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PSL's acting chief executive officer Mato Madlala says the competition will only resume as soon as the clubs complete all the required protocols. 

The current season remains suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic since mid-March 2020 and the South African Football Association (Safa) and PSL have been working together to ensure that football resumes in the country.

Last week, Safa confirmed the government has green-lit PSL teams to return to training pitches, but the 16 PSL and 16 National First Division (NFD) clubs have to do and submit Covid-19 tests as one of the key regulations that have to be met. 

The government has since given the PSL the go-ahead to resume the suspended season on Wednesday and Madlala has now explained the league will only restart once clubs follow all the required safety measures.

"Resumption of football has conditions. There are some protocols that we need to follow like testing. If they say, it can resume, yes, it can resume but we have to follow certain protocols in order to start," Madlala told IOL.

PSL chairman Irvin Khoza recently revealed that a national camp based in one province would conclude the campaign.

Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal are reportedly the provinces which have been earmarked by the PSL to host the national camp when the season resumes.

"From now on, we will have to do the audit of where we are with those protocols that we have to follow as individual clubs," Madllala, who is also the Lamontville Golden Arrows chairperson, added. 

Madlala went on to confirm that all PSL clubs have started the process of testing their players ahead of the league resumption.

"Yes, the process of testing at club level has started. Teams know what to do. That's why they have started testing," she concluded.

The Nedbank Cup semi-finals are also expected to take place with Mamelodi Sundowns set to take on Bidvest Wits, while Baroka FC will face off with Bloemfontein Celtic.

The reigning PSL champions Sundowns are also embroiled in a PSL title race with their Gauteng rivals, Kaizer Chiefs, who are keen to end their five-year trophy drought this term.

Mikel Arteta believe Bukayo Saka will sign a new long-term contract at Arsenal ‘very shortly’ following positive talks with the club.

Fears have been growing over the future of the teenage winger, who has been a revelation since being brought into the senior side by former boss Unai Emery.

Arteta has continued to start the 18-year-old since taking over from Emery in December, with Saka now having three goals and 11 assists to his name this season despite being played in several positions for the struggling Gunners.

However speculation has been rife over his future, with the Arsenal academy product having just one year remaining of his first professional deal, which was signed in September, 2018.

Top clubs from across Europe have been keeping close tabs on the situation with Borussia Dortmund particularly keen to lure Saka over to Germany, but Arteta has moved to calms fears that the winger could be on his way out and is hopeful that a new deal is imminent.

“I am very positive that everything is going to be done with Bukayo very shortly,” said Arsenal’s head coach, who takes his side to Southampton on Thursday night.

“The communications between the club, agents and the family has been going on for months and is very fluent.

“The player and family knows how much trust I have in him. I think he is just showing that every week and his consistency level is getting better and better.

“I’m so excited with the young players that we have. They just need the right environment around them to explode and Bukayo is doing that even in difficult circumstances which is even more merit for him.”

Meanwhile, Arteta has backed Emiliano Martinez to be an able replacement for the injured Bernd Leno between now and the end of the season.

Leno suffered knee ligament damage during Saturday’s defeat at Brighton and although the injury is not as bad as first feared, he will be sidelined for the he remainder of the campaign.

That will give Martinez an extended run in the Premier League and Arteta has full confidence in the Argentine, who has been with the Gunners for the past 10 years but only made seven league appearances.

“What I know about Emi is the way he prepares himself, how patient he has been and how much he has been waiting for this opportunity,” said Arteta.

“When you do that, you expect when the opportunity comes to perform and put everything that you have done in the past into the next few games to help the team and make yourself proud that it was the right decision to stay, work and behave the way he has over the years in the club.”

When asked whether he believes Martinez has what it takes to put pressure on Leno for the No 1 spot, the Spaniard added: “Of course he has. If not you wouldn’t be the No 2 goalkeeper at Arsenal.

“The No 2 goalkeeper at Arsenal has to be ready to play, not just to be a backup player and when you are needed, to make the difference for your team.”

Giangiacomo Magnani's 89th-minute goal stunned Inter as the Nerazzurri were made to pay for a dreadful miss from Roberto Gagliardini in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Sassuolo in Serie A.

