Deutsche Welle (English edition)
FC Barcelona: In crisis both on and off the pitch
Barcelona are in the headlines for the wrong reasons, with the club's former president having been arrested. That Josep Maria Bartomeu has since been released will do nothing to solve the many crises the club is facing.
FC Barcelona can't be a fun place to be around these days.
Having lost 4-1 at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their round-of-16 Champions League clash, turning things around in France is looking like a very tall order. Things aren't looking much better for them in the Copa del Rey, where they will look to reverse a 2-0 deficit against Sevilla in the second leg of their semifinal. And sitting in third place in La Liga, five points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid is way short of Barca's usual high standards.
Off the pitch, the rumors about superstar Lionel Messi planning to leave the club just won't stop — and the club has amassed well over €1 billion $1.2 billion) in debt, of which €730 million are current liabilities.
As if all this wasn't enough, there is now legal trouble. On Monday, police searched the club's offices at the Camp Nou stadium as well as a number of private residences. They arrested four people, including Josep Maria Bartomeu, who was the club's president between 2014 and 2020. After appearing before a judge, Bartomeu was released on Tuesday, along with his former adviser Jaume Masferrer. The court said both men had "exercised their right not to give a statement" in court.
Monday's raids were in connection with what's been dubbed by the Spanish media as the "Barcagate" affair in which some club officials were accused of launching a smear campaign against current and former players who were critical of the club and then-president Bartomeu. A PR agency is said to have been paid a million euros to publish posts on social media as part of the campaign.
According to a report broadcast by radio station "Cadena Ser" in February 2020, the aggrieved parties included Messi and his wife as well as team captain Gerard Pique. Bartomeu has said the agency had actually been hired to monitor media appearances. Now the financial crimes department is looking into alleged corruption and "unfair administration."
Bartomeu stepped down as Barca president in October under pressure from fans and
With all of the club's current woes, the next president of the 26-time Spanish champions, who is to be elected this Sunday, will have his work cut out for him. The favorite is said to be Joan Laporta, who held the post from 2003 to 2010. Asked for his reaction to the arrest of the man he is hoping to succeed, Laporta said the news was "shocking'' and "not good" for the club. But he also noted that former President Bartomeu but noted that the former president was entitled to the "presumption of innocence.''
Adaptation: Chuck Penfold
declared that Samoura's mission had been"successfully completed."
While the successful candidate can expect to have more freedom to implement whatever changes he sees fit (all the declared candidates are men), he will still be taking charge of the confederation at a difficult time in its history. FIFA's involvement was widely seen as an era of dual leadership at CAF.
"The CAF has been seriously weakened as an institution," Mansour Loum, a Senagalese sports journalist told DW. "The electoral assembly (on March 12) is an opportunity to usher in a new era." down by FIFA last November.However, just two days later he appealed the decision and at the end of January, the CAS agreed to expedite Ahmad's appeal process — with his first hearing set for this Tuesday.
FIFA had imposed the ban over a series of offenses relating to a luxury trip he took to Mecca with other officials, as well as the awarding of a contract to a sports equipment company owned by a friend. He has also repeatedly been accused used of sexually harassing women.
In its statement, FIFA said that Ahmad had "breached his duty of loyalty, offered gifts and other benefits, mismanaged funds and abused his position as the CAF President, pursuant to the FIFA Code of Ethics."
However, Ahmad is free to campaign for re-election pending the CAS ruling on his appeal.
Last month, the CAF's Executive Committee essentially passed the buck on the issue, agreeing that FIFA would have the final say on whether Ahmad would be free to run or not. The CAF Governance Committee has expressed no objections to his running for a second term. However, many observers believe FIFA will do everything possible to prevent Ahmad from running again, no matter which way the CAS decides.
