bbc--2020-03-12--Dietmar Hopp: Bundesliga protests focus on Hoffenheim owner, but is it all about him?

The rain was pouring hard as Bayern Munich midfielders Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich did keepie-ups with Sebastian Rudy of Hoffenheim in the centre circle .
Thiago , also in Munich red , joined in too , and before long the two opposing sides were casually passing the ball back and forth between them .
At first glance , it looked like a 13-minute training session in front of 30,000 spectators .
But this was a Bundesliga game that for the first 77 minutes had only been about Bayern 's dominance .
They had a clear 6-0 lead when something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history of German football .
It started with banners in the away end housing Bayern supporters .
One read `` Du Hurensohn '' ( `` You son of a whore '' ) with the letters D and H coloured in blue .
It was quite clear who this was aimed at - Hoffenheim 's main financial backer , Dietmar Hopp .
The 79-year old was watching from the VIP stand with a bewildered look on his face as Bayern 's chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ostentatiously put an arm around his shoulder for comfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there had been instructions to do so should insults be displayed on banners or voiced from the crowd .
Bayern manager Hansi Flick , and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic then sprinted to the away supporters , shaking their heads , waving their hands and holding up six fingers to show the score .
In their eyes , the fans were putting the result in jeopardy .
The supporters might have replied that their concerns were worth more than three points .
Bayern 's players followed , vainly attempting to speak with ultras in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referee pointed to the tunnel to send the players off the pitch .
Visiting captain Manuel Neuer spoke with Hoffenheim 's players and their manager to discuss the idea of a strike during the remaining 13 minutes .
When the players returned to the pitch , Hoffenheim 's supporters booed their decision .
They wanted the game to be cancelled .
Rummenigge and Hopp arrived on the touchline holding hands in an act of solidarity .
After the game , both teams applauded the crowd - apart from the Bayern section - and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rummenigge spoke .
`` This was the ugly face of the football and of Bayern Munich . ''
Tabloid media headlines read : `` A day of shame for German football . ''
During Aktuelles Sportstudio , a TV programme like Match of the Day , highlights of the match were shown in silence - with no commentary on the action .
German football has since been occupied by the aftermath of this match .
It has divided the game .
Do you sympathise with the anger of the supporters ?
Or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Do you support the football authorities ?
Or do you believe they are guilty of hypocrisy ?
Many people are asking where German football is heading .
But to understand the origins of this conflict , you have to look back and consider more closely Hoffenheim 's divisive owner , the man at the centre of a complex set of circumstances that has been building up over the past decade at least .
Hopp made his fortune in IT .
He founded the company SAP in the 1970s and became a multi-billionaire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ environment and donated hundreds of millions towards education , children 's projects and medical research .
It is a feature that supporters - including Rummenigge - are keen to highlight , and even his critics will not denounce .
But Hopp 's critics see his private benevolence as irrelevant to football .
They are more interested in his role as an investor and patron of TSG Hoffenheim .
Since the late 1980s , Hopp has put a large amount of money into his hometown club .
The sum of his investment is believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
With the help of his money and the skills of manager Ralf Rangnick , the 'village club ' climbed from the sixth tier to the top within 10 years , securing Bundesliga promotion in 2008 and sitting top of the table halfway through their maiden season .
The team , representing a village of 3,000 inhabitants , made it through to the Champions League group stages for the first time last season .
The story of an owner pushing his childhood club to the top might sound like a fairytale .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the German media back in 2008 .
But many supporters , especially many ultra groups , felt angry that an exception had been made to accommodate Hopp and his big spending .
Because of Germany 's 50+1 rule , commercial interests or individuals are not supposed to gain full control of a team .
Club members are supposed to at least own more than half the shares - 50 % of the deciding votes , plus one more .
But football 's governing body in Germany ( DFB ) had already softened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'Lex Leverkusen ' .
Bayer Leverkusen do not strictly adhere to 50+1 , because of links to the Bayer pharmaceutical company .
But they were founded by factory workers and have built their position through a long history of success on the pitch .
VFL Wolfsburg have a similar background - the old factory team of Volkswagen .
'Lex Leverkusen ' allows scope for investors who have been funding the parent club `` continuously and substantially '' for more than 20 years to bypass the 50+1 regulations .
This was the case for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take over majority ownership of Hoffenheim while , officially , sticking to the rules .
But the idea behind 50+1 - to avoid clubs having a strong financial dependence on an investor , and to protect them from the consequences of that dependence falling through - was in many people 's eyes undermined .
Hoffenheim is Hopp .
The club would n't be anywhere near the top flight without his support .
From the beginning , ultra groups have considered Hopp a symbol for the commercialisation of the game .
They believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is stealing the place of another with more restricted means .
Several officials from top-flight sides , such as Mainz or Dortmund , have shared similar opinions in interviews .
In the stadiums , that criticism has turned vitriolic .
Fans have for years chanted insulting slogans during games , and the protests went further still when Dortmund ultras displayed a banner with Hopp in a crosshairs with the message `` Hasta la vista '' in 2008 .
Three years later , a Hoffenheim employee admitted to having used a sound machine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chants in their stadium .
This incident led to the song pun `` Du Sohn einer Hupe '' ( `` you son of a horn '' ) .
Hopp apologised in a letter but added : `` The ones who insult me for 90 minutes should n't be too sensitive . ''
His words sparked more anger , and the situation worsened when Hopp instructed club staff to put microphones in front of away fans to record any insults .
In 2019 , he took Dortmund and Cologne supporters to court , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
Meanwhile , the DFB declared that Dortmund fans were on probation for their next away game at Hoffenheim .
The Dortmund fans knew what was coming when , during their match there in December 2019 , they sang `` never again Hoffenheim '' and once more displayed insulting banners .
All Dortmund fans were banned from the next two matches at Hoffenheim .
It represented a return to collective punishment - something that the DFB and its then-president Reinhard Grindel had promised to abolish in 2017 .
Now there was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hopp , the starting point for a new wave of criticism focused on him .
Even ultras of Borussia Monchengladbach , who have a very tense relationship with Dortmund ultras , showed support for their rivals .
In February this year , they raised the same banner as Dortmund ultras had , with Hopp in the crosshairs .
Only a few days before , on 19 February , a gunman had killed nine people in the German city of Hanau .
Gladbach officials criticised their ultras and apologised to Hopp .
During the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as far as placing the banner on the same level as the murders .
It was a trivialisation of the shocking events in Hanau , but it set the tone for what was to follow during the next week , and it led to strong decisions at the DFB .
Murder , racism , insults , discrimination - all these themes mixed together in the public debate .
So when word spread that more fan groups would protest against Hopp the next weekend , the DFB decided to apply the three-step-protocol originally set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
When there was any discrimination , step one would see the game halted and an announcement made .
Step two would be to take teams off the pitch , with a second announcement .
Step three would see the match abandoned .
This led to the events we saw at the end of Hoffenheim 's match against Bayern .
But that was n't the only fixture to be interrupted .
In Cologne , Berlin , Dortmund and elsewhere in lower divisions , matches were stopped when the referees noticed banners in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was little time for the referee to carefully read , and often put into context , what was actually written on the banners .
During the game in the third division between Meppen and Duisburg one series of banners read : `` If Dietmar has enough cash , for his protection and interest , people whose words are meaningless will lock someone up again . ''
Even Duisburg 's press co-ordinator said he had no clue why the game was interrupted , because the statement of the banner should be covered by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questions emerging .
At what point is the referee to implement the three-step plan ?
And how could they be expected to track action in the stands while simultaneously officiating a busy football match ?
These and other questions were sent to the football association by clubs from the second division- but without any satisfactory answer .
This inconsistency of the DFB came to the foreground when Schalke played Bayern three days after the 'strike ' in Hoffenheim .
While Bayern fans insulting Hopp had led to an interruption there , nothing happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the same phrase by Schalke supporters .
RB Leipzig 's Timo Werner has been similarly abused in nearly every stadium in the country after a perceived dive , and various fan groups suffer the same in many infamous chants , including one particularly insulting song delivered by Hoffenheim supporters to fans of Freiburg .
But what infuriated supporters in Germany most of all was the lack of action over racist insults .
During the game between Schalke and Hertha Berlin a few weeks before the escalation surrounding Hopp , Hertha defender Jordan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without an interruption or announcement in the stadium .
When midfielder Mesut Ozil was the target of racist comments from far right politicians during the World Cup 2018 , the DFB admitted taking too long to defend him .
These cases led to the suspicion that German football does more to protect multi-millionaires than it does minorities , or players with a migrant background .
The atmosphere of double standards is fostered by the long-term `` co-innovation partnership '' between Hopp 's company SAP and the DFB .
SAP will also sponsor the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team .
Last Friday , a network of fans , mostly ultra groups , published an open letter .
It read : `` The actual shame lies in the behaviour of the associations , first of all the German FA . ''
The main aim of the punishments was censorship , it claimed .
They said they `` wo n't tolerate what has happened '' and will `` accept the consequences '' as they continue to protest .
The tone was confrontational but the points addressed had been made before .
Bayern 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against discrimination , homophobia and racism , and they took a stand against the club 's sponsorship agreement with Qatar Airways over the nation 's human rights record .
They were also the ones who kept alive the memory of the club 's Jewish president , who was deported by the Nazis in 1938 .
After the Hoffenheim game , it was reported by TV broadcasters that Bayern would take all season tickets away from the ultras group for their behaviour .
The reports have n't been confirmed yet , and in Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultras showed up as usual and presented banners that read : `` The ugly face of this club is from people taking blood money from Qatar . ''
It was n't the only banner displayed during the previous weekend .
In nearly every German stadium , fan groups protested against Hopp , the DFB and Bayern .
The Freiburg fans wrote : `` Owners protected and wooed .
Ordinary people bullied .
Football in 2020 . ''
There were no strikes or abandonments .
The protests of the supporters were viewed as creative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The DFB announced plans to work with supporter organisations on the implementation of the three-step plan and stressed its appreciation of creative and critical fan culture .
Their words seemed to be an attempt to ease the situation .
But protests will surely continue and the relationship between clubs and fan groups will face more significant tests in the following weeks .
One possible conclusion to draw for now is that there is no alternative to dialogue , as Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has said .
But with no real ending in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note three perhaps unexpected developments in this evolving story .
First , it started off with a crude and distasteful banner depicting a man in crosshairs that , in the end , opened up a public debate on collective punishment and how to tackle discrimination and corruption .
Secondly , after the Hoffenheim-Bayern game , several officials and TV experts demanded fan organisations be thrown out of the stadiums .
This week , the stadiums are indeed empty but not because of sanctions or boycotts but because of the coronavirus outbreak .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or the Revierderby between Schalke and Dortmund are played in front of empty seats , the atmosphere will give an impression of what ultra groups keep saying and what legendary Celtic manager Jock Stein once put this way : `` Football without fans is nothing . ''
Thirdly , on Tuesday , the left-wing newspaper Tageszeitung printed a picture of empty stands with the headline : `` Coronavirus , you son of a whore ! ''

