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Nantes have completed the signing of Moses Simon on a four-year deal from Levante.

The Nigeria international will have the opportunity to continue his impressive performances in Christian Gourcuff's team after he was named the Canary of the Season for the 2019-20 campaign.

Simon joined the Canaries on a temporary deal from Levante last summer after struggling to make an impact in La Liga last season.

Before the early conclusion of the French season, the Super Eagles winger contributed nine goals and eight assists in 30 appearances for Nantes and he also helped them finish 13th in the Ligue 1 standings.

The 24-year-old's permanent contract is expected to start on July 1 and it will run through until 2024.

He claims he is enjoying his game in France presently after struggling to understand Spanish during his only campaign at Levante.

"At Levante, I did not play very well due to some circumstances with the coach. In Spain, the coach only spoke Spanish and I needed a translator," Simon said.

"It was easier to play in France because I understand the language more and communication is very good with the coach.

"I am enjoying my football now. The most important thing is to play. Not to sit on the bench. To have the freedom to play, have the freedom to speak and to do what you know how to do best."

After developing his game at Golden Boot Soccer Academy in Jos, the 24-year-old started his European journey at Ajax but he failed to secure a contract with the Dutch outfit and he moved to Slovakia to join Trencin in January 2014.

Following a year with the Slovak club, Simon moved to Belgium to team up with Gent where he spent three years before signing for Levante.

During his three-year stint at Gent, the Jos-born attacker won the Belgian First Division A and the Belgian Super Cup in 2015.

Internationally, he is a regular fixture in Gernot Rohr's Nigeria squad and he was part of the team that won bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Since he made his international debut for Nigeria in March 2015, Simon has scored five goals in 33 appearances for the Super Eagles.

Manchester United, Liverpool and Co. will return to our television screens in June as the Premier League restarts after a three-month coronavirus-enforced hiatus.

There will be a couple of small, but notable changes to the game in this brave new post-Covid-19 landscape, including the obvious fact that there will be no supporters at the match in the interests of public health.

The game itself of course will largely be the same, but we will now see more substitutions being made in competitive matches due to the five-substitute rule.

So what is the rule all about and why has it been introduced? Goal brings you everything you need to know.

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What is the five-substitute rule?

The 'five-substitute rule' is a temporary change to the maximum number of substitutes a team is permitted to make during a game, increasing the number from three to five.

In addition, the Premier League has increased the maximum number of substitutes permitted to sit on the bench from seven to nine.

However, while the total number of substitutions possible in a game is now 10 instead of six, managers will only be allowed to make changes at three points in the game.

The idea behind limiting the number of stoppages for substitutions is to reduce the level of disruption in a match, something that could in theory be exploited.

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When was the five-substitute rule introduced?

The IFAB made a temporary amendment to Law 3 of the Laws of the Game in May 2020 following a proposal made by FIFA.

In a circular to all national football associations and federations, the IFAB outlined the nature of the change and indicated that competition organisers had discretion regarding whether to apply it or not.

Premier League shareholders subsequently agreed to implement the change for the remainder of the 2019-20 season, which resumes in June 2020 and will conclude at the end of July.

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Why has the five-substitute rule been introduced?

The five-substitute rule was introduced with player welfare in mind as football resumed in the midst of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

A three-month lay-off without competitive action, even though players continued to train individually during the hiatus, combined with a lot of games in a short period of time is a risky prospect.

Players such as Kevin De Bruyne have expressed concerns about the chances of sustaining injuries when action resumes, while ex-Liverpool physio Andy Renshaw predicts there will be "a ton" of muscle issues.

As well as the increased potential for injury, climate was also a consideration in the decision to increase the number of substitutes, with leagues continuing in the height of summer, when temperatures peak.

The IFAB and FIFA are fully aware of these associated risks and, accordingly, made the temporary change. The IFAB also stressed existing Laws of the Game which allow for water breaks.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching impact on daily life, including sport, around the world," the IFAB's circular to national assocations and federations read. 

"As many countries begin to emerge from this situation, the focus is slowly turning to the resumption of football competitions that have been affected by the virus.

"When competitions resume, matches may be played in a condensed period (e.g. to reduce the impact on future competitions) and in different weather conditions, both of which could have an impact on player welfare."

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Will the five-substitute rule become permanent?

The five-substitute rule has initially been introduced as a temporary measure and is ostensibly in place until the end of 2020.

FIFA and the IFAB will revisit the rule change at a later stage in order to assess whether its application needs to be extended into 2021.

It is entirely possible that the temporary rule change could end up becoming permanent - should it be considered to improve the game - but it is currently only a temporary tweak.

Therefore, it is expected that the IFAB will revert the rule to the previous maximum of three substitutes in a game.