Gagliardini was guilty of one of the misses of the season midway through the second half at San Siro, yet Inter – who took a 2-1 lead into half-time following goals from Romelu Lukaku and Cristiano Biraghi – seemed to have got away with it thanks to Borja Valero's 86th-minute effort.

Yet Sassuolo, who had drawn level at 2-2 following Gagliardini's miss through Domenico Berardi's spot-kick, fought back again – Magnani bundling home from two yards out.

With tempers frayed, there was still time for more drama when Milan Skriniar received a second booking for a foul on Lukas Haraslin in stoppage time as Inter squandered the chance to keep the pressure on Serie A's top two.

It took just four minutes for Sassuolo to open the scoring – Francesco Caputo finishing from Filip Djuricic's throughball.

Jeremie Boga's foul on Skriniar ended Sassuolo's resistance four minutes before the break, with Lukaku making no mistake from the resulting penalty. 

Inter's tails were up and, with Sassuolo's resolve broken, the hosts had their second in the first minute of stoppage time when Biraghi lashed in from a tight angle.

Gagliardini seemed destined to put the result beyond doubt in the 64th minute, only to slam an effort against the crossbar of a gaping goal after Andrea Consigli had parried out Lukaku's low strike.

Sassuolo made their good fortune count – Berardi keeping his composure from 12 yards following Ashley Young's foul on Mert Muldur to spark late drama.

After Lukaku saw a goal ruled out for offside, Valero's close-range finish from Antonio Candreva's free-kick seemed to have handed Inter victory, but Sassuolo rallied once more, with Antonio Conte left seething as the unmarked Magnani rescued a point for the visitors.

But Inter's frustrations were compounded moments later – Skriniar receiving his marching orders for a rash tackle on Haraslin in a frantic conclusion to a thrilling clash.

What does it mean? Inter's slim title hopes fading fast

Some costly defeats prior to Serie A's suspension due to coronavirus saw Inter slip down to third, but they would have, temporarily at least, moved to within two points of Lazio – and six of Juventus – with a victory on Wednesday.

Now, they sit on 58 points, with what seems too much ground to make up in the remaining 11 fixtures.

Berardi keeps up his run against Serie A's leading sides
With his penalty, which just snuck under Samir Handanovic, Sassuolo star Berardi has now scored four goals in his last four league matches against a side in the top three, with his previous such effort coming against Inter in the reverse fixture.

Gagliardini set for the blooper reel

In terms of misses, there will surely not be many more glaring ones this season than Gagliardini's. With the entire goal to aim at, the midfielder somehow managed to hit the woodwork from inside the six-yard box, and he will likely have to face Conte's wrath after Inter’s collapse.

Key Opta Facts

Inter have conceded three goals in a single Serie A game for the first time since the reverse fixture against Sassuolo (4-3 win).
Inter have conceded three goals in a single Serie A home game for the first time since April 2018 (2-3 v Juventus).
Lukaku has scored 19 goals in Serie A this season, his second-best campaign in the top five European Leagues (only fewer than in 2016-17 with 25 goals scored for Everton in Premier League).
Valero scored his first Serie A goal for Inter at San Siro, he had scored the first three away from home.

What's next?

A trip to Parma comes next for Inter on Sunday, shortly after Sassuolo face Hellas Verona.

Anthony Martial's hat-trick against Sheffield United is the first in quite a while for Manchester United as the French forward provided the first three-goal performance since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club.

The striker provided all three of his side's goals on Wednesday, leading the way in a 3-0 win over Sheffield United at Old Trafford.

Martial opened the scoring just seven minutes into Wednesday's match, firing home a Marcus Rashford assist from a tight angle to get United up and running.

His next finish came just moments before the half-time whistle, as Martial benefitted from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka assist to fire a first-time finish that sent the hosts into the dressing room with a two-goal lead.

Finally, Martial's third came in the 74th minute from another Rashford assist, as the Frenchman chipped goalkeeper Simon Moore, who was in net to replace United loanee Dean Henderson, who was unable to play against his parent club.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer decided to remove Martial seven minutes after he completed his hat-trick, bringing in fellow forward Odion Ighalo in the 81st minute.