Hopp (centre) has put an estimated 350m euros (£301m) into his hometown club
The rain was pouring hard as Bayern Munich midfielders Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich did keepie-ups with Sebastian Rudy of Hoffenheim in the centre circle.
Thiago, also in Munich red, joined in too, and before long the two opposing sides were casually passing the ball back and forth between them.
At first glance, it looked like a 13-minute training session in front of 30,000 spectators. But this was a Bundesliga game that for the first 77 minutes had only been about Bayern's dominance. They had a clear 6-0 lead when something happened that is unprecedented in the long history of German football.
It started with banners in the away end housing Bayern supporters. One read "Du Hurensohn" ("You son of a whore") with the letters D and H coloured in blue. It was quite clear who this was aimed at - Hoffenheim's main financial backer, Dietmar Hopp.
The 79-year old was watching from the VIP stand with a bewildered look on his face as Bayern's chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge ostentatiously put an arm around his shoulder for comfort. The referee stopped the game - there had been instructions to do so should insults be displayed on banners or voiced from the crowd.
Bayern manager Hansi Flick, and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic then sprinted to the away supporters, shaking their heads, waving their hands and holding up six fingers to show the score. In their eyes, the fans were putting the result in jeopardy. The supporters might have replied that their concerns were worth more than three points.
Bayern's players followed, vainly attempting to speak with ultras in the first few rows. Then the referee pointed to the tunnel to send the players off the pitch.
Visiting captain Manuel Neuer spoke with Hoffenheim's players and their manager to discuss the idea of a strike during the remaining 13 minutes. When the players returned to the pitch, Hoffenheim's supporters booed their decision. They wanted the game to be cancelled.
Rummenigge and Hopp arrived on the touchline holding hands in an act of solidarity. After the game, both teams applauded the crowd - apart from the Bayern section - and they let Hopp stand in the middle.
Hoffenheim have an average attendance of 26,836 this season - 89% of their capacity. Four Bundesliga clubs have a lower percentage - Wolfsburg, Mainz, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Hertha Berlin.
Rummenigge spoke. "This was the ugly face of the football and of Bayern Munich."
Tabloid media headlines read: "A day of shame for German football." During Aktuelles Sportstudio, a TV programme like Match of the Day, highlights of the match were shown in silence - with no commentary on the action.
German football has since been occupied by the aftermath of this match. It has divided the game. Do you sympathise with the anger of the supporters? Or do they have too much power? Do you support the football authorities? Or do you believe they are guilty of hypocrisy?
Many people are asking where German football is heading. But to understand the origins of this conflict, you have to look back and consider more closely Hoffenheim's divisive owner, the man at the centre of a complex set of circumstances that has been building up over the past decade at least.
Hopp made his fortune in IT. He founded the company SAP in the 1970s and became a multi-billionaire. He has supported projects for protecting the environment and donated hundreds of millions towards education, children's projects and medical research. It is a feature that supporters - including Rummenigge - are keen to highlight, and even his critics will not denounce. But Hopp's critics see his private benevolence as irrelevant to football. They are more interested in his role as an investor and patron of TSG Hoffenheim.
Since the late 1980s, Hopp has put a large amount of money into his hometown club. The sum of his investment is believed to be about 350m euros (£301m).
The Dietmar Hopp Stadion was Hoffenheim's home until 2009, when they moved to the 30,000 capacity Rhein-Neckar-Arena in Sinsheim
With the help of his money and the skills of manager Ralf Rangnick, the 'village club' climbed from the sixth tier to the top within 10 years, securing Bundesliga promotion in 2008 and sitting top of the table halfway through their maiden season. The team, representing a village of 3,000 inhabitants, made it through to the Champions League group stages for the first time last season.
The story of an owner pushing his childhood club to the top might sound like a fairytale. It was presented this way in most of the German media back in 2008. But many supporters, especially many ultra groups, felt angry that an exception had been made to accommodate Hopp and his big spending.
Because of Germany's 50+1 rule, commercial interests or individuals are not supposed to gain full control of a team. Club members are supposed to at least own more than half the shares - 50% of the deciding votes, plus one more.
But football's governing body in Germany (DFB) had already softened this rule in a move known as 'Lex Leverkusen'. Bayer Leverkusen do not strictly adhere to 50+1, because of links to the Bayer pharmaceutical company. But they were founded by factory workers and have built their position through a long history of success on the pitch. VFL Wolfsburg have a similar background - the old factory team of Volkswagen.
'Lex Leverkusen' allows scope for investors who have been funding the parent club "continuously and substantially" for more than 20 years to bypass the 50+1 regulations. This was the case for Hopp. It gave him the right to take over majority ownership of Hoffenheim while, officially, sticking to the rules.
But the idea behind 50+1 - to avoid clubs having a strong financial dependence on an investor, and to protect them from the consequences of that dependence falling through - was in many people's eyes undermined. Hoffenheim is Hopp. The club wouldn't be anywhere near the top flight without his support.
From the beginning, ultra groups have considered Hopp a symbol for the commercialisation of the game. They believe that his financially powerful and privileged club is stealing the place of another with more restricted means. Several officials from top-flight sides, such as Mainz or Dortmund, have shared similar opinions in interviews.
In the stadiums, that criticism has turned vitriolic. Fans have for years chanted insulting slogans during games, and the protests went further still when Dortmund ultras displayed a banner with Hopp in a crosshairs with the message "Hasta la vista" in 2008.
Hoffenheim celebrate winning promotion to the Bundesliga in 2008 - their team that year included Demba Ba, who left to join West Ham United in 2011
Three years later, a Hoffenheim employee admitted to having used a sound machine to drown out Dortmund's away fans' chants in their stadium. This incident led to the song pun "Du Sohn einer Hupe" ("you son of a horn"). Hopp apologised in a letter but added: "The ones who insult me for 90 minutes shouldn't be too sensitive."
His words sparked more anger, and the situation worsened when Hopp instructed club staff to put microphones in front of away fans to record any insults. In 2019, he took Dortmund and Cologne supporters to court, and some were fined for their behaviour towards him.
Meanwhile, the DFB declared that Dortmund fans were on probation for their next away game at Hoffenheim. The Dortmund fans knew what was coming when, during their match there in December 2019, they sang "never again Hoffenheim" and once more displayed insulting banners.
All Dortmund fans were banned from the next two matches at Hoffenheim. It represented a return to collective punishment - something that the DFB and its then-president Reinhard Grindel had promised to abolish in 2017. Now there was a new factor in fans' opposition to Hopp, the starting point for a new wave of criticism focused on him.
Even ultras of Borussia Monchengladbach, who have a very tense relationship with Dortmund ultras, showed support for their rivals. In February this year, they raised the same banner as Dortmund ultras had, with Hopp in the crosshairs. Only a few days before, on 19 February, a gunman had killed nine people in the German city of Hanau.
Gladbach officials criticised their ultras and apologised to Hopp. During the fallout, some commentators and officials went as far as placing the banner on the same level as the murders. It was a trivialisation of the shocking events in Hanau, but it set the tone for what was to follow during the next week, and it led to strong decisions at the DFB.
Dortmund's fans display banners depicting Hopp (centre), his lawyer Christoph Schickhardt (second left), Fritz Keller (second right), German FA vice-president Rainer Koch (left) and Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (right), in March 2020
Murder, racism, insults, discrimination - all these themes mixed together in the public debate. So when word spread that more fan groups would protest against Hopp the next weekend, the DFB decided to apply the three-step-protocol originally set up by Uefa to combat racial abuse. When there was any discrimination, step one would see the game halted and an announcement made. Step two would be to take teams off the pitch, with a second announcement. Step three would see the match abandoned.
This led to the events we saw at the end of Hoffenheim's match against Bayern. But that wasn't the only fixture to be interrupted. In Cologne, Berlin, Dortmund and elsewhere in lower divisions, matches were stopped when the referees noticed banners in the stands.
The main problem was that there was little time for the referee to carefully read, and often put into context, what was actually written on the banners. During the game in the third division between Meppen and Duisburg one series of banners read: "If Dietmar has enough cash, for his protection and interest, people whose words are meaningless will lock someone up again."
Even Duisburg's press co-ordinator said he had no clue why the game was interrupted, because the statement of the banner should be covered by freedom of speech.
There were new questions emerging. At what point is the referee to implement the three-step plan? And how could they be expected to track action in the stands while simultaneously officiating a busy football match? These and other questions were sent to the football association by clubs from the second division- but without any satisfactory answer.
This inconsistency of the DFB came to the foreground when Schalke played Bayern three days after the 'strike' in Hoffenheim.
While Bayern fans insulting Hopp had led to an interruption there, nothing happened when Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was insulted with the same phrase by Schalke supporters.
RB Leipzig's Timo Werner has been similarly abused in nearly every stadium in the country after a perceived dive, and various fan groups suffer the same in many infamous chants, including one particularly insulting song delivered by Hoffenheim supporters to fans of Freiburg.
But what infuriated supporters in Germany most of all was the lack of action over racist insults. During the game between Schalke and Hertha Berlin a few weeks before the escalation surrounding Hopp, Hertha defender Jordan Torunarigha was racially abused from the stands without an interruption or announcement in the stadium.
When midfielder Mesut Ozil was the target of racist comments from far right politicians during the World Cup 2018, the DFB admitted taking too long to defend him. external-link These cases led to the suspicion that German football does more to protect multi-millionaires than it does minorities, or players with a migrant background. The atmosphere of double standards is fostered by the long-term "co-innovation partnership" external-link between Hopp's company SAP and the DFB. SAP will also sponsor the future home of Bayern Munich's basketball team.
A pamphlet produced by Paderborn fans explains their stance on the 'Hopp Cause'
Last Friday, a network of fans, mostly ultra groups, published an open letter. It read: "The actual shame lies in the behaviour of the associations, first of all the German FA."
The main aim of the punishments was censorship, it claimed. They said they "won't tolerate what has happened" and will "accept the consequences" as they continue to protest. The tone was confrontational but the points addressed had been made before. Bayern's ultras have for a long time fought against discrimination, homophobia and racism, and they took a stand against the club's sponsorship agreement with Qatar Airways over the nation's human rights record.
They were also the ones who kept alive the memory of the club's Jewish president, who was deported by the Nazis in 1938. After the Hoffenheim game, it was reported by TV broadcasters that Bayern would take all season tickets away from the ultras group for their behaviour. The reports haven't been confirmed yet, and in Sunday's home match against Augsburg, the ultras showed up as usual and presented banners that read: "The ugly face of this club is from people taking blood money from Qatar."
It wasn't the only banner displayed during the previous weekend. In nearly every German stadium, fan groups protested against Hopp, the DFB and Bayern. The Freiburg fans wrote: "Owners protected and wooed. Ordinary people bullied. Football in 2020."
There were no strikes or abandonments. The protests of the supporters were viewed as creative and appropriate in the public eye. The DFB announced plans to work with supporter organisations on the implementation of the three-step plan and stressed its appreciation of creative and critical fan culture. Their words seemed to be an attempt to ease the situation.
But protests will surely continue and the relationship between clubs and fan groups will face more significant tests in the following weeks.
One possible conclusion to draw for now is that there is no alternative to dialogue, as Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has said.
But with no real ending in sight, it's nonetheless interesting to note three perhaps unexpected developments in this evolving story.
First, it started off with a crude and distasteful banner depicting a man in crosshairs that, in the end, opened up a public debate on collective punishment and how to tackle discrimination and corruption.
Secondly, after the Hoffenheim-Bayern game, several officials and TV experts demanded fan organisations be thrown out of the stadiums. This week, the stadiums are indeed empty but not because of sanctions or boycotts but because of the coronavirus outbreak. So when the Rheinderby between Cologne and Monchengladbach or the Revierderby between Schalke and Dortmund are played in front of empty seats, the atmosphere will give an impression of what ultra groups keep saying and what legendary Celtic manager Jock Stein once put this way: "Football without fans is nothing."
Thirdly, on Tuesday, the left-wing newspaper Tageszeitung printed a picture of empty stands with the headline: "Coronavirus, you son of a whore!"