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Spain's World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas has announced he has pulled out of the running to be the next president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), citing a need for unity amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Real Madrid great Casillas confirmed his intention to stand for the position in February, but his withdrawal means Luis Rubiales is expected to be re-elected unopposed in August.

Casillas, who won Euro 2008 and 2012 alongside the 2010 World Cup with Spain, explained via a Twitter post his decision was in part due to "the exceptional social, economic and health situation that our country is suffering".

"This makes the elections take a back seat," he added.  "I think it is time to add and not divide."

The former Madrid goalkeeper, who made 167 senior appearances for his country, insists the decision to pull out does not mean a "closed door for the future" and said he could opt to run for the position further down the line.

"I wanted a fair, transparent and truly participatory electoral process, looking for the best for Spanish football," he said.

"I hope that in the next elections it can happen with me or with other candidates."

Spain has been one of the worst-affected countries of the pandemic, with over 290,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of those returning a positive test, 27,136 people have died.

Casillas won five La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues with Madrid before departing his boyhood club for Porto in 2015.

The 39-year-old suffered a heart attack in May 2019 and was later added to the club's backroom team, with Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa announcing Casillas had retired from playing in February.

Erling Haaland's attitude towards matches and training has delighted Lucien Favre since the striker joined Borussia Dortmund, but his coach wants him to understand the necessity of an occasional rest.

Haaland has only started three of Dortmund's five Bundesliga matches since the season resumed last month, with the Norwegian suffering a minor knee injury at the end of May.

His performance against Schalke aside, the 19-year-old's displays have not been as explosive as they had been prior to the coronavirus-enforced break, but without him in the team Dortmund have appeared significantly short in attack.

It has proven a challenge for Dortmund to balance the need to keep him fresh while also maximising their attacking output - Haaland's late winner in the 1-0 victory over Fortuna Dusseldorf at the weekend coming after he came on as a substitute.

But Favre is well aware of the potential pitfalls of over-burdening Haaland, even if the teenager is not, and he acknowledged another striker will have to be brought in for next season in order to prevent the former Salzburg star suffering from burnout.

"I think everybody knows that," Favre told reporters on Monday when asked if he needs another centre-forward as back-up next term. "I think that's clear too, because he's only 19 years old.

"It is normal that he is sometimes tired when you have an English week [a weekend fixture following by one in midweek], because he can't do everything on his own.

"We have also noticed that he is still growing. He was injured two or three times recently since he came to us. So, we have to dose what he does, because otherwise it could be dangerous.

"He has to understand this, because sometimes it is not possible to play three games in one week. Many players have problems with that.

"You can get injured or you're just not fresh and it's important that he has the freshness, but normally Erling plays because we need him.

"I like his mentality, he always wants to be there and always win, but of course he also has to make his progress, he is only 19 and has so much potential.

"But he likes to train, he still wants to do special exercises after training and I like that. I really enjoy doing that with him, but he has to understand that it is important to dose the whole thing."

Dortmund return to action at home to Mainz on Wednesday, knowing a turnaround in the title race will already be beyond them if Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen on Tuesday to clinch an eighth successive Bundesliga crown.

Now that the Team of the Season So Far (TOTSSF) promotion has ended in FIFA 20, EA Sports will keep fans entertained throughout the summer with new promotions, pack offers and other events.

The first promotion released after TOTSSF is Summer Heat, a new event for FIFA 20 that has not appeared in previous versions of FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT).

Goal brings you everything you need to know about Summer Heat, which players are available in Squad Building Challenges and more...

What is FIFA 20 Summer Heat?

As Summer Heat is a new addiiton to the FIFA 20 promotions calendar, FUT fans have been speculating exactly what the new promotion will bring to the game.

Usually, the FUTTIES event follows Team of the Season, while the Festival of FUTball promotion was the big summer release in FIFA 18, but now Summer Heat comes after TOTSSF and will see the return of some popular Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) from FIFA 20's previous promotions.

The loading screen for Summer Heat revealed that some SBCs from Ultimate Scream and FUTmas will be re-released, while there will also be new challenges and objectives with Flashback and Moments players.

When does FIFA 20 Summer Heat start?

FIFA 20 Summer Heat begins on Wednesday, June 17.

Every day during Summer Heat, new SBCs will be released at 6pm BST (1pm ET), while new promotional packs and other offers will be unveiled regularly.

Promotional packs are usually released in evenings and are available for 24 hours in limited quantities.

What are the FIFA 20 SBCs and Objectives?

The new Squad Building Challenges (SBCs) for Summer Heat include Flashback players and special Moments players which celebrate outstanding indvidual performances from the past.

