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Korean club hit with record fine

A South Korean football club has been hit with a record fine after they used sex dolls to fill seats at a match which was held behind closed doors.

Its reported the club in question FC Seoul were fined €100,000 FC Seoul came under fire after they used the dolls to portray people in the stands. However, these dolls were wearing t shirts and were holding banners and placards. The logo of a well known sex toy company was on the banners in last Sunday’s game with Gwangju.

K-League officials said the club had “deeply humiliated women fans”. Personally, I feel in this day and age stuff like this should simply not be happening. However, the league stated they accepted that the club in question l, FC Seoul, didn’t know the sex toys were mannequins.  However, they stayed that club could of recognised the mannequins easily and common sense should have been used.

RTE Sport report that FC Seoul accepted the fine and decision by the K League officials. They stated it was a “misunderstanding”. In an apology issued on Facebook and Instagram the club said, “Regarding the cheer mannequins that were installed during the game on the 17th, we sincerely apologize for causing deep concern to the fans,”.

This is our fault without excuse,” said the club. “Regardless of the reason, we apologize again for causing great concern to the fans who love and cheer for FC Seoul. has been underway now since May 8th. The league was suspended for 2 months before that date owing to Covid 19.

Horse Racing Ireland release fixtures for June and July

Horse Racing Ireland have released a full flat racing programme for the months of June and July. It includes the big festival in Galway which will still be run on the same dates.

As I reported earlier this month Horse Racing is set to resume in Ireland behind closed doors on June 8th with action in Naas. There is in total 47 meetings in July alone. However, there will be three days now with no racing in month due to extra meetings been added. The director of horse racing Ireland Jason Morris said, “We recognise that there will be a large demand for opportunities to run and our aim is to provide all Flat horses with their first run as quickly as possible following the resumption of racing by offering a balanced programme across all age groups, distances and categories. There will be 53 flat meetings up to the end of July with this objective in mind”.

Mr Morris said that 22 national hunt meetings will take over June and July, compared to 17 between the same time last year. He continued, “There will be eight-race cards run at every opportunity where stable capacity allows, with the protocols requiring one stable per horse for hygiene reasons”.

The Galway Racing Festival will take place from July 27th to August 2nd. However, there will be some changes to recent year’s. The first two days of the festival will see flat racing only. This will be followed by National Hunt racing on the Wednesday. Thursday and Friday. The final two days of the meeting will be flat cards according to Horse Racing Ireland. Looking at some other courses, Killarney has seen it’s racing cut from five days to three days. Racing will begin in Cork on July 5th, which will be the first of four meetings at the track.

Bellewstown in Meath will host three meetings, with the first on July 2nd. Leopardstown will host meetings beginning on June 9th right up to the end of July. Meanwhile, the Curragh will host the Irish Tattersalls Gold Cup on Sunday the 26th of July.

The full list of horse racing meetings can be viewed here.

 

 

 

Kennelly future in doubt at Sydney

Tadgh Kennelly’s future with AFL side Sydney Swans is looking doubtful after he was stood down by the club as part of cut backs due to Covid 19.

Kennelly who played nearly 200 games for the Swans, before retiring in 2011 has been coaching at the club since 2017. The Kerry man who won a Grand Final in 2005, worked at the club as a defence coach last season.

RTE Sport report that he was due to take up the mantle of coaching the midfield before Covid 19 ravaged through the World In a statement, Charlie Gardiner club head of football said , “We have had to combine roles and look for efficiencies where we can find them to maximise the contribution of every role within the 25 head count”. How long AFL continues will be like having a coinflip on CSGO, it could be one month or one year.

Mr Gardiner continued, “That has also resulted in the stand-down period for 10 full-time staff being extended, while a large number of part-time and casual staff are not able to be re-engaged”. The statement said as well Kennelly, two other staff members were also not reinstated, these were Stuart Maxfield (opposition analyst) and Graig Holden (Team Swans Manager).

The statement continued, “All have been wonderful servants of the club – we are feeling for them and their families.”.  In addition the statement said “we do not know what the future holds as we continue to see the landscape change due to the pandemic”. The club acknowledged that the “impact” of the changes will be felt for quite some time.