bbc--2020-03-12--Guinea-Bissau: Political chaos could boost cocaine trade

For a day recently , the small West African country of Guinea-Bissau had two presidents and two prime ministers , until one of the presidents stepped down citing death threats .
The country has been gripped by political turmoil for so many years that analysts do not agree on exactly how many coups it has had in its 46 years of independence .
Some say nine , others count 10 .
An election held last year was another attempt to carve a new peaceful path but it has sparked yet more chaos , as journalist Ricci Shryock reports .
Amidst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be carrying on as normal in the capital , Bissau , but underneath the veneer , residents say they are deeply frustrated with the political chaos and confused about what will happen next and whom to believe .
While the Portuguese word `` saudades '' expresses a longing for the past , the feeling in Bissau is more akin to a longing for a more prosperous future they know is possible , but each time Bissau-Guineans ' raise their hopes , they are dashed by political manoeuvring - often backed by guns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ selling the country 's number-one cash crop - freshly harvested cashews .
But the presence of armed soldiers is a reminder that things are not normal .
The absence of trusted sources of news has provided good fodder for rumours and innuendo , with people constantly trying to parse what is true and what is not .
Contradictory official communiqués and letters from various sides , about who is the rightful president , are being shared on WhatsApp and Facebook in the country of 1.6 million people .
`` We do n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hotel manager , Aboubacar , as he scrolled through his Facebook feed .
He furrowed his brow and frowned as he tried to decide which local blogs to read .
One restaurant owner , who said the chaos was hurting her business , added : `` For such a tiny country , it 's amazing how much fake news we can produce . ''
Umaro Cissoko Embaló was announced as the winner of December 's election .
The long-time ruling party PAIGC however alleged it was cheated out of victory and insists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court to rule on its third request to annul the elections .
But he refused and has taken the oath of office .
And in the meantime , PAIGC lawmakers , who say that an alliance with smaller parties means they still have a majority in parliament , swore in one of its members as president and insisted their current prime minister stay in office .
However , shortly afterwards PAIGC Cipriano Cassamá stood down , citing fears for his safety .
`` The problems in Bissau are structural problems , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' said Gilles Yabi , founder of West African think-tank , Wathi .
`` The country has the history of war , fighting for independence from Portugal , so the presence of the military is directly linked to this history , and the role the military played to get independence . ''
He added there were other factors at play in the current crisis .
`` The main problem is the political class of the country , and the fact that they have been fighting for power for a long time .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on whom you talk to , they will have quite a different version of things . ''
There are two competing versions at the moment : While the PAIGC says the elections was rigged , the opposing side , MADEM-G15 , says its candidate Mr Embaló won December 's polls and is now rightfully installed at the presidency .
The National Election Commission has repeatedly confirmed that Mr Embaló won the polls with 54 % of the vote , and at least one minister in his government has publicly accused their opponents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in PAIGC 's favour and stall the confirmation of Mr Embaló 's win .
Both sides say they have proof , but in the vacuum of that proof , residents ' social media feeds are flooded with false news reports of weapons seizures at a political party 's headquarters and politicians hiding out at foreign embassies - events that never happened .
To add to the confusion , Guinea-Bissau has for many years been used as a staging post in the trafficking of cocaine from Latin America to Europe .
The PAIGC 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the rightful prime minister , has claimed that narco-trafficking is the main factor behind the current political instability .
1446-47 : First Portuguese arrive ; subsequently administered as part of the Portuguese Cape Verde Islands , the Guinea area becomes important in the slave-trade .
Guinea-Bissau becomes a separate colony in the Portuguese Empire in 1879 .
1980 : Country 's first president , Luís Cabral , is ousted in military coup led by João Bernardo Vieira ; plans for unification with Cape Verde dropped .
The overthrow is the first of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's stability over the next four decades .
2010 : US names two top military officials as international drugs traffickers and freezes their US assets .
EU announces it is ending mission to reform Guinea-Bissau 's security forces , saying lack of respect for rule of law is making this an impossible task .
2011 : EU suspends part of its aid to Guinea-Bissau because of concerns over governance and the rule of law .
Several months later , thousands take to the streets to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Carlos Gomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food prices .
2012 : The UN Security Council expresses concern that drug trafficking has increased , and demands a return to constitutional rule .
Experts say drug traffickers can profit from the current political chaos , and there were already reports that one notorious trafficker who had previously fled the country was spotted back in Bissau at a downtown hotel last week .
This report was denied by Ibrahima Jalo , an ally of Mr Embaló , who heads the association of 18 political parties which is not represented in the assembly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drug trafficking ?
In this country ?
No .
Please .
The drug trafficking here in Guinea-Bissau was maybe happening before , but it will never happen again . ''
In the past , the military and navy have been heavily linked to the country 's drug trade .
In 2013 , US Drug Enforcement Administration arrested the former head of the navy as he was attempting to close a million-dollar cocaine deal going through Guinea-Bissau .
Trafficking reportedly dropped off in Guinea-Bissau after that , but some experts say the recent few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corridor .
Amidst the chaos , nearly 1,000 hooded vultures were killed in a mass poisoning in the east of the country .
Some said it was a bad omen for the country .
The birds were bubbling from their beaks in what the Vulture Conservation Foundation says is the worst mass vulture death event in recent memory in the world .
Fighting in the courts , not with guns Vincent Foucher , a researcher for the French National Centre for Scientific Research , stresses that the latest iteration of the crisis appears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful than some in the past .
`` I think it 's quite important to note that the elites have realised that now the competition is fought with and around legal norms .
It 's not about killing people - well for now - or coups .
Let 's hope it stays that way , '' he said .
You may also be interested in : • Guinea-Bissau : What you need to know • Are military takeovers on the rise in Africa ?
• How democracy is changing in Africa However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their side .
`` It 's always this thing that in Bissau people bend the law in one sense or another as suits their interests in the position of the moment .
The law is bendable and it 's not strong enough , not written clearly enough to an extent , and that 's part of the problem even though it 's not the cause of the problem , '' Mr Foucher added .
Foreign involvement is also complicating the situation .
Senegalese President Macky Sall has been outspoken in his support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam .
The PAIGC has , however , denounced Senegal for what it says is interference in Guinea-Bissau 's internal politics and that it wants to control the country 's development - or lack thereof - especially when it comes to contentious maritime rights along their shared border .
Regional body Economic Community of West African States ( Ecowas ) has said Mr Embaló 's inauguration was outside the legal framework .
A claim Mr Embaló 's supporters rejected .
Still dreaming of a better future Meanwhile , young people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis in the country has lasted their entire lives .
Teachers and healthcare workers have been on strike since late last year , and many in the capital express a desire for the international community to intervene .
Ecowas was scheduled to send a team of experts to mediate this week , but they cancelled their mission under pressure from Mr Embaló 's government at the last minute .
The UN Security Council also late last week urged security and defence forces not to interfere with the post-electoral political crisis .
Amid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street from both the presidential palace and the PAIGC headquarters , one man shrugged his shoulders in frustration over the crisis .
`` As long as we are alive , we will dream , '' he said as he smiled nervously .

