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sports Diasabra 7 November 2020

All NFL games on for Week 9 as teams deal with COVID-19

(AP) – Depending on their doing it is to get guys to the er tested positive. The team
situations, teams were ei- game," coach Raheem Morris was cleared that night by the
ther steering clear of or said. "We want to make sure NFL to practice Friday.
returning to their facili- we go through all the precau-
ties Friday, one day after tionary measures to play the Chicago plays at Tennessee
the Packers beat the 49ers game. Everybody wants to on Sunday.
even though both clubs play the game. "
were missing key players The Houston Texans re-
due to the coronavirus A Miami Dolphins assistant turned to their facility a day
pandemic. coach, also unidentified, test- after it was closed following
ed positive for COVID-19 a positive COVID-19 test
The Cincinnati Bengals kept and was quarantined. It was by a player. Linebacker Ja-
players away from their train- the first coronavirus case in- cob Martin's positive test on
ing facility after two uniden- volving the Dolphins since Wednesday night forced the
tified players tested positive Aug. 19, but their regular- closure of the facility Thurs-
for COVID-19. Players have season schedule was changed day. Linebackers Whitney
not been in the facility since because of outbreaks involv- Mercilus and Dylan Cole
Wednesday and will not re- ing other teams. will also miss Sunday's game cause the fines have not been of the protocols. A person
turn until next week because at Jacksonville after the NFL announced, said Tomlin was familiar with the punish-
they are on a bye, though They're scheduled to play determined they had been in among the coaches cited for ment said Thursday the team
players had to remain in Cin- Sunday at Arizona. close contact with Martin. "not wearing face coverings was fined $500,000, Gruden
cinnati to be tested for the at all times on the sidelines" docked $150,000, and the
coronavirus daily. The Chicago Bears activated The league has been busy during the victory over the draft pick stripped because of
starting right guard Germain handing out discipline to Baltimore Ravens. The NFL how the team handled Trent
The Atlanta Falcons canceled Ifedi from the Reserve/COV- teams violating COVID-19 recently told its 32 teams Brown's positive coronavirus
practice and worked virtually ID-19 list on Friday. Ifedi was protocols. to have all personnel wear test last month. The team is
after a member of the football placed on the list along with masks in lockers rooms and expected to appeal.
staff tested positive. The Fal- backup offensive tackle Jason On Friday, Pittsburgh Steel- on the sideline when not
cons said the move was "out Spriggs on Tuesday. Coach ers coach Mike Tomlin was in the game. Players are re- The Raiders have been pe-
of an abundance of caution" Matt Nagy said this week that fined $100,000 and the club quired to wear masks during nalized several times this sea-
while contact tracing is used Spriggs tested positive for the $250,000 because coaches postgame contacts with op- son for violating coronavirus
to determine if anyone else coronavirus and Ifedi was put improperly wore facial cov- ponents as well. protocols, with the punish-
might have been exposed. on the list because of a close erings last Sunday, a person ments leading to a total of
contact. with knowledge of the fines Coach Jon Gruden and the more than $1.2 million for
Atlanta hosts Denver on told The Associated Press. Las Vegas Raiders this week the team, Gruden and play-
Sunday. The Bears canceled prac- were fined a total of $650,000 ers. They are the first to be
tice and closed their facility The person, who spoke on and lost a sixth-round draft penalized a draft pick follow-
"The whole reason we're Thursday after another play- condition of anonymity be- pick for repeated violations ing multiple violations.

FIFA tells UEFA proposal to change handball to be assessed

(AP) – UEFA's proposal to change tino said FIFA was striving for "fair- Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish
the handball law to prevent un- ness, consistency and transparency" Ceferin was sent a reply after his re- associations hold the other four.
fair decisions damaging the sport with the on-field regulations that are quest to FIFA was obtained by the
will be assessed by world foot- deliberated over intensely. AP on Thursday, with assurances Infantino told Ceferin that his pro-
ball's rulemaking body, FIFA received that the UEFA suggestion posal has been forwarded "to the rel-
President Gianni Infantino said Ceferin had written to Infantino last will be discussed by the International evant teams within the FIFA admin-
in correspondence seen by The week seeking a return to the pre-2019 Football Association Board meetings istration and have requested that it be
Associated Press. law that allowed referees to judge this month. made known to IFAB and that it be
whether handling was intentional or presented to the relevant bodies."
Responding to a letter from UEFA accidental and prevent the current "This is not the first time this rule has
President Aleksander Ceferin, Infan- spate of "many unfair decisions." been the focus of discussion and I be- IFAB technical and football advisory
lieve that it will not be the last time," panels meet this month ahead of the
Infantino wrote to Ceferin. "I for one 134th IFAB annual general meeting
believe that the intensity of debate early next year. Infantino told Cefer-
over this particular area of the game in he had been reliably informed that
illustrates well the passion for our "handball as referenced in your letter
sport and the subtleties that make it will be included on the agenda."
so compelling."
"As you have correctly pointed out,"
The change to the law from 2019 de- Infantino said, "our focus should not
termined that an offense was commit- only be directed towards considering
ted if players' arms were outstretched, the potential of changes proposed but
in an unnatural position, when hit by also towards considering the efficacy
a ball. of changes made."

"There is no shame in admitting that Changes are advocated by Frank
sometimes decisions that are made Lampard, whose Chelsea side bene-
for the good do not achieve their fited from a harsh handball ruling in a
objectives and should be reviewed," Champions League win over Rennes
Ceferin said in last week's letter to on Wednesday.
Infantino.
"It's a rule that I think universally is
The configuration of the laws is over- disliked by anyone who plays, watch-
seen by the International Football As- es or supports football," the Chelsea
sociation Board. FIFA controls half of manager said on Friday.
the eight IFAB votes and the English,