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Young Africans (Yanga SC) have suffered another injury blow after it emerged Mapinduzi Balama will miss action for the rest of the season.

The influential midfielder picked up an injury while preparing for their Mainland Premier League match against Ndanda FC and the doctors have now confirmed he will not be able to kick a ball again this season.

Yanga doctor Shecky Mngazija has revealed the injury suffered by Balama will need more time to recover and hence he will not be able to play again this season.

“Balama broke his foot and it will need more than 14 days for it to get back to normal and for that reason, he will have to stay away for some time now,” Mngazija is quoted by Sokaletu.

“I feel he will be out for the next six or eight weeks and it means he will not play any part in the remaining league matches and also the FA Cup contest against Simba SC.”

Balama becomes the second player to be ruled out of the Simba clash after Yanga coach Luc Eymael confirmed to Goal defender Haruna Niyonzima will not feature in the derby after he sustained an injury in their league match against Biashara United.

“I lost Haruna [Niyonzima], one of my best players to injury, after only ten minutes into the game and it was due to a bad tackle and his knee twisted and so he will be out of Simba, and there was no reaction from the referee only a free-kick was given,” Eymael told Goal on Monday.

“It is a huge blow to my team because Haruna is one of my best players, one of my favourites, a hard worker a player who fights for the team, so he will not be available to play in the derby.

"It is sad news for him, he was looking forward to the match but now he will miss it altogether.”

The two injuries will affect Yanga’s quest to win the FA Cup where they are scheduled to take on Simba in the semi-finals on July 12.

Yanga are also keen to finish second on the 20-team table but were toppled from the spot on Sunday after Azam FC won 7-0 against Singida United.

Newly appointed Chippa United head coach Lehlohonolo Seema has explained why he left Bloemfontein Celtic.

The former Lesotho captain was announced as the new Chippa coach on Monday - replacing Rhulani Mokwena, whose contract was not extended when it expired onJune 30.

The 40-year-old, who spent 14 years with Siwelele serving as a player, assistant coach, and ultimately, head coach, explained that he had to get a new challenge.

“It’s purely about getting a new challenge because as young as I am now you learn in different ways," Seema told Far Post.

"I am now coach of Chippa United and will continue to learn so it’s all about learning and growing with different challenges so that you can move out of your comfort zone.

“Like you are saying it was a spiritual [relationship with Celtic], when someone talks about spiritual matters you must know that it is deep so go and get new challenges, get burnt, you grow, you fall, you dust yourself off up and you continue with your journey."

Seema has left Celtic in the ninth spot on the Premier Soccer League (PSL) standings - three points behind eighth-placed Highlands Park.

The former Orlando Pirates captain has now been tasked with ensuring that 12th-placed Chippa, who are three points above the relegation zone, retain their status in the elite league.

“Even when I was a player I have always tried and stuck around as long as possible or as long as my services are needed. I am not someone that when the going gets tough I jump the ship," Seema continued.

"If it was about money I would have left Bloemfontein Celtic a long time ago but it is not about that. It is about me trying to learn in my coaching career and trying to go as far as I can in this beautiful sport that made me what I am today."

Seema insisted that he does not feel unsettled by the fact that Chippa have a reputation as a firing club with the current season set to resume soon having been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic since March.

“I think if you are unsettled about something you don’t even take [a chance], you leave it. So, for me being here shows that I spoke to the Chairman [Siviwe Mpengesi] and we had a nice chat so we are giving it a try," he added.

"He understands that I am a young coach and I need a lot of support and a lot of guidance and he promised me that. So, I was not bothered and I wanted to give it a go ahead and see how far it can go."

Having signed for three seasons, Seema is looking forward to serving the Chilli Boys, who are the only PSL club in the Eastern Cape Province.

“Coming to Chippa United supporters, I hope that they will teach me isiXhosa so that I can be fluent with Xhosa and sing along with them. I am one guy that I am not afraid of challenges and I will stick here," he maintained.

"The other thing I like is that I am at a team that has passionate supporters who love singing so I wouldn’t be missing singing that much but we will have to make sure that we produce on the field of play as well."

Pirelli chief executive Marco Tronchetti said the Inter shirt sponsor can "help" the Nerazzurri sign Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi but club president Steven Zhang must "make an effort himself".

Messi's future is once again in the headlines amid reports the Barca captain is ready to quit the La Liga giants once his contract expires in 2021.

Inter have been linked to Messi previously, with former president Massimo Moratti insisting the six-time Ballon d'Or winner relocating to Milan was not a "forbidden dream at all".

Tronchetti, however, warned the coronavirus crisis will impact Pirelli's ability to contribute like Italian automobile manufacturer Fiat did when it assisted in Cristiano Ronaldo's move from Real Madrid to Juventus in 2018

"Honestly, at a time like this, we're unable to invest in sports more than we are, between Formula 1, the America's Cup and Inter," Tronchetti told Gr Parlamento.

"We have to ask Steven Zhang to make an effort himself. We can help, but we can't do anything significant."

