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Pitso Mosimane lost his first ever match as Al Ahly coach when they went down 2-0 to Bayern Munich in the Fifa Club World Cup semi-finals on Monday night.

The Egyptian giants will now meet Copa Libertadores side Palmeiras in the battle for bronze on Thursday.

This is what Twitter made of Al Ahly's defeat by the European champions.

Bengaluru FC will be looking for their second win since Naushad Moosa has taken over as interim coach at the club. However, they face an in-form ATK Mohun Bagan outfit who have scored seven times in their last two games. Tuesday's Indian Super League (ISL) fixtures will be staged at the Fatorda Stadium in Goa.

TV CHANNELS & LIVE STREAM

The Star Sports Network have the exclusive broadcasting rights of the ISL in India.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

 TEAM NEWS

Bengaluru Possible XI:

Injured - Ashique Kuruniyan, Juanan, Leon Augustine
Doubtful - Cleiton Silva
Quarantine - Dimas Delgado

Key Players - Sunil Chhetri, Cleiton Silva

ATK Mohun Bagan Possible XI:

Injured - Michael Soosairaj, Edu Garcia
Doubtful - None
Suspended - Pronay Halder, Pritam Kotal

Key Players - Roy Krishna, Manvir Singh

Asante Kotoko have reportedly appointed Abdul Gazale as head coach, according to a publication by the Ghana Football Association on Monday.

The publication also revealed the coach had been at the helm of affairs since December as interim head coach.

This comes as a surprise as Johnson Smith, who was announced by the club as acting head coach following the dismissal of Maxwell Konadu in December.

"Asante Kotoko have today, February 8, 2021 notified the Ghana Football Association of the confirmation of the appointment of coach Abdul Gazale, a Caf License 'A' holder as the substantive head coach of the club," the GFA have announced on their official website.

"Following the mutual termination of the agreement between Asante Kotoko SC and former head coach Maxwell Konadu, the league leaders and Caf Confederation Cup campaigners informed the Association that coach Abdul Gazale has been appointed in an acting head coach capacity until a substantive one is appointed.

"Under the 'Duty To Notify' the requirement by clubs and the Club Licensing Process, Asante Kotoko SC notified the GFA of the interim appointment of Abdul Gazale and Johnson Smith as head coach and assistant respectively for a 30 day period on December 22, 2020.

"On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, the club was reminded of the expiry of the interim appointment and the need to confirm a substantive appointment on or before January 22, 2021 by the Association or risk being sanctioned.

"Accordingly, the club has confirmed the appointment of Abdul Gazale as the head coach for both their domestic and continental competitions for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.

"The club has, however, been asked to furnish the GFA with the contractual documents of this appointment in line with the club licensing regulations.

"The GFA wishes to use this opportunity to also remind all clubs who made interim appointments within the season to ensure the appointment of a substantive coach within the 30-day grace period or face sanctions."

Goal understands Smith's appointment as head coach was rejected by the GFA as he did not have a license 'A' certificate as required by regulations.

Kotoko currently lead the league table after 13 rounds of matches. 

The 17th edition of the FIFA Club World Cup begun in February 2021 after the tournament had been pushed back from its original start date in December 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The title of Club World Cup champion will be won by knockout tournament, featuring global winners of continental club competitions.

2019 winners Liverpool will be unable to defend their title as they failed to win the 2020 Champions League - with Bayern Munich the UEFA representative for this year's edition.

Goal takes a look at everything you need to know about the tournament.

What is the 2020 Club World Cup?

The Club World Cup is a knockout tournament that involves the winners of the six continental confederations, as well as the host nation's league champions, to name the international club world champion.

It is not considered as prestigious a competition as the likes of the Champions League, but due to its global nature, it is still a top honour for clubs.

The tournament has evolved over the years, as from 1960 to 2004, UEFA and CONMEBOL played the Intercontinental Cup - involving the winners of the Champions League and the Copa Libertadores meeting in a one-off final.

FIFA then introduced the Club World Cup in 2000, though multiple issues delayed its inaugural competition until 2005.

This year, the Club World Cup will take place in Qatar, ahead of the country's host duties for the 2022 World Cup.

The 2020 Club World Cup will be the final edition played in its current state after FIFA confirmed their plans of revamping it for the 2021 edition, with a view to expand the competition to 24 teams .

Which teams qualified for 2020 Club World Cup?

