Sport news in brief
Sporting stadia could open to fans from October, says PM
Boris Johnson has confirmed that fans could return to stadiums in the UK in October, providing they pass a series of successful trials to ensure safety measures.
The Independent understands Premier League clubs are hoping to fill grounds to 40 percent capacity next season and has set up a working group with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the issue. Meanwhile, county cricket – including Surrey’s friendly versus Middlesex at the Oval (26-27 July) – the World Snooker Championships (31 July) and Glorious Goodwood (1 August) have all been given permission to welcome spectators.
“From 1 August, we will restart indoor performance to a live audience, subject to the success of pilots, and we will also pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadia, with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn,” the Prime Minister said at a coronavirus briefing on Friday morning.
“From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadia. Again, these changes must be done in a Covidsecure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.”
Leeds United promoted to Premier League after 16-year wait
Leeds United secured promotion to the Premier League after West Brom failed to beat Huddersfield on Friday.
Second-placed West Brom lost 2-1 at Huddersfield, ensuring Championship leaders Leeds cannot finish the season outside of the automatic promotion places.
Leeds, who beat Barnsley 1-0 on Thursday night, sit atop the Championship with 87 points and two games remaining.
The club have not played in the English top flight since 2004, and jubilant fans denied urges from local police by gathering to celebrate at Elland Road on Friday evening.
Itoje commits future to Saracens despite relegation
Maro Itoje has joined the raft of England internationals to commit their long-term future to Saracens despite the club’s relegation to the Championship.
Saracens will play in the second tier next season after a points deduction for breaching salary cap regulations, and 25-year-old lock Itoje follows the Vunipola brothers, Owen Farrell, Jamie George and Elliot Daly in prolonging his stay at Allianz Park.
Itoje has enjoyed great success with Saracens since making his senior debut in 2013, helping the club win four Premiership titles and three European Cups.
“I’m massively excited to be a part of this club,” he told Saracens’ official website. “I’ve been part of Saracens since I was 14-years-old, and we’ve had some great memories ... I’m really looking forward to the future; the future is going to be brighter than our past. The future is in our hands and we have the power to shape our own destiny.”
‘Busby Babe’ Dawson dies at the age of 80
Former Manchester United player Alex Dawson has died at the age of 80. The Premier League club announced the news on Friday.
Dawson started his footballing career at United, whom he represented from 1957 to 1961. In his time at the club, all of which was spent under manager Sir Matt Busby, the Scottish forward made 80 appearances and scored 45 goals.
Along with a number of other players who were given their first-team debuts at United by Busby, Dawson was known as a ‘Busby Babe’.
“Our deepest sympathies are with the loved ones of former United forward and Busby Babe, Alex Dawson, who has sadly passed away at the age of 80,” a United statement read. “He will be fondly remembered by all of us at the club. May he rest in peace.”
Fifteen women accuse NFL employees of sexual harassment
Fifteen women have accused former Washington Redskins employees of sexual harassment. The women made the accusations while speaking to US publication The Washington Post.
Fourteen of the women spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing fear of litigation as their reason for doing so. Some said they had signed non-disclosure agreements with the NFL franchise, and that legal retribution would follow if they were to speak negatively about the club.
The Post’s report features interviews with over 40 current and former employees at the franchise. It also includes a review of text messages and company documents.
During the last week, three Redskins employees accused of improper behaviour departed. Among them were Larry Michael, the club’s radio voice, and Alex Santos, director of pro personnel. As well as Michael and Santos, allegations were made against the Redskins’ assistant director of pro personnel Richard Mann II, former president of business operations Dennis Greene, and former chief operating officer Mitch Gershman.