Messi has scored 22 goals and supplied a career-high 19 La Liga assists for Barcelona this season.

Across all competitions, Messi has scored 27 goals for two-time defending La Liga champions Barca – who are set to be dethroned by bitter rivals Real Madrid.

Messi has yet to publicly comment on the rumours, though his silence in itself is telling and believed to be vote of no-confidence in Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu’s stewardship.

That prospect of Messi leaving has been swiftly dismissed by Bartomeu himself, who remains confident the 33-year-old will sign a new contract and see out his playing days at the Catalan giants.

"I am not going to give details but Messi has said many times that he will end his football life in Barcelona,” Bartomeu said.

“We are focused on [the] competition and there are negotiations with many players. Messi wants to continue and wants to end [his career] here. He has many years left and we are going to enjoy him for much longer."

Barca are second and four points behind Madrid with four matches left to play.

Inter, meanwhile, are third in Serie A following Sunday's shock loss at home to Bologna.

Antonio Conte's Inter are third in the table - four points behind second-placed Lazio and just a point clear of Atalanta with eight games remaining.

The Indian national team will be welcomed in Croatia to train before their 2022 World Cup qualifiers scheduled in October and November, Goal understands. 

In a letter addressed to the President of AIFF (All India Football Federation), Praful Patel, his Croatian counterpart Davor Suker, has expressed the eagerness to assist India to help the Blue Tigers prepare better for the remaining fixtures. 

The Croatian Federation would provide hospitality and help organise friendly games, provided the Indian team wishes to hold the preparatory camp in the European nation. 

International travel is currently banned due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and if the situation improves, India might exercise the option of conducting the training camp abroad. 

Even travelling within India is not feasible given the current Coronavirus situation. Almost all states have made it mandatory for travellers to spend 14 days in isolation, following a journey from another state. 

Only in Goa, travellers coming in can take a Covid-19 swab test two days prior to the travel. Else, travellers will have to get tested in Goa for the same. If the test is negative, they will be allowed in. Anyone testing positive for Coronavirus would either have to go back or stay in quarantine in Goa until their test result is declared.

Since the game against Qatar is scheduled to be held in Bhubaneswar, the AIFF's preference is to conduct the camp in Odisha. However, it depends on the state regulations and the Covid-19 situation which will play a major role in the team being able to play friendly matches.

It must be noted that football is back on in Croatia and the country has also eased restrictions on foreigners entering the country. As of July 1, 2020, all foreign nationals entering the country are free to do so, if they provide relevant proof.

Croatia has lifted mandatory self-isolation and quarantine restrictions for those entering the country. Instead, individuals are given a pamphlet with recommendations from the Croatian Institute of Public Health that they must follow for 14 days after entering the country.

However, it must be noted that as of now, India imposes mandatory quarantine of 14 days on people travelling to the country from abroad. So, in case the camp is held in Croatia, it remains to be seen and taken into account what the regulations are then on returning to the country.

The Blue Tigers, who are currently ranked 108th in the world and 19th in Asia, last played against Oman in the World Cup qualifiers (1-0 loss for India).

Before the lockdown started in March, national team head coach Igor Stimac had summoned 23 players for a camp that was supposed to start on March 9. He had also called up another 20 players to join on March 16, 2020, after the conclusion of the Indian Super League (ISL) season but the camp had to be eventually cancelled. 

There was to be a practice game between the national team and the best performers from the I-League. If any player from the I-League team had managed to impress the Croat, they could have been invited to the camp. However, the match also had to be cancelled.

India are winless and have registered three draws after five rounds of fixtures in Group E. Qatar, who are unbeaten, are leading the group with 13 points and Oman are second with 12. The games remaining for India are against Qatar (H), Bangladesh (A) and Afghanistan (H). 

India could resume their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign on October 8 when they take on Qatar.

According to the tentative schedule worked out by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), India will then face Bangladesh on November 12, whereas their last group stage fixture against Afghanistan is likely to be played on November 17.

An I-League winner with Churchill Brothers and current manager of French third division side Atletico Pajitez, Henri Antchouet expressed his desire to take up a coaching job in India at some point in his career.

The Gabon international had huge boots to fill when he joined the Goan side in 2011 as a replacement for star striker Odafa Okolie, who signed for Mohun Bagan. With 27 goals from 47 games and the 2012-13 I-League title under his belt, Henri boasts of an impressive record in India, a country he admitted having enjoyed playing in.

Henri admitted that playing for Churchill was a significant step in his career.

“Playing for Churchill Brothers was very important for me. It was another new championship, something I had not played in before. I liked the country and the people,” he told Goal.

Arsenal star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang recently grabbed the headlines for taking just 79 games to reach Premier League goals. No player in the history of the North London side could manage this number in fewer games.

Henri shared the dressing room with Aubameyang on a few occasions during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He spoke about how the 31-year-old displayed his prowess eight years ago and how he has managed to play at the highest level.

“Aubameyang is a great player and always has been. I am very proud of him. Because of Aubameyang, everyone is talking about Gabon, which is a nice thing. The country is very proud of him,” he said.