Bayern Munich (UEFA) will be participating in the competition following their 2020-21 Champions League victory.

Palmeiras (CONMEBOL), the victors of the 2020 Copa Libertadores.

Tigres UANL (Concacaf) participate as winners of the 2020 Concacaf Champions League.

Auckland City (OCF) were set to take part, but withdrew due to Covid-19 complications.

Al Ahly (CAF) enter as the winners of the 2019-20 CAF Champions League.

Ulsan Hyundai (AFC) enter as winners of the 2020 AFC Champions League.

Al-Duhail (AFC) will compete as tournament hosts.

Which venues will be used for the 2020 Club World Cup?

Fixtures will be played at three venues in the city of Al Rayyan: Khalifa International Stadium, Education City Stadium and Ahmed bin Ali Stadium.

All three stadiums are set to host matches at the 2022 World Cup.

2020 Club World Cup fixtures & dates

First round

Second round

Semi-finals

Final

Third-place play-off

Fifth-place play-off

How can I watch the 2020 Club World Cup?

In the United States, the Fox Sports network will broadcast games from the Club World Cup.

The BBC is broadcasting games live on its Red Button service as well as streaming online through the BBC iPlayer.

How to buy tickets to the 2020 Club World Cup

Club World Cup tickets were available exclusively through FIFA channels, but access was limited due to the global public health situation.

Anyone wishing to attend the games in Qatar will need to either have been vaccinated against Covid-19 or produce a negative Covid-19 test.

Changes to visas and entry requirements in the middle of January saw further restrictions imposed on international travellers, with only individuals who possess valid Qatar IDS, GCC citizens or people with exceptional entry permits allowed into the country.

Full details are available on FIFA's official Club World Cup website.

Paolo Maldini has claimed Zlatan Ibrahimovic is open to extending his stay at AC Milan, provided his body is able to cope with the rigours of top-flight football.

Sweden star Ibrahimovic continues to power Milan ahead in the Serie A title race, and he scored twice in the win over Crotone on Sunday to bring up 500 career club goals.

Following the game, Milan coach Stefano Pioli spoke positively about the 39-year-old extending his expiring contract - saying it was up to the player to commit - and club technical director Maldini feels the forward is keen on penning a new deal.

What was said?

“We are one of the youngest teams in Europe and we need a leader like Ibrahimovic,” Maldini told BeIN Sports. “He’s told us that the contract extension depends on his body.

"But if he carries on performing like this, I don’t see why he shouldn’t be continuing his career here.”

The importance of Ibra to Milan

The starting point is his performance on the pitch. Age seems to be no barrier to the Swede, who has netted 14 times in 11 Serie A appearances - which has gone a long way to propelling his team to the top of the Serie A table.

But, as Maldini alluded to, Milan’s squad is filled with young talents and having an experienced head to lead the way is priceless - especially when it is a talent as big as Ibrahimovic.

And his work ethic is rubbing off on the youngsters, as Pioli added: “It’s almost a race nowadays between the players to get to training early and leave later than anyone else. We’re enjoying ourselves and want to give our best.”

Further reading

Wilfried Zaha has been ruled out of Crystal Palace’s Premier League clash with Leeds United on Monday night.

The 28-year-old limped off in the 58th minute of the Eagles’ 2-1 triumph at Newcastle United owing to a hamstring injury that will rule him out for weeks.

"We don't know how long it's going to keep him out but he certainly won't be available for this game and it could even be much longer than that,” manager Roy Hodgson told the media.

"You never know with these hamstring injuries, Wilf is incredible in terms of recovery so I wouldn't want to put a definite timeline on it.

"But it is a muscle strain and all muscle strains take time to heal."

As a result of this, he will not be available when the Eagles take on Marcelo Bielsa’s Magpies at Elland Road.

Meanwhile, Ghana international Jordan Ayew and English midfielder of Nigerian descent Eberechi Eze have been handed a place in Hodgson’s starting XI for the crunch league showdown, while Senegalese star Cheikhou Kouyate will be aiming to start from the bench.

For Ghanaian midfielder Jeffrey Schlupp, he has been kept out of the squad owing to a thigh setback.

With 29 points from 22 games played so far in the 2020-21 campaign, the Selhurst Park giants are 13th in the English elite division log, while Leeds United occupy 11th spot having garnered 29 points with a game less.

