#Title

Postpone all football, says Fifa
FIFA on Friday recommended that all international football matches scheduled for March and April be postponed due to the spread of the new coronavirus.
Falling short of banning matches outright, world football’s governing body said that clubs would be allowed to refuse to send their players to national squad gatherings in March and April.
FIFA also said that it was working on rescheduling qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in both Asia and South America which have been postponed.
“All international matches previously scheduled to take place in March and April should now be postponed until such time that they can take place in a safe and secure environment,” FIFA said.
FIFA added that the “final decision” on any postponements “rests with the respective competition organisers or relevant member association in case of friendlies”.
FIFA rules normally oblige clubs to release players for national team matches, but this rule has been temporarily reversed.
“In light of the current situation concerning the Coronavirus, FIFA has decided that general football rules which normally oblige clubs to release players for national team matches will not apply for the up-coming international windows in March/April,” the statement said. -- Afp
Armanitola, Keramatia
in school hockey final
Armanitola Government High School of Dhaka and Keramatia High School of Rangpur set up a final clash in the Bangabandhu First Security Islami Bank National School Hockey Competition, winning their respective semifinal matches at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.
Keramatia beat Government Jubilee School of Dinajpur 2-0 in the first semifinal, with Al Amin and Rezaul Islam scoring the two goals. In the second semifinal of the day, Armanitola edged Shaheed Mamun Mahmud Police Lines School of Rajshahi 1-0, courtesy of a solitary goal scored by Siam Ahmed.The final will be held at 3:30pm today. -- Sports Reporte
Cutrone, Pezzella add to La Viola’s coronavirus crisis
Fiorentina’s Italian forward Patrick Cutrone and Argentine defender German Pezzella have both tested positive for coronavirus, along with a club physiotherapist, the Serie A team said Saturday.
“They had some symptoms. All three tested positive. Their health is good and they are at home in Florence,” Fiorentina said in a statement. The club’s Serbia forward Dusan Vlahovic was also confirmed to contracted the virus on Friday.
It total nine top-flight Italian footballers have now tested positive, including five Sampdoria players, and Juventus defender Daniele Rugani.
Serie A as well as all sport in Italy has been suspended until April 3.
The country recorded its highest one-day death toll yet of 250 on Friday, bringing the total to 1,266, with 17,660 infected. -- Afp
India suspends domestic football and cricket
India suspended domestic soccer until the end of this month while domestic cricket was put on hold indefinitely due to the coronavirus on Saturday.
The All India Football Federation said in a statement that, following Ministry of Health and state government-level advice, “all footballing activities under the aegis of AIFF stay suspended till March 31”.
“The AIFF will take a stock of the situation in the last week of March, and take a decision abiding by directives from relevant authorities at that juncture,” it added.
All I-League matches have also been suspended but the final of the franchise-based Indian Super League was due to go ahead without spectators in Goa later on Saturday.
The outbreak has already cost India its only European Tour golf event and a shooting World Cup. -- Reuters
Photo: Collected