The 40-year-old earned his UEFA Coaching license and has now spent three years with Atletico Pajitez. Churchill Brothers, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan were the names that popped up when the former striker was quizzed upon the clubs he has continued to follow.

Henri also praised FC Goa midfielder and India international Lenny Rodrigues who was his teammate at Goa. He explained that Lenny impressed him the most amongst the Indians and is a special player.

“I’ve been a manager here in France (Atletico Pajitez) for three years. I’m confident because I have a lot of experience. But I need a lot more experience and will continue working. Maybe, one day I will come back to India and manage a club because I really loved it there.

“I still follow Churchill Brothers, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. I’m also in touch with Dharmaraj Ravanan, who was the captain at Churchill Brothers.

“Lenny Rodrigues was a special player at Churchill who I saw improving. He is a very good player,” he concluded.

Last month, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) nominated a highly-experienced coach in Gabriel Joseph for the Dronacharya award, a prestigious sports coaching honour instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS).

Only one football coach has ever won the award since it was started in 1985 - Syed Nayeemuddin in 1990. Gabriel Joseph, who has worked under Nayeemuddin incidentally with the Indian national team, is a behemoth as far as coaching is concerned in the country.

The coach, who hails from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, has had a long and distinguished coaching career which started in 1962 and has spanned around 58 years. In fact, he is still engaged in coaching at numerous academies in and around Thiruvananthapuram.

Gabriel Joseph, who completed his NIS (National Institute of Sports) Coaching Diploma in 1967-68, is highly qualified and has completed coaching courses in numerous countries all over the globe. He was selected for an advanced International Football Coaching Diploma which was a nine months course in Germany in 1973. He has also had diplomas from Brazil apart from completing the AFC A License for coaching.

He was also a qualified AIFF Class One Referee and completed short stints on Sports Psychology, Sports Medicine, and International conditioning stint in 2012. All this is in addition to the work Gabriel has done to establish a competent coaching education system in the country in his role as Director of Coaching with the AIFF.

He assisted the national teams in various age groups ever since 1974 when he took charge of the Indian School boys team selected from the Subroto Mukherjee Cup. He was the coach of the India U16 side that qualified for final round AFC U16 Championship in 1990 where they managed to beat Jordan 1-0.

In 1989, he was assigned as the coach for the senior national team that were to play SAARC Championship in Sri Lanka but the championship had to be called off due to internal problems then in the island nation.

He had assisted the senior national team in his capacity as a coach through various tournaments including the SAFF Championship wins in 1997 and 2005 and the Nehru Trophy in 1997 when India reached the semifinals.

However, one result that will always be a huge feather in his cap will be India's performance in the 1996 AFC U17 Championship. He was the coach of the team that had to undergo a strenuous qualification campaign before qualifying for the final rounds.

India had to play a qualification round in Pakistan against the hosts and Maldives and Joseph describes how the team had to overcome several hurdles. The mood was not great and the team was written off even before they travelled to Pakistan by most.

"While the team was being trained in the camp prior to the participation in the group matches in Pakistan, there were negative comments that destroyed the confidence of the boys. Many felt that our team can never win when you play the matches in Pakistan and so on," Joseph told Goal.

"As the head coach of the team, I had to put in extra efforts to regain and boost the confidence level of our boys. Still in the opening match at Peshwar against Pakistan who had a very good home support, our team conceded a goal against the run of play and were low in confidence at half-time. The boys who came to the dressing room, instead of refreshing themselves, sat on the ground avoiding the chairs and refresheners as if they already lost the match.

"It was a huge task to get them back to a winning attitude within the half-time break and make them score two goals and win that match," recollects Gabriel who added, "Next match, with good mental stability, our boys performed even better and won against Maldives to qualify with full six points for the final rounds in Thailand."

Qualifying for the final rounds of the AFC Youth Championships back then was a big deal for Indian football at that time when cricket was surging in popularity. In Thailand, the team were grouped with powerhouses in Iran, China, Thailand and Bahrain. Not much was expected from the team again and a 7-0 loss to Thailand in the opening game did not do wonders to the morale.

However, Gabriel's team did well to go down fighting to Bahrain (3-2) before a strong Iran team beat them 4-1. The final game was against another continental giant in China and the team was expected to return with a whimper. However, that was not to be the case.

Gabriel reveals that due to various reasons, they could not organise exposure tours for the team while all their opponents had preparatory camps abroad. For example, the Chinese team had exposure matches in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. Gabriel felt that after the first three matches, his team became more accustomed to the level of competition and ground conditions which played a huge role in the game against China.

"Having been at the venue playing matches and seeing other matches along with necessary psychological and analytical classes there, the boys gained very good confidence when they faced China.

"Our boys won by 3-2 margin which was the outcome of an outstanding performance. We showed clear cut supremacy in the match against a continental giant. In fact, China fought tooth and nail in that game since a win against us would have given them a chance to qualify for the semifinals. But we held on. We showed a high degree of technical-tactical ability, endurance and mental strength on that day."