In addition, there will also be re-released versions of popular SBCs from previous promotions from FUT including FUTmas and Ultimate Scream.

These re-released SBCs and Objectives will include upgraded versions of those player items, such as FUTmas Ferland Mendy being upgraded from an 85-rated card to a 93-rated one.

Mikel Arteta says it’s Arsenal’s responsibility to show Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang that his future is best served at the London club and remains hopeful his top scorer will sign a new deal.

The Gunners skipper is about to enter the final year of his contract and admits he has not yet decided whether he will extend his stay in the English capital.

Aubameyang has labelled his decision as “maybe the most important” of his career and, speaking to Telefoot over the weekend, the 31-year-old hinted that the current stalemate in talks is down to Arsenal rather than him.

“We have had exchanges with the club, for a fair few months now,” said Aubameyang. “And they know very well why so far nothing has happened.

“They have the keys. It’s up to them to do their work and after that we will see how things go.

“It is a turning point in my career, and I will be very frank with everyone, it will certainly be a very difficult decision to make. I still have not decided. It will maybe be the most important decision of my career.”

Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid have been linked with a potential summer move for Aubameyang, but Arteta is hopeful his captain can be convinced to commit his future to Arsenal.

The Spaniard says the club have held “many discussions” with the striker and his representatives, but accepts that if his top scorer is to stay put, Arsenal must show him that the club’s ambitions match his own.

And, of course, he accepts that earning a spot in next season's Champions League will make talks easier.

“I think it’s our responsibility to make him feel that this is the right next step in his career,” said Arteta, ahead of Wednesday night’s trip to Manchester City.

“In order to do that he needs to feel valued. He needs to feel that he belongs to us and that we want him - and then he really needs to believe we can take this club forward in the way we want to do. He’s going to be a key player to do that.

“I think that [Champions League qualification] would help to persuade anybody, but we are very lucky to have the club that we have that a lot of players want to come and join.

“But it is not about who do we want to attract as well, it is how happy the players are here [too] and how convinced they are that they are in the right place. As well, it is our obligation to be fighting for almost every trophy and playing in the Champions League with this club.”

Arteta admits that the recent lockdown has not helped with talks over a new deal for the former Borussia Dortmund star, but says he remains confident an agreement can be found.

“We have many discussions with Pierre, his family and agent,” said the Gunners’ head coach. “I am pretty positive that we can find the right agreement for all parties.

“At the moment I am extremely happy about the way he is performing and behaving. I think I have a really good relationship with him where we can discuss face to face a lot of things. So far, as far as I’m aware, I think he’s very happy at the club.”

Yanga SC goalkeeper Farouk Shikalo has narrated how a Gor Mahia official helped him cross the border between Kenya and Tanzania even though there is a restriction of travel between the two countries.

Shikalo said he had travelled back to Kenya when the Mainland Premier League was suspended due to a private issue. 

When the Tanzanian government allowed the resumption of football activities, the former Posta Rangers goalkeeper was still in the country. One of the hurdles he had to beat tpjoin Yanga teammates was the active cessation of movement between the countries.

Apar from the unnamed Gor Mahia official, the goalkeeper said a Mr Jerry Muro played a vital role in his travelling plans until he landed in Dar es Salaam.

“I left immediately after the league suspension because I had lost my elder brother and it is at that time when the Kenyan government suspended travel to or from Tanzania,” Shikalo told Global TV.

“[Jerry] Muro is the man who ensured my journey was a success. There is also another leader in Mombasa who helped me travel from Mombasa to Nairobi where I was picked by a Gor Mahia official who is working at the Namanga border.

“He [the K'Ogalo official] dropped me at the border and ensured my journey to the other side was smooth.

"From Namanga to Arusha Muro, who is well known, helped me throughout that length of the journey. He made hotel bookings for me in Arusha before he took me to Moshi again.

“At Moshi, I took Kilimanjaro Air to Dar es Salaam.

“Yanga were ready to pay for my air ticket but I told them I can use my own means until the border since the travel to Tanzania had been banned by our government.

“It is a journey that was riddled with challenges especially from Mombasa at a place called Kibokoni and Kizingo where there was total lockdown.

“From Mombasa to Nairobi I travelled with a District Officer and that made my travel along that route rather easier.”

The former Talanta FC and Bandari star further spoke about the targets he has for the club.

“I am ready to work,” continued the Harambee Star.

“I signed for Yanga when they were already participating in the Caf competition and my aim is to ensure they qualify again for the next editions.

“Our main aim as players is also to win the FA Cup and see that we finish the season in a better position in the league.”

The Kenyan did not feature against Mwadui FC on Saturday as Luc Eymael fielded Metacha Mnata instead. 