While Ahmad's candidature remains up in the air, four other presidential candidates have thrown their hats into the ring. Among them is 59-year-old Pa
It's a different story for Jacques Anouma. The 70-year-old president of the Ivorian Football Federation is quite popular, partly because of his efforts to professionalize the game in the Ivory Coast, or Cote d'Ivoire, since taking the post in 2002. From 2007 to 2015 he was also a member of FIFA'sExecutive Committee.
"Anouma's support in Cote d'Ivoire is all-encompassing," Ivorian journalist Augustin Kouyo told DW. The Ivorian government has even sent staff to other African countries to promote Anouma's candidacy.
The other two candidates, Ahmed Yahya and Augustin Senghor, also head their countries' soccer associations; Yahya in Mauritania, Senghor in Senegal. They, likeAnouma, are from West Africa, and the election of any of the three would be a first, as there has never been a CAF president from this part of the continent.
However, it's still an open questionwhether Yahya and Senghor will even be in the race by the time the CAF delegates cast their ballots. Prior to Ahmad's ban, both had pledged their support for the incumbent, so in theoryat least, one or both could withdraw, should Ahmad be allowed to re-enter the race.
"It's very important who will win on March 12," Mansour Loum said, partly because for the first time there are many candidates "trying to restore the image of an institution that has lost prestige and influence because of the many internal struggles within FIFA."
There can be little question that with or without Ahmad Ahmad, the March 12 election will have a significant impact on the future direction of African football.
as well as theater and concert stages, museums and recreational facilities. In addition, distance and hygiene rules apply. Medical masks — surgical masks or FFP2 respirators, which also protect the wearer — must be worn in stores and on buses and trains, and simple fabric masks are no longer sufficient. Private meetings are only allowed in one's own household and with a maximum of one other person. Nighttime exit restrictions also apply in some states. countries outside the European Union, due to a continuously high infection rate and new mutations of the coronavirus. Exceptions will only be made for a good reason. Complete information is available on the French Foreign Ministry website. France has reintroduced borders controls until at least end of April 2021 and travelers from European countries over the age of 11 must provide proof of a negative PCR test, which must not be older than 72 hours. There are exceptions for those who live in border areas and those transporting goods. All of France is at a standstill: cultural institutions, landmarks, bars, cafes and restaurants are closed. This also applies to the popular ski resorts. Shops are open only shopping centers over a certain size are closed. In general, freedom of movement in France is considerably restricted. Across the country, a nighttime curfew is in effect from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. People are then only allowed to leave the house with a valid reason — simple walks, shopping or sports are not included.
United Kingdom
Great Britain has tightened its entry requirements: In order to prevent the spread of new coronavirus variants, the UK as of February 15 is obliging entrants from more than 33 countries on its "red list" high-risk countries to quarantine in hotels for ten days. The countries affected are those classified by Great Britain as virus-variant areas, such as Portugal, all South American states, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. The arrivals must book a 10 day stay from an approved list of hotels where they have to remain in their room and are provided with three meals a day. Security teams at the hotels monitor compliance. Passengers have to pay for their own stay in isolation.
Travel for tourist purposes is not permitted in and to Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In principle, people travelling to the UK must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test PCR, LAMP or antigen test) before setting off. This may be taken up to three days before their journey begins. This regulation also applies to England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. All travelers entering the UK, regardless of departure country or nationality, must complete a passenger locator form.
The third lockdown is in effect across the UK until March 8. In England, people are not allowed to leave their homes without a valid reason. Schools, universities and all businesses not considered essential are closed. Accordingly, 56 million Britons are now only allowed to leave their homes in justifiable cases, for example to go to work, go shopping or for medical appointments. Throughout the UK, there are hefty fines for violations of the current coronavirus rules: Failure to comply with the quarantine regulations, for example, could result in fines of up to ₤10,000 (€11,000; $13,330).