While Kamal Ghosh was named the man of the match against China, Gabriel reveals that the tournament also threw the limelight on a player who would go on to serve the Indian national team with merit in the upcoming years.

"Furthermore, it was an achievement when Mahesh Gawli who gave a consistently good performance was included in the list of Asian Youth All Star team of the tournament."

It was just a small chapter in Gabriel Joseph's story as a coach and coach educator but one that throws light on his ability and competency. In fact, he was India's first active and  independent AFC Football Coaching Instructor in 2001. He has taught many renowned coaches in the country including India women's team coach Maymol Rocky.

His efforts to create a uniformed coaching education system throughout the country has been much lauded and it was Gabriel who introduced the AIFF ‘D’ Coaching course and compiled the syllabus for it. He has travelled all over the country in his role as Director of Coaching (from 2006 to 2012) and set up camps, courses and much more. In fact, Gabriel Joseph is credited with introducing computer education in coaching at a time when the Information Technology boom had still not permeated enough into Indian football.

He has also written three technical books on coaching in 2000, 2002 and 2005. He has also functioned as a national team selector or spotter during his heydays. There is no questioning the contribution Gabriel Joseph has rendered for the betterment of Indian football. For his lifetime contribution for the development of the sport, Gabriel Joseph will be a worthy winner of the Dronacharya award should the MYAS decide to bestow upon him that honour.

"It is a matter of fierce pride when we get the opportunity to put forth the best of our abilities for the growth and development of the game in the country and football as a whole. It is very human to get motivated and satisfied when acknowledgements and recognitions are bestowed for the same.

"Hence the recommendation from the AIFF in itself for the Dronacharya award is an absolute national honour. Winning the same would be even more delightful for me. It will be a dose of energy to continue my best contributions for the game till the last breathe in me to set an example for the future generation."

Hungary head coach Marco Rossi believes Salzburg star Dominik Szoboszlai is the "ideal player" for Serie A side Napoli.

Szoboszlai is a player in demand and tipped to leave Salzburg following his exploits for the Austrian champions – the Hungary international linked to Napoli, Milan, Inter, Lazio and Premier League outfit Arsenal.

The 19-year-old midfielder has scored 12 goals across all competitions in 2019-20, supplying 10 league assists for Salzburg in Austria.

Amid growing speculation, Hungary's Italian boss Rossi feels Szoboszlai would thrive with Gennaro Gattuso's Napoli.

"He's a 19-year-old who made his debut for the national team at the age of 18. He's a very elegant and talented player, rich in technique," Rossi told CalcioNapoli24.

"He plays between the lines and is good at assisting in the final third. He has great physicality and is tall but, despite its height, also has an excellent burst of pace.

"If he decides to accept an offer from Serie A, it would complement his technical expertise with a couple of things where he still needs to improve, for example his defensive game.

"Tactically speaking, Salzburg have played him high up on the left and he's posted good numbers there, but in possession he often plays between the lines to make room for the full-back.

"In a 4-3-3, instead, he could be a box-to-box midfielder, capable of supporting the centre-forward.

"Szoboszlai expresses himself best in a team who play positionally. In Italy, Napoli must play football and not counterattack because they're among the best teams in Italy, [even if] they might suffer in a couple of games every season.

"Dominik would be the ideal player for [Napoli’s] style of play."

Salzburg have become a production factory for some of the best talents in Europe over the past 12 months, selling Norwegian striker Erling Haaland to Dortmund. Takumi Minamino to Liverpool and Munas Dabbur to Sevilla.

Haaland scored an incredible 16 goals in 18 games for Dortmund after joining the club in January - carrying on with the extraordinary form that saw him get 29 strikes in 27 matches for Salzburg prior to his move.

Inter chief executive Giuseppe Marotta said Lautaro Martinez "must find peace of mind" amid strong links to La Liga champions Barcelona.

Lautaro - who moved to Milan from Racing Club in 2018 - has been tipped to swap Serie A side Inter for Barca at the end of the 2019-20 coronavirus-hit season.

The Argentina forward had scored 16 goals prior to the campaign being halted in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic but he has only netted once in six games since the restart, missing a penalty in Sunday's 2-1 loss to Bologna.

Inter CEO Marotta - reluctant to part with the 22-year-old - said Lautaro needs to regain his focus as his struggles continue.

"There are two factors to consider, the competitive one and the one relating to the transfer market, which run concurrently," Marotta told Sky Sport Italia .

"Inter don't want to sell a 23-year-old lad like him, but this is a time when rumours are flying about.

"We saw Lautaro the great player in the first half of the season, which caught the attention of big clubs.

"Now, he must find peace of mind to guarantee Inter the performance levels he showed in the first half of the season."

Marotta also said Inter must be patient with January signing Christian Eriksen, who has struggled for consistency since arriving from Tottenham.

Eriksen has netted three goals across all competitions and supplied two assists in Serie A, where Inter sit third in the table – four points behind second-placed Lazio and just a point clear of in-form Atalanta with eight matches remaining.