Kalidou Koulibaly has described his teammate Dries Mertens as the "Higuain of Napoli" after he became the club's leading scorer in their 2-1 aggregate victory over Inter Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals on Saturday.

The Nerazzurri had taken an early lead via former Tottenham Hotspur man Christian Eriksen before Mertens equalised four minutes to the half-time whistle to secure a 1-1 draw on the night.

The Belgian's goal tally now stands at 122 ahead of Marek Hamsik (121) Diego Maradona (115), Attila Sallustro (108) and Edinson Cavani (104).

“I spent a lot of time with him [Mertens] in the early days of Napoli," Koulibaly told Sky Sports Italia.

"He came to pick me up at home and took me to Castel Volturno. We had a lot of laughs on the journeys between Naples and the sports centre.

"He spoke to me in my first year and told me not to give up because he believed in me a lot. It can be seen that he grew up in a serene and happy family. I wish him all the best in the world because he really deserves it.

"He has grown a lot, has become a killer. He is the Higuain of Napoli because he knows how to do everything, he is a really important player and I am proud to play with him."

Higuain played for Napoli between 2013 and 2016, scoring an impressive 91 goals in 146 competitive appearances. The Argentine joined Juventus thereafter and will be up against his former employers in the Coppa Italia final on Wednesday.

Koulibaly played the entire 90 minutes on Saturday, his second appearance this year after having battled with a muscle injury since December 2019.

The Senegal international continues to be linked with a move away from the San Paolo with the likes of Manchester United and PSG long interested in him.

However, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis emphasised on the pages of Corriere dello Sport, that he would not be selling the 28-year-old for less than €100 million.

"If [Manchester] City, United or PSG showed up with 100 million euros I would think about it and he [Koulibaly] could leave if that was his will. 60 million I don't even consider," he said.

Koulibaly will be hoping to take part in Serie A's resumption when Napoli travel to Hellas Verona next Tuesday.

Qatar have inaugurated the Education City stadium, the third venue to be completed for the 2022 World Cup. The world-class stadium has been completed on schedule by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and Qatar Foundation.

It was formally inaugurated on Monday evening with a compelling live online programme celebrating the contribution of frontline workers and medical staff during the Coronavirus pandemic. The highlight of the programme was a speech by His Highness, The Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

The Education City stadium, nicknamed 'Diamond in the Desert', has a capacity of 40000 and has advanced technology like the stadium cooling and other such features. The façade features triangles that form complex, diamond-esque geometrical patterns, appearing to change colour with the sun's movement across the sky.

It has received a five-star rating from the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) and parts of the stadium can be re-purposed after the tournament. It is the first Qatar 2022 World Cup venue to get such a rating.

The arena's capacity will be reduced by half and 20,000 seats will be donated to build stadiums in developing countries, helping cultivate a passion for the game around the globe.

H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the SC, said: "The completion of Education City Stadium is yet another milestone as we inch ever closer to the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also paid tribute to the frontline workers around the world before expressing confidence that football will return to normal ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

"Tonight, while announcing the completion of the Education stadium, we pay a tribute to those who fought and are still fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. We must not forget, health comes first. In some parts of the world, it is possible to look ahead. In others, we still have to be careful. The new stadium reminds us that football will return with more passion than ever. When time comes, we will be sharing the stands with family and friends. When time comes, we will celebrate the 2022 World Cup in Qatar," he said. 

Nasser Al Khater, CEO of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, said: “The atmosphere will be electric at Education City Stadium when it hosts matches during the World Cup. This is a football lover’s stadium and one we are certain fans from around the world will enjoy during Qatar 2022.

“Providing unique experiences for fans and players alike in 2022 is central to our planning, and we will stage several events across various venues in the lead-up to the tournament to test our readiness and refine our plans to guarantee that everyone visiting Qatar in 2022 has an exceptional time.”

Yasir Al Jamal, Chairman of the SC’s Operations Office and Vice-Chairman, Technical Delivery Office, said, "We are very proud to announce the completion of our third tournament-ready stadium, following the successful redevelopment of Khalifa International Stadium in 2017 and the inauguration of Al Janoub Stadium last year. All of our projects remain on track and, as we celebrate this milestone today, we also look forward to marking many more between now and the big kick-off on 21 November 2022."

Machaille Hassan Al Naimi, President of Community Development, Qatar Foundation, said: "Education City Stadium will be a focal point for the world of football in 2022, and for the people of Qatar for many decades to come after the tournament."

The construction of Khalifa International Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium is already complete and the two venues are operational.

Callum Hudson-Odoi was forced to miss out on Chelsea's behind-closed-doors friendly against QPR on Sunday due to an ankle knock but the winger has overcome the injury to give Frank Lampard a full squad of options ahead of the Premier League's restart.