However, Gardiner did say it was good to be back in terms of training he told the Sydney Swans website, “It’s exciting to be back but there are still plenty of challenges to work through.” He continued, “We’re also working through a plan to ensure all players remain match-fit, given there will be no AFL involvement in second-tier competitions. It’s unclear what the season will look like and we need to ensure every player on our list is ready should we need to call on them.

Kennelly made history in 2009 when he returned home to Ireland to play and win the All-Ireland football final with Kerry. Kerry beat near neighbours Cork in that final 0-16 to 1-09. The Listowel man kicked two points that day.

 

The Future of 2019/20 English Premier League amid Severe Uncertainties

With the novel coronavirus pandemic still being a significant pain in world economies; the sporting world is no different.

EPL football clubs remain hopeful that as time unfolds things will ease and the premier league will end sooner than later. However, there are lots of uncertainties as players undergo testing to determine if they are fit to interact with others. The player’s health, as well as fans’ health, continue to remain of utmost importance. Thus, stringent measures are in force to ensure that no one contracts the deadly illness. Here’s everything you ought to know about the future of the 2019/20 EPL. 

 

The training sessions 

 

Training is quite paramount in ensuring that players fit for the upcoming sporting event. Most of the players have been training on their own to keep their minds off strenuous activities. However, personal training isn’t enough. Thus, most clubs are trying to be hopeful about welcoming players to training camps as the month unfolds. However, this is all going to become possible should the players test negative for the COVID-19 virus. Thus, they get a chance to prepare for the return of the live match actions to take place in June. 

 

The closed-door gaming event

 

EPL games attract a huge fan base in the stadiums with most people booking their tickets early in advance. However, that is all to change once the games resume. Most of the EPL games will take place in closed-door events as the public gets to stream the games while at home. During this time one can decide to wager on the sports via various websites, including Euromillions. One could only wonder will the clubs agree to play on neutral grounds. 

 

The scheduled resumption of games 

 

At the very least there’s a high likelihood of the EPL to resume in June. It thus leaves on with plenty of time to prepare to wager individual bets in various gambling webpages including Lottopark.com. However, the event is subject to the government approval on the remaining matches at the approved stadiums. Multiple clubs are in their training ground while adhering to strict social distancing WHO stipulated guidelines. 

 

The transfers 

 

There’s a high possibility that any transfers made when all fixtures got postponed might not get reinstated. Thus, managers have a more significant role to take up and cancel any triple captain they’ve played before the game week’s deadline. Nonetheless, that doesn’t apply to transfers that have to get made or any free hit chips played.

 

The remaining 92 matches in the 2019/20 get much anticipated by players, fans and punters alike. The games get set to become more attractive; thus, you need not miss the betting chance in various sites including Loterias Del Mundo. Get to sharpen your gambling skills each time you get to prepare for any uncertain betting events in different betting platforms such as Euromillions. It’d be best to keep calm and have an open approach to the future of 2019/20 EPL games as anything is quite possible.

 

Injury forces Tyler Bleyendaal to retire

A neck injury has forced Munster Rugby’s Tyler Bleyendaal to retire from professional rugby with immediate effect.

The 29 year-old out-half made the last of his 62 appearances in the red jersey against Ospreys last November but medical advice has now ended his playing career.

The New Zealander, Munster Rugby’s Player of the Year 2016-17, said of his decision:

“It has been very tough to be honest, to admit the fact that I’m retiring from rugby, but the decision is out of my hands now, it’s a medical decision, and it’s the right decision.  It doesn’t make it any easier because rugby is a massive part of my life, but I do know that I gave it absolutely everything.”

Bleyendaal, a former nominee for European Player of the Year, thanked the Munster fans for their support throughout his time in Ireland, stating:

“I want to thank the Munster supporters, they have been absolutely fantastic, and they are a massive reason why myself, and the whole team, love playing in front of our home crowd and our away supporters as well. It still amazes me the support we get at any location around the world, and I want to thank everyone for their support, the personal messages, and the support of the team.”

A former New Zealand U20s player, Bleyendaal joined Munster Rugby from the Canterbury Crusaders – where he had made 20 Super Rugby appearances – in January 2015. He made his debut for the province against Benetton Rugby in September 2015. He has played at both out-half and at first centre with the club, captaining the side 11 times, the first occasion being against Edinburgh in February 2017. He scored five tries and kicked 352 points in his 62 games in red.