"Eriksen joined in January, obviously with problems in an area of the pitch that is suffering from some absences," Marotta added. "He's a great player and he can certainly give much more. We have to be patient with him.

"There are eight games left and 24 points up for grabs. We've suffered 4 defeats, so many for what Inter represent but not that many in context of our project.

"As for the Europa League, we'll try to win it. We don't know how the other teams in the competition are faring right now, but we must believe. We play to win and this is a big objective for us."

An audit into Barcelona's relationship with I3 Ventures has determined the club did not conduct a smear campaign against third parties.

Barca's agreement with PR company I3 ventures came under scrutiny in February following claims the firm was hired to clean up club president Josep Maria Bartomeu's image on social media and disparage current and former players critical of his regime.

Both Barca and I3 Ventures denied the allegations and a report following an audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) found that the club did not conduct "any defamatory campaigns" against any individual.

Summarising the report's findings on their official website, Barca wrote that "the contracting of various services related to monitoring and analysis of social networks on behalf of FC Barcelona did not include any defamatory campaigns directed at third parties."

PwC also found no evidence of corrupt financial conduct and determined that the price paid by Barca I3 Ventures' services was "within market range".

Responding to the report's findings, Barca said: "The Board of Directors instructs the Club's legal services to continue and, if necessary, bring the relevant legal action against those who have made false and unfounded accusations that have gravely damaged the institution's image and those who form part of it.

"The contents of this report, and its conclusions, will be also be brought forward in those proceedings launched against the Club based on alleged irregular behaviour that this document clarifies and denies."

It's been a tough season for Barcelona on the pitch also, with the club currently trailing Real Madrid in the La Liga title race by four points with four matches remaining.

The Blaugrana have been at the top of the competition for most of the season and held a two-point lead when football resumed from the coronavirus hiatus.

But Barca have drawn three of their seven La Liga matches since the resumption, while Madrid have won all their games to take the initiative away from their great rival.

Madrid finish the season with matches against Deportivo Alaves (home), Granada (away), Villarreal (home) and Leganes (away), while Barcelona face Espanyol (home), Real Valladolid (away), Osasuna (home) and Deportivo Alaves (away).

Sevilla secured a 1-0 victory over Eibar in Monday’s LaLiga encounter with Youssef En-Nesyri making a second half appearance.

Los Nervionenses have been in fine form this season having gone twelve games without defeat across all competitions. Heading into this game, they triumphed 3-0 at relegation-threatened Leganes.

However, they met an unyielding Jose Mendilibar’s side as the first half ended goalless in Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Nevertheless, they took the lead in the 56th minute courtesy of Lucas Ocampos who jabbed past goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic a cross from Jesus Navas.

The goal woke the visitors from their slumber as they pushed for an equaliser, albeit, they met strong resistance from Sevilla’s backline anchored by Sergi Gomez and Diego Carlos.

In the game’s closing stages, makeshift goalkeeper Ocampos – who replaced injured Tomas Vaclik after clashing with Kike – pulled off a brave close-range save from Dmitrovic.

After the final whistle, it was Julen Lopetegui’s men who secured all maximum points.

Morocco international En-Nesyri came in from Luuk de Jong in the 63rd minute but could not end his eight-game goal drought. His last strike came against on March 1, 2020, in the 3-2 defeat of Osasuna.

He boasts of three league goals in 14 league games having joined the Andalusians from Leganes in January on a five-year deal for reported €25 million.

En-Nesyri’s compatriot Yassine Bounou who is on loan from Girona was not listed for the encounter.

For the visitors, Senegalese midfielder Pape Diop was handed a starter’s role before he was replaced in the 77th minute by Pablo De Blasis. In his third season for the Gunsmiths, the 34-year-old has played 26 times this term with a goal to his credit.

Thanks to this win, Sevilla remain fourth in the log having accrued 60 points from 34 outings – 17 points behind leaders Real Madrid. Should they maintain that spot until the end of the season, they are assured of a place in next season’s Champions League.

En-Nesyri would be hoping to get the goals when his team visits the San Mames Stadium for Thursday’s encounter with Athletic Club, while Eibar host Kenneth Omeruo’s Leganes.

FC Dallas have withdrawn from the MLS is Back Tournament starting this week after 10 players and one staff member tested positive for the coronavirus since joining the league's setup ahead of the competition.

Three other players from two other clubs have also tested positive, out of a total of 557 players currently in Orlando, Florida.

The one-off tournament, held at Walt Disney World between July 8 and August 11, will mark the league’s return to action from the Covid-19 pandemic.

MLS is keen to become the first major men’s sports league to return in the United States, following the resumption of the NWSL in June.

A statement from MLS read: “Major League Soccer announced today that FC Dallas have been withdrawn from the MLS is Back Tournament due to 10 players and one member of the technical staff confirmed positive for Covid-19.

“Each of these positive tests either occurred upon the club’s arrival or within a few days of arrival. 