Before his recent injury woes, Zaha boasts nine Premier League goals with two assists this season.

Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard hopes to keep playing football for another six years if his body holds up.

The 30-year-old has been plagued by injuries since he joined the Spanish giants from Chelsea in 2019.

Hazard has been limited to just 35 competitive appearances for Madrid and only 13 this season.

The Belgium international sustained another muscle injury this month and has been ruled out for several weeks, meaning he could miss the Champions League match against Atalanta.

What Hazard said

The former Lille star hopes to overcome his fitness troubles and play until around the age of 36.

"I’m just hoping to play football for as long as possible, and I always try to enjoy myself on the pitch," he told On The Front Foot.

"When it comes to the end of my career I can look back at my achievements, but my priority now is playing well and enjoying my football. I don’t think about where I will be in the next few years, I try to focus on the next match and the next training session.

"I’ve only just turned 30 so as long as my body feels good, hopefully I can keep playing for at least another five or six years."

He added: "I’m lucky that when I’m injured and stuck at home, I have my family to get me through. It’s not the end of the world for me because I can spend time with my kids, when you’re alone and injured it can be tough but I’m lucky that I have my family to support me.

"When you’re injured there’s only so much you can do, you can work to get better faster but the injuries I have had to just take time to heal. I just have to wait, work hard to get better and when I’m at home I can enjoy the time with my family."

His admiration for Madrid coach Zidane

Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has faced severe criticism due to his side's inconsistency this season. The capital club sit third in the table and seven points behind Atletico Madrid, who have two games in hand.

But the Frenchman has always been a hero of Hazard, who admits that he was more of an Arsenal admirer than a Chelsea supporter growing up.

“When I was little the team I watched the most was the French national team," he said.

"For me, the players I looked up to were Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry, and it’s difficult for me to admit because of my relationship with Chelsea, but I really liked the Arsenal team at the time.They had players like Robert Pires, [Sylvain] Wiltord and [Patrick] Vieira, so it was mainly French players that I followed growing up."

Further reading

Zambia's Hazel Nali is hungry to add more value to Hapoel Be'er Sheva after securing her first clean sheet in Israeli football.

The 22-year-old made her maiden professional move to the Israeli top-flight from Green Buffaloes, on a one-year deal last November.

She, however, bagged her first clean sheet as a professional on Thursday as Be'er Sheva defeated Hapoel Ra'anana 2-0 to claim their first win of the current Israeli Ligat Al campaign.

"I am happy with the experience here and enjoying a great reception from everyone on the team since I got here," Nali told Goal.

"I knew full well that to excel abroad, you've got to work hard and stay focused and that I think has got me this far as a player. 

"I'm looking forward to making my country [Zambia] proud and hoping to keep up with my hard work and determination.

"We may not have started well but I am happy we are gradually getting to understand ourselves as a team.

"I want to add more value to the team and strongly believe we can still end the season very well."

Debutants Hapoel Be'er Sheva currently sit in eighth on the Ligat Al table as they seek to finish as high as possible on their first season.

Nali, whose clinical goalkeeping display helped Andrea Bercholc's team to end a five-game winless start, is reflecting on her first-ever switch and impact of compatriot Mary Mwakapila.
 
"I was so excited about this move and feel God made it possible," she admitted.

"I waited for a long time for the opportunity and I've always prayed that one day I will play professional football.

"When this opportunity came, everything happened smoothly because I have been in the game for some time now and also think that all I've done as a goalkeeper spoke for me as well.

"When I got here, I did not have any problems coping with the challenges in the country. I met Mary here and having the presence of a fellow Zambian as a teammate made my adaptation easy."

Nali began her career at Lusaka-based club Chibolya Queens before turning out for Nchanga Queens and later Green Buffaloes.

At international level, she was part of Zambia's squad for the 2014 U17 Women's World Cup in Costa and also featured at the Africa Women's Cup of Nations in Namibia 2014 and Ghana 2018.

Football Kenya Federation Premier League side Posta Rangers have unveiled Stanley Okumbi as their new head coach.

The former Harambee Stars coach is taking over the Nairobi club from Sammy ‘Pamzo’ Omollo who parted ways with the team over poor performances on February 4.

Okumbi will be assisted by the former Nairobi Stima coach Collins Omondi.