During the 2016-17 season Bleyendaal experience an excellent run of form, starting 25 of his 27 appearances and winning four man-of-the-match awards. He played a key role in the side reaching both the Heineken Champions Cup and the Guinness Pro14 semi-finals.

Munster Rugby Head Coach Johann van Graan today paid tribute to the retiring Christchurch-born player:

“I saw Tyler for the first time playing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and he caught my eye immediately. It was an absolute privilege to not only coach him but to learn more about him and discover what a fantastic rugby player and man he is. He has played a huge role for Munster Rugby, not only on the field but also off the field, and he will be sorely missed.

“It was a pleasure to coach him, and I believe he has a very bright future ahead, and will do very well if he moves into coaching. I wish Tyler, Laura, Bodhi and their growing family the very best in life.”

Top 10 soccer stadiums in Europe

With so many spectacular soccer stadiums in Europe, let’s have a look at my top 10. The stadiums will range from countries in Spain, England, France, Germany and Italy.

1 Nou Camp (Barcelona)

Home to Spanish giants Barcelona with a capacity of 99,354. It the largest stadium in Europe and third largest in the world. The Nou Camp has hosted two Champions League finals, as well as European Super Cups, UEFA Cups and World Cup games. The stadium also hosted the Olympic games football final in 1992.

2 Signal Iduna Stadium (Borussia Dortmund)

Home to Borussia Dortmund Signal Iduna Stadium is Germany’s largest soccer stadium. It is also the 7th largest in Europe. It has a capacity of over 81,000 for domestic games, while for international games the capacity is around 65,000. The stadium has hosted games at World Cup 1974 and 2006.

3 Bernabeu (Real Madrid)

The second largest stadium in Spain and home to Real Madrid. It has a capacity of just over 81,000. The Bernabeu has hosted four European Cup Finals. These 1957, 1969, 1918 and most recently 2010. It has also hosted the World Cup Final in 1982 and the Euro 1964 final.

4 Allianz Arena (Bayern Munich)

Home to Bavarian club Bayern Munich. It has a capacity of  75,000 for domestic games and 70,000 for international matches. Furthermore it is the second largest stadium in Germany. Hosted several games at the 2006 World Cup including the semi final between Portugal and France. The venue hosted the 2012 Champions League Final.

5 San Siro (AC Milan/Inter Milan)

Home to Italian giants AC and Inter Milan. The capacity of the stadium is just short of 76,000. It hosted several games at the 1934 world cup, 6 games at Italian 90 and 4 European Cup finals, 1965, 1970, 2001 and 2016. It will host the opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

6 Olympiastadion (Hertha Berlin)

Home to Hertha Berlin since 1963. It has a capacity of 74,745. It hosted the 1936 summer Olympics. Additionally the stadium has hosted World Cup games in 2006, this including the World Cup Final. The 2015 Champions League Final was also held here.

7 Old Trafford (Manchester United)

Home of Manchester United. It is the eleventh largest stadium in Europe. It has a capacity of just short of 75,000. Old Trafford has hosted World Cup games in 1966, Euro 96, as well as games in the Summer Olympics 2012.

8 Wembley ( England National Team)

Firstly, Wembley has a capacity of 90,000 for soccer games. Wembley has hosted the 2011 and 2013 Champions League Finals. Furthermore, it will hosts games in Euro 2021. Which will include the final. The stadium will also host the 2023 Champions League Final.

9 Luzhniki Stadium (Russian National Team)

Has a capacity of around 81,000. Moreover, It is the biggest stadium in Russia. The venue has hosted UEFA Cup Final in 1999 and the Champions League Final in 2008. In addition events such as 2018 World Cup Final took place here.

 

10 Anfield (Liverpool)

Probably the smallest stadium on the list but it doesn’t lack for atmosphere. One of my favourites for sure. The capacity is just over 54,000.

Alonso set to return to Formula One

Fernando Alonso is set for a return to Formula One according to his long time manager Flavio Briatore.