“The decision was made in the best interest of the health of all players and staff participating in the tournament, and in line with protocols created in conjunction with local and national health authorities and infectious disease experts.”

MLS Commissioner Don Garber added: “The health of everyone involved in our return to play has always been our top priority, and we will continue to make decisions consistent with that priority.”

While there is clearly concern and disappointment from FC Dallas, club president Dan Hunt accepted there was little other option but to withdraw.

“We absolutely agree with the league’s decision to withdraw FC Dallas from the MLS is Back Tournament out of safety concerns for our players and staff,” Hunt said.

“We’re looking forward to resuming the 2020 season once the entire club is healthy and in position to play competitive matches at the highest level.”

MLS has not yet announced how FC Dallas' withdrawal will impact the tournament format, with the club originally scheduled to feature in Group B alongside the San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders and Vancouver Whitecaps.

The decision could also impact how the tournament will impact the league's eventual return to regular season play, with group stage matches set to count towards the 2020 standings.

Following FC Dallas' withdrawal, and with several other clubs yet to arrive in Orlando just days before the tournament is set to begin, Garber says that the league will continue to monitor the situation and make a more drastic decision should it become necessary.

“If there is a situation at any time that I believe that the protocols aren’t working, and the health and safety of our players is at risk, then I will make the decision to shut down the tournament," Garber told the Associated Press.

In a further blow to the tournament, reigning MLS top scorer and MVP Carlos Vela will not take part.

Vela will reportedly remain at home with his pregnant wife, Saioa, and their three-year-old son, Romeo.

MLS gave players the option to skip the tournament for health or family reasons, with Vela the most high-profile player to do so.

More than 132,000 people are reported to have died during the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. so far, as concerns continue to mount over the country's handling of the crisis.

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho says the physical altercation between team-mates Hugo Lloris and Heung-min Son during the 1-0 win against Everton on Monday was 'beautiful'.

Despite Spurs leading by a single goal as half-time started, Lloris and Son had to be separated by team-mates Giovani Lo Celso and Harry Winks as the France goalkeeper aggressively confronted the South Korean attacker.

The duo solved their differences during the half-time break as Spurs went on to win the match with Michael Keane's 24th-minute own goal the only score of the match.

Lloris admitted post-match that his anger was sparked by a lack of pressing from his team-mates, with Mourinho suggesting post-match that the disagreement between his players was born out of the team's recent poor performances.

When asked about his view on the incident, Mourinho said: "Beautiful.

"It's probably the consequence of our meetings. If you want to blame somebody for that, it's me. I was critical of my boys because they are not, in my opinion, critical enough of themselves or each other.

"I've asked them to be more demanding. I've asked them to demand more from others. I asked them to put their colleagues and the pressure of that team spirit that you have to give everything for everybody.

"It was a situation at the end of the first half where an amazing kid that everybody loves like Sonny, a team boy, but in that situation the captain thought he had to do more for the team, you have to give a different effort than you gave.

"A couple of bad words, I'm not sure if there was a push or not, but it's something very important for the team to grow up because for a team to grow up you need to demand from each other, you need to be strong personalities.

"I was really pleased. At half-time I told them, when you had this reaction that I had no doubts that you would stick together until the end."

Spurs have dropped to eighth on the Premier League table, having won only two of their four matches since the competition restart last month - leaving the side 10 points adrift of Chelsea in fourth position.

Mourinho believes the negative reaction between his two players shows the level of investment and frustration within the playing group at their own recent performances.

"It tells me that they care," Mourinho said. "It tells me that they were really upset, frustrated and probably blaming each other for the last performance in the last result [against Sheffield United]. 

"I could be very protective of my team and my players and put all the blame in [referee] Michael Oliver, lots of people did it and rightfully so. But inside closed doors I was going in another direction – forget Michael Oliver and focus on our performance."

Tottenham's next league match will be on the road at relegation battlers Bournemouth on Thursday night.

Kevin-Prince Boateng came on as a second-half substitute to provide an assist as Besiktas fell to a 3-1 defeat by Kayserispor in the Turkish Super Lig on Monday night.

The Black Eagles came off the back of a 3-0 victory over Konyaspor last time out which was preceded by a 5-1 win at Nigeria international Ogenyi Onazi’s Denizlispor.

After a goalless first-half, Kayserispor took the lead in the 51st minute via Hasan Huseyin Acar.

Boateng came on for Necip Uysal in the 62nd minute and his nicely-weighted pass found Atiba Hutchinson who equalised for the visitors from close range 12 minutes later.

It was the Ghanaian’s first-ever assist for the club since he joined on loan from Fiorentina in January having already found the back of the net on his debut against Patrick Twumasi’s Gaziantep and against Anthony Nwakaeme’s Trabzonspor.

More misery was to follow however for Sergen Yalcin’s men as Acar and Artem Kravets scored between the 83rd and 86th minutes to ensure they finished the game with all three points.

Boateng’s 28 minutes on the pitch saw him produce two shots (one on target, one off-target), 13 touches, seven accurate passes at 77% while also winning two of four total duels.