"It's always this thing that in Bissau people bend the law in one sense or another as suits their interests in the position of the moment. The law is bendable and it's not strong enough, not written clearly enough to an extent, and that's part of the problem even though it's not the cause of the problem," Mr Foucher added.


bbc--2020-03-11--Blasian love: The day we introduced our black and Asian families

Since the end of apartheid - and even for some years before that - young South Africans have been free to date whoever they want .
But relationships between black people and the country 's Asian population remain quite rare - and the approval of parents , and grandparents , is not a given .
As his mother adds garlic powder to the mopane worms frying on the stove behind him , Tumelo fidgets in his swivel chair .
It 's a big day .
His girlfriend Ithra and her family are coming over for Saturday lunch .
She 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It will be the first time his black family and her Asian-origin family have met .
He 's wearing a casual T-shirt and jeans , but for once he 's looking agitated .
`` It 's making me nervous because this is an example of what it really means to integrate , '' he says .
`` It 's like , 'OK cool , you 're going to come here and you 're going to eat our food .
You 're not going to get , like , pizza . '
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then your culture and your religion is like… '' - he gestures with his hands as if sweeping something under an imaginary carpet .
`` It 's not like , ' I 'm not going to be part of that but I will be a part of this . '
You have to be part of the whole thing . ''
Earlier in the week , when I met Tumelo and Ithra near Rosebank mall in Johannesburg , they 'd explained that two pivotal things were about to happen : they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would get junior doctor placements together in Cape Town - and they were going to introduce their parents .
`` I 'm not , '' Tumelo had said , `` I 'm excited ! ''
It 's late 2019 and Ithra and Tumelo , both 24 , are both at the end of their final year of medical school at Wits University in Johannesburg .
They became friends almost immediately in their first year and started going out in their third year .
Throughout their friendship both have had other relationships , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - but both feel that they received fewer stares when they had white partners .
`` It was almost like , if you were dating someone who 's white , it 's expected , '' Tumelo says .
`` I feel like people can justify you dating someone white , it 's almost like you 're dating 'up ' .
I think it is a post-apartheid thing , people have a hierarchy that was built up in their head . ''
Apartheid , South Africa 's government-sanctioned segregation of races , officially ended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was also the year the couple were born - which makes them part of the so-called Born Free generation .
Already making up more than 40 % of the country , this is the first generation in South Africa free to work , live and vote however they please .
They are also free to love whomever they want , at least in theory .
Relationships between black and Asian South Africans remain uncommon , though .
`` We 're the only Blasian couple in our class , '' says Ithra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
If it 's interracial , it 's a person of colour with a white person . ''
But # Blasian is a growing social media tag used by black or Asian people in relationships with one another - sometimes documenting the specific challenges they face .
Ithra 's family come from Cape Malay , a community of mixed-Asian ethnicities who have been in South Africa for generations .
Born in Kenya to an Indian father , Ithra moved back to her mother 's home country - to Johannesburg - at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she decided to stay for university and where she would meet Tumelo , who was born in the city .
Ithra had a liberal upbringing .
Her mother , Rayana , had actively opposed and organised against apartheid .
But not everyone was ready for her relationship with Tumelo .
It started with a mass exodus from the wider family Whatsapp group .
At first Ithra did n't know what had happened .
`` I phoned home and my sister said it was because my gran found out that I 'm dating a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` She phoned my sister and she was like , 'What are people going to say if my grandchild is dating a black guy ? '
Because where she comes from they 're very much about the community and the community knows everything . ''
When we met , Ithra had n't spoken to her grandmother Washiela since that moment .
It had been almost three months .
Viewers in the UK can watch her television documentary , made with Yousef Eldin for Our World , on the BBC iPlayer '' I try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's resistance comes from her experience during apartheid , '' Ithra 's mother Rayana tells me the next day , from her bright airy kitchen that sits on top of a hill overlooking Joburg .
Ithra and her four sisters mill around in the background , speaking over each other as they cut fruit , boil tea and flip pancakes , in an almost synchronised dance that enables them to avoid bumping into each other .
`` We were so divided , '' Rayana says , as her daughters finish eating and disappear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Malay meant that we lived in the coloured areas , spending more time with mixed-Asian or Indian communities .
My parents would n't have stepped into a black person 's home . ''
Rayana moved back to Johannesburg from Kenya as a single mother and raised her daughters alone until she remarried .
As she 's describing how she campaigned against apartheid , alongside black activists , there 's a sudden screaming from upstairs .
`` What is it ? ''
Rayana shouts up .
Ithra 's sister Taleah emerges at the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Woooooh !
Cape Town !
Congratulations !
'They ' - did you hear that ?
The news came with a 'they ' , '' Rayana exclaims .
Ithra and Tumelo have received the news that they have secured junior doctor placements in the same hospital - over 1,000km away in Cape Town .
Until now Ithra and Tumelo have lived at home , supervised by their families .
But soon they will be moving away together to a new city .
Alone .
While she has always been supportive of her daughter dating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different .
`` It 's a lot to process .
There might be a future between Ithra and Tumelo , and that 's maybe what it is , '' she hesitates .
`` I did n't want to think that far .
I always encouraged the girls to be open about everything .
And now it 's a relationship .
With a black guy .
How open am I really ? ''
`` Mum , we 're gon na get roasted !
We 're gon na get roasted ! ''
Ithra cries from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is coming for us ! ''
her sister , Iman , agrees .
Ithra and her sisters - who have now made their way from her bedroom where they were huddled over a computer waiting for the junior doctor posting - worry that their mother 's honesty about race may be received badly , especially on social media , when this story is published .
`` I never reared you guys to be racist , '' Rayana directly addresses her daughters .
`` But the reality is it 's the first time that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's home under the context of possible in-laws , you know ?
It sits differently .
`` Because I lived in apartheid , those divides were real .
I remember being so angry with my parents and my grandparents for not doing something about it .
How could we be part of such a cruel and unfair system - and you allowed it ?
Now when you have that kind of purpose , of course I 'm going to have kids that I 've raised that are free of that reality but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a certain community so it does go deeper . ''
At the home of Ithra 's grandparents , Washiela and Ashraf , a livestream from Mecca plays on the TV in the background and large calligraphy prints of verses of the Koran are framed on the walls .
His wife asks me to sit next to her on the leather couch as I ask why they have n't spoken to their granddaughter for months .
It was n't their choice not to talk , they say , it was Ithra 's .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough because you know we are from old school , '' Washiela says .
`` I come from the apartheid era and there were barriers .
The whites one side .
The coloureds one side and the blacks one side . ''
The tiered levels of apartheid meant that Indian and mixed-race people were given preferential treatment , compared to black people .
Would they prefer Ithra to be dating someone of her own culture ?
`` Obviously , yes I would , '' admits Washiela .
`` But then it 's not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want . ''
Would it have made a difference if Ithra was with a white guy instead of a black guy ?
Grandpa Ashraf interjects , `` No , that is being racist , actually . ''
`` That is racist , '' agrees his wife .
Then she adds : `` You know we were very racist , I am going to be honest with you , because we come from apartheid and that stigma is always there .
It will never go away .
But it 's strange , when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's a different scenario and you have to accept ...
It 's the Rainbow Nation . ''
When Granny Washiela says `` Rainbow Nation '' she raises her eyebrows and smiles ironically .
`` I would like to meet him , '' Grandpa Ashraf says , referring to Tumelo .
`` He should come here and introduce himself to us properly . ''
Attitudes to interracial relationships are an indicator of how far South Africans have travelled in terms of integration and addressing prejudices , according to a 2017 report from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , but the data suggests that there has been little progress .
An annual nationwide opinion poll , the South Africa Reconciliation Barometer , shows almost no change in the number who would approve of a close family member marrying someone from another race group , the IJR notes - the proportion was 47 % in 2003 , and remained the same in 2015 , although the number of those who disapproved fell slightly .
Approval rates among white people rose significantly over this period , though they are still more negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of interracial marriage among the mixed-race and Indian communities actually fell in the 12 years to 2015 .
At the same time , the number of interracial marriages is increasing .
A study by North-West University in Mahikeng showed that in 1996 only one marriage in 300 involved people of different races , but by 2011 it had become about one in 100 .
Data gathered for the BBC by Statistics of South Africa from the General Household Survey also shows there were an estimated 8,114 Blasian married couples in 2018 ( defined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Asian origin - including Indian , Cape Malay and East Asian ) .
That 's 0.1 % of the total .
According to the 2011 census , three-quarters of South Africa 's population is black , and Asians make up just 2.5 % .
The rest of the population divides more or less equally into white and mixed-race .
Paula Quinsee , a relationship coach from Johannesburg , says Blasian couples face particular challenges .
At least black and white people in relationships with each other are both likely to come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religion is added to other cultural barriers .
And there is another factor .
`` While younger generations in South Africa are more free to date , there are still certain perceptions , which are a consequences of the hierarchy of apartheid , that dating a white person is more acceptable because it is seen as going 'up ' a social status according to apartheid , '' Quinsee says .
`` It may no longer be the case , but it 's a post-apartheid mindset . ''
It 's the day of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Modjadji , has gone all out .
She 's spent the morning preparing the mopane worms , tripe and chicken 's feet .
She 's also bought halal meat especially .
`` They must know me the way I am and I will know them the way they are , '' she smiles .
There 's no way she could have been allowed to bring home a man of another race she says .
That would have been unheard of .
She wants her children to have that freedom , though she does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that means not compromising on eating chicken feet and tripe , or drinking alcohol , in front of people who may not be used to it .
`` They 're here , '' says Tumelo , getting up to go to the door .
Ithra , Rayana and her husband and Ithra 's sisters arrive holding flowers and deep pans containing Asian food : biryani and tandoori chicken .
Modjadji throws her arms around Rayana .
`` My friend ! ''
she says .
`` My friend !
Finally ! ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rayana says after a long embrace .
`` He said you were making worms ! ''
`` Oh , '' replies Rayana , her smile slipping only very slightly .
As the families sit down to eat , Tumelo 's brother recites a Christian prayer .
Then the conversation resumes , and soon it turns to those not at the table - namely , Ithra 's grandparents .
`` My parents ' reaction is based on fear , '' Rayana says .
`` I was thinking about my own childhood days .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was known as a coloured area and there were n't a lot of blacks around us ... '' She repeats some of the things she had told me earlier , but as Rayana finishes , Tumelo picks her up on a phrase she has used .
`` Will you please say 'black people ' and not 'blacks ' ? ''
`` Thank you , '' Rayana replies immediately .
`` I struggle to say 'black ' generally - because I just do n't feel that we should be using these words - that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time ago .
So what are the replacements ?
'Human ' or ... ? ''
`` No no no , I hear you , '' Tumelo replies smiling .
`` That 's why I said 'black people ' and not 'blacks ' because I have heard 'blacks ' being used so often as a derogatory term that it makes me uncomfortable to hear black people being referred to as 'blacks ' or 'the blacks ' . ''
`` Sure , I understand .
Thank you . ''
Later , Tumelo 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has remained silent for most of the lunch - speaks up with advice for the Born Frees at the table .
`` When Mandela became the president we thought that would have been the moment .
But it was never a moment .
Actually in my view things got a little bit worse than what we thought , '' he says .
`` I wanted to raise my kids to go to a better school than me - one that will have other races - they must learn what I could n't learn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very late in my life , when I was working .
This generation will resolve it .
Every generation has its own problem .
And I think this generation , this is their problem - they 'll sort it out . ''
In a quiet moment , just before Ithra 's stepdad offers to conclude lunch with a Muslim prayer , Tumelo tells me that he will visit Ithra 's grandparents before the move to Cape Town .
And their mums agree to fly together to see their children one weekend .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on a lazy Saturday afternoon , bow their heads and close their eyes to pray , with plates of biryani sitting next to a portion of mopane worms laid out in front of them .
You may also be interested in : When a health emergency prompted Nathan Romburgh and his sisters to look into their family history , decades after the end of apartheid , they uncovered a closely guarded secret that made them question their own identity .
Separated at birth : 'Was my mother given away because she looked @ @ @