Italy
The country has extended its state of emergency until April 30, and entry from abroad remains heavily restricted. Complete information is available at the Italian Foreign Ministry website. Entry from most of Europe is allowed but persons arriving from these countries must report to the local health authorities on arrival and provide a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 48 hours. They are also required to fill in a selfdeclaration form. Arrivals from the United Kingdom (other than Italian residents) are banned indefinitely, and nobody (other than Italian residents) who has been in or transited through Brazil in the last 14 days may enter Italy . In addition, flights to and from Brazil have been banned.
Italy is again restricting freedom of movement in some regions. This applies, for example, to the southern regions of Molise and Basilicata — they have been upgraded to red zones, which means all schools have been closed as are all non-essential shops and hairdressers.
Italy uses a traffic light system to its lockdown rules. Red is the zone with the highest risk of infection and white is the lowest, which so far only the island of Sardinia has been listed under. Currently classified as orange zones — the category for medium risk of infection — are South Tyrol, Umbria, Emilia Romagna, and Lombardy. Italy has 20 regions and many are currently in yellow with a low risk of infection, including the capital region of Lazio, Liguria and the island of Sicily. In the yellow zones, stores and restaurants have reopened, but no more than four people are allowed to sit at a table. Museums and sights are open again, such as the Colosseum in Rome. Theaters and cinemas remain closed. Until the end of March, there is a ban on crossing regional borders within the country itself. And a daily curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. is currently in effect for all of Italy.
The opening of the ski resorts, which was scheduled for February 15, had been postponed until March 5 and now looks to be extended until April 6.
Spain
The country permits unrestricted entry from the EU, the Schengen Area and a small list of third countries, but has suspended incoming flights from Great Britain since December 22. The country's official tourism website provides complete information and resources. On February 4, Spain introduced restrictions on inbound flights from Brazil and South Africa in a bid to stop the spread of new strains of the coronavirus detected in those countries. The measure will last at least until March 16.
Spain has been particularly hard hit by the pandemic. A state of alert is in effect throughout the country until May 9, allowing autonomous communities (regions) to impose nighttime curfews and movement restrictions and limit gatherings, depending on the infection situation. As a result, different rules apply throughout the country. Restaurants are mostly allowed to either sell only outside or serve only outside. Many health clubs are closed, and theaters, concert halls and movie theaters are allowed to occupy only a fraction of their seats, if at all. Individual coronavirus hotspots are completely sealed off.
Find more information here.
Austria
Austria has tighted border controls with all neighboring countries to contain the spread of the virus. Every traveler trying to cross the border has to to present a negative coronavirus test; there will no longer be exceptions. In general, digital registration has been mandatory since January 15, with the exception of regular commuters and transit travelers.
The German government on February 11 declared the state of Tyrol a virus variant area and imposed an entry ban starting February 14. Moreover, beginning on February 12, Austria only allows departure from Tyrol upon presentation of a negative test result. Those who fail to do so face a fine of up to €1,450. The outbreak of the South African variant in Tyrol is currently the largest known such case in the EU, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said.
Austria is easing its coronavirus restrictions domestically, with schools, museums and stores reopening. Visitors and customers must wear medical masks, and a negative COVID-19 test is required for visits to hairdressers. Meetings of people from more than two households are also allowed again. The nighttime curfew from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. remains unchanged.
The Alpine country made headlines with the opening of its ski slopes on December 24. The images of people queuing at the lifts and crowded slopes triggered a wave of indignation. However, due to the quarantine rules for arrivals, the winter sports activities are mainly aimed at locals, who are urged to wear facemasks when queuing at the cable cars and lifts and to maintain social distancing.
Find more information here. The Netherlands
The Dutch government "strongly advises" against all travel to the country unless it is strictly necessary, and has stepped up travel restrictions as of January 23. From this date on, people traveling to the Netherlands not only need a negative result of a PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival in Holland, but now also need a negative result of an antigen rapid test, or LAMP (loop mediated isothermal amplification) test taken within 4 hours before departure to the Netherlands. Furthermore, all travelers are expected to quarantine for 10 days upon arrival in Holland. After five days of quarantine, you can choose to get tested for coronavirus. If you test negative, the quarantine is lifted.