Martial's hat-trick was the first of his career, stretching back to his time at Lyon and Monaco before his Manchester United move in 2015.

It was also the first Manchester United hat-trick since Ferguson's departure in 2013, with Robin van Persie the last player to fire three goals in one match with the Red Devils.

Van Persie's hat-trick came in 2013, Ferguson's final year in charge, with the Dutchman's three-goal effort coming against Aston Villa as they clinched the title to send the legendary manager into retirement on a high.

This season, they sit fifth in the Premier League, level on points with six-place Wolves and two points behind Chelsea, who will face Manchester City on Thursday in their game in hand.

Next up for the Red Devils will be back-to-back matches away from Old Trafford, as Martial and co. face Norwich on Saturday before visiting Bright & Hove three days later.

After that, United will return home to face Bournemouth for their fifth game of the Premier League restart. 

Anthony Martial scored Manchester United's first Premier League hat-trick for more than seven years as he monopolised the scoring in a 3-0 win over Sheffield United.

Martial revelled in his role at the centre of an attack featuring Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford, with the latter claiming the first of two assists in the seventh minute.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka made a mockery of questions over his attacking capabilities from right-back as he tormented Enda Stevens to set up Martial's second a minute before half-time.

A clever chip completed his treble – becoming the first United player to do so in England's top flight since Robin van Persie against Aston Villa in April 2013.

Sheffield United began on the front foot but fell behind when Marcus Rashford got to the byline and smashed across goal, where Martial nipped in front of Chris Basham to score.

Martial looked to return the favour when he raced clear in the 13th minute, only for Rashford to inexplicably scuff wide with the goal at his mercy.

Bruno Fernandes' set-piece prowess was to the fore, with Simon Moore – in goal for the visitors due to Dean Henderson being unavailable against his parent club – pushing away a free-kick from the left before Harry Maguire had a header from the Portugal midfielder's corner chalked off for a foul on Phil Jagielka.

The drinks break seemed to revitalise the Blades but more static defending allowed Martial to tuck home from Wan-Bissaka's cross.

Mason Greenwood had a snap shot deflected behind by Jagielka 10 minutes into the second period, with Fernandes again vibrant in the build-up.

Martial swiped over in pursuit if his hat-trick, taking the ball off the toe of Paul Pogba – whose dazzling dribble was the shining moment of his first start since September.

The France forward would not be denied the matchball, however, exchanging passes with Rashford and producing a sublime dinked finish to seal the points 16 minutes from time as his side extended their unbeaten run to 13 games.

What does it mean? Solskjaer's Champions League bid on track

Victory means Manchester United keep up the pressure on Chelsea and lie two points behind the fourth-placed side, who host Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

No goals and one point from a dismal three-game run since the Premier League restart means Sheffield United are rapidly fading from that equation.

Fernandes sets the tone

Fernandes was unable to add to his hastily compiled tally of goals and assists in England but it was again clear United are a team transformed since his January arrival from Sporting CP. The 25-year-old was bright and inventive at the heart of a dominant performance and the early signs are that he and Pogba will thoroughly enjoy one another's company.

Jagielka wilts in the heat

Sheffield United's esteemed former England international did not sign up for playing against relentless, pacey attackers in 30-degree temperatures at 37 years of age. Jagielka was left in Rashford's wake for the opener and this was largely an ordeal for he and his team-mates thereafter.

What's next?

An FA Cup quarter-final at Norwich City on Saturday means Solskjaer will have the chance to advance ambitions for a first piece of silverware in his Old Trafford tenure, with Sheffield United hosting Arsenal at the same stage of the competition on Sunday.

Gary Neville has urged caution over the prospect of Dean Henderson becoming first-choice goalkeeper at Manchester United next season, despite David de Gea's indifferent form.

De Gea was again in the spotlight when his failure to stop Steven Bergwijn's shot allowed Tottenham to take the lead against United last Friday, though the Red Devils hit back to secure a draw from the game.

The Spain international overcame a shaky start at Old Trafford to become a cornerstone in the team during a period of transition, yet a slip in standards has raised questions over whether he should remain as number one.