"They must know me the way I am and I will know them the way they are," she smiles. There's no way she could have been allowed to bring home a man of another race she says. That would have been unheard of. She wants her children to have that freedom, though she doesn't want them to abandon their culture. And that means not compromising on eating chicken feet and tripe, or drinking alcohol, in front of people who may not be used to it.


bbc--2020-03-12--UK government considering sport ban

UK government considering sport ban

The UK government is considering banning sporting fixtures amid the coronavirus outbreak - but it will not happen immediately .
On Thursday , Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK will move to the `` delay '' phase of its plan to tackle the virus .
There have been 596 confirmed cases across the UK , and 10 deaths .
`` We are considering banning major public events like sporting fixtures , '' said Johnson .
`` The scientific advice is this has little effect on the spread - but it does place a burden on other public services .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scottish football despite Sturgeon advice Johnson added : `` We are guided by the science ; there is no medical reason at the moment to ban such events .
`` We are not saying no to that sort of measure , we are keeping it up our sleeves .
But it is very , very important in order to maximise our interventions that we get the timing right . ''
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said cancelling sporting events is not a `` major way to tackle this epidemic '' .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' he said .
`` But on average one person infects two or three others .
`` You therefore have a very low probability of infecting a large number of people in a stadium , or a rather higher probability of infecting people very close to you , and that means most of the transmission tends to takes place with friends and colleagues in close environments , not in the big environments .
`` It is true that any cancellations of things can have some effect ( but ) if you then get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somewhere else , you may have perversely an increased risk , particularly in an indoors environment .
`` So it does n't mean you should at some point make the decision for the resilience point that has been discussed , but this is not a major way to tackle this epidemic .
`` The major ways are to try and reduce and delay the transmission across households and people who have become infected and that why that is the concentration of the first actions . ''
How has coronavirus affected sport across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Uefa has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday in which the possibility of postponing Euro 2020 by one year is an option being discussed .
Seven of the tournament 's matches are set to take place at Wembley Stadium in London , while others are due to be held in Glasgow and Dublin .
Top flight football in Spain , Italy , Portugal , the Netherlands and the United States has been suspended amid the outbreak , while Manchester City 's Champions League last-16 second leg tie against Real Madrid , due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ postponed .
City defender Benjamin Mendy is self-isolating as a precaution after a member of his family was admitted to hospital displaying symptoms of coronavirus , while three Leicester City first-team players are also self-isolating after showing symptoms of the virus .
However , the Premier League says this weekend 's games `` will go ahead as scheduled '' .
`` We are continuing to work closely with our clubs , government , the FA , EFL and other relevant stakeholders to ensure appropriate contingency plans are in place as and when circumstances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
`` The welfare of players , staff and supporters is of paramount importance and we will continue to follow Public Health England guidelines thoroughly . ''
In the EFL matches will also `` continue to take place as normal '' .
The EFL said in a statement : `` The EFL , however , will continue to work with government and relevant stakeholders to further develop contingency plans to ensure the league is best placed to act as and when any potential restrictions may come into force . ''
Ireland 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jurisdiction has been suspended until 29 March .
Fifa has postponed the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup , which were due to take place between 23-31 March .
Elsewhere in sport , the Australian Grand Prix has been called off while tennis ' ATP Tour has shut down for six weeks .
In rugby union , the Pro14 season has been suspended indefinitely while the NBA and NHL have suspended their seasons .
The MLB has delayed the start of its season by two weeks .

Last updated on .From the section Sport
Several football fixtures across Europe have been held behind closed doors
The UK government is considering banning sporting fixtures amid the coronavirus outbreak - but it will not happen immediately.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK will move to the "delay" phase of its plan to tackle the virus.
There have been 596 confirmed cases across the UK, and 10 deaths.
"We are considering banning major public events like sporting fixtures," said Johnson.
"The scientific advice is this has little effect on the spread - but it does place a burden on other public services."
Johnson added: "We are guided by the science; there is no medical reason at the moment to ban such events.
"We are not saying no to that sort of measure, we are keeping it up our sleeves. But it is very, very important in order to maximise our interventions that we get the timing right."
Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said cancelling sporting events is not a "major way to tackle this epidemic".
"Of course there is a risk," he said. "But on average one person infects two or three others.
"You therefore have a very low probability of infecting a large number of people in a stadium, or a rather higher probability of infecting people very close to you, and that means most of the transmission tends to takes place with friends and colleagues in close environments, not in the big environments.
"It is true that any cancellations of things can have some effect (but) if you then get a displacement activity, when everyone congregates somewhere else, you may have perversely an increased risk, particularly in an indoors environment.
"So it doesn't mean you should at some point make the decision for the resilience point that has been discussed, but this is not a major way to tackle this epidemic.
"The major ways are to try and reduce and delay the transmission across households and people who have become infected and that why that is the concentration of the first actions."
How has coronavirus affected sport across the world?
European football's governing body Uefa has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday in which the possibility of postponing Euro 2020 by one year is an option being discussed.
Seven of the tournament's matches are set to take place at Wembley Stadium in London, while others are due to be held in Glasgow and Dublin.
Top flight football in Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands and the United States has been suspended amid the outbreak, while Manchester City's Champions League last-16 second leg tie against Real Madrid, due to take place on Tuesday, has been postponed.
City defender Benjamin Mendy is self-isolating as a precaution after a member of his family was admitted to hospital displaying symptoms of coronavirus, while three Leicester City first-team players are also self-isolating after showing symptoms of the virus.
However, the Premier League says this weekend's games "will go ahead as scheduled".
"We are continuing to work closely with our clubs, government, the FA, EFL and other relevant stakeholders to ensure appropriate contingency plans are in place as and when circumstances change," it said in a statement.
"The welfare of players, staff and supporters is of paramount importance and we will continue to follow Public Health England guidelines thoroughly."
In the EFL matches will also "continue to take place as normal".
The EFL said in a statement: "The EFL, however, will continue to work with government and relevant stakeholders to further develop contingency plans to ensure the league is best placed to act as and when any potential restrictions may come into force."
Ireland's FA has announced all football under its jurisdiction has been suspended until 29 March.
Fifa has postponed the South American qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, which were due to take place between 23-31 March.
Elsewhere in sport, the Australian Grand Prix has been called off while tennis' ATP Tour has shut down for six weeks.
In rugby union, the Pro14 season has been suspended indefinitely while the NBA and NHL have suspended their seasons. The MLB has delayed the start of its season by two weeks.