The 19-year-old will be aiming to take to the pitch against Aston Villa this coming weekend, having missed the Blues' 7-1 drubbing of QPR which followed on from a 1-0 victory over Reading at Chelsea's Cobham Training Centre.

Fellow youngster Reece James had missed several sessions through injury but was able to play a part in the club's latest warm-up clash. In addition, N'Golo Kante started against QPR after originally staying away from training due to fear of contracting Covid-19.

The France international only began 'phase two' contact training last week after Premier League clubs were given the green light to return to training three weeks ago.

In general, the lockdown period following the coronavirus outbreak has allowed Lampard to see some of his players come back after an injury crisis hit the club before the stoppage.

Mateo Kovacic, Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic were all out ahead of the break in play in March but are since back fit.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek's two goals against QPR gives Lampard cause for optimism after he has spent over a year out following tearing his Achilles tendon in a post-season friendly against the New England Revolution.

Lampard had been cautious about using the England international due to a lack of match fitness and has allowed him to play for the Under-23s to quicken his return.

Despite the good news, Chelsea still have to be prepared for injuries as they aim to play out their last nine league games - and their FA Cup matches - which are scheduled to finish before August 1 as part of a hugely busy fixture list.

Lampard and his coaching team have called upon the best of the academy to boost the squad as their teams at various youth levels saw their seasons cancelled.

After signing a new deal, Tino Anjorin has featured heavily in the pre-restart friendlies but there has also been minutes for Armando Broja, Ian Maatsen, Lewis Bate, Henry Lawrence and Tino Livramento.

Anjorin and Broja had made their debuts on March 8 in Chelsea's last match before play was suspended, a clash in which they won 4-0 against Everton in the Premier League.

Chelsea remain in fourth place in the league as they look to qualify for next season's Champions League once again. They will also prepare for a quarter-final match away at Leicester City on 28 June in the FA Cup.

The Confederation of African Football (Caf) has confirmed Gor Mahia as Kenya's representatives in the 2020/21 Caf Champions League.

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had forwarded the name of K'Ogalo as the current campaign's champions after annulling the Kenyan Premier League on April 30.

Chemelil Sugar joined their fellow sugar men Sony in the second tier after suffering relegation, with Kisumu All-Stars and National Super League (NSL) side Vihiga United are set to play in the two-legged relegation/promotion match.

The league management protested the move and communicated the same to Caf before raising the matter with the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) where they argued that the federation overstepped their mandate to cancel the league and crown Gor Mahia.

"I cannot comment on the Caf issue right now since the case is in court," KPL CEO Jack Oguda said on Monday evening when contacted by Goal.

"Let us first hear what the Tribunal decides on the league annulment."

The FKF announced the promotion of Nairobi City Stars and Bidco United to the top tier. Simba wa Nairobi were leading the race with the Thika-based side second.

After submissions were made on June 12, by lawyers representing their respective clients, the tribunal's chairman John Ohaga set June 30 as the date the ruling will be made.

In Uganda, Vipers FC will represent the country in Africa's club elite competition.

The Venoms were crowned by the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (Fufa) after they cancelled the 2019/20 Ugandan Premier League season. The Kitende side was leading the race for the title with 54 points, four more than their predecessors KCCA FC.

A total 25 rounds had been played, representing 80% of the total matches and per the Fufa rules, Vipers had the right to be crowned.

Another East Africa country Rwanda will be represented by APR.

However, Ethiopia and South Sudan will not enter any team in the annual competition after declaring their domestic leagues as null and void. 

The Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) opted against annulling the league. The Tanzania Mainland League restarted on June 13, Simba SC need four wins to be crowned, which will give them the right to play in the Caf Champions League next season.

Following Johnny Acosta’s attack on East Bengal’s investors Quess Corp through social media, his teammate Kassim Aidara lashed out at the Bengaluru-based company over non-payment of players’ salaries.

The Costa Rican World Cupper left Kolkata on Monday morning but not before he shared a post on Instagram in which he launched a scathing attack on Quess for not paying players’ salaries for the last two months.

He also accused the company of being apathetic towards the players’ situation during the Coronavirus pandemic. On Acosta’s Instagram post, his teammate Aidara commented and he too attacked the club’s investors.

Aidara’s comment read, “Brother, we had a great quarantine together, unfortunately, Quess East Bengal FC made it very tough for us in this difficult time. A lot of disappointment towards Quess East Bengal and there has been a lack of respect towards all the players but especially for us foreigners who enjoyed our time with East Bengal Club and it was a pleasure to be part of this amazing team and it was amazing playing alongside with you and all the other players. It’s a pity that all had to end in such circumstances. The fans are amazing and they didn’t deserve this kind of a disaster. Even the players didn’t deserve this kind of treatment from Quess East Bengal FC. Take care brother and I hope to see you soon Johnny Acosta.”

