Page 99 - Football

Bundesliga generated $4.5 billion amid pandemic last season

Germany's top division soccer clubs generated the third highest revenue figures ever last season, despite the coronavirus pandemic. Revenue for the 18 Bundesliga clubs for 2019-20 was 3.8 billion euros ($4.5 billion), down from 3.95 billion ($4.7 billion) the season before, according to the German soccer league's annual report released on Tuesday. The governing body, known as the DFL, said games in empty stadiums without supporters due to the hygiene measures against the virus contributed to revenue dropping by 5.7% across the top two divisions. The impact of the coronavirus will be even more pronounced in the 2020-21 season. One example of this is the international transfer market. In addition, a further decline in revenue from ticket sales is unavoidable, the DFL said. Most of last season was played with ticket-buying fans present. The first Bundesliga game in an empty stadium was the postponed derby between Borussia Mnchengladbach and Cologne on March 11, 2020. The league compl

I-League: Papa Diawara's 65th minute header helps Punjab FC beat NEROCA 1-0

Papa Diawara's 65th-minute header helped Punjab FC register a narrow 1-0 win over NEROCA to move to the second spot in the I-League table here on Monday.

57-year old father of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker drowns in Brazil

The father of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has died suddenly in Brazil with clubs past and present offering condolences

Matchday: Napoli, Arsenal under pressure in Europa League

A look at some second-leg matches in the Europa League's last 32 taking place on Thursday

A year after 'Game Zero,' Atalanta welcomes Real Madrid in Champions League

Just over a year after Game Zero, Atalanta is back in the knockout round of the Champions League. Last year's match, against Valencia in nearby Milan on Feb. 19, was the biggest in the club's history and a third of Bergamo's population made the short trip to San Siro for what turned out to be a 4-1 victory. A short time later, military trucks were driving coffins out of Bergamo because the crematorium couldn't keep up as the small city became one of the epicenters of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy. The match was dubbed Game Zero because of the spread of the disease that followed both in northern Italy and in Spain. More than 40,000 fans inside the stadium enthusiastically celebrated each of Atalanta's four goals that day the last time the team played in front of its own supporters. On Wednesday, Atalanta will host Real Madrid in the first leg of the round of 16 in an empty Gewiss Stadium, which has been newly renovated. It certainly takes a lot away from us, Atalanta forward

ISL: NorthEast United inch closer to playoffs after win over East Bengal

NorthEast United inched closer to a play-off berth with a 2-1 win over 10-man SC East Bengal in an Indian Super League match at the Fatorda Stadium here on Tuesday. Suhair Vadakkepeedika's (48th) strike and an own goal from Sarthak Golui (55th) put NorthEast United ahead before SC East Bengal pulled one back in the 87th minute. The win took Khalid Jamil's side back into the top four. They now have 30 points from 19 matches, level on points with FC Goa in third. NorthEast United now need just a point from their final league match against Kerala Blasters to qualify for the play-offs. NorthEast made one change as Nim Dorjee came in for Ashutosh Mehta. East Bengal made eight changes to their side which lost to ATK Mohun Bagan as only Matti Steinmann, Sarthak Golui and Raju Gaikwad were retained in the playing XI. Despite not having regulars, SCEB made life difficult for NorthEast. The Highlanders had a few half-chances but East Bengal contained them well. Mirshad Michu made an early s

Under-19 UEFA European Championships cancelled for second straight year

UEFA said government-imposed rules amid the coronavirus pandemic led to the decision

Mason Robertson's brace takes Real Kashmir to top of I-League table

Mason Robertson's fine brace helped a dominant Real Kashmir FC beat Aizawl FC 3-1 and jump to the top of the I-League table at the VYBK Stadium here on Tuesday. After a defensive error had given Aizawl FC the lead through Lalremsanga in the 26th minute, Lukman Adefemi's strike in the first half and a double by Robertson in the second powered the Snow Leopards to a thumping win. With the win, Real Kashmir FC extended their unbeaten streak to nine games and could remain on top of the I-League table, if Churchill Brothers drop points against NEROCA on Wednesday. In what was a cagey first half between the two sides, it took two moments of defensive errors from either team to let the other score. However, it was Aizawl who tried to breach the Real Kashmir FC citadel with their possession-heavy style of football from the opening minutes. In the eighth minute, Real Kashmir goalkeeper Mithun Samanta was forced to make his first save of the match when Ramhlunchhunga sent a powerful shot. Bu

Norway moves 'home' World Cup qualifier to neutral Spain amid Covid

Norway's national soccer team will play its first "home" World Cup qualifying game at a neutral venue in Spain next month

Football official wants UEFA Champions League entry shared wider in 2024

With four places likely to be added to the Champions League starting in 2024, the president of the European Leagues group is working to ensure those extra spots go to smaller teams

Premier League: Klopp, Guardiola clash over rest time ahead of Anfield game

For the Liverpool manager, the fault will - in part - be the grueling fixture schedule

AFC Champions League and AFC Cup 2021 to be played in centralised venues

The Asian Football Confederation Champions League and the expanded AFC Cup will be played in centralised group stages in the 2021 season

Chelsea fires coach Frank Lampard after poor spell in Premier League

Chelsea has lost five of its last eight Premier League games and dropped to ninth place, despite Lampard benefiting from nearly $300 million spent on new players for this season

4 players and president of Brazilian soccer club Palmas die in plane crash

Four players and the president of Brazilian soccer club Palmas died in a plane crash on Sunday in the northern state of Tocantins, the team said.

Tammy Abraham's hattrick sends Chelsea through in Emirates FA Cup

Tammy Abraham scored a hattrick as Chelsea beat second-tier side Luton 3-1 to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday.

Amateur clubs cleared to play in French Cup, says football federation

The French soccer federation says amateur clubs will take part in this year's French Cup after the ministry of sports agreed to the move amid the coronavirus pandemic

Atletico Madrid appeals to CAS in attempt to suspend Trippier ban

Atletico Madrid appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday to suspend Kieran Trippier's ban for breaching betting rules

FIFA rejects Atletico Madrid appeal against Trippier's 10-week betting ban

FIFA on Monday officially rejected Atletico Madrid's appeal against England defender Kieran Trippier's 10-week betting ban."The FIFA Appeal Committee has dismissed the appeal lodged by the club Atletico Madrid in a case concerning the player Kieran Trippier. As a consequence, the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee passed on December 23, 2020, is confirmed, extending sanctions imposed on the player by the English FA to have worldwide effect," the football's governing body said in a statement.Earlier in the month, Trippier's ban was put on hold by FIFA following an appeal from Atletico Madrid.The defender's offences took place in July 2019, while he was still on the books of Tottenham Hotspur, but Atletico attempted to get the decision overturned by taking an appeal to FIFA.On December 23, Atletico defender was suspended for ten weeks by the FA for breaching anti-betting rules. Along with this suspension, he has also been handed a 70,000 euros fine following misconduct in ...

Messi facing lengthy suspension after lashing out in Super Cup defeat

Messi could be suspended for up to 12 games for the red card he received in the final minutes of his team's 3-2 loss to Athletic Bilbao in Seville on Sunday

Rooney announces retirement, becomes full-time manager at Derby County

Rooney, who was taking temporary charge of Derby in November as both player and a manager, received a permanent contract with the second division club