bbc--2020-03-12--Superb Ighalo goal sets up emphatic Man Utd win in Austria

Manchester United took control of their Europa League last-16 tie with a resounding first-leg win at LASK , in front of a crowd of 500 people .
Odion Ighalo 's superb goal set United on their way inside a largely empty Linzer Stadion after the Austrian government had restricted the attendance in response to the coronavirus outbreak .
The 30-year-old Nigeria striker has now scored four goals in three starts United , who are now unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions .
However , he will have scored few better , or in a more surreal atmosphere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forward collecting Bruno Fernandes ' pass and juggling the ball from right foot to left , before dispatching it into the top left corner , off the underside of the crossbar .
Despite making five changes to the side that started their Manchester derby victory on Sunday , Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 's side appeared confident and fluent throughout .
Juan Mata , Daniel James and Harry Maguire all had chances to add to their tally , while Ighalo hit the post before supplying James for United 's second - with the winger cutting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bottom left corner .
Fred 's incisive pass allowed Mata to roll in a third , while substitutes Mason Greenwood and Andreas Pereira , added a fourth and fifth in injury time .
And it was no more than United deserved for a dominant display that maintained their record of having never lost to Austrian opposition in European competition .
• Follow all the Europa League action as Man Utd travel to LASK , before Olympiakos v Wolves Almost 20 years have elapsed since United last visited Austria in European competition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a late substitute in a 2-0 win at Sturm Graz .
And while , for the most part , this showing had echoes of that professional display , he will have been delighted by the emphatic nature of the scoreline at the end .
While Ighalo should get credit for his excellent strike and his role in James 's first goal since 31 August , this was another United performance that was underscored by the brilliance of Fernandes .
The Portugal midfielder made more key passes ( 6 ) than any other player @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their attacking play until he was withdrawn in the 78th minute .
He had already made several excellent breaks forward before fortuitously getting the run of the ball in the build-up to Ighalo 's opener .
But his outside of the foot pass into the forward was exactly the sort of deft delivery that has been absent from United 's armoury , until his January arrival .
Since his debut on 1 February , no Premier League player has been involved in more goals in all competitions than Fernandes , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League goals than any other player this term .
Aside from his quality in possession , Fernandes has also added to the dynamic within the group , due to his demanding nature .
The ever-improving Fred , who had the best pass completion rate ( 87 % ) of any midfielder appears to be one player who has directly benefitted , with his sublime pass to Mata underlining the point .
LASK struggle to bridge step up in class Strong domestic form has put Valerien Ismael 's LASK side on course for only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 55 years after their first in 1965 .
And their adventurous 3-4-3 formation has helped them to 12 wins from their last 14 domestic league fixtures and provided the backdrop for six unbeaten games in this competition .
But they struggled to impose themselves on a United side that represented a clear step up in class and they also appeared hamstrung by the absence of home supporters .
Klauss ' bundling early run down the right should have provided some impetus for the home side but instead United were allowed to quickly re-establish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shots , culminating in Rene Renner 's wild left-footed shot five minutes before the break provided their next noticeable reference point in attack .
And while United were clinical , LASK failed to register a single effort on target .
'Some football we should be proud of ' - what they said Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said : `` The boys were fantastic .
I think they deserve a lot of credit and praise for the way they went about the job .
`` There was loads of quality in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ football we should be proud of .
It was easy ( to keep the team focused ) because these players are very focused .
They know what they want , so there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to do well .
`` After the warm-up , Michael ( Carrick ) and Kieran ( McKenna ) came to me and said that the boys were really , really good in the warm-up .
Focused .
I have to praise them , they are very professional . ''
LASK boss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Manchester United 's quality tonight .
I think the margin of victory was too big , but it 's a learning process for us .
The Europa League journey is over for us . ''
• Manchester United have never lost in nine meetings with Austrian sides in all European competition ( W8 D1 ) - better than their record against any other nation .
• This was United 's biggest away win in European competition since beating Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 in the Champions League group stages in November 2013 .
• LASK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europa League games this season before tonight .
Indeed , this was their first defeat at home in major European competition ( excluding qualifiers ) since September 1999 in the Uefa Cup ( 3-2 vs Steaua Bucharest ) .
• United have kept 12 clean sheets in their 18 games in all competitions so far in 2020 , at least four more than any other Premier League side .
• United have had 12 different goalscorers in the Europa League this season , more than any other side in the competition ( excluding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been involved in more goals than any other player in the Europa League this season ( 10 ) , with the Portuguese scoring six and assisting four with Manchester United and Sporting combined .
• Odion Ighalo has scored in all three of his starts in all competitions for Manchester United ( 4 goals ) ; the first player to score in his first three starts for the club since Romelu Lukaku .
• Daniel James scored his first goal for Manchester United since August 31st 2019 , ending a run of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in all competitions .
• Mason Greenwood scored his fifth Europa League goal of the season - he 's the first teenager to net as many as five goals in a single European campaign for Manchester United .
Manchester United travel to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday ( 16:30 GMT ) .
LASK are next scheduled to play when they face United in the return leg at Old Trafford on Thursday 19 March ( 20:00 GMT ) .

Last updated on .From the section Europa League
Odion Ighalo has scored in all three of his starts in for Manchester United in all competitions
Manchester United took control of their Europa League last-16 tie with a resounding first-leg win at LASK, in front of a crowd of 500 people.
Odion Ighalo's superb goal set United on their way inside a largely empty Linzer Stadion after the Austrian government had restricted the attendance in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The 30-year-old Nigeria striker has now scored four goals in three starts United, who are now unbeaten in their last 11 games in all competitions.
However, he will have scored few better, or in a more surreal atmosphere than the opening goal, with the forward collecting Bruno Fernandes' pass and juggling the ball from right foot to left, before dispatching it into the top left corner, off the underside of the crossbar.
Despite making five changes to the side that started their Manchester derby victory on Sunday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side appeared confident and fluent throughout.
Juan Mata, Daniel James and Harry Maguire all had chances to add to their tally, while Ighalo hit the post before supplying James for United's second - with the winger cutting inside and driving a right-foot effort into the bottom left corner.
Fred's incisive pass allowed Mata to roll in a third, while substitutes Mason Greenwood and Andreas Pereira, added a fourth and fifth in injury time.
And it was no more than United deserved for a dominant display that maintained their record of having never lost to Austrian opposition in European competition.
Fernandes brilliance underscores dominant display
Almost 20 years have elapsed since United last visited Austria in European competition, with United manager Solskjaer coming on as a late substitute in a 2-0 win at Sturm Graz.
And while, for the most part, this showing had echoes of that professional display, he will have been delighted by the emphatic nature of the scoreline at the end.
While Ighalo should get credit for his excellent strike and his role in James's first goal since 31 August, this was another United performance that was underscored by the brilliance of Fernandes.
The Portugal midfielder made more key passes (6) than any other player on the pitch and set the tone for their attacking play until he was withdrawn in the 78th minute.
He had already made several excellent breaks forward before fortuitously getting the run of the ball in the build-up to Ighalo's opener.
But his outside of the foot pass into the forward was exactly the sort of deft delivery that has been absent from United's armoury, until his January arrival.
Since his debut on 1 February, no Premier League player has been involved in more goals in all competitions than Fernandes, who has also been directly involved in more Europa League goals than any other player this term.
Aside from his quality in possession, Fernandes has also added to the dynamic within the group, due to his demanding nature.
The ever-improving Fred, who had the best pass completion rate (87%) of any midfielder appears to be one player who has directly benefitted, with his sublime pass to Mata underlining the point.
LASK struggle to bridge step up in class
Strong domestic form has put Valerien Ismael's LASK side on course for only their second ever Austrian Bundesliga title, 55 years after their first in 1965.
And their adventurous 3-4-3 formation has helped them to 12 wins from their last 14 domestic league fixtures and provided the backdrop for six unbeaten games in this competition.
But they struggled to impose themselves on a United side that represented a clear step up in class and they also appeared hamstrung by the absence of home supporters.
Klauss' bundling early run down the right should have provided some impetus for the home side but instead United were allowed to quickly re-establish their authority.
A flurry of blocked shots, culminating in Rene Renner's wild left-footed shot five minutes before the break provided their next noticeable reference point in attack.
And while United were clinical, LASK failed to register a single effort on target.
Man of the match - Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)
Bruno Fernandes (right) delivered another accomplished display for Manchester United
'Some football we should be proud of' - what they said
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: "The boys were fantastic. I think they deserve a lot of credit and praise for the way they went about the job.
"There was loads of quality in our finishing, some fantastic goals and some football we should be proud of. It was easy (to keep the team focused) because these players are very focused. They know what they want, so there was no doubt in my mind that we were going to do well.
"After the warm-up, Michael (Carrick) and Kieran (McKenna) came to me and said that the boys were really, really good in the warm-up. Focused. I have to praise them, they are very professional."
LASK boss Valerien Ismael said: "We saw Manchester United's quality tonight. I think the margin of victory was too big, but it's a learning process for us. The Europa League journey is over for us."
James ends barren run - the stats
Manchester United have never lost in nine meetings with Austrian sides in all European competition (W8 D1) - better than their record against any other nation.
This was United's biggest away win in European competition since beating Bayer Leverkusen 5-0 in the Champions League group stages in November 2013.
LASK had won all four of their home Europa League games this season before tonight. Indeed, this was their first defeat at home in major European competition (excluding qualifiers) since September 1999 in the Uefa Cup (3-2 vs Steaua Bucharest).
United have kept 12 clean sheets in their 18 games in all competitions so far in 2020, at least four more than any other Premier League side.
United have had 12 different goalscorers in the Europa League this season, more than any other side in the competition (excluding own goals).
Bruno Fernandes has been involved in more goals than any other player in the Europa League this season (10), with the Portuguese scoring six and assisting four with Manchester United and Sporting combined.
Odion Ighalo has scored in all three of his starts in all competitions for Manchester United (4 goals); the first player to score in his first three starts for the club since Romelu Lukaku.
Daniel James scored his first goal for Manchester United since August 31st 2019, ending a run of 32 games and 2527 minutes without scoring in all competitions.
Mason Greenwood scored his fifth Europa League goal of the season - he's the first teenager to net as many as five goals in a single European campaign for Manchester United.
What's next?
Manchester United travel to Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday (16:30 GMT). LASK are next scheduled to play when they face United in the return leg at Old Trafford on Thursday 19 March (20:00 GMT).


