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sports Diamars 2 Februari 2021

FIFA pledges taking no health risks in World Cup qualifiers

(AP) — With 3,000 soccer to countries imposing man-
players due to travel inter- datory quarantine or self-
nationally for World Cup isolation for at least five days
qualifying games next upon arrival or their return.
month, FIFA President Asked if FIFA expected sta-
Gianni Infantino said on diums to be full when the
Monday all will conform World Cup opens in Qatar
to health rules in the coro- in November 2022, Infan-
navirus pandemic. tino said: “Yes. We must have
this.”
“We will certainly not take “COVID will be defeated by
any risk for the health of any- then,” he said, at a briefing
one when we play football,” on FIFA’s latest work with
Infantino said in a World WHO.
Health Organization news
conference. FIFA will use the six-team
Delays in the 2022 World Club World Cup starting on
Cup qualifying program in Thursday in Qatar to pro-
most continents led FIFA mote messages on health
last year to create new games safety and fair distribution of
dates next January. They will vaccines.
help make up the backlog in
an increasingly tight schedule Infantino, who is a member
with broadcasting rights al- of the International Olym-
ready sold. the 2022 African Cup of Na- from Dr. Tedros again that cluding in England which is pic Committee, repeated the
In Asia, 40 national teams are tions. the situation is evolving week experiencing an aggressive Olympic body’s view ahead
due on March 25 to resume “We will see where we can by week, day by day,” Infanti- new variant of COVID-19. of the Tokyo Games opening
qualifying groups that last play, in what conditions,” the no said, sitting beside WHO in July that athletes should
played in November 2019. FIFA leader said, pledging to director-general Tedros Ad- FIFA eased its rules last not get inoculations before
A total of 135 teams are due “do it by adhering to a clear hanom Ghebreyesus. year that require clubs to key workers.
to play World Cup qualifiers health protocol.” Many of the players who re- release players to national “We don’t consider football
next month, and 48 more “We can see and we have turn home for national duty teams. Exemptions were of- players as a priority group in
have preliminary games for been hearing earlier today play for clubs in Europe, in- fered if players had to travel this respect,” he said.

Louisville tops women’s Top 25, South Carolina up to No. 2

( AP ) - Louisville keeps overtime to Virginia Tech last five. Stanford, Texas A&M,
winning and remained Thursday. It was N.C. State’s Baylor and Arizona followed
atop The Associated Press first loss of the season. the Bruins. Maryland fell
women’s basketball poll. South Carolina jumped up three spots to 10th after los-
two spots to No. 2 in the poll ing to Ohio State. The Buck-
The Cardinals are the only and received the other four eyes moved up three places to
unbeaten team left in the first-place votes. 11th.
Top 25 after topping Miami UConn lost for the first PAC-12 COVID PROB-
and North Carolina this past time this season, falling to LEMS
week. They received 26 of then-No. 19 Arkansas last Arizona and Oregon both
the 30 first-place votes in the week, but remained third in missed games this weekend
poll released Monday. the poll. Arkansas rose three because of COVID-19 is-
spots to 16th. It is the first sues in their programs. The
Louisville (16-0) faced its time the Razorbacks have Wildcats were supposed to
stiffest challenge in the ACC knocked off two top five play at UCLA and USC, but
on Monday night with a visit teams in the same season af- those games were postponed.
from No. 4 North Carolina ter beating then-No. 4 Baylor The Ducks had games against
State. This was potentially in December. Utah and Colorado wiped Oregon to play Oregon State Cal also has had its last five
going to be a 1 vs. 2 match- out. on Friday and Oregon next games postponed because of
up until the Wolfpack lost in UCLA rounded out the top Arizona expects to travel to Monday. the coronavirus.

US defender Yedlin leaves Newcastle to join Galatasaray

(AP) — United States was announced by Galatasa- switched to playing a back
right back DeAndre Yed- ray. four and Bruce said Yedlin
lin left Newcastle to join “He’s certainly playing for a had been marginalized be-
Turkish club Galatasaray huge club in Galatasaray. cause he is better as a wing
on Monday. “He’s a great pro and a great back.
lad, and sometimes you have
Newcastle manager Steve to make decisions to let one Yedlin started five of New-
Bruce said he allowed Yedlin out.” castle’s 21 league games this
to go after the 27-year-old season, most recently on Jan.
defender fell to third-choice Yedlin joined Newcastle 12 in the 1-0 loss at Sheffield
right back at the English Pre- from Tottenham in 2016. United.
mier League club. He previously played for the
Seattle Sounders in Major Monday marked the final
“I’d like to wish DeAndre the League Soccer. day of the January transfer
very best of luck in Turkey,” window in most of Europe’s
Bruce said before the transfer Newcastle has recently leagues.