The relation between the players and the club turned sour in recent weeks as investor Quess Corp decided to activate the ‘Force Majeure’ clause in the players’ contracts and decided to cut their salaries for the last two months.

Yanga SC winger Bernard Morrison has admitted to receiving cash from Simba SC who are reportedly attempting to sign him.

Morrison's future at Yanga has been cast into doubt after he missed the tie against Mwadiui FC on June 13. The Ghanaian forward switched off his phone before the match, making it difficult for the club to track him.

It later emerged he had was having meetings with some unnamed officials from Simba who are reportedly desperate to have him sign for the Wekundu wa Msimbazi.

“Simba came to me, I asked them to table their offer and they did. They later brought some USD 10, 000 which they claimed came from their president,” Morrison told Soka Letu.

“The money, they said, was part of their bargaining which was meant to soften my heart. USD 5000 was meant for me and the remaining part were meant for my agent.

“I accepted to pocket the money but on matters signing for them, I asked for some time to think about it. It seems the whole issue has brewed trouble since my agent has said the received money will bring more problems.

“But it is Simba who offered me the money and it has got nothing at all to do with signing for them.”

The former Orlando Pirates player was signed in the January transfer window for six months and went on to be a fan favourite given his stellar performances.

His superbly taken free-kick against Simba, on March 8, resulted in a goal that saw Yanga emerge victorious in Dar es Salaam. 

Yanga have already revealed they know of the meetings between their winger and Mainland arch-rivals.

“We have been reliably informed that there are still Simba officials who are tracking him and have promised a lot of money should he sign. What is shocking us is maybe he is forgetting that he is serving a two-year contract with Yanga,” the unnamed official said.

“We are now starting to see his disturbing behaviour but let us not deliberate on the issue so much because his phone might be faulty but again, he knows where the club's offices are and the officials.

“Someone might ask whether he has not been paid but there is no player who has not been paid may be talking of the June salaries and time of payment is not yet here.”

Morrison had already agreed on a contract extension with the Wananchi and it is understood the contract is signed and deposited at Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) offices.

He has scored three goals in 10 matches and has assisted in the creation of three other strikes.

Kaizer Chiefs defender Eric Mathoho has been painted by Owen Da Gama, his former coach at Bloemfontein Celtic, as a player who follows instructions to the dot following a hilarious incident on his Premier Soccer League (PSL) debut in 2010.

Da Gama handed Mathoho the first taste of PSL action for Bloemfontein Celtic in February 2010 against Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

It was a month before Mathoho turned 20 and he had to step in for Gary Goldstone who was injured and the defender stood tall in the 0-0 result.

“At first he refused, but I told him he would have to follow [then Sundowns forward] ‘Killer’ [Katlego Mphela] everywhere he went,” Da Gama told Far Post.

But Mathoho’s attention to detail saw him hilariously tracking Mphela even to the dressing room at half-time.

“We found him standing by Sundowns’ security. They wouldn’t let him pass. He wanted to go and be with ‘Killer’ in the dressing room,” said Da Gama.

Just over a year earlier, Da Gama had by chance discovered Mathoho who was playing for amateur side Tshiombo XI Securitas in Matatshe, Venda.

The coach was on a scouting mission for a striker who was playing for Dolphins FC, the team that was facing Tshiombo XI, but he ended up being swayed by Mathoho who had just been converted into a centre-back from being a defensive midfielder.

“It was Christmas Day [2008] and I was in Venda at my parents’ place. Dalton [Mabilu owner of Dolphins FC] invited me to come and watch his striker,” Da Gama continued.

“I was looking at the striker, but then this player caught my eye. He was winning every ball in the air, clearing every ball.”

Having been charmed by Mathoho, Da Gama then invited the defender for trials at Bloemfontein Celtic in June 2009 and the auditions were successful.

That was followed by the debut against Sundowns eight months later although Mathoho never enjoyed much action that season.

After two more seasons at Bloemfontein Celtic, Mathoho was then signed by Kaizer Chiefs and he is in his eighth season at Naturena.

From humble beginnings, the 30-year-old has established himself as an international defender and also two league titles have decorated his career.

Simba SC winger Francis Kahata believes his side was punished by Ruvu Shooting for failing to capitalise on chances created.

The Tanzania Mainland League leaders restarted their campaign to win the 2019/20 title on Sunday with a 1-1 draw with their visitors. It was an unexpected result from Wekundu wa Msimbazi after good preparations which included convincing wins against Trans Camp and KMC respectively in the build-up of friendly matches.

