SPORTS

London, United Kingdom | AFP | The peculiarly British sports of croquet and bowls are taking baby steps to return from the coronavirus lockdown, away from the glare of publicity. Both conjure up images of elderly people pitting their wits against each other on lush lawns, with social interaction a big …

Paris, France | AFP | With the German Bundesliga on its second weekend back following the two-month coronavirus shutdown and La Liga given the green light by the Spanish government to return next month, AFP Sport casts a glance at the situation for football leagues across Europe: – Leagues restarting – …

Munich, Germany | AFP | Bundesliga leaders Bayern continue their renewed season with only one injury doubt ahead of a home game against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday. Coach Hansi Flick said in an on-line press conference on Friday that central midfielder Thiago was unlikely to play because of a hip muscle problem. “We’ll have to …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned his players that “personal agendas” will not be tolerated as he seeks a change of culture at Old Trafford. Solskjaer has overseen a huge turnover in his squad since taking charge in 2018. Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez were high-profile departures …

London, United Kingdom | AFP | N’Golo Kante has been allowed to stay away from Chelsea’s return to training due to his coronavirus fears. The French World Cup winner joined up with Frank Lampard’s squad on Tuesday as Chelsea resumed training following the Premier League’s decision to allow socially distanced sessions. But the 29-year-old missed …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Soccer governing body FUFA has declared Vipers the 2019/2020 champions, applying a rule that enables a season to conclude if it cannot continue after 75% of the league has been played. The Star Times Uganda Premier League clubs had played over 80% of the …

Paris, France | AFP | The head of global players’ union FIFPro has given his backing to footballers who do no want to return to training because of coronavirus fears and cautioned that it would be “inhumane and unacceptable” if they were to be punished for taking such a stance. Jonas …

  London, United Kingdom | AFP | Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is optimistic about the chances of completing the Premier League season as the champions-elect returned to training in small groups on Wednesday. Klopp’s side were just two wins away from ending a 30-year wait to win the title when the …

Lisbon, Portugal | AFP | UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is aiming to finish this year’s Champions League by the end of August as football in Europe slowly starts to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic. “Our plan is to finish it between now and the end of August,” Ceferin said in an interview with Portuguese …

Paris, France | AFP | Exactly 60 years ago, in an era when going to a big football match meant cramming together with no thought to social distancing, 127,000 people crowded into Hampden Park in Glasgow to see the European Cup final and were rewarded with “a fantasy staged in heaven”. …