on travel from England. UEFA said the home stadium of Juventus in Turin will stage Man United facing Real Sociedad in the first leg of the round of 32 on Feb. 18. It should have been a home game for the Spanish side. Arsenal’s visit to Lisbon to play Benfica on the same date has been moved to Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Four Premier League teams have this week denied their next European opponent home advantage. Concerns about an aggressively transmissible COVID-19 variant spreading in England required the games to be switched to neutral venues. Liverpool and Manchester City are both headed to Budapest, Hungary, for Champions League matches against Leipzig and Borussia Mönchengladbach, respectively, in the next two weeks. (AP)
Di Maria doubtful for PSG match at Barça in Champions League
Paris, Feb 10: Paris Saint-Germain winger Angel Di Maria will likely miss the team’s Champions League game at Barcelona next week, coach Mauricio Pochettino said. In PSG’s 2-0 victory over Marseille on Sunday, the 32-year-old Argentina international limped off early with a right thigh injury. Barcelona hosts PSG in the round-of-16 first leg next Tuesday. “His participation in the match against Barcelona is compromised,” Pochettino said in a news conference. “His absence isn’t a reason to change our ideas. We’ll find the best available solutions.” Pochettino spoke ahead of the team’s French Cup match on Wednesday against Caen in the Normandy region. “Angel has played a lot and he’s an important player for us. But there are other players who can play and enable us to win matches,’ the coach said. (AP)
Hyderabad FC extends head coach Marquez’s term for 2 years
Panaji, Feb 10: Indian Super League side Hyderabad FC has extended head coach Manuel Manolo Marquez’s contact for two years, the club said on Wednesday. The 52-year-old Spaniard, who joined Hyderabad in August 2020, has signed a deal which will keep him with the side till the end of the 2022-23 season. “The continuity at the club, with players as well as the staff is really good. When things are working well, you should not change much, so I am very pleased to sign the new contract,” Marquez said in a statement issued by the club. “Sometimes the second year is more difficult than the first. This season, we are a surprise to the league but next season, I am sure will not be the same. There will be more pressure, but if we work hard, and strive to improve like we did in this season, we can surely have a good season, next year as well.” (PTI)
Tsegay sets new world indoor record in 1,500m
Lievin (France), Feb 10: Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia set a new 1,500 meters indoor world record by finishing in 3 minutes 53.09 seconds at a meet in northern France. A world bronze medalist, Tsegay followed the fast tempo set by the pacemaker and held on to prevail over double European indoor champion Laura Muir and her teammate Melissa Courtney-Bryant. Muir set a new British indoor record by running 3:59.58. “I’m very happy to set a world indoor record,” Tsegay said. “I have been training really hard and I set myself a target to break the world indoor record.” Tsegay took more than two seconds off the previous record set by Genzebe Dibaba in 2014. (AP)
Argentina’s Velez suspends players charged with sexual abuse
Buenos Aires, Feb 10: Argentina’s top flight soccer team Vélez Sarsfield suspended two players charged with sexual abuse of a woman during a party at the end of 2020. Striker Thiago Almada, a young prospect of the club, and defender Miguel Brizuela were charged by prosecutors specialized in gender violence in San Isidro, north of Buenos Aires, where the accuser made the complaint. The accuser said she was sexually abused by several people during a party at the house of Martin Lucero, who also plays for Velez. The celebration was illegal because it had more than the 10 guests allowed by local authorities amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Velez said in a statement that the players were set apart from its squad after the charges became public. The club has a protocol against gender violence in its statutes. Velez said club psychologists will track the players. (AP)
Mumbai Marathon on May 30
New Delhi, Feb 10: The Tata Mumbai Marathon will be held on May 30, event promoters Procam International have said. The full marathon, half marathon, and 10 kilometre runs will be conducted on ground with limited participation while participants from around the country and abroad can participate via the event’s app. The marathon has traditionally been taking place on the third Sunday of January since it was first held in 2004. (Agencies)