bbc--2020-03-12--Benjamin Mendy: Manchester City player self-isolating after family member hospitalised

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is self-isolating as a precaution after a member of his family was admitted to hospital displaying symptoms of coronavirus .
Mendy , 25 , trained with his team-mates as normal on Thursday .
`` The club is aware that a family member of a senior men 's team player is in hospital with symptoms of a respiratory illness , '' said a City statement .
`` He has undergone tests at hospital one of which is for Covid-19 . ''
The statement added : `` Until the results are known , the player in question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' City are scheduled to play Burnley in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Saturday ( 15:00 GMT ) .
Their league match against Arsenal on Wednesday and Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid on 17 March have already been postponed due to coronavirus concerns .
Three Leicester City first-team players have also self-isolated after showing symptoms of coronavirus .
The Foxes are due to play Watford at Vicarage Road in the Premier League on Saturday at 12:30 GMT .
Spain 's La Liga , the Dutch Eredivisie , Portugal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ League Soccer have all been suspended as authorities across Europe attempt to limit the spread of the virus .
European football 's governing body Uefa has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday to discuss its response to the outbreak .
The possibility of postponing Euro 2020 for a year to allow European leagues to complete their domestic seasons will be discussed .
The UK government said on Thursday that is considering banning sporting events amid the outbreak - but it will not happen immediately .
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan to tackle the virus , which aims at delaying its spread , rather than containing it .
It comes after the World Health Organization designated the outbreak of the disease a pandemic .
There have been 596 confirmed cases across the UK and 10 people have died .

Last updated on .From the section Man City
Benjamin Mendy trained with Manchester City as normal on Thursday
Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is self-isolating as a precaution after a member of his family was admitted to hospital displaying symptoms of coronavirus.
Mendy, 25, trained with his team-mates as normal on Thursday.
"The club is aware that a family member of a senior men's team player is in hospital with symptoms of a respiratory illness," said a City statement.
"He has undergone tests at hospital, one of which is for Covid-19."
The statement added: "Until the results are known, the player in question is self-isolating as a precaution."
City are scheduled to play Burnley in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Their league match against Arsenal on Wednesday and Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid on 17 March have already been postponed because of coronavirus concerns.
Three Leicester City first-team players have also self-isolated after showing symptoms of coronavirus.
The Foxes are due to play Watford at Vicarage Road in the Premier League on Saturday at 12:30 GMT.
Spain's La Liga, the Dutch Eredivisie, Portugal's Primeira Liga and USA's Major League Soccer have all been suspended as authorities across Europe attempt to limit the spread of the virus.
European football's governing body Uefa has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday to discuss its response to the outbreak.
The possibility of postponing Euro 2020 for a year to allow European leagues to complete their domestic seasons will be discussed.
The UK government said on Thursday that is considering banning sporting events amid the outbreak - but it will not happen immediately.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK will move to the second phase of its plan to tackle the virus, which aims at delaying its spread, rather than containing it.
It comes after the World Health Organization designated the outbreak of the disease a pandemic.
There have been 596 confirmed cases across the UK and 10 people have died.


bbc--2020-03-12--Uefa to discuss possible Euro 2020 postponement on Tuesday

Uefa has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday in which the possibility of postponing Euro 2020 by one year is an option being discussed .
European football 's governing body will hold video conference meetings to discuss its response to the coronavirus outbreak .
Those discussions will cover all domestic and European competitions , including Euro 2020 .
Euro 2020 is due to take place from 12 June-12 July at venues across Europe .
Uefa has invited representatives of its 55 member associations , plus the boards of the European Club Association , the European leagues and a representative of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Women 's Euros are due to take place in England from 11 July-1 August 2021 .
Why is it up for discussion ?
On Thursday , La Liga became the latest European league to be suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak .
The Spanish top-flight has been suspended for `` at least the next two rounds of matches '' .
In addition , the Danish Football Association has cancelled all football activities in the country for two weeks while the Netherlands ' Eredivisie has been suspended until 31 March .
In Italy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with the country in lockdown and two players - Juventus ' Daniele Rugani and Sampdoria 's Manolo Gabbiadini - having tested positive .
Matches in the top two leagues in France are being played behind closed doors while two Europa League last-16 first-leg fixtures scheduled for Thursday have been postponed and a number will be played behind closed doors , including Manchester United 's trip to Austria to face LASK .
Manchester City 's Champions League last-16 second leg fixture against Real Madrid , due to take place on Tuesday , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Premier League is to continue as usual despite three Leicester first-team players having self-isolated after showing symptoms .
In addition to moving the Euros , BBC Sport understands another option is playing the tournament but using the slots reserved for pre-tournament friendlies to decide the play-offs .
Or it could go ahead without play-off teams as a 20-team tournament .
Four nations were due to qualify for the tournament from the play-offs in matches starting later this month .
Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are in the play-offs It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complete the Champions League and Europa League .

Last updated on .From the section Football
The Euro 2020 final is due to be held at Wembley on 12 July
Uefa has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday in which the possibility of postponing Euro 2020 by one year is an option being discussed.
European football's governing body will hold video conference meetings to discuss its response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Those discussions will cover all domestic and European competitions, including Euro 2020.
Euro 2020 is due to take place from 12 June-12 July at venues across Europe.
Uefa has invited representatives of its 55 member associations, plus the boards of the European Club Association, the European leagues and a representative of world players' union Fifpro.
The Women's Euros are due to take place in England from 11 July-1 August 2021.
Why is it up for discussion?
On Thursday, La Liga became the latest European league to be suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Spanish top-flight has been suspended for "at least the next two rounds of matches".
In addition, the Danish Football Association has cancelled all football activities in the country for two weeks while the Netherlands' Eredivisie has been suspended until 31 March.
In Italy, Serie A is suspended until 3 April, with the country in lockdown and two players - Juventus' Daniele Rugani and Sampdoria's Manolo Gabbiadini - having tested positive.
Matches in the top two leagues in France are being played behind closed doors while two Europa League last-16 first-leg fixtures scheduled for Thursday have been postponed and a number will be played behind closed doors, including Manchester United's trip to Austria to face LASK.
Manchester City's Champions League last-16 second leg fixture against Real Madrid, due to take place on Tuesday, has been postponed.
As it stands, the Premier League is to continue as usual despite three Leicester first-team players having self-isolated after showing symptoms.
In addition to moving the Euros, BBC Sport understands another option is playing the tournament but using the slots reserved for pre-tournament friendlies to decide the play-offs. Or it could go ahead without play-off teams as a 20-team tournament.
Four nations were due to qualify for the tournament from the play-offs in matches starting later this month. Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are in the play-offs
It is understood the preference would be to complete the Champions League and Europa League.


bbc--2020-03-12--Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese & USA football leagues suspended over coronavirus