“Stanley Okumbi is our new manager and he will be assisted by Collins ‘Korea’ Omondi. The two have penned down three-year contracts,” Posta Rangers announced on Monday.

Omollo left the club after a 1-0 loss to Bidco United and Okumbi arrives with the hope of turning the tide that has seen them pick just 10 points from 11 games.

Omollo returned to Posta Rangers when he took over from John Kamau, on August 23, who was shown the door after struggles in the 2018/19 season, where the team finished in the relegation zone but managed to stay in the top-tier after overcoming Nairobi Stima in the play-offs.

Before he left, Pamzo had explained the main undoing of Posta Rangers in the season. To him, the team was solid especially at the back but the main issue was a blunt striking department.

Posta Rangers are the latest side to make changes in their technical area after Western Stima, Bandari, Sofapaka, AFC Leopards and Wazito FC.

Western Stima sacked Paul Ogai whose place was taken by the former Sony Sugar and Thika United head coach Juma Abdalla. Sofapaka and John Baraza parted ways after a poor start and his place was filled by Ken Odhiambo from Bandari.

The Dockers went for the services of former AFC Leopards head coach Casa Mbungo who had left the Premier League scene in December 2019.

AFC Leopards had to find a replacement for Tomas Trucha - who resigned after just overseeing an opening game and win against Tusker - citing threats to his life. Anthony Kimani acted on an interim basis before the arrival of Patrick Aussems who is yet to take charge of any game.

Before the season began, Wazito sacked Fred Ambani and his place was taken by Francis Kimanzi who had just left his Harambee Stars position.

As Okumbi returns to the Premier League, he will battle in-form Tusker on February 18 as his first test.

Manchester City’s UEFA Champions League clash with Borussia Monchengladbach, scheduled to take place in Germany, has been moved to Budapest.

Pep Guardiola’s City were pulled out against Gladbach in the Round of 16, with the first leg slated for Borussia-Park on February 24.

However, coronavirus protocols from the German government cast doubt on the game taking place in Monchengladbach, and this was confirmed on Monday.

What was said?

“UEFA can confirm that the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first leg match between Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City will now take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest," a statement from UEFA read.

“The date of the match (24 February 2021) and kick-off time (21:00CET) will remain the same.

“UEFA would like to thank Borussia Monchengladbach and Manchester City for their close cooperation and support, as well as the Hungarian Football Federation for their assistance and agreeing to host the match in question.”

Why was a change necessary?

Current travel restrictions in place due to Covid-19 in Germany mean that teams from the United Kingdom are currently not permitted to enter the country. Only citzens of Germany can enter the country from countries where variants of the virus have been detected.

Germany’s travel ban on foreigners connected to new variants of Covid-19 is due to end on February 17, which raised hope that the game could take place in Monchengladbach.

However, UEFA wanted clarity and the governing body and the two clubs agreed on the change.

What about the return leg?

The second leg is slated to take place at the Etihad on March 16, and there are no plans for that to change.

Elite athletes and sports are exempt from UK travel bans, provided protocols are followed, so Gladbach will not be required to quarantine when arriving in Manchester.

Further reading

Tanzania U20 head coach Jamhuri Kihwelo has explained how Uganda helped them ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Mauritania.

Ngorongoro Boys and Uganda’s Hippos played two friendlies where the latter won the initial encounter before losing the second game 5-3. Although Kihwelo is happy how the friendlies have boosted their Acon U20 preparations, he is still not convinced that the weaknesses in his team have been fully cured.

“To say the truth the two friendly matches against Uganda have given us the deserved match fitness,” Kihwelo told Daily News.

“We plan to have another friendly match against Azam U20 on Wednesday to see how far we have gone ahead of our trip to Mauritania. We lost the first game and it gave us a chance to correct our mistakes that occurred.

“That is why we managed to win the second encounter even though the shortfalls have not been fully dealt with. Preparations for the crucial tournament are ongoing and after every friendly, we get a chance to tactically see what went wrong and what is to be done in order to improve for the next match.”

On his part, Uganda’s Morley Byekwaso said they were defeated because of the mistakes his players committed.

“The three goals that we conceded were down to defensive errors as my players were caught up in suspense but that is what football is all about,” said the Ugandan tactician.

“We need to reconstruct our backline before we leave for Mauritania.”

Initially, Byekwaso had complained they were defeated courtesy of poor decisions by the match official.