"It was a good game, but the result was a little bit disappointing for us," Kahata told Goal on Monday.

"We created numerous chances to get more goals but we could not finish them and we were punished. It is a point for us but I believe we can do better in our next matches, we need to take lessons from the game against Ruvu Shooting."

The Kenya international did not start the match but was introduced later on alongside Deo Kanda, Miraji Athumani, Mohammed Hussein to replace Luis Miquissone, Gadiel Michael, Hassan Dilunga and Shiza Kichuya. 

Simba information Officer Haji Manara had earlier confessed every club official was shocked with the outcome of the match as their aim was to get a win.

"The outcome of the match against Ruvu is not what we were expecting, it is not a good result, to be honest, we did not expect to get such a result," Manara told Sokaletu.

"I can only congratulate Ruvu for putting up a good show to deny us a win, they played in a very determined manner to take the point away."

It was a massive improvement for the Ruvu based-side who lost the first meeting 3-0 but a blow to Simba who are targeting five more wins to be crowned champions.

Simba are now on 72 points after 29 matches; they have won 23, drawn three, and lost as many matches. Ruvu Shooting remained in 11th position as well after collecting 40 points from 29 matches. The administrative side has managed to collect 11 wins, seven draws and 11 losses.

The Tanzanian top-flight finally returned on Saturday with Young Africans (Yanga SC) edging out Mwadui 1-0 while Coastal Union forced a 2-2 draw against third-placed chasing Namungo FC. 

Azam defeated Mbao FC 2-0. 

Six years down the line, Ghana international Jerry Akaminko has jumped to the defence of team-mate John Boye who was the subject of controversy during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Following a turbulent camp agitation over unpaid appearance fees ahead of a must-win last group match against Portugal - an episode that hogged media headlines around the world - Boye was captured on camera kissing a bundle of cash after the Black Stars finally received payment for the arrears.

The photo went viral on social media, becoming the subject of many discussions. To compound matters, Boye scored an own goal the following day against Portugal as Ghana exited the global showpiece at the group stage for the first time ever.

"He wasn’t wrong [to kiss his cash]," Akaminko, who just missed the tournament after picking up an injury in a warm-up fixture against the Netherlands, told Citi TV.

"The way football fanatics see these things is not the way we see it as athletes.

"For someone to work that hard and not get his money but receive it later at that time, it was a different feeling and I am sure he did that for the camera.

"John Boye has seen $100,000 [€88,840] before, maybe even more.

"If the players had received their money [early enough], nobody would have seen John Boye kissing the money."

After a 2-1 opening day defeat to the USA and a thrilling 2-2 draw with eventual champions Germany, Ghana needed a win at all costs against Portugal to progress from the group stage as they did on their World Cup debut in 2006 and in 2010 when they reached the quarter-final.

The days leading up to the all-important clash was characterised by controversy.

The team boycotted a training session in protest over the unpaid appearance fees, over $3.5 million [€3,109,414] cash had to be flown from Ghana to Brazil on the matches eve - under global media surveillance - to pay off the arrears and calm the camp agitations, the same night Boye was captured on camera just after he received his share of the cash.

On the morning of the big game, key duo Sulley Muntari and Kevin-Prince Boateng were sent home from camp for separate incidents of indiscipline.

Ghana ultimately lost 2-1 at Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha in Brasilia and were promptly sent packing.

After the tournament, then Ghana president John Mahama set up a Commission of Enquiry to investigate matters of the embarrassing campaign in Brazil.

Barcelona boss Quique Setien says Lionel Messi must be assessed for more than just his contribution in front of goal as he nears another career milestone.

The Argentina great needs just two more goals to reach a combined 700 for club and country after registering in Barca's 4-0 over Mallorca on Saturday, their first match since La Liga returned following the suspension of top-flight football in Spain as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Messi has a chance to reach the next benchmark in his sensational career in Tuesday's home clash with Leganes behind closed doors at Camp Nou.

Setien recognised the sensational achievement Messi, who played against Mallorca despite having sustained a knock in training, is about to reach but said the Barca skipper should be praised for far more than just his goals.

"Leo is fine. You don't only have to assess the goals he scored, but also the rest of his contributions, like assisting. That gives us a lot of points," he said.

"It's an astronomical number. I think he's reached 700 goals and that's why he's the best player in the world."

Setien is pondering several selection dilemmas ahead of the contest as he looks to protect his squad from injuries given they have only just returned to action.

Antoine Griezmann started in attack against Mallorca, while Luis Suarez returned from injury off the bench.

With another fixture against Sevilla on Friday, Setien is yet to decide if either forward will start against Leganes.

