Digest

SOCCER

Rooney 'angry' over quarantine absence

Wayne Rooney says he is "angry and disappointed" that he will miss matches for Championship side Derby County due to a period of self-isolation despite testing negative for the coronavirus.

The former Manchester United and England captain, now player-coach at Derby, was visited by a friend who had been instructed to be tested for COVID-19 and was later found to have the disease.

In a statement on Twitter, Rooney said: "Just received the news that my COVID-19 test has shown I do not have the virus.

"Delighted for myself and family but obviously angry and disappointed that I now have to self-isolate and miss vital games for@dcfcofficial."

The Sun newspaper reported on Sunday that the 34-year-old was angry after his friend visited him at his home on Thursday to give him a watch even though he should have been self-isolating. The friend later returned a positive test.

Calf injury sidelines Madrid's Odegaard

Real Madrid confirmed on Monday that Norwegian international midfielder Martin Odegaard will be out of action for around a month with a torn calf muscle.

The 21-year-old returned to the club this summer after a successful season on loan with Real Sociedad and started the first two matches (against Real Sociedad and Betis) of the season, although he then only played a handful of minutes in the narrow win away to Levante and didn't figure in the 1-0 victory at home to Real Valladolid.

He picked up the injury to his right calf on international duty with Norway and didn't play in Madrid's surprise home defeat to Cadiz on Saturday.

The injury means Odegaard will miss Wednesday's Champions League opener at home to Shakhtar Donetsk and next Saturday's 'Clasico' away to Barcelona, as well as La Liga matches against Huesca and Valencia and another European game away to Borussia Moenchengladbach.

German clubs ignite FIFA coronavirus row

German clubs are considering refusing to allow their players to turn out for their countries in the upcoming international matches in November.

Various clubs have called the current travel rules for national team staff and players irresponsible. Several sides suffered from positive COVID-19 cases after people returned from international duty.

Officials demanded that FIFA set up strict travel and hygiene regulations. Hoffenheim manager Alexander Rosen threatened to keep the players at home if things don't change significantly.

The clubs claim to have set up strict and well-oiled procedures for the league and international competitions.

GOLF

Mickelson, Barkley to face Manning, Curry

Phil Mickelson will team up with Charles Barkley to face Stephen Curry and Peyton Manning in an exhibition golf match next month highlighting diversity, equality and inclusion.

"The Match: Champions for Change" will take place Nov 27 at Stone Canyon Golf Club in Oro Valley, Arizona.

The event announced Monday will benefit historically black colleges and universities, with additional initiatives spotlighting diversity. This is the third event as part of The Match franchise but the first not featuring Tiger Woods. Mickelson beat Woods in a playoff in the first event in 2018 in Las Vegas while the team of Manning and Woods defeated Mickelson and Tom Brady earlier this year in South Florida.

TNT will televise the event－which will be a modified alternate-shot match-play format－with Bleacher Report providing additional coverage. Stone Canyon Golf Club is owned by Mickelson Golf Properties.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Murray maintains his perfect Dallas record

Kyler Murray accounted for three touchdowns in his first game back home as a pro, Ezekiel Elliott set up the first two Arizona TDs with fumbles and the Cardinals beat the Dallas Cowboys 38-10 on Monday night.

Speedy quarterback Murray, who won three high-school championships and a Big 12 title at the home of the Cowboys, improved to 7-0 as a starter at AT&T Stadium, throwing for two scores despite a rough start through the air and rushing for 74 yards and a TD.

It was the Monday Night Football debut for Murray and Kliff Kingsbury, who also had a happy first trip to his native Texas as an NFL coach.

The Cardinals (4-2) are tied for second place in the tough NFC West. Arizona is above .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2015, its most recent playoff year.

Xinhua - Agencies