Other Africans to feature for Besiktas on the night were Egypt international and Arsenal loanee Mohamed Elneny who played the entire game with a passing accuracy of 95.8%, the fifth-highest of the Besiktas players, while also producing 85 touches, four tackles, one interception and winning six of 10 ground duels.

Mali winger Abdoulay Diaby played for 84 minutes, producing three total shots and attempting six dribbles before being replaced by Guven Yalcin.

Franco-Cameroonian Georges-Kevin Nkoudou came on for former Sunderland and Netherlands international Jermain Lens in the same minute Boateng was introduced.

Although the result is Besiktas’ second loss in four games since the resumption of the Super Lig, they remain in fifth spot on the log, one point clear of Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce and two points shy of other city rivals Galatasaray for Europa League qualification.

They host Kasimpasa next at Vodafone Park on Thursday night.

Morocco coach Vahid Halilhodzic has tipped Achraf Hakimi to “shine” after completing a move to Inter Milan from Real Madrid.

The 21-year old joined the Nerazzurri in a €40 million five-year deal having spent the past two seasons on loan at Borussia Dortmund where he scored 12 goals and provided 17 assists in 73 competitive outings, winning the 2019 German Super Cup against Bayern Munich.

BVB were initially keen to tie Hakimi down permanently, but were put off by Real Madrid’s demands and instead opted for Belgian full-back Thomas Meunier whom they sighed on a free transfer from Paris Saint-Germain.

“Hakimi has the right characteristics to shine in Italian football with Inter,” Halilhodzic told Al Arabi Al Jadeed as reported by Sempreinter.

"We’re talking about a young player who has a great future ahead of him and can really grow

“I’ll be watching his games at Inter carefully, he’s an important player in the Moroccan national team. I hope he can really perform well so he can continue to play with us with high morale.

“Hakimi is the kind of player who can shine in any league and with any team. Besides being a young man who makes speed in the game his strong point, he is ambitious and plays with enthusiasm, and I think he will give a lot to his new team.”

Hakimi made his debut for Morocco in a 4-0 friendly win over Canada on October 11, 2016, and has gone on to earn 28 caps, scoring two goals and providing five assists.

The Madrid-born player played every minute of the Atlas Lions 2018 World Cup campaign in Russia where they finished last with a point in a group that contained Spain, Portugal and Iran, finishing last. He was also ever-present during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations where the North Africans shockingly bowed out in the round of 16 to minnows Benin Republic via penalties.

Halilhodzic took over after the Afcon disappointment and has managed six games so far, recording two wins, three draws and one defeat.

The most recent win was a 2021 Afcon qualifier away to Burundi on November 19, 2019, which ended 3-0 with Hakimi scoring the third and final goal, the others coming from Sevilla’s Youssef En-Nesyri and Ajax Amsterdam full-back Noussair Mazraoui.

Bosnia-Herzegovina national Halilhodzic has been active on the African continent previously, managing national teams in Algeria and the Ivory Coast as well as Moroccan giants Raja Casablanca at club level.

Hugo Lloris says his clash with Heung-min Son at half-time of Tottenham’s win over Everton on Monday was because he was annoyed at the forward’s lack of pressing.

Spurs got back on track with a 1-0 win, as Michael Keane’s first-half own goal proved the highlight of a largely dull match.

With half-time approaching, Richarlison was presented with a chance to equalise, much to captain Lloris’ chagrin.

As the teams walked off, he rushed over to confront Son, with the two players having to be held apart by their team-mates.

The pair made up before the second half and Lloris played the incident down as a flare-up in the heat of the moment.

“It belongs in the changing room,” Lloris told Sky Sports.

“Outside, you can say whatever you want. There is a lot of respect between the players in the changing room.

“What happened between me and Sonny is just something that's part of football sometimes. But there's no problem at all.

“You could see at the end of the game we were more than happy to be part of the team and to have the three points.

“To concede a chance a few seconds before half-time because we don't press properly... yeah, it annoyed me, but it's part of football. We move on.”

Despite the confrontation, Jose Mourinho was glad to see tempers flaring between his players.

After their 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United, he bemoaned a ‘disturbing’ lack of desire from his team. 

This win took them up to eighth, but they still face a battle to catch the likes of Manchester United and Wolves in the European places.

“As I said before, we are in a situation that we need to fight against,” Lloris added.

“We're not happy to be in this position. But the most important thing today is to stay focused on the team and do everything to finish as high as we can.

“I repeat, we can only do it as a team. When you play a season like this one it's very easy to fall apart as a team, to think about disinterest, but today we showed that we are still together and ready to compete and fight until the end.”

Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder Lebogang Manyama is excited to be back in full training after three months of individual training at home. 

The 29-year-old admits he still needs a few more sessions with the ball to regain his full fitness and be ready to compete. 

"Football is in my blood. I just need a few runs and touches on the ball to warm up and should be ready to compete," Manyama told the Amakhosi website. 

Manyama further revealed that the setup at training is different from what they are used to as clubs try to adhere to the government's regulations to curb the spread of the coronavirus. 