 “I believe we were victims of some poor decisions by the referee for their opening two goals,” the coach said as per Football256.

“But the three goals we conceded afterwards was our own doing. I think our defenders were poor in possession and tried to be a little bit too clever than what we had asked them to be.

“Such incidents throw the spanner in our works and it is disappointing that at this stage we have to revisit some of the things we have been working on.

“It is not a problem though because we still have time to re-emphasise what we need of the defenders much as they are crucial in our attacking play, they also need to be street smart.

The Hippos will leave for Mauritania on February 10 before the competition begins five days later.

They are in Group A with Mauritania, Cameroon and Mozambique. Tanzania are in Group C alongside Ghana, Gambia and Morocco while in Group B, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, the Central African Republic and Namibia are the competitors.

Champions League football returns for the first time in 2021 when the round of 16 takes place this February and March.

Liverpool have endured some difficulty on the domestic front and they will no doubt be looking forward to continental competition as a distraction from their issues at home.

The Merseyside outfit take on Julian Nagelsmann's RB Leipzig in the last 16, but it won't mean a return to Germany for Jurgen Klopp after the venue was moved to a different country.

So why has the game been moved and where? Goal has everything you need to know.

Why has Liverpool's Champions League game vs RB Leipzig been moved?

Ordinarily, the first-leg game between Liverpool and RB Leipzig would have been played at RB Leipzig's home stadium, the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig.

However, public health regulations in Germany arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic have ensured that it cannot be played there.

A temporary travel ban from the United Kingdom to Germany was introduced in December 2020 and there were initially some fears that it could affect English teams in Europe.

At the end of January, the travel ban was extended up to and including February 17 which presented a problem for the clubs, with their game scheduled to be played on February 16.

Liverpool applied to authorities for the right to enter Germany in order to play the game, but the federal police (BPOL) rejected their request.

According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), a Champions League match was not grounds for exceptional permission to be granted.

As a consequence, under UEFA's rules, RB Leipzig were forced to find an alternative venue or else they risked handing the Reds a 3-0 forfeit victory.

Where will RB Leipzig vs Liverpool be played instead?

The Champions League last-16 first-leg game between Liverpool and RB Leipzig will now be played in Budapest, Hungary.

It will take place at the Puskas Arena, which is a newly built stadium with a capacity of 67,000. Construction began on the arena in 2017 and it was completed in 2019.

The Puskas Arena was built on the site of the old Ferenc Puskas Stadium and it will host a number of matches at Euro 2020.

It has already been used in the 2020-21 Champions League, having hosted Ferencvaros' matches against Juventus and Barcelona.

Interestingly, London was also a possible venue, with Tottenham's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium considered by RB Leipzig.

When will RB Leipzig vs Liverpool be played?

Liverpool will play RB Leipzig in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 bout on Tuesday February 16, 2021.

The game will kick off at 8pm GMT (3pm ET).

Two weeks later on Wednesday March 10, the two teams will collide in the second leg at Anfield. That game will also kick off at 8pm GMT (3pm ET).

What other Champions League games will be moved due to Covid-19 guidelines?

UEFA confirmed that Manchester City's first leg round of 16 match against Borussia Monchengladbach will now also take place at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, instead of its original location in Germany.

The date and kick-off - February 24 at 8pm GMT - remain the same.

Sofapaka FC have completed the signing of Togo goalkeeper Abdoul-Moubarak Aigba from AS OTR Football Club on a two-year deal.

The 23-year-old was part of the Sparrowhawks who took part in the recently concluded African Nations Championship held in Cameroon. Batoto ba Mungu were impressed with the way the custodian played, so they went for his signature.

The 2009 league champions' president Elly Kalekwa has revealed his excitement to have finally acquired the services of the keeper, whom he admitted to have followed for a very long time.

"At last I can now relax, it has been a long fight, I have really followed and tried to sign Aigba and I want to thank God, he has now arrived home,” Kalekwa told Goal on Monday.

"It was a fight getting his services, several clubs were eyeing his services and it was not an easy task to lure him to sign, to be honest, his transfer reminded me of the day I was signing Fiston Abdul Razak, how I fought to get his services, it was a real fight, it has never happened to me for a while now and I am happy he has finally signed for us, straight for the Chan tournament.

"We all know him well, we all know what he can do, he was in Kenya when Togo played against Harambee Stars but he did not play in the match, so I have been following him for a while now, and it is the best signing for me."