Spain 's La Liga , the Dutch Eredivisie , Portugal 's Primeira Liga and USA 's Major League Soccer have been suspended over coronavirus concerns .
There will be no action in the Spanish top flight for `` at least the next two rounds of matches '' as a result of the quarantine of the Real Madrid squad .
Netherlands ' top two leagues have also been suspended for the same period .
The 2020 Major League Soccer season - which started less than two weeks ago - has been suspended for 30 days .
La Liga took action after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shares training facilities with the football club , tested positive for the virus .
Real 's match against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday was postponed on Thursday .
`` The recommendation has been made to quarantine both the basketball first team and the football first team , given that the two squads share facilities in Ciudad Real Madrid , '' a Real statement said .
The Spanish second division has also been suspended and La Liga said it will `` revaluate '' the situation following the completion of quarantine `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situations that may arise '' .
Real , who are second in La Liga , were due to host Eibar on Friday and had already cancelled all pre-match media duties .
In a statement , the Eredivisie said : `` All matches in the Eredivisie and Keuken Kampioen Divisie [ second tier ] have been suspended for the next two match days because of the coronavirus outbreak . ''
Ajax currently lead the top flight on goal difference from AZ Alkmaar .
It follows the Dutch government 's ban on events of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MLS comes a day after the NBA announced its intention to halt its season .
A statement from MLS commissioner Don Garber read : `` Our clubs were united today in the decision to temporarily suspend our season - based on the advice and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) , Public Health Agency of Canada ( PHAC ) , and other public health authorities , and in the best interest of our fans , players , officials and employees .
`` We 'd like to thank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this challenging time . ''
The Portuguese football chiefs had announced games would be played behind closed doors before announcing a full suspension , for an indefinite period , just a few hours later .
The decision was made following a meeting with that included members of the league , national federation and players ' union .
The coronavirus outbreak , now declared a pandemic , has led to widespread disruption of sporting fixtures around the world .
In Italy , all sport is suspended , including Serie A until 3 April , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Italy centre-back Daniele Rugani says he is `` fine '' after testing positive for the virus , and Reuters have reported that the entire Juve squad will spend two weeks in quarantine .
Two Europa League last-16 first-leg fixtures scheduled for Thursday have been postponed and a number will be played behind closed doors , including Manchester United 's trip to LASK .
• Euro 2020 play-offs : Bosnia ask Uefa to postpone game with Northern Ireland

Last updated on .From the section European Football
Real Madrid fans wear masks at a recent game at the Bernabeu
Spain's La Liga, the Dutch Eredivisie, Portugal's Primeira Liga and USA's Major League Soccer have been suspended over coronavirus concerns.
There will be no action in the Spanish top flight for "at least the next two rounds of matches" as a result of the quarantine of the Real Madrid squad.
Netherlands' top two leagues have also been suspended for the same period.
The 2020 Major League Soccer season - which started less than two weeks ago - has been suspended for 30 days.
La Liga takes action after Real quarantine players
La Liga took action after a Real Madrid basketball player, who shares training facilities with the football club, tested positive for the virus.
Real's match against Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday was postponed on Thursday.
"The recommendation has been made to quarantine both the basketball first team and the football first team, given that the two squads share facilities in Ciudad Real Madrid," a Real statement said.
The Spanish second division has also been suspended and La Liga said it will "revaluate" the situation following the completion of quarantine "in the affected clubs and other possible situations that may arise".
Real, who are second in La Liga, were due to host Eibar on Friday and had already cancelled all pre-match media duties.
Dutch crowds ban prompts Eredivisie
In a statement, the Eredivisie said: "All matches in the Eredivisie and Keuken Kampioen Divisie [second tier] have been suspended for the next two match days because of the coronavirus outbreak."
Ajax currently lead the top flight on goal difference from AZ Alkmaar.
It follows the Dutch government's ban on events of more than 100 people.
MLS suspension follows NBA announcement
The suspension of MLS comes a day after the NBA announced its intention to halt its season.
A statement from MLS commissioner Don Garber read: "Our clubs were united today in the decision to temporarily suspend our season - based on the advice and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and other public health authorities, and in the best interest of our fans, players, officials and employees.
"We'd like to thank our fans for their continued support during this challenging time."
Portuguese football changes decision
The Portuguese football chiefs had announced games would be played behind closed doors before announcing a full suspension, for an indefinite period, just a few hours later.
The decision was made following a meeting with that included members of the league, national federation and players' union.
Italian sport hit hard
The coronavirus outbreak, now declared a pandemic, has led to widespread disruption of sporting fixtures around the world.
In Italy, all sport is suspended, including Serie A until 3 April, with the country in lockdown.
Juventus and Italy centre-back Daniele Rugani says he is "fine" after testing positive for the virus, and Reuters have reported that the entire Juve squad will spend two weeks in quarantine.
Two Europa League last-16 first-leg fixtures scheduled for Thursday have been postponed and a number will be played behind closed doors, including Manchester United's trip to LASK.


bbc--2020-03-12--Coronavirus: FTSE 100, Dow, S&P 500 in worst day since 1987

Shares around the world have plunged as investors fear the spread of the coronavirus will destroy economic growth with government action insufficient to arrest the decline .
The main UK index dropped more than 10 % in its worst day since 1987 .
In the US , the Dow and S & P 500 were also hit by their steepest daily falls since 1987 .
The declines came despite actions by the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank to ease financial strains .
At the start of US trading , plummeting shares triggered an unusual automatic suspension in trading for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade resumed 15 minutes later , shares continued to fall , taking cues from the slide in European markets .
The S & P 500 fell 9.5 % and the Nasdaq ended 9.4 % lower , while losses on the UK 's FTSE 100 wiped some £160.4bn off the market .
In France and Germany , indexes cratered more than 12 % .
• Trump halts travel from Europe to US '' Markets are at a breaking point , '' said Neil Wilson , chief market analyst at Markets.com .
`` No one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however temporary , looks like . ''
The declines came after the US restricted travel from mainland Europe .
Losses on European indexes accelerated after the eurozone 's central bank failed to cut interest rates , although it did pledge fresh stimulus measures .
The New York branch of the Federal Reserve said it was pumping $ 1.5tr to ease strains in the debt markets , offering increased overnight loans to banks and expanding the kinds of assets it will buy to keep firms lending .
The announcement , which came after European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher , but they dropped back by the end of the day .
Rate cuts by the US central bank last week and the Bank of England on Wednesday also did little to soothe investors .
`` What we really need is some huge confidence that this is n't going to cause the kind of stress and horrible loss of life [ it has ] in Italy everywhere else in the world , '' said former Goldman Sachs chief economist Lord Jim O'Neill .
Stocks in Asia also saw big falls earlier , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closing 4.4 % lower .
Panicked selling led to trading halts in Brazil , while not a single company in the FTSE 100 index gained on Thursday .
Travel companies saw some of the biggest falls , driven by US President Donald Trump 's 30-day ban on travellers from mainland Europe .
Shares in Delta Air Lines and United Airlines - among the most affected by the ban - dropped more than 20 % .
In the UK , airline group IAG was down more than 15 % and Tui fell 17 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Covid-19 on Thursday included : • BT Group announced that chief executive Philip Jansen had tested positive for coronavirus .
It said he had `` relatively mild '' symptoms and would work remotely • Broadcom said uncertainty about demand was prompting it to withdraw its 2020 growth forecast • Norwegian said it would ground 40 % of its long-haul fleet and cancel up to 25 % of its short-haul flights until the end of May • WH Smith issued a profit warning after the outbreak hit sales in its travel division , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations • Cineworld shares fell by more than 20 % .
It said that in a worst-case scenario , there was a risk it might not be able to repay its debts • Estate agent Savills said the outbreak had caused a big drop in transactions in China and across Asia • Princess Cruises , a line owned by Carnival , said it would suspend operations for 60 days .
Viking announced a similar move • Disney closed its California parks until the end of March Oil prices also fell , with Brent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about $ 33 a barrel .
On the floor of the New York Stock Exchange , tensions were high .
Some traders were speculating the tumbles could trigger a second trading suspension - something that has never happened , not even during the financial crisis .
Since the start of the market turmoil , indexes in the US and elsewhere have fallen more than 20 % from their recent highs - a threshold that is a red flag for a recession .
`` It looks increasingly likely that the coming contraction will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anticipating just a few days ago , '' said Jay Bryson , acting chief economist at Wells Fargo .
`` The airline and hotel industries are in free fall , and there will be multiplier effects . ''
Investors in the US are now watching the US government response .
In a presidential address on Wednesday , Mr Trump said he would extend deadlines for tax payments for those affected , increase low-cost loans to small businesses and provide financial relief for US workers who are ill , quarantined or caring for others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Democrats in Congress appear at odds over additional steps while Mr Trump 's favoured approach - a tax cut for workers - has failed to garner widespread support .
`` The stock market at least is saying it 's not been enough yet , '' said Liz Ann Sonders , chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab .
Why should I care if stock markets fall ?
Many people 's initial reaction to `` the markets '' is that they are not directly affected , because they do not invest money .
Yet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pension - either private or through work - who will see their savings ( in what is known as a defined contribution pension ) invested by pension schemes .
The value of their savings pot is influenced by the performance of these investments .
So big rises or falls can affect your pension , but the advice is to remember that pension savings , like any investments , are usually a long-term bet .
The Western world 's three largest central banks have now pitted their collective firepower against the economic chill caused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Stock markets continue to slide .
The FTSE 100 has had its worst day since Black Monday in October 1987 .
Observers again might wonder what new information is spooking investors , given that central banks have in the last 10 days done their best to halt the slide .
In truth , there is little new - most traders already knew that the virus is likely to cause significant economic disruption likely to push most Western economies into recession .
What may have spooked them again is President Donald Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe and the United States - a big enough factor in itself , but more importantly , the manner in which it was done .
There was no consultation , and Mr Trump looked uncharacteristically uncertain , as if he , too , had finally been panicked by the virus .
There is also a small , but telling detail - Mr Trump first said the ban would apply to cargo flights , but then corrected himself to say it would not .
A big proportion of cargo , however , is carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If there are no passenger flights , there will be much less cargo , an enormous disruption to exporters and manufacturers on both sides of the Atlantic .
What are your experiences relating to the coronavirus outbreak ?
Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay @ bbc.co.uk .
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Observers again might wonder what new information is spooking investors, given that central banks have in the last 10 days done their best to halt the slide. In truth, there is little new - most traders already knew that the virus is likely to cause significant economic disruption likely to push most Western economies into recession.