Yet while Henderson has impressed in the Premier League during a loan spell at Sheffield United this season, former United defender Neville is wary of pushing the 23-year-old into the top job at Old Trafford too soon.

"David de Gea, for three or four years, was probably the best goalkeeper in the world - certainly the best in the Premier League," Neville said on Sky Sports.

"He was player of the year here and, in a very difficult period for Manchester United post Alex Ferguson, was a shining light. The only player really you would say could go into any other team in the Premier League, or the world. 

"Since that 2018 World Cup, though, he's had a real difficult time.

"What I don't buy into is that Dean Henderson at Sheffield United, obviously from Manchester United on loan, can go into that goal in front of the Stretford End and adapt to what the demands are of being a Manchester United goalkeeper. 

"It takes a special character to play in that goal. What I think David de Gea has done in the four or five year period before this last 18 months is build up a lot of credit, whereby he actually deserves a break, the idea he is given the opportunity to correct his form and get it back to where it needs to be.

"When a goalkeeper, or any player, goes through a rough patch it's mentally tough. He's at one of the biggest clubs in the world and the scrutiny is on him constantly.

"There is no escape at this club – and that is why I'd be a little bit cautious around Dean Henderson. That is a lonely old place out there to make a mistake if you're a Manchester United goalkeeper. With respect to Sheffield United, it's very different making a mistake for Sheffield United."

He continued: "To make that decision, which is a huge call, to say that Dean Henderson comes back to Old Trafford and is the number one, you're essentially dismissing David de Gea and what he's done for the club over the past seven or eight years.

"I would just urge caution on that, at this moment in time."

Neville played with Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar during his own career, yet also saw up close how tough it can be as a goalkeeper at United.

"I've seen it before with players during my period at the club," the ex-England defender said. "We had two great goalkeepers during my time – Peter Schmeichel at the beginning and Edwin van der Sar at the end.  

"In between that, there were real challenges with goalkeepers.

"At times there were young goalkeepers who were talented but found it very difficult to cope with the scrutiny, plus the levels of concentration that are required."

Saint-Etienne coach Claude Puel is hopeful William Saliba can remain with the club for the Coupe de France final before he has to link up with Arsenal.

The centre-back signed for the Gunners on a long-term contract last July but immediately returned to Saint-Etienne on a season-long loan.

Les Verts progressed to the Coupe de France final before the French football season was halted by the coronavirus pandemic.

While Ligue 1 was decided on a points-per-game basis, with Saint-Etienne consigned to a lowly 17th-placed finish, they can still qualify for the Europa League by beating Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France final.

That contest is provisionally scheduled to take place on July 24, but Saliba's loan is due to end on June 30.

Puel, however, is eager to keep him around for a few weeks longer.

“William is at the end of his contract at the end of the month,” he said in a media conference. “He takes great pleasure in training with his team. We will see what can be done to keep him a little longer with us.”

He added: “We ended last season with players who were coming to the end of the contract, with players who were suspended during the season and who could not serve their suspensions.

“I think it’s unfortunate that we did not take into consideration an exceptional case with a four-month gap. They will be deprived of the finals and we will be deprived of them.

“We also have players at the end of the contract, we will take stock. Loic Perrin is with us and may have this possibility of extending. We made an offer to Yohan Cabaye, we await the answer.”

Saint-Etienne have been linked with a move for Paris Saint-Germain youngster Adil Aouchiche, who looks set to leave the club when his contract comes to an end this summer.

The 17-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move to Germany, with Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen said to be interested.

While Puel admitted he is interested in Aouchiche, he refused to say if his team are lining up an offer for him.

“I like to talk about concrete things, Aouchiche has a profile that interests me, and that's basically all I can say,” the coach added. “Many clubs are ready to welcome him, everything will depend on him.”

Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan says his services do not come cheap but he would consider playing in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) if he is approached.

Now playing for North East United in the Indian Super League after a career which took him to Italy, France, England, United Arab Emirates, China and Turkey, Gyan is in the twilight of his career but he says retirement has not yet struck his mind.