He was between the sticks when the West African nation fell by a solitary goal to Morocco in their Group C game.

He played a vital role as his team defeated Uganda 2-1 but fell to Rwanda 3-2 to get eliminated out of the biennial competition.

The custodian has now expressed his delight after joining Batoto ba Mungu stating he is ready to deliver.

"I am so delighted to join this great club, I feel ready to begin and to deliver," the Togolese said after his unveiling.

 "I am looking forward to a good stay and better days ahead with the club."

 He becomes the fifth signing for the 2009 champions after they brought on board former Napsa Stars and Tusker striker Timothy Otieno, Wazito FC midfielder Joseph Waithera and Burundians David Nshimirimana and Bizimana Amissi.

Tony Collins, England's first black manager, has passed away at the age of 94, it was confirmed on Monday.

A former left-winger, Collins was also the first black player to represent Crystal Palace and enjoyed a long career in which he went on to become a chief scout at some of the biggest clubs in England.

In 2017, Collins was presented with the League Managers Association's Service to Football award at the 25th annual LMA Awards Dinner.

On the pitch

Born in Kensington to a white mother and black father, Collins first played for local side Acton United before being called up for military service during the Second World War.

While stationed in Padua, Italy, Collins was recommended to Sheffield Wednesday after his skills were noticed during his time playing football in the army.

He would never make a first-team appearance for Wednesday, however, but went on to enjoy spells at York City, Watford, Norwich, Torquay, Crystal Palace and Rochdale, where he become player-manager.

Management and scouting

In his second season in the Rochdale dugout, Collins took the team to the League Cup final, to date still the club's only appearance in a major final.

Collins then transitioned into scouting upon leaving Rochdale, first being appointed at Bristol City before going on to work under Don Revie at Leeds and subsequently the England national team, where he earned the moniker “Football's Superspy” due to the detailed dossiers he would compile on opponents.

Moving on to Manchester United, Collins is credited in helping the Red Devils identify Paul McGrath and Lee Sharpe as transfer targets, before taking in spells at QPR, Newcastle, Millwall and Derby.

Tributes paid to a pioneer

Managerial legend Sir Alex Ferguson led the tributes to Collins, stating: “I was really saddened to hear the news about Tony and send my deepest condolences to all of his family.

“One of my earliest recollections of Tony was of the very impressive job he did as manager of Rochdale, beating Blackburn to reach the 1962 League Cup Final. I then got to know Tony personally when I joined Manchester United and Tony was the Chief Scout. 

“As well as being a valuable, knowledgeable and respected scout, he had such an engaging personality and I always enjoyed our conversations. 

“I was delighted to see Tony receive the LMA Service to Football Award a few years ago and enjoyed seeing how much enthusiasm, positivity and love he still had for the game. His family should be very proud of all that Tony achieved.”

Nottingham Forest manager Chris Hughton, whose father is Ghanaian, said: “I am so sad to hear of Tony’s passing. In my role as an LMA board member, Tony has always been an inspiration to me as I continue alongside my colleagues to campaign to see more diversity in management and coaching across the game. He will be very sorely missed.”

LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson added: “Tony was a true pioneer of the sport. He was humble, hospitable, he had tremendous insight and was always generous with his time. His passion for football was so evident when you met him and he had some remarkable stories and memories to share.

“Above all, he should be remembered and revered for his achievements on and off the pitch. He was known throughout the game for his ability to recognise and nurture talent, a skill which enabled him to have a huge impact on the lives of others. Our sincere condolences go out to Tony’s family and loved ones.”

UEFA is exploring options with Atletico Madrid for an alternative venue for the Champions League match against Chelsea on February 23 after the Spanish authorities banned travel from the United Kingdom.

The match was due to be played at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium but UEFA regulations dictate that an alternative venue must be found by the Spanish club.

Goal understands that Atleti have outlined Warsaw and Bucharest as possible alternatives for a UEFA approved neutral venue to host the match. UEFA is in contact with the clubs to resolve the situation.

When will a decision be made?

Atletico Madrid will inform UEFA of their proposal in the next 24 hours which will then be ratified by European football's governing body before the decision is officially communicated.

UEFA has the right to postpone the match or rearrange the fixture but it is unlikely to do so to avoid any potential knock-on effects to the clubs' fixture lists.