Alonso, who is a two time Formula One World Champion decided to leave F1 in 2018. He pursued in racing since then in Indycar Racing, the Dakar Rally and several endurance events. 24 hours Daytona Event in which he was the winner in 2019 was one of the most recent.  He will turn 39 in July, but reports now suggest the Spanish driver will now return to former team Renault next season. Also so won titles in 2005 and 2006 with Renault.

Alonso’s manager Briatore speaking to Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport said, “Fernando is motivated. A year out of Formula 1 has done him good. He has detoxed himself and I see him more serene and ready to return”. He continued, “We are watching what is happening. Let’s not forget that there is still a championship to run.” Furthermore, the Chief Executive of McLaren speaking to Sky Sport said, that signing Alonso was a no brainer for McLaren, who are looking for a driver to partner Esteban Ocon. Brown said, “Yeah I spoke with him [Alonso] the other day and I was kinda poking around,” Brown said “I think he’s undecided, and if I was running Renault, that’s who I’d put in the car: big name, fast as anyone, won two championships with them, so he’s got history”.

The current Formula One season may get underway in Austria in early July. Two races are set to take place at the Red Bull Ring. Earlier this week, I also reported that Silverstone will likely hold two races. With Stuart Pringle, racing track manager at Silverstone stating, “I am delighted to confirm that Silverstone and Formula 1 have reached an agreement in principle to host two races behind closed doors this summer”.

However, these will be subject to Covid 19 quarantine restrictions. The Belgian Grand Prix will also take place at the end of August at Spa-Francorchamps.

Is Shane Long One of the Most Underrated Players to Grace the Premier League?

Throughout his career, Shane Long has played for four different Premier League clubs following his departure from Cork City in 2005. However, despite being a constant feature in England’s top flight, his contributions often go under the radar among spectators. So, is Long one of the most underrated players to ever play in the Premier League? 

Undeniable Longevity 

It’s a testament to Long’s application and professionalism that he has enjoyed a career that has mostly consisted of Premier League football. That said, the Irishman did a period of his earlier years in English football battling to either avoid relegation from the top tier or instead gain promotion from the Championship. It was during this time, however, that the now 33-year-old was able to showcase his goalscoring prowess.  

During his six-year spell at Reading, the forward found the net on 54 occasions, in addition to assisting a further 29 goals in 199 matches. However, following his transfer to West Brom, Long’s role altered slightly as his stats highlight a slight decline in his numbers in front of goal. Upon joining the Baggies in 2011, Long has since moved on to play for both Hull City and Southampton in England’s top flight, with his best campaign regarding goals coming back in 2015-16, where he scored ten times in 28 games for the Saints. 

While there can be no doubts that Long hasn’t been the most clinical forward to ever grace the Premier League, few players can boast to have made 313 appearances in one of the world’s most competitive leagues. Fundamentally, this is what Long should be judged on. In addition to chipping in with vital goals, his longevity is a prime example of his unquestionable professionalism and commitment to the sport.  

A Favoured Option Wherever He Goes 

Furthermore, the total number of top-flight games that Long has featured in throughout his career also highlight his on-field abilities, along with his ability to react to the demands of various managers. Including caretaker managers, the 33-year-old has played under six different managers during his spell at Saint Mary’s, featuring regularly under each of them. 

Despite the tactical differences between Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes, and Ralph Hasenhuttl, for example, Long has always been able to retain his place in the side, irrespective of the desired style of play. Crucially, Southampton’s current manager, Hasenhuttl, credits Long as being a pivotal factor in the club’s revival, as they were no longer among the favourites for relegation with Space Casino football betting prior to the suspension of the season.  

Even though Danny Ings has been grabbing the headlines for his impressive form in front of goal, Long’s high-pressure approach to football has made him a perfect option for the Saints’ Austrian manager. At RasenBallsport Leipzig, Hasenhuttl would utilise Yussef Poulsen’s off-the-ball work rate to help get the best out of Timo Werner, an approach which has thus far served him well in the South East.  

A Career Worthy of Appreciation  

While Long may not be the most entertaining to watch regarding his on-the-ball skills, his contributions to football certainly make his career one that deserves more respect. At the time of writing, Long has featured heavily in 12 Premier league campaigns, a record that few players can match, let alone surpass, showcasing just how underrated the Irishman has become.

