MENTALITY KEY TO WIN IN EMPTY STANDS, SAYS BAYERN COACH

Bayern Munich players must work harder to motivate each other to maintain a winning mentality while playing in empty stadiums, coach Hansi Flick said on Friday ahead of their home Bundesliga game against Eintracht on Saturday.

“It is key that you bring that mentality to the pitch. It is important that the team pushes itself so as to cover the level of motivation that has gone missing with the empty stands,” Flick said.

Franz Beckenbauer has been invited to watch the game. “I’m leaving my house for the first time in a long time,” Beckenbauer told German daily Bild.

PL FACES ISSUE OF TWO SAUDI OWNED CLUBS

The confusion over official filings from the owners of Sheffield United have highlighted one pitfall for the Saudi bid to buy their Premier League rivals Newcastle United--the issue of a conflict of interest.

While British media reports say the Saudi backed takeover of the club from British retail magnate Mike Ashley is close to being approved, the issue of Sheffield being connected to the ruling House of Saud risks lingering over both teams.the issue is certain to have been considered given English football’s rules on club ownership.

SAN SIRO STADIUM CLOSE TO DEMOLITION

San Siro stadium is closer to demolition after Italy’s heritage authority found that the stadium cannot be protected for cultural or historic reasons.

AC Milan and Inter Milan, who share the stadium, have launched a bid to knock down the San Siro and build a new 60,000capacity home on the same site.

JAPAN FA APPROVES LOANS TO 115 CLUBS

Japan’s FA has approved $1.95 million in loans to 115 clubs whose finances have taken a hit from the Covid-19 shutdown, Kyodo news agency has reported. The JFA received loan requests from 138 clubs and the governing body said it had already transferred funds for the first 71 loans approved last week.