If a fixture fails to go ahead, UEFA reserves the right to impose a 3-0 defeat to the club it deems responsible for causing the match to be postponed.

Why has Spain banned visitors from the UK?

The Spanish Ministry of Health has put in place an evolving number of restrictive measures on travel ever since the country issued a state of emergency on October 25, 2020.

The UK has amongst the highest number of coronavirus cases including a particularly transmissible new variant of the disease which has led to bans from some countries in Europe.

Clubs like Atletico Madrid may find that their government won't allow them to host an event which involves travel from the UK.

It is understood that Chelsea's match at Stamford Bridge isn't under threat as the UK has not banned visitors from Spain.

Manchester United's trip to San Sebastian to face Real Sociedad in the Europa League may also be affected.

Who will it benefit?

Chelsea may stand to benefit from the tie being rearranged. Still, there have been more away wins than home wins in the Premier League so far, showing that the impact of having no supporters in stadiums is being felt in the sport.

Atleti are famous for having a particularly volatile atmosphere in La Liga but they wouldn't have been allowed fans in for their game had it gone ahead in Spain.

However, the coronavirus pandemic could still impact the upcoming matches in the Champions League and Europa League with players likely to succumb to the virus before matches.

Chelsea have some injury doubts for the upcoming tie including Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz, but Atleti might lose players to the virus.

Thomas Lemar, Hector Herrera, Joao Felix, Moussa Dembele, Yannick Carrasco and Mario Hermoso are all self-isolating having tested positive for the virus.

Further reading

Jamie Vardy will feature in Leicester’s FA Cup clash with Brighton on Wednesday.

The forward underwent a groin procedure in January, with manager Brendan Rodgers saying the operation could not be put off any longer.

Vardy returned to action at the weekend, coming off the bench for the final 30 minutes of the 0-0 draw with Wolves on Sunday, and has suffered no reaction as he is in the frame for the FA Cup fifth-round clash.

What was said?

“[Vardy] hasn’t lost too much fitness," Rodgers told the Leicester Mercury. “That’s the reality. It’s only been a couple of weeks, and he’s got a great level of fitness.

“We gave him a half-hour and you could see the dynamism he brings to the team. We’ll definitely get him some minutes on Wednesday, whether that’s in the first period of the game or the second. He’ll feature at some point.”

While Leicester are in the title mix, Rodgers has made it clear that an FA Cup run is high on their list of priorities.

“We’ll have a strong 11," he said. "We’ll make changes, there’s no doubt about that. We have to consider the month of games and the early kick-off at the weekend [against Liverpool]. It will still be a strong squad.

“We want to get to the quarter-finals.”

The bigger picture

Vardy’s absence highlighted his importance to the Foxes. In the forward’s absence, Leicester drew with Everton, lost to Leeds and beat lowly Fulham.

Rodgers pointed out that the 34-year-old lost little fitness during his absence, but match sharpness may have been slightly blunted - which is why he is likely to feature against Brighton at some stage, with a view to the meeting with Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday. 

If Leicester are to secure a place in the top four, or even mount a title challenge to Manchester City, Vardy's forward play will be key to their hopes.

Further reading

Orlando Pirates will be looking to start a steady run in their Premier Soccer League campaign when they host Cape Town City at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday.

After being beaten 2-0 by Golden Arrows in their last league outing, the Soweto giants would want to avoid dropping points again to remain within a shouting distance of log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.

Also after labouring to a 1-0 slender win over Uthongathi in Saturday's Nedbank Cup Last 32 tie, Pirates have not been convincing in their last two games.

They are currently placed fifth on the PSL table with eight points behind Downs who have played a game less.

But Pirates’ task to recover appears a tough one as they come up against a sixth-placed City side who are just two points behind them.

TV Channel, Live Score & How To Watch

Squads & Team News

No Pirates player is suspended for this match. Forwards Zakhele Lepasa and Tshegofatso Mabasa are edging closer to full fitness but are not likely to be available for selection on Tuesday to afford coach Josef Zinnbauer more selection options upfront.

Defender Abel Mabaso is still out with a long-term injury. But striker Frank Mhango and midfielder Thabang Monare are sitting on three yellow cards each and, if fielded, being cautioned in this match would rule them out of the trip to SuperSport United on February 24.

City coach Jan Olde Riekerink is not worried about missing players due to suspension.