“I still feel strong, I still feel young. There is no day I have thought about retiring,” Gyan told Marawa Sports Worldwide on Metro FM.

“Definitely yes if a team from South Africa are interested and feel they need my services why not? We can negotiate and we can have a deal.

“Yes [I don’t come cheap but] it depends on the situation. I am a professional football player and I have to see a lot of things, I have to value a lot of things before making a move. But as I said, I feel strong, I still have fire inside me. Obviously I am not in my 20s but I feel I can prove myself once again.”

The ex-Sunderland man has revealed he was once approached by a PSL club but the team did not show “seriousness” and no deal materialised.

While declining to name the club, he says talks were inconclusive but he is still open to play in South Africa.

“Yeah [I was approached by a South African team] but it wasn’t concrete. This agent thing like you are here, you are going there, but at the end of the day I don’t see anything concrete,” said Gyan.

“I like working with serious people. When somebody wants to make a move or when somebody wants to approach you, the person has to be serious.

“But I didn’t see any seriousness. It was just talks, talks, talks and I didn’t hear from anybody again. Because it didn’t go through I don’t want to mention the club but obviously yes it was a South African club.

“If it was a done deal that really happened then I would mention the club. It was just talks, talks and I didn’t see any paperwork, I didn’t see anything. That is why I don’t want to mention any clubs.”

Coming to South Africa would remind the Ghanaian of his 2010 memories when the Black Stars dramatically exited the World Cup quarter-finals on penalties.

Shouldering the hopes of the entire continent, Gyan critically missed a penalty that could have sent Ghana past Uruguay.

“I don’t want to live my life with regrets. Life goes on,” said Gyan about the penalty miss.

Kaizer Chiefs central defender Daniel Cardoso has lauded the instant impact of the club’s new signings.

Kearyn Baccus, Yagan Sasman and Samir Nurkovic were signed by the Soweto giants prior to the start of the current season.

The trio quickly established themselves as key players under coach Ernst Middendorp as Chiefs mounted a serious challenge for the Premier Soccer League (PSL) title.

The current season was suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic last March with Amakhosi sitting at the top of the league standings.

“Bringing in the new signings was great, Samir Nurkovic he’s got off to a great start," Cardoso said on Far Post.

"I mean he scored [his first goal for Chiefs] in the second game against SuperSport United when we drew 1-1."

Nurkovic has been one of the best performers in the league this season having hit the back of the net 11 times for the Naturena-based giants.

The Serbian marksman is also in the race for this season's Golden Boot award as he is three goals behind the league's top goalscorer, Frank Mhango of Orlando Pirates.

“Kearyn Baccus also gelled in very quickly and Yagan Sasman has been great on the left-hand side for us, he sometimes plays centre-back with me,” added Cardoso.

Baccus, who joined Amakhosi from Australian side Melbourne City, has caught the eye with some solid performances in Chiefs midfield.

While Sasman has done well as a central defender and left-back for the Soweto giants having joined the club from Ajax Cape Town.

Much was expected from another Chiefs new signing Lazarous Kambole after he inspired Zesco United to the Zambian Super League title last season.

However, the striker struggled in front of goal, having failed to score in 12 competitive matches for Middendorp's side.

“Kambole, he had great games, just needs that one goal just to get that confidence and once he gets that first goal, he will start moving up the places,” Cardoso concluded.

Cardoso has established himself as Chiefs' first-choice penalty taker this season and he has netted five goals from 27 competitive games.

David Luiz should thank God after being given a contract extension at Arsenal, says Emmanuel Petit, who argued the defender has not played like a "proper footballer" for the last three years.

The Gunners confirmed on Wednesday that the Brazilian centre-back has signed a one-year deal, putting an end to growing speculation over his future.

Many suggested Luiz's time in north London was over after a dismal performance against Manchester City, though the player made clear that he hoped to stay.

Former Arsenal and France midfielder Petit was disappointed by the decision to keep the 33-year-old but feels it is typical of the way the club is run. 

"David Luiz hasn't been a proper footballer for about three years," Petit wrote in a column for Paddy Power. 

"But I'm not surprised that he has been given a new contract at Arsenal, because I've been very disappointed in relation to the club's activity in the transfer market.

