Sport shorts: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid El Clasico could be switched to the Bernabeu due to Catalonia protests
Ten things from the world of sport on Wednesday 16 October
1. La Liga seek El Clasico switch
La Liga have asked the Spanish Football Federation to switch the 26 October El Clasico to Madrid due to the ongoing tensions and protests in Catalonia.
Barcelona are set to host Real Madrid at the Camp Nou this month but AS reports that Spain’s top football division want the clash to be played at the Bernabéu instead.
The Daily Mail says that on Monday nine Catalan separatist leaders were jailed “for between nine and 13 years for their role in an illegal referendum and a failed bid for independence”.
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The sentencing prompted violent protests in Barcelona and the Mail says that a “large demonstration” is planned in the Catalonia capital on the day of the match.
Will Catalonia ever gain independence?
2. The Hundred draft price list revealed
The price list for The Hundred men’s player draft has been revealed with Australian star Steve Smith and West Indies icon Chris Gayle two of the six overseas players available for the top reserve price of £125,000.
English cricket’s new 100-ball tournament takes place in July and August next year and the player draft will be held on Sunday evening at 7pm (live on Sky Sports and BBC Online).
Australians David Warner and Mitchell Starc, Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada are also on the top-price list.
In Sunday’s draft the eight men’s teams will select 12 players on the night - with a maximum of three overseas picks - who will join the already-announced England red-ball contracted players and local icons.
See the full price list at thehundred.com.
Overseas reserve price: £125,000
- Chris Gayle (West Indies)
- Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa)
- Steven Smith (Australia)
- Mitchell Starc (Australia)
- David Warner (Australia)
3. Leicester to open memorial garden
Premier League football club Leicester City will open the Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Garden a year to the day that five people tragically died in a helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium.
Sunday 27 October will mark one year since the accident that claimed the lives of the late Leicester chairman, staff members Kaveporn Punpare and Nusara Suknamai, and pilots Eric Swaffer and Izabela Lechowicz.
The memorial garden will be located on the site of the crash and will open on 27 October following a private ceremony.
4. Man Utd vs. Liverpool: a tale of two keepers
Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea is an injury doubt for Sunday’s home clash against Premier League leaders Liverpool at Old Trafford.
De Gea was injured playing for Spain against Sweden last night and was taken off after an hour of the Euro 2020 qualifying match.
Spain head coach Robert Moreno said: “He had pain in the abductor muscle but he received treatment at half-time and wanted to keep playing.”
There has been no further update from United’s medical staff.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have been handed a boost with news that Alisson Becker has returned to training. The Brazilian keeper has been out of action since the opening day of the season.
5. Williams: Wales can win the World Cup
Wales full-back Liam Williams believes the country can win the Rugby World Cup. On Sunday the Welsh face France in the last eight and should they progress they would play South Africa or Japan in the semi-finals.
Speaking ahead of the France clash, Williams said: “There is only one thing we think we can do and that is win it. I wouldn’t say we’ve got the easy route.
“We’ve got France next, and we need to beat them to be looking at the bigger picture. I think we can go on and win it.”
Rugby World Cup predictions: quarter-finals and tournament winners
6. Froome: 2020 Tour route is brutal
British cyclist Chris Froome has described the route for next year’s Tour de France as “brutal” and the hardest he’s seen anywhere in the past five years.
The 34-year-old is aiming to win a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title and he said: “It will be won and lost in the mountains but that suits me. There are loads of opportunities for the general classification to play out and the main rivals to go head to head. That’s what everyone wants to see.”
The 21-stage 2020 Tour de France starts in Nice on 27 June and will feature 29 mountains on the 3,470km (2,156-mile) route.
7. Juventus: Ronaldo is happy in Turin
There are rumours in Italy that Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Juventus before his contract runs out in 2022.
However, when asked about the Portuguese marvel’s future Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici said: “I do not think he can leave at the end of this season and I doubt he will leave at the end of the next one.
“Ronaldo is very focused on his goals as well as his own personal objectives. He is under contract: we are very happy with him and he is happy at Juventus.”
Portugal skipper Ronaldo, 34, scored the 700th goal of his professional career on Monday night playing for his country.
Juventus expect Cristiano Ronaldo to stay - will N’Golo Kante and Christian Eriksen join him?
8. F1 Miami GP deal ‘agreed in principal’
Formula 1 and Hard Rock Stadium have reached an agreement for the hosting of the new Miami Grand Prix. South Florida will be added to the F1 calendar from 2021 and designs for the Miami GP circuit layout have been revealed on social media. Hard Rock Stadium is the home ground for the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
Pictures: F1 Miami Grand Prix circuit designs at Hard Rock Stadium
9. Hamilton: I want my life to mean something
Lewis Hamilton has triggered widespread for his mental well-being after telling fans that he feels “like giving up on everything” and just “shutting down completely”.
The British Formula 1 world champion posted a long, emotional message on his Instagram story yesterday saying that the world is “a mess” and that “people don’t seem to care”.
“I want my life to mean something, and honestly up until now my life has had no meaning,” he added.
The post comes days after Hamilton competed in the F1 Japanese Grand Prix, where he used his social media platform to highlight environmental issues, including uploading videos of dolphin hunters.
Why everyone’s talking about Lewis Hamilton
10. Arrests made in Bulgaria and head coach apologises
Four Bulgarian football fans have been arrested on suspicion of chanting racial abuse against England’s black players during the Euro 2020 match on Monday.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of the Interior said in a statement: “Work is still ongoing to identify others.”
Krassimir Balakov, Bulgaria’s head coach, originally claimed that he did not hear any of the racist chanting but he has since issued an apology to England.
Balakov said: “I unconditionally condemn all forms of racism as unacceptable behavior that contradicts the normal human relationships. I find that this form of prejudice should be buried deep down in our past and nobody should ever be subjected to it.
“I would like to state one thing very clearly - since there have been reported cases of racial discrimination at the stadium in Sofia I, as Bulgaria national team head coach, would like to offer my sincere apologies to the English footballers and to anyone who felt offended.”
Uefa want governments to help football ‘wage war on the racists’
Instant Opinion: Uefa ‘must not fail’ black footballers
Today’s back pages
Lions led by donkeys - ‘bottlers’ Uefa fail to condemn racists
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