Midfielder Craig Martin and forward Tashreeq Morris have accumulated three yellow cards each along the course of the season and could be skating on thin ice against Pirates.

Match Preview

Pirates and City have already met twice this season and the Buccaneers have been the better side.

The Soweto giants beat Cape Town City 1-0 at Orlando Stadium in the MTN8 quarter-finals in what was both sides' first match of the season.

Then Pirates league visit to City in early December produced no victor following a 2-2 draw.

But on Tuesday, the Citizens might want to come out the better outfit after the two outings. What Riekerink could be hoping for is that Pirates continue with their inconsistent run.

In their last five league matches, the Buccaneers have won two matches, shared the spoils as many times and then lost to Arrows three days after the Soweto derby triumph over Kaizer Chiefs.

Then the unconvincing Nedbank Cup win over Uthongathi underlined that they are blowing hot and cold.

They come up against a City side fresh from thrashing Bloemfontein Celtic 4-0 to book a Nedbank Cup Last 16 spot. Cape Town City have also not lost in their last three league games.

Alternative venues are being explored for Manchester United’s game against Real Sociedad, Goal understands, with Juventus' home ground an option.

The Europa League clash is set to be played a week on Thursday (February 18) in San Sebastian but the Spanish side are currently exploring alternatives due to travelling restrictions because of Covid-19.

It is understood a decision on where the game will be held should be within the next 24 hours.

Why would a change be necessary?

Current travel restrictions in place due to Covid-19 in Spain mean that teams from the United Kingdom are currently not permitted to enter the country. As it stands the Spanish government has not granted elite sports people exemption to allow teams such as Manchester United to travel to the country for the game without the need to quarantine.

Both the Spanish Football Association and Real Sociedad have been seeking an exemption but if that cannot be agreed the game would have to be moved elsewhere.

Which venues are being looked at?

It is understood that Sociedad have been speaking to Juventus about the possibility of using their stadium in Turin. However, if that would also need to be given the green light from the Italian FA and the Italian government to allow both United and Sociedad to travel into the country without a need to quarantine upon arrival.

Any venues that are being looked at are stadiums which are already used to hosting European games.

Whose responsibility is it to sort out the problem?

UEFA rules stipulate that it is down to the home side to ensure the game can be played at their venue. If this isn’t possible then it is down to them to find a suitable alternative. So in this circumstance it is down to Sociedad to find another stadium if the match cannot be hosted in their stadium.

What about the return leg?

UK government policy means elite athletes and sports teams are exempt from the quarantine rules imposed on travellers arriving from abroad. So Sociedad will not have to isolate when they travel to Old Trafford for the return leg on Thursday, February 25. In the same way the United squad will not have to quarantine when they return home from the first leg, wherever that ends up being played.

Further reading

Atletico Madrid could be without Thomas Lemar for the upcoming Champions League match against Chelsea after he and and Hector Herrera tested positive for Covid-19.

Diego Simeone's men host the Premier League side in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie on February 23.

Atletico could already be without attackers Joao Felix and Moussa Dembele for the European encounter after both tested positive for Covid-19 last week. 

The Spanish side now have six players in isolation, as Yannick Carrasco and Mario Hermoso tested positive days before Felix and Dembele. 

What Atletico said

A statement on the club's website read: "Hector Herrera and Thomas Lemar underwent tests on Monday morning ahead of our fixture against Celta, in accordance with La Liga protocol. Both players tested positive for Covid-19. They later underwent PCR tests, which confirmed the results.

"The Mexican and the Frenchman are isolating at home, in compliance with the health authorities’ guidelines and La Liga protocols."

The Atletico stars will be without the six players for Monday's home match against Celta Vigo and they will all have to test negative if they are to have a chance of lining up against Thomas Tuchel's side later this month.

How important are Lemar and Herrera?

Lemar has played a significant role for Atletico in recent weeks. The France international has made 24 appearances in all competitions and set up a goal in each of their last two wins in La Liga.

Herrera, meanwhile, has started seven of the 13 games he has featured in this season.

Atletico sit top of La Liga and seven points clear of Barcelona and Real Madrid, but have two games in hand over their rivals.

Simeone's side have won nine of their last 10 games heading into the match against Celta. The capital club will then travel to Granada and face Levante twice before they welcome Chelsea to Wanda Metropolitano.

Further Reading