"I've been particularly upset in relation to the defenders. We all know one of Arsenal's major weaknesses is their defence and nothing has changed. This makes me miss Arsene Wenger.

"If I was David Luiz, of course I would sign a new deal and I would also say a prayer of thanks to the Arsenal directors every time I wake up.

"Even when he last won the Premier League with Chelsea, he's not the same player any more. This guy has lost something.

"To be honest, it's a joke. Find some proper defenders. Are you telling me there are no young talented defenders on the market? I just don't get it."

He added: "Does anyone think the Arsenal executives and directors know what they're doing on the football side of things?

"For the last few years they have been splashing out on the transfer market - and have brought in some decent players - but I don't know what their target or project for the future is.

"It's far worse now than in the last years under Wenger. What is the point of being one of the richest clubs on the planet with no reason or vision behind it?"

National First Division side Moroka Swallows have confirmed three positive cases of the coronavirus from their camp. 

According to club chairman David Mogashoa, the test results for three players of their players came back positive from the laboratory. 

All the 32 member clubs that fall under the PSL umbrella have had to conduct preliminary tests to all the players and officials. 

This is in preparation for the suspended season which is set to resume in the next few weeks following the government's approval of the league's 'return-to-play' protocol. 

"We would like to confirm that Moroka Swallows have one player who tested positive for Covid-19. The player is in good shape and we are following all protocols and giving necessary support to the team and the staff," said Mogashoa in a series of tweets before adding that two more players had tested positive to bring the total to three. 

"Two more Moroka Swallows players tested positive. Total [is] three. Protocols will be observed," he confirmed. 

Mogashoa added that Swallows, through their team doctor, have informed the PSL and all the people involved about the results. 

"We have notified the PSL through our team doctor and all the people involved," he said. 

This brings a total number of players who tested positive for the coronavirus in the National First Division (NFD) to six.

TS Galaxy were the first NFD club to make their results public on Tuesday night - revealing that three of their players had tested positive for the deadly virus. 

Swallows are one of the NFD teams involved in a tightly contested race for promotion to the PSL.

The other two teams are Uthongathi FC and Ajax Cape Town who top the NFD standings with only a handful of league matches remaining before the end of the season.

Swallows will hope to have the three players back as soon as possible and in time for the resumption of the campaign.  

The Soweto-based outfit is currently placed second on the log with 41 points, seven behind Ajax after 24 rounds of matches. 

Simba SC have emerged victorious against Mbeya FC courtesy of a double strike from John Bocco at Sokoine Stadium.

With Simba racing closer to defend the Mainland Premier League title, the midweek win helped them to maintain a wide gap at the top of the table with no team likely to overtake them now.

Bocco struck the opener in the sixth minute with the hosts struggling to contain the giants but were unlucky not to concede another goal until the second half.

Bocco earned his brace in the 54th minute to help Wekundu wa Msimbazi record not only a win but also a clean sheet in Mbeya. The victory saw Simba add their tally to 78 points after playing 31 matches.

Mbeya City will remain in position 18 on the 20-team table with 30 points from the same number of matches. Mbeya are not completely out of the relegation zone given the 19th-placed Mbao FC have four fewer points.

Azam FC's bid to keep second place received a big blow after they lost 1-0 to Kagera Sugar.

Yusuf Mhilu, who has attracted interest from a number of clubs this season due to good performances, struck the all-important goal for the Sugar Millers in the 33rd minute and the Aristica Cioaba-led side was unable to fight back away from home.

A win for Yanga SC, who will take on Namungo FC later in the evening in Dar es Salaam, will see them overtake Azam on the log. The FA Cup defending champions have 58 points against Yanga's 56.

The win is important for Kagera Sugar who have overtaken Tanzania Prisons on the table as they now enjoy 44 points, two more than Tanzania Prisons.

There was only one draw recorded in the midweek action when Alliance FC and Polisi Tanzania fought to share points in their respective tie from a 1-1 scoreline.

Martine Kiggi, in the 51st minute, put Alliance ahead before the law enforcers equalized in the 80th minute via a Pius Buswita's strike.