"I have not decided if Luis Suarez will start tomorrow, I have to talk to him. We have to be very cautious, after long injuries muscle problems can start to appear. We must take care," he added.

"Luis Suarez could be one of the players to rest tomorrow or at a later time. Luckily, we have more players. We have a team to adapt to the circumstances.

"Griezmann is indisputable, he is a great footballer, we continue to count on him, he will continue to play a leading role because he is important for the team and the club, but there are also other players that we have to use."

The game will be Barca's first played at home without spectators in attendance and Setien hopes the absence of fans will not hinder the leaders.

"We would rather play with the support of our fans tomorrow but we know it's not possible and we have to adapt. Football loses its essence playing in front of empty stands," he said.

"I hope we don't lose any intimidation factor because we don't have our fans. The public factor would help us a lot, I hope it doesn't hurt us too much now we won't have them with us."

Premier League football is set to return to our screens in June after a three-month suspension due to the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.

Having been deprived of seeing the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in live action during the global lockdown, fans of English football will now be able to watch a selection of games for free.

Television networks such as Sky Sports and the BBC will show a number of fixtures without any charge, while newcomer Amazon Prime will also stream some matches for free.

So which games will be gratis? What channel will they be on? And how exactly can you watch them?

Goal brings you all you need to know.

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When does the Premier League restart?

Premier League 2019-20 restarts on June 17 with two matches: Manchester City vs Arsenal and Aston Villa vs Sheffield United.

Once those two games - left over from matchday 28 - are played, the remaining nine matchdays from 30 to 38 - 90 fixtures - will be played.

Which Premier League matches will be free to watch on UK TV?

Sky Sports will make 25 matches available to watch for free, Amazon Prime has confirmed that its four games will be free to watch and the BBC will also broadcast four live matches for free.

Overall, then, a total of 33 Premier League fixtures of the remaining 92 - nearly a third - will be free to watch or stream on UK TV networks. 

Broadcasters have yet to reveal all the matches which will be available to watch for free, but Goal will keep you updated with a list, including dates, kick-off times and channels, right here.

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How can I stream or watch Premier League for free?

In order to watch or stream Premier League games for free, you will need access to BBC, Sky Sports and Amazon Prime.

BBC, the national broadcaster, is available for free to anyone in the UK via their television set and it can also be accessed online at www.bbc.co.uk or via the BBC iPlayer, which can be used on a computer web browser or through the app on an Android or iOS tablet or mobile device. BBC One and BBC Two are channels 101 and 102 on Sky.

You will need Sky digital TV in order to access Sky's free coverage of the Premier League. Free games will be broadcast on Sky Pick and Sky One.

Amazon Prime has confirmed that you will not need an Amazon Prime membership in order to be able to watch the four free Premier League matches that will be broadcast on their platform.

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Serie A bosses have confirmed the schedule for the completion of the 2019-20 season, meaning fans of Italian football will be able to watch the likes of Juventus, Inter and AC Milan live again in June.

Matches will be played in front of a maximum of 300 people in stadiums due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions, but fans will be able to tune in to the action on TV or by streaming live online.

So, the good news is that Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and Italian football's finest are going to finally be back on the pitch and on our screens again.

Lazio will be hoping to push Juventus right to the wire as they attempt to prevent the Bianconeri from clinching their ninth successive title, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic will hope to make a speedy return for Milan.

Of course, the Coppa Italia will also have to be resolved, with two semi-finals - involving Inter, Napoli, AC Milan and Juventus - and a final to be played as well.

But how can you watch the action unfold? Goal brings you all you need to know.

Contents

How to watch or stream Serie A matches

Watch or stream Serie A in the UK

Premier Sports broadcast Serie A in the UK and games will be available to watch on its TV channels, including their online streaming service, the Premier Player.

Games will be aired at 4:15pm, 6:30pm and 8:45pm BST, with fixtures set to be held most days of the week.

To find out more about getting a subscription, visit the network's website www.premiersports.com to register.

Watch or stream Serie A in the US

ESPN has the rights to broadcast Serie A football in the US, with the online streaming service ESPN+ set to broadcast daily

A total of 124 Serie A matches will be played, plus three Coppa Italia games, in the space of just under two months - so that's a lot of soccer.

Serie A kick-off times in the US are 11:15am, 1:30pm and 3:45pm ET.

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Serie A matchday 25 fixtures & TV channels

A number of fixtures from matchday 25 will be the first postponed Serie A games to be completed. They include Inter vs Sampdoria and Torino vs Parma.

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Serie A matchday 27 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 28 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 29 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 30 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 31 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 32 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 33 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 34 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 35 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 36 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 37 fixtures & TV channels

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Serie A matchday 38 fixtures & TV channels

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