FOOTBALL DIGEST

CHELSEA’S preparations for the new season have been thrown into turmoil after they were hit by a coronavirus outbreak. The west London club confirmed a number of players have tested positive for Covid19 and are in quarantine to limit the threat of further spreading among Frank Lampard’s squad. SENIOR international Michael Obafemi has been named in the 25-man Irish U21 squad for a training camp in Northern Ireland from Monday to Thursday next. Obafemi’s Southampton colleagues Will Ferry, Will Smallbone and Thomas O’Connor have also been included by head coach Jim Crawford.

MANCHESTER UNITED and England stood firmly behind Harry Maguire yesterday as it emerged the defender faces a two-year wait to clear his name. United have no plans to relieve Maguire of the club captaincy and confirmed that his application

BRIGHTON will admit 2,500 fans to their friendly with Chelsea on Saturday with CEO Paul Barber warning of economic disaster for football if the number doesn’t

for appeal has been accepted, which they insist effectively makes him a free man until the retrial. However, a top criminal rights lawyer in Athens challenged those claims, insisting the conviction would continue to ‘hang over’ Maguire until a successful appeal.

increase soon. The Premier League club will open two sides of the AMEX Stadium in a pilot event that will also allow fans to buy food and drink on the concourse.

FORMER Irish international Stephen Ireland is training with Swindon Town. Ireland, 33, is hopeful of securing a contract with the League One club.