Developing Killer Instinct With Effective 1v1 Skills in Soccer Players

What does a soccer player need to succeed in the game? Is it physical fitness, or knowledge of tactics? The answer is both. While physical fitness is in the hands of the player, the coach would be responsible for enlightening them on the secrets of the game. 

The knowledge is also useful for someone who is into watching the games for more than the entertainment of a Friday night. Knowledge of the strategies and their elements give you more awareness of the situation when you are trying to assess which team is stronger and prone to win. If you are into watching sports, or even more, placing bets, the information on player skills will come in handy. The betting platforms collect experts and amateurs from all over the globe, so to place the bet successfully you need to be equipped with the information. The platforms like Parimatch give access to all the avid fans of soccer in North America, Africa, and Asia. For example, Bundesliga betting on Parimatch.co.tz  is developed in Swahili for Tanzanian citizens, as well as Uganda, Kenya, Somali, etc. Here are the points worth your attention when you are looking at two or more teams trying to figure out how they are doing this season. 

What are the effective skills of soccer players?

So, you have your favorite team. Let’s say the Dortmund club is your favorite. What strategies do you think the club uses and how do they recruit players? It is not all about signing the famous players, it is about collecting all the missing pieces of the puzzle. The coaches analyze the players, their skills, and look for other players who complete them. 

How does 1v1 work in soccer?

Of all the types of skills that players need to acquire during their career 1v1 is the most efficient. It aims at improving the chances of scoring or getting a chance for a hit. The focus is placed on the defender who controls the ball. The player needs to lock on the last defender and score the goal. A lot in this drill depends on the speed and sides from which the attacker gets the defender. The attacker should stick to cones, or back. 1v1 variations exist, and to acquire it the player goes through a gradual process of learning the elements first. By knowing moves that identify 1v1 on the field, you can predict its actual occurrence. Note that 1v1 happens regardless of the location of players on the field. 

Essential 1v1 Skill Types

On the list of fundamental skills to have for professional soccer players and amateurs one versus one stands on top. These skills require the knowledge of certain movements, and course tons of practice. The moves like body fake left/right are simple in theory and hard to perform in practice. Having a good physical shape is not enough, it is about the speed of the body movements. 

When can 1v1 be applied?

The drill is practiced by virtually creating the grids and assigning the players to them. The defenders and attackers will be the lead in this drill. Note that the sides might change and once the attacker can quickly become a defender. Now, the player needs to be ready to adjust in the blink of an eye.

It is hard to limit the cases when 1v1 is happening. There is a tendency to deny it when, for example, 3players are around the ball. However, in reality, the fight is happening between the two, so their 1v1 skills will be deciding here. Imagine the situation when the attacker stands in front of the choice to dribble through or pass the ball. Although the three players are in the picture, attacker 1, attacker 2, and the enemy, from the point of the attacker with the ball it is one versus one drill. 

Los Angeles Rams receive loan of $500 million

Los Angeles Rams have received a loan of $500 million from NFL owners it has been revealed by Sky Sports. It is thought the money will be used for the new Sofi Stadium in California.

The loan was approved on Tuesday at a virtual meeting. It is thought an extended period will be allowed to repay the loan. The stadium is set to have been overrun, meaning obviously more money is required. Hence, why the Rams applied for the loan. It’s also reported a lack of seat sales revenue could also be the issue, with the Los Angeles Chargers who are co tenants.

Sky Sports report that the Rams had already borrowed over $400 million from the NFL for the stadium. The cost of the stadium has risen to over $5 billion which is almost doubling what originally was the budget for the stadium. The stadium was due to open this summer for some events such as concerts, however owing to the Covid 19 these events have either been put back or postponed.

The Los Angeles Rams are due to be in NFL action on September 13th. It will be their first home fixture at the Sofi Stadium. This of course could be pushed back if the current pandemic rumbles on. Currently, strict social distancing and band on public gatherings are in place in Los Angeles County and California.

Stan Kroenke is the owner of the Los Angeles and is also owner of Premier League side Arsenal as well as the Denver Nuggets and numerous other sports teams, agreed to Co tenant the Los Angeles Chargers at the Sofi Stadium as part of the agreement to move Rams from St Louis to Los Angeles and the Chargers from San Diego to Los Angeles.

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