SPORTS

Shanghai, China | AFP | Pep Guardiola’s former boss Juanma Lillo left his post in the Chinese Super League on Friday with reports saying he could be Manchester City’s next assistant coach. Qingdao Huanghai said Lillo had departed as head coach because his mother was “seriously ill in Spain and needed urgent care”. But Marca …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Managers will be able to make up to five substitutions for the remainder of the 2019/20 Premier League season after clubs agreed to the temporary rule change at a meeting on Thursday. FIFA proposed the solution last month to “protect player welfare” with a large number of matches packed …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Premier League leaders Liverpool could claim a first title for 30 years at Anfield after the initial batch of fixtures of the restart was announced on Friday. Jurgen Klopp’s men, with a commanding 25-point lead at the top of the table, were just two wins away from clinching the …

Berlin, Germany | AFP |  Bayern Munich face one of the final obstacles in their hunt for an eighth consecutive Bundesliga title this weekend as players in Germany contemplate staging collective protests following the death of George Floyd in the United States. The German FA said on Wednesday footballers including Jadon …

Paris, France | AFP |  Daily medical questionnaires, frequent temperature checks, weekly testing, face masks in the changing room and showers at home only. Not to mention trying to work out how to celebrate goals. Such is the reality for footballers in leagues returning from the coronavirus shutdown. Poland was among …

Barcelona, Spain | AFP | Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is in line to return from a long injury lay-off when La Liga resumes next week behind closed doors in the heat of the Spanish summer after a three-month coronavirus shutdown. Suarez, 33, was sidelined for four months in January after undergoing surgery on his right …

Berlin, Germany | AFP | Bundesliga players including Jadon Sancho who staged protests during matches following the death of black American man George Floyd will not be punished, the German Football Federation said on Wednesday. In a statement, the DFB said “no action” would be taken against Borussia Dortmund players Sancho …

London, United Kingdom | AFP |  The Premier League’s return is just two weeks away but there are plenty of details for the 20 clubs in the English top-flight to work out before competitive action resumes on June 17. AFP Sport looks at what is on the agenda at the latest …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp cannot wait for English football’s return after a three-month layoff due to the coronavirus pandemic and promised to celebrate the Premier League title in style when it is safe to do so. Liverpool are just two wins away from securing their first league title in …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Rugby Africa, the administrative body for rugby union across Africa has cancelled all its competitions this year including the Rugby Africa Cup which was supposed to start last weekend. The other affected competitions include the U-20 Bathes Trophy, Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and the …