Kinondoni Municipal Council (KMC FC) suffered the heaviest defeat of the day after going down 4-0 away to Biashara United.

A goal from Justine Omary in the 36th minute coupled with a hat-trick from Atupele Green were enough to see off KMC. Green scored his first goal in the 68th minute and earned the second one in the 72nd minute. His last goal of a joyous afternoon came in the first minute of added time.

Stephen Ireland has revealed how he once got the better of Lionel Messi in a pre-season friendly while also earning the title of "Superman" from Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

The former Manchester City star says that Laporta bear-hugged him ahead of a warm-up match in 2009, a period where Ireland was a key player for the Premier League club.

Ireland made 176 appearances for City between 2005 and 2010 after making the leap from the club's academy, before subsequently moving on to feature at Aston Villa.

He also took in spells for the likes of Stoke and Bolton during his career, although he never played a match for the latter before ending his career in 2018.

And that career could have gone much differently, according to Ireland, who believed that there was a chance to move to Barcelona around the time of that pre-season friendly.

“We played against Barcelona in pre-season and I was the best player on the pitch by a country mile,” Ireland told The Athletic. “Messi was playing. He went on one of his mad runs and I just thought, ‘I have to tackle him’. I did this massive hook tackle on him. It was an amazing tackle.

“There were four or five times when I read his passes and intercepted them. I went round him. I gave him the eyes and went a different way. It was cool, really cool, to be out there with him. 

“On occasions like that, you’re more alert, you try harder. You run quicker, you see more. I’m built for that.

“I remember on the bus [to Camp Nou], two players saying to me, ‘If you play well today, Barcelona will sign you’. One was Javier Garrido, a Spanish boy. 

“The other was [Pablo] Zabaleta. Now I think, ‘Was I really that close? Was I that good? Was I that recognised that something like that could actually have materialised?’”

While the game against Barcelona was a memorable one for Ireland, the former midfielder added that the run-up to that game was equally unforgettable.

Even before his pre-season display, Ireland said that Laporta approached him following a training session, causing Ireland a bit of panic.

“The day before the game, we had a training session. And as we were coming up the tunnel, Barcelona’s president was there,” he said. “All the players were like, ‘That’s him!’. He kinda pushed everyone to the side, grabbed me and gave me a massive bear hug. 

“He put his arm around me and I started to sweat so bad. I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, if he picks up on this it’s going to be so embarrassing’. I was red in the face, drenched with sweat. Oh sh*t, how uncool did I look? 

“And he started telling everyone, ‘Hey, this guy is the man, this guy’s number one. This guy’s Superman!’. Looking back, I really feel I was good enough to have stayed another six, seven or eight years at City.”

Ebusua Dwarfs coach Ernest Thompson is the latest to express worry about the possible resumption of the Ghana Premier League behind closed doors.

All domestic competitions in the West African country have been on hold since a national ban on public gatherings, including sporting and religious events, came into effect on March 15 as part of measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is currently engaging the Government of Ghana over the possible resumption of major domestic competitions under strictly safe protocols which mainly involve matches without fans.

“You know our clubs actually rely on gate proceeds. And should the league resume in an empty stadium, it is going to actually affect clubs,” Thompson told Y FM.

“When it’s behind closed doors and there are no supporters coming in, there is no other source of income for some of the teams.

“It is going to cause a lot of problems for most of the teams, Dwarfs not excluded, because you know we don’t have as many sponsors and support as other teams have and that is really going to be a problem.

“If you should ask me, the government or the Ghana Football Association should come in to support the teams financially.

“With that one, if we are asked to go and play, I think fine and with all the protocols and everything put in place to ensure the players, technical team and management do not contract the disease why not.

“We are ready to play anytime they ask us to, but we should be very careful with the decision."

With huge uncertainties over the immediate future of domestic football due to the increasing number of coronavirus infections in Ghana, there have also been some calls for the complete termination of the season.

Officials from King Faisal, Berekum Chelsea and Eleven Wonders have advocated for the complete annulment of the campaign but two-time FA Cup champions Medeama want the current term continued when safe to do so.

The GFA has, meanwhile, set a June 30 deadline to make a final decision on the future of the 2019-20 Ghana football season in the wake of the disruptions.

