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AP source: NFL players agree with league on no exhibitions

The NFL Players Association has agreed to the league’s plan to drop all preseason games for the 2020 season, a person familiar with the decision told the Associated Press.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the offer had not been made public. The union also agreed to a 80-player roster limit for training camp, instead of the usual 90.

According to reports, union leadership told players about the preseason agreement during a conference call on Tuesday.

Sporting KC advances with victory over Real Salt Lake

Johnny Russell scored in the first minute, Gerso Fernandes added an insurance goal in the closing minutes and Sporting Kansas City secured its spot in the knockout round of the MLS is Back tournament with a 2-0 victory over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Kansas City (4-1-0) finished with six points after two wins in the group stage to secure a spot in the round of 16. Kansas City will finish either first or second in Group D depending on the outcome of Minnesota United’s match against Colorado late Wednesday.

Russell’s goal was the fifth in Kansas City history scored in the opening minute of the match and the first since 2013. He found himself on the end of a scramble in the penalty area and his right-footed shot beat Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Zac Macmath. It was the first goal allowed by Salt Lake in the tournament.

Impact keeps wild-card hopes alive with win over DC United

Saphir Taider’s goal off a deflection in the 31st minute gave the Montreal Impact a 1-0 victory over D.C. United on Tuesday night in the final Group C match of the MLS is Back tournament.

Clement Diop stopped three shots, including two saves with his feet, for his first shutout of the season.

The win gives the Impact a chance to advance as one of the four wild-card teams, while the United were eliminated with a loss and two draws. Montreal has three points (one win, two losses) and a minus-one goal differential. It is one of five squads with three points, but it has a better goal differential than two other teams.

Charlotte FC announced as name for new MLS team

Charlotte’s new Major League Soccer team is following the sport’s traditional European and South American style of having just the city name and no formal nickname.

The team, scheduled to start play in 2022, will be known as Charlotte FC.

Other plain old FCS in the league include Cincinnati, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York City and Toronto, though Los Angeles spells out Football Club, and Cincinnati and Dallas place the FC before rather than after the city. and been placed on the injured list.

The 28-year-old is coming off a breakthrough season in which he hit 26 homers with 84 RBI and tying for the American League lead in triples. He is expected to play a big role for the Royals during their abbreviated 60-game season, which begins against the Indians on Friday night in Cleveland.

Dozier said in a statement that he had been feeling “a couple of symptoms that go with the virus” and is now following the medical team’s direction by quarantining. He will need to test negative twice before returning to the club.

Pennsylvania won’t allow Blue Jays to base in Pittsburgh

The state of Pennsylvania won’t allow the Toronto Blue Jays to play at PNC Park in Pittsburgh amid the coronavirus pandemic, health officials announced Wednesday.

The Blue Jays and Pirates had been waiting to see if they got permission from the state to proceed with the plan to have PNC Park fill in for the Rogers

Centre, according to two officials who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Canada denied the Blue Jays’ request to play in Toronto because the regular-season schedule would require frequent travel back and forth from the United States, where COVID-19 cases are surging. Canada has flattened the epidemic curve.

But the number of new confirmed cases of the coronavirus reported daily by Allegheny County — which includes Pittsburgh and 1.2 million residents — has increased tenfold in the last two weeks, compared with the two weeks in June before what officials there called an alarming spike in cases.

Haselrig, six-time champion wrestler, Steelers lineman, dies

Carlton Haselrig, a Pro Bowl right guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the early 1990s who is also the only wrestler in NCAA history to win six individual national championships, died Wednesday. He was 54.

Pat Pecora, who coached Haselrig to heavyweight division championships at both the NCAA Division II and Division I levels in the 1980s at PittsburghJohnstown, said Haselrig had been in declining health in recent years. The school said in a statement that Haselrig’s death was due to natural causes.

Attendance cut to 25%, masks required for Indianapolis 500

Attendance will be limited to 25% capacity for the Indianapolis 500 and spectators will be required to wear face coverings at “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.”

Indianapolis Motor Speedway can hold approximately 350,000 fans in the grandstands, suites and infield, but officials said last month only 50% capacity would be admitted for the rescheduled Aug. 23 race. The number was adjusted Tuesday.

Tickets will not be sold after Friday and IMS has a 95-page plan on guidelines and health protocols it will release later this week.

From wire reports