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CORONAVIRUS FALLOUT

Maldinis and Dybala return positive tests
Argentina striker Paulo Dybala said Saturday that he has become the third Juventus player to test positive for coronavirus while former AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini revealed that he and his son have also been infected.
“Hi everyone. I just wanted to let you know that we have received the Covid-19 test results and that Oriana (Sabatini, his girlfriend) and I are positive,” the 26-year-old Dybala tweeted.
“Fortunately, we are perfectly fine. Thank you for your messages.”
Italian champions Juventus said that Dybala had been self-isolating since Wednesday. “He will continue to be monitored. He is well and is asymptomatic,” said the club in a statement.
Later Saturday, AC Milan said Maldini, now the technical director, and his 18-year-old son Daniel, a youth team player, were also infected.
“Paolo and Daniel are both well and have already completed two weeks at home without contact with others,” said a statement from AC Milan. “They will now remain in quarantine until clinically recovered, as per the medical protocols outlined by the health authorities.”
Maldini, 51, is considered one of the greatest defenders of all time. He won five Champions Leagues with Milan and appeared in 647 matches.
Juventus teammates Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi have also tested positive for the disease which claimed almost 800 more lives on Saturday, bringing the total in Italy to 4,825.
There is not too much concern at Milan about other possible contagions currently. Paolo Maldini hasn’t been at Milanello since March 5, even before the team then played against Genoa, as he was advised by the Milanese medical staff to stay at home when the first flu symptoms arose.
Even Daniel should not have crossed paths with the first team as he has been at home for about two weeks with illness, and last crossed his team-mates on March 6. --Afp
Self-isolating Siddikur urges people to stay home
Bangladesh’s ace golfer Siddikur Rahman urged people to stay home and take precautionary measures against the coronavirus after going into self-isolation in the city yesterday.
The two-time Asian tour winner, who returned from Malaysia on March 5 after a tournament, made this appeal on Facebook yesterday afternoon.
“My family and I have been at home for the past three days and I am requesting all of you to stay home. Don’t go outside unless it is necessary,” the 35-year-old golfer.
Siddikur, who was supposed to participate in tournaments in Thailand and Malaysia this month before they were cancelled, also reminded people to wash their hands frequently with soap among other measures. -- Sports Reporter
FIFA, AFC delegates to livestream BFF polls
Delegates from FIFA and AFC will not physically attend the upcoming Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) polls, said general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag yesterday.
“On Friday, AFC let us know that since there is a travel ban, it won’t be possible for them to send observers to the April 20 BFF polls. FIFA also informed the same over phone,” Shohag said yesterday.
However, he informed that FIFA and AFC would stream the polls online for officials to observe and that the elections would go on as scheduled on April 20.
“A FIFA official asked me whether it was possible to watch the BFF congress live through the internet and I ensured them we would present live coverage. We will also include AFC in this process,” said Shohag.
Although two incumbent vice-presidents have urged the game’s governing body to defer the polls due to the coronavirus outbreak, Shohag added that they have no intention to defer the polls.
“We asked FIFA whether the polls could be deferred and they said it is too early to comment. They said Maldives held its congress today [on March 20]. Bangladesh and Maldives are neighbouring countries, so why should you decide on a deferral at this moment?”
Lunacy to think of resuming training next week, says Torino president
Torino President Urbano Cairo says the idea of clubs wanting to return to training is “from another planet” following speculation that Lazio and Napoli both want to resume training.
On Friday, Napoli announced that their squad will return to training next Wednesday.
“If I think back to the Lega meeting on March 10, there were still those who talked about training and returning to play,” Cairo told the Turin daily. “It is logical that time has been wasted. Those speeches, heard now, seem from another planet. I said ‘if we do not take drastic action, moving fans will also contribute to increasing the infection of others.”
“Meanwhile, there are 16 clubs who don’t want to think about resuming training next week.” --Agencies