Ghana's ban on all contact sports, including football, remains in effect until at least July 31.

Burnley captain Ben Mee was a picture of seething disappointment after his side's 5-0 defeat against Manchester City, but it had nothing to do with the result.

The game itself felt irrelevant as he directed his ire at the people who decided it was a good idea to fly a banner with the words 'White Lives Matter Burnley' over the Etihad Stadium.

A visibly furious Mee told Sky Sports that he was "ashamed and embarrassed" by the stunt, stressing that the message portrayed by the banner was not at all representative of the club or the players. 

"It is not what we are about. They have missed what we are trying to achieve," the centre-back said in his rebuke.

"These people need to come into the 21st century and educate themselves. They don't represent what we are about, the club is about, the players are about and the majority of fans are about."

The banner in question appeared shortly after the players had knelt in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, as, indeed, other teams had done in previous games since the restart of English football.

Premier League stakeholders had also agreed to print the words 'Black Lives Matter' on the backs of jerseys and individual players have used their platforms to amplify the voices of the BLM movement. 

Mee was speaking on behalf of the Burnley team when he admonished those behind the banner, but his expression of sharp disapproval was echoed by many within and outside the football community. 

Man City star Raheem Sterling said it was "time for change" and former Manchester United captain Rio Ferdinand wrote on Twitter: "Well said Ben Mee... respect."

Former England star Gary Lineker lauded Mee's "leadership", while Labour MP David Lammy said that Mee had "given a lesson in how to call out offensive garbage".

Mee condemned the 'White Lives Matter' banner in the strongest possible terms, but the most substantive part of his statement was that, as well as being offensive, it misses the entire point of the BLM campaign.

Why does 'White Lives Matter' or 'All Lives Matter' miss the point? 

'White Lives Matter' or 'All Lives Matter' reactions miss the point because the Black Lives Matter movement is not about denigrating the worth of other ethnic groups; it is about highlighting a specific problem.

Black Lives Matter is against racism and systemic injustices against the Black community, and it works for equality for everyone.

The message of the slogan is not that Black lives matter more. It is not that the lives of Caucasian people don't matter. It is that Black lives matter just as much.

Reactionary cries that 'White Lives Matter!' or even 'All Lives Matter!' demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of what BLM is working for and fighting against.

Such cries also have the effect of diminishing the plight of a community that has suffered violent subjugation in the past and continues to feel the residual ill effects of history, with overt and subtle racism still evident today.

The fact that 'White Lives Matter' has been used as a slogan for white supremacist groups is highly problematic and it creates an absurd false equivalence.

Robbie Earle noted that Mee had understood the issues "through the lens of a black man", telling NBC Sports in an emotional appraisal: "That is change, that is progression. That's people standing with you in the fight and if we can stand together in the fight we've got a chance."

So, when footballers take a knee and wear shirts emblazoned with the slogan, it is an act of solidarity, not of supremacy. It is an expression of a desire to rid the world of racism, in all its forms.

What is the Black Lives Matter about?

Black Lives Matter (or BLM) is a social civil movement that arose in 2013 in response to police brutality against Black people in the United States.

George Zimmerman's acquittal in the case of the fatal shooting of Black teenager Trayvon Martin is considered the catalyst for the Black Lives Matter movement. It began to spread on social media platforms before developing into organised street protests and activism.

Inspired by the civil rights movement, the Black Power movement and Black feminist movement among others, Black Lives Matter is most prominent in the U.S., but has spread across the world.

The BLM website says that the movement is committed "to imagining and creating a world free of anti-Blackness, where every Black person has the social, economic, and political power to thrive".

Why are people protesting?

The Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 are driven primarily by the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed at the end of May during an arrest by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Video footage circulated online of a handcuffed Floyd lying on the ground with police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on his neck for approximately nine minutes. Floyd could be heard in the footage saying that he could not breathe.

His death sparked outrage in the U.S. and prompted hundreds of street protests across the country despite public health concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. Protests subsequently spread to Europe and across the world, with demonstrators clashing with police in many cases, such as the UK, but on a smaller scale.