Sports
As English football returns, live TV coverage unlikely for some matches

English football league fixtures will return on Monday after a break as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
English Football League (EFL) says fixtures will also go ahead with a minute’s silence held before matches, black armbands worn, flags to be flown at half-mast and the National Anthem to be played in stadiums.
But the return of the Premier League football may be jeopardised by a shortage of TV trucks due to the 24/7 coverage being given to the Queen’s funeral.
The Premier League is yet to make an announcement about the games to be played between 16 and 18 September.
The English Football League managing the three divisions below the Premier League said on Monday that some matches would return as scheduled from Tuesday.
The EFL said in a statement, “With a national policing plan now in operation, the League and Clubs will continue to work with forces in respect of any challenges that may emerge regarding policing of specific fixtures.”
The EFL announcement on Monday came after the last round of games were postponed following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Daily Mail reported on Monday that the Premier League’s main rights holder Sky Sports was running out of the outside broadcast trucks required to deliver live coverage as many are being used by their sister channel, Sky News.
Sky Sports was due to televise eight live matches across football next weekend, beginning with Aston Villa vs Southampton in the Premier League on Friday evening followed by Tottenham vs Leicester the next day, and Brentford vs Arsenal and Chelsea vs Liverpool on Sunday.
In addition Sky has two live Championship matches on Saturday, plus Scottish Premier League and Women’s Super League fixtures the following day.
Sky News is providing unprecedented coverage of events across the country building up to the Queen’s funeral next Monday, which has put a strain on their resources.
The lack of TV trucks is said to have emerged as an additional complicating factor during talks over football’s resumption following last weekend’s shutdown, which will continue this morning with a briefing from government.
The strain on police resources is the biggest obstacle to Premier League games taking place as planned next weekend, as up to 10,000 police officers will be deployed in London to manage what has been described as an unprecedented security operation in the capital ahead of the funeral.
Police and football clubs will continue urgent talks today (Monday) as the potential for wide scale postponements of matches this weekend looms large.
Games including Sunday’s Manchester United vs Leeds and Chelsea vs Liverpool are among those being discussed.
Sports
Real Madrid demand referee change, could boycott Copa Del Rey final

Real Madrid demand referee change, could boycott Copa Del Rey final
Real Madrid refused to partake in planned Copa del Rey final related activities on Friday because they were angry at complaints made by the match officials earlier in the day, the club told media in Seville.
The referee for Saturday’s match against rivals Barcelona, Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, welled up when speaking about pressure officials have faced from Real Madrid TV this season.
Spanish champions Real Madrid boycotted the press conference, the open training in front of media, the traditional presidents’ dinner and a pre-match photo-call.
“Real Madrid told the RFEF they will not take part in the press conference or the official training session looking forward to the (final),” said the Spanish football federation.
This week the club’s television channel launched a new video attacking the referee for the final, something they have done to various officials this season.
Los Blancos also published an open letter in February claiming Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited”.
Real Madrid have form when it comes to boycotts: in October they stayed away from the Ballon d’Or ceremony because their winger Vinicius Junior was not named the best player in the world.
“Real Madrid does not go where it is not respected,” the club said at the time.
De Burgos Bengoetxea had spoken about the effect criticism from Real Madrid’s television channel was having on his family life.
“When a child of yours goes to school and there are kids telling him that his father is a ‘thief’ and comes home crying, it’s totally messed up,” De Burgos Bengoetxea told a news conference.
“What I do is try to educate my son, to say that his father is honest, above all honest, who can make mistakes, like any sportsperson,” he continued, becoming emotional.
Real Madrid demand referee change, could boycott Copa Del Rey final
Sports
Pep Guardiola, wife to ‘give marriage a second chance’ after Barcelona reconciliation meeting

Pep Guardiola, wife to ‘give marriage a second chance’ after Barcelona reconciliation meeting
Pep Guardiola and his wife Cristina Serra are reportedly trying to reconcile their marriage, after the Man City boss spent three days with her in Barcelona over Easter.
Guardiola and Serra, a fashion entrepreneur, met back in 1994 and married in 2014.
News of their shock split became public in January, with reports the following month that the couple had begun divorce proceedings.
According to Catalan newspaper El Nacional, Guardiola and Serra are reportedly prepared to ‘give each other another chance’ and state that ‘all is not lost in their marriage.’
The report claims the Man City boss had returned to Barcelona over Easter and stayed in the family’s mansion in the city.
Previous reports have claimed Guardiola’s unexpected decision last November to renew his contract with the Premier League club for another two years had been a key factor in the split.

Pep Guardiola reportedly made a commitment to Cristina Serra in a bid to save their marriage

Guardiola’s decision to sign an two-year