Digest

SOCCER

Maradona self-isolating after infection scare

Argentina great Diego Maradona, who turns 60 on Friday, is self-isolating after a bodyguard started displaying coronavirus symptoms, local press reported on Tuesday.

A bodyguard "woke up with COVID-19 symptoms and went into preventive quarantine until the relevant tests are carried out," said sports newspaper Ole.

"Just in case and until there is more information, Maradona will remain confined at home," added the Pagina/12 website, quoting "inside sources".

Maradona, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, is currently the coach of Argentine top-flight outfit Gimnasia, which is due to play Patronato on Friday.

Pagina/12 said the former Napoli star would undergo a rapid test on Thursday to see if he has the virus.

Maradona, who has a history of drug and alcohol abuse and poor health, is considered at high risk of coronavirus complications should he be infected.

FIFA chief Infantino positive for COVID-19

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has contracted coronavirus, world soccer's governing body announced on Tuesday.

The 50-year-old has mild symptoms and will remain in isolation for a further 10 days.

"All people who came into contact with the FIFA President during the last few days have been informed accordingly and they are being requested to take the necessary steps," read a statement. "FIFA sincerely wishes President Infantino a speedy recovery."

Infantino's last public appearances was at FIFA's Compliance Summit which ended on Oct 16 when members participated via video.

Cases, hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 in Switzerland, where FIFA's headquarters are based, have doubled from one week to the next throughout October.

The country's government is expected to decide Wednesday on new measures to control the spread of the virus.

Solskjaer: Van de Beek has 'big part' to play

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident Donny van de Beek will play a "big, big part this year" despite a restricted role since his preseason arrival at Old Trafford.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who joined from Dutch giant Ajax for an initial 39-million-euro ($46 million) fee, has started more matches for the Netherlands than United since his transfer, making just five appearances off the bench as well as two starts in the League Cup.

But Solskjaer said Tuesday that Van de Beek would become more involved as the season went on.

"When players come into a new league, a new team, it's always going to be a time of (transition)," Solskjaer said Tuesday. "When Donny has played, he's played really well."

Dutch great Marco van Basten has described Van de Beek's predicament as "very bad" for the playmaker, but United's Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay said of his new teammate: "People can be so quick to come to an assumption that he's not playing and things like that.

"Give him time, let him adapt to the league, let him settle into his new house or wherever he is living and really let him concentrate on his season."

Ex-agent arrested in Lewan extortion probe

Polish police detained the former agent of UEFA player of the year Robert Lewandowski for allegedly threatening the Poland striker amid a legal dispute over money, prosecutors in Warsaw said on Tuesday.

The investigation is focused on criminal threats against "an outstanding footballer, former client and associate of the suspect" aimed at coercing him into handing over 20 million euros ($24 million) to Cezary Kucharski, according to Marcin Sados, a spokesman for Warsaw prosecutors. Sadus said searches were carried out at Kucharski's home and offices.

Bayern Munich forward Lewandowski, 32, filed a complaint against his former representative in early October. Kucharski also says he has filed a lawsuit against Lewandowski.

Kucharski, a former Poland international, was Lewandowski's agent in Poland for 10 years until 2018.

ATHLETICS

Banned Coleman ruled out of Tokyo Olympics

World champion sprinter Christian Coleman is set to miss next year's Tokyo Olympics after being banned from athletics for two years for anti-doping violations, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) announced on Tuesday.

The American, who won the men's 100 meters at last year's IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, was provisionally suspended for three 'whereabouts failures' in June.

World Athletics' Disciplinary Tribunal upheld the charge and banned Coleman for two years, backdated to May 14, 2020.

The 24-year-old has 30 days to appeal the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

He is set to miss next year's postponed Olympic Games in Japan, where he would have been among the favorites to win 100m gold.

Coleman, who is also the 60m world-record holder, only ran in the 4x100m relay heats in his first Olympic appearance in Rio four years ago.

Xinhua - Agencies