World Sports News in Brief

Football: Champions League ‘Final Eight’ set to be held in Lisbon

UEFA are set to complete the Champions League with a ‘Final Eight’ tournament held over 10 days in Lisbon, according to a plan which will be presented to their executive committee for ratification on Wednesday.

A logo is pictured outside the UEFA in Nyon, Switzerland. (Reuters)
A logo is pictured outside the UEFA in Nyon, Switzerland. (Reuters)

Under the plan the competition, which was suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, will resume with the second-leg of remaining last 16 games played at the scheduled venues.

* A source with knowledge of discussions between clubs and European soccer's governing body told Reuters that the proposal is expected to be agreed upon after a consensus was reached on Monday (Jun 15).

* A flurry of late goals saw Real Betis held to a 2-2 home draw by Granada in La Liga after the visitors took a 29th-minute lead through Carlos Fernandez and were then rescued by a stoppage time strike from Roberto Soldado on Monday.

* Sevilla suffered a setback in their bid to qualify for next season's Champions League group stage as a late own goal by Diego Carlos allowed visiting Levante to grab a 1-1 draw on Monday (Jun 15).

* The cancellation of September's Great North Run half marathon on Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic has increased doubts about the London Marathon going ahead in October. The annual half marathon would have been celebrating its 40th anniversary this year as Britain's biggest mass-participation run with a record 60,000 entries.

* Teams in Australia's A-League will return to training this week after players agreed to a pay-cut but a broadcast deal for the remainder of the season has yet to be finalised, Football Federation Australia said on Monday.

* Asia's largest mixed martial arts promotion, One Championship, said on Monday (Jun 15) it was cutting 20 per cent of its employees worldwide after being unable to stage fight cards for almost four months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

* Spain's World Cup-winning captain Iker Casillas announced on Monday (Jun 15) he was ending his bid to run for the presidency of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) due to the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

* Engine boss Andy Cowell, a key man in Mercedes' and Lewis Hamilton's Formula One success over the past six seasons, will stand down on July 1, the reigning champions announced on Monday. Mercedes said Cowell would support the transition and consult “on a major future project” with Mercedes-Benz until early next year at least.

* The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has begun an investigation into doping violations after an inquiry led by Richard McLaren uncovered 40 positive adverse analytical findings hidden in the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) records.

* Qatar showed off the latest stadium to be completed for the 2022 soccer World Cup in a virtual presentation on Monday and dedicated it to frontline workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The 40,000 capacity Education City stadium, a 'Diamond in the Desert', is the third venue to be ready with five more under construction.

* The United States Tennis Association will hold the US Open this year without fans amid the COVID-19 outbreak even though some top players have expressed concerns about attending the tournament due to the virus, according to multiple reports.

Reuters, CNA