However, he feels good to be back with his teammates and he's looking forward to more sessions in the coming weeks. 

"The set-up is new to us but we have to get used to it," said Manyama. 

"It felt good to run through a few exercises. I look forward to more of these sessions. The touches are still good though. You saw me hitting the net a couple of times, right?" he asked. 

Before the lockdown, Manyama recorded nine assists and seven goals in 26 matches across all competitions, and he doesn't think he has lost the spark after 102 days of no competitive football. 

"I don’t think I’ve lost the spark," he continued. 

"Also, it is refreshing to see my teammates albeit still maintaining a safe distance. The body feels okay so far because we kept working hard under lockdown, there is no problem on that one. Obviously, training on the pitch will tell as we go along," he said. 

The South Africa international said the players just need to follow safety protocols so that they remain safe and play far away from the coronavirus.

"We just need to stay safe and follow the protocols. I am going home to rest now. It is important for everyone to stay safe so that when things get back, we are ready to do things together."

The Glamour Boy are targetting their first league title since 2015, and Manyama's first since turning professional 10 years ago. 

Galatasaray winger Sofiane Feghouli apologised and took responsibility for his first career red card in his team’s 3-1 loss to Trabzonspor in Sunday’s Turkish Super Lig encounter.

The 30-year-old was shown a straight red just after the half-hour mark for an unsportsmanlike behaviour before the Lions suffered a blow in their league title defence race.

Sunday's loss stretched Galatasaray's winless run to six leagues games with their last victory dating back to March 1 when they humbled Genclerbirligi 3-0.

Following his sending off, Feghouli was heavily criticised by a Turkish football columnist Levent Tuzemen who urged Galatasaray chiefs not to buy players from North Africa again because of their discipline and anger.

"In Galatasaray, administrators and coaches should stop buying players from North Africa,” Tuzemen said.

“North African players such as Belhanda and Feghouli have problems with discipline and anger. It is not easy to play against Trabzonspor with high quality feet such as Sosa, Sorloth, Ekuban.”

In his response on Monday, Feghouli who has contributed six goals and three assists in 25 league outings this term, admitted that his expulsion caused the team’s defeat and also described Tuzemen’s comments as racist.

“This is the first time I have been kicked out of the game in 13 years of my professional football career,” he tweeted.

“I am clearly wrong and take responsibility for this. The defeat last night stems from my mistake. North African footballers do not have "anger" problems on the field.

“Levent Tuzemen is like a racist person. You are saying that such players should not be taken in ignorant and wrong manner. When making your analysis, be equal to all origins because this is a lack of respect.”

Feghouli has been playing at Galatasaray since 2017, and he has helped Fatih Terim's side win two Super Lig titles, a Turkish Cup and the Turkish Super Cup in 2019.

The Lions will be aiming to end their poor run of form when they visit Alanyaspor for their next top-flight fixture on Wednesday.

They are fourth in the league table with 52 points after 30 games, 11 points behind leaders Istanbul Basaksehir.

Bologna rising star Musa Juwara has mentioned the name of Real Madrid winger Eden Hazard as his role model on the back of a solid performance against Inter Milan on Sunday.

The 18-year-old Gambian came off the bench to equalise for the Rossoblu after former Manchester United star Romelu Lukaku had given the Nerazzurri the lead in the 22nd minute.

Juwara’s fellow countryman in Musa Barrow then bagged the winner in the 80th minute for a shock 2-1 win at the San Siro which put a further dent on Inter’s title hopes while keeping Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men 16 points further away from the drop zone and seven points adrift of Europa League qualification.

"I used to cheer Chelsea when I was a kid, so I'd say Eden Hazard,” Juwara said when asked by DAZN about who his role model is.

Hazard was with Chelsea between 2012 and 2019, scoring 110 goals and providing 92 assists, winning two Premier League and two Europa League titles.

Juwara then jokingly mentioned Barrow - who is on loan from Atalanta and has a hand in nine goals (six goals, three assists), as his other role model.

It marks a remarkable rise for Juwara who arrived in Italy as an immigrant by boat in 2016 and started his football career with Virtus Avigliano that year before moving to Chievo Verona in 2017.

He made only one senior appearance with the Gialloblu before joining Bologna last summer.

He has now featured five times in the Serie A this season and thanks coach Mihajlovic for making it possible to play him against Inter. He also dedicated his first top-flight goal to the family that adopted him when he arrived on the shores of Italy

"First of all, I have to thank the coach, because being played against Inter is something that needs compliments,” he continued while speaking with DAZN.

“I want to dedicate my first goal in Serie A to my family and all those who helped me get here.

"I did not think of playing. I am working well in training, but I did not think of playing against Inter. But the coach gave me confidence and I must thank him, as mentioned. I am young to play and score against Inter: it is a dream that I will remember all my life.”

Juwara will hope he can inspire Bologna again when they take on Jeremie Boga’s Sassuolo at the Stadio Renato Dell'Ara on Wednesday.