Find more information here . A nationwide curfew from 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. is in effect in the Netherlands until at least March 15. The introduction of the curfew led to violent riots shortly after it came into force. The sale of alcohol and soft drugs is also banned in the Netherlands between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., as is their consumption in public. Coffee shops have to close at 8 p.m. Schools, most stores and restaurants are closed. Private contacts are limited to one person outside one's household.
Faced with dramatically rising infection numbers, the Netherlands has imposed the toughest lockdown yet on its country since the pandemic began, extending it until March 3. Cinemas, theaters and museums are closed; only stores for daily needs are open.
Belgium
Until at least April 1, people traveling to and from Belgium will have to provide a valid reason — such as family duties, work or studies — to be allowed to cross Belgian borders.
Also since the end of January all Belgians returning from Britain, South America or South Africa have been required to quarantine for 10 days and take a PCR test on the first and seventh day after arrival. Additionally, non-residents who wish to come to Belgium will have to present two negative PCR tests, one before departure and one upon arrival.
Currently citizens and residents returning to Belgium must take a COVID-19 test on arrival, self-isolate for a week and then take another test. All other arriving passengers also need to show a negative test.
Find more information here. Portugal
Portugal has been particularly hard hit by COVID-19 and has now banned foreign travel and closed its national borders in order to contain the pandemic. At the land border with Spain — as was the case in the spring of 2020 — controls will be reintroduced. At ports and airports, checks will also be tightened. Exceptions apply to people traveling to work, returning to their primary residence or traveling on business, for the transport of goods, and for medical emergencies or humanitarian aid.
The autonomous regions of the Azores and Madeira have also been classified as high-risk areas since January 24. Portugal has been under a state of emergency since November 9, 2020.
The situation is reassessed every 15 days and appropriate measures are taken. On January 15, for example, a new lockdown with severe restrictions came into force; it is to apply for at least one month. People are only allowed to leave the house for a valid reason. Restaurants and stores — except for those supplying food and basic daily needs — must remain closed.
Find more information here. Greece
The highest infection rates are in the urban areas around Athens and Thessaloniki. A travel warning is in effect for the regions of Western Greece and Central Macedonia as well as Attica and Central Greece. Travel to the other parts of the country is not recommended. Entry requirements to Greece have been tightened: online registration is mandatory and a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours old must be available. All persons entering Greece by March 8, 2021, must undergo a seven-day domestic quarantine.
The Greek government has ordered a lockdown for the entire country, which has been extended until March 16. Greece is being divided into yellow and red areas according to the infection rates which can be adjusted at short notice. Measures such as the general curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., may vary in red areas. As a result of the lockdown, travelling by boat, train, bus, or airplane across the country is also prohibited until further notice. Visit Greece provides a summary of all the important information. In general, during the day people are currently only allowed to leave their homes for a valid reason. Masks are mandatory throughout the country, including outdoors.
Find more information here. Ireland
The situation in Ireland was particularly dramatic at the beginning of the year. For a time, the Republic had the highest number of new infections per capita in the world. After a temporary easing of the nationwide lockdown before Christmas, the infection figures there, fueled by the highly contagious COVID-19 variant, rose unchecked. In the meantime, the situation has eased but the infection rates remain at a high level and severe restrictions remain in place.
Ireland is currently under a national lockdown. The highest coronavirus warning level is in effect throughout the country: Level 5. The Irish government advises against all but essential travel. Anyone entering Ireland must present a negative PCR test no more than 72 hours old. In addition, all entrants, including Irish citizens and residents, are required to severely restrict their movements for 14 days after entry. Public transport capacity is reduced to 25%, and at peak times, use of public transport is reserved for essential workers. Travel outside a five-kilometer radius of residence and between counties is to be avoided. The wearing of masks is compulsory in stores and on public transport, with fines of up to €2,500 for non-compliance.
Find more information here .