Serie A plans mass virus tests in May

ROME • Italy's football federation is hoping that players can undergo mass testing for the coronavirus next month in order to facilitate Serie A's restart, its president Gabriele Gravina said yesterday.

The Italian league has been suspended since March 9 because of the pandemic and it is still not clear when, or if, the season can resume.

Gravina also told Sky Sport Italia he was determined to complete the campaign, which still has 12 rounds left plus several other unfinished fixtures, no matter how long it took.

REUTERS

I'm not a sack of potatoes: Rakitic

BARCELONA • Barcelona footballer Ivan Rakitic yesterday criticised the Spanish La Liga leaders for their recent treatment of him and for trying to force his departure last year.

The Croatia international has fallen out of favour this term due to the arrival of Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, starting only 10 of their 27 league matches.

He told Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo he was "not a sack of potatoes who you can do anything with" but reiterated his aim to see out his contract, which ends next summer.

REUTERS

Blatter feels too long taken to drop charge

GENEVA • Former Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Sunday night revealed he was frustrated by the time it had taken for Swiss authorities to decide to drop one of the two cases against him, dating back to 2015.

He had been probed for improper business conduct during the awarding of football's World Cup broadcast rights in the Caribbean in 2005, which sold for just US$600,000 (S$850,000).

Blatter questioned why "you need more than 4½ years to deal with such a case".

NY TIMES

Japan judo official is Covid-19 positive

TOKYO • The All Japan Judo Federation said on Sunday its managing director Soya Nakazato has tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases within the federation to nine. Last week, the Japan Sumo Association also announced the first case among its wrestlers.

XINHUA