Kyle Walker is facing disciplinary action from Manchester City despite apologising after breaching coronavirus lockdown conditions even though he advised people to stay at home. The England defender has said sorry after it was widely reported he held a party at his home last week, breaking the government’s rules on social distancing.
“I understand that my position as a professional footballer brings the responsibility of being a role model,” Walker said in a statement. “As such, I want to apologise to my family, friends, football club, supporters and the public for letting them down.”
Cancel F1 this year: Bernie
Bernie Ecclestone says this season’s Formula One championship should be cancelled because it appears unlikely that enough races can be completed for it to be valid due to the coronavirus crisis. The opening eight rounds of the 2020 season have been either cancelled or postponed, with doubts over a number of the other 14 races. A minimum of eight races are required for the championship to be valid, but former F1 chief executive Ecclestone believes that will not be possible.
“We should stop the championship this year and start again next year, hopefully, because I can’t see it’s going to be possible to get the right amount of races in that count for a championship,” the 89-year-old told BBC Radio.
3-month detention for Serbian
Serbian soccer player Aleksandar Prijovic has been sentenced to three months of home detention for flouting a curfew imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus. The 29-year-old striker, who plays for Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad pleaded guilty at a video link trial in Belgrade on Saturday. Police had arrested Prijovic and 19 others for gathering at a hotel lobby bar in Belgrade on Friday and violating the 5pm to 5am lockdown orders.
India’s bid
India has submitted its bid documents for hosting the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, a top official of the national federation confirmed on Sunday. If India wins the bid, it will be the first time the country will host the continental showpiece event.
Uefa denial
Uefa has denied there is an August 3 deadline to complete this season’s Champions League after a report by German broadcaster ZDF quoted the body’s president Aleksander Ceferin as saying the competition had to be finished by that date. “The Uefa president was very clear not to set exact dates for the end of the season,” said a statement from European soccer’s governing body.
Bidding adieu
Australia’s Steve O’Keefe, whose 12 wickets for 70 runs against India in a 2017 Test remains the best figures by a visiting spinner, quit first class cricket on Sunday after New South Wales opted not to retain him. O’Keefe was the leading wicket-taker among spinners in the recent Sheffield Shield season, which triggered speculation about a possible Test recall for the 35-year-old.
Contributions
Former star all-rounder Yuvraj Singh on Sunday pledged to donate Rs 50 lakh to the PM CARES Fund to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Harbhajan Singh has pledged to feed 5000 under-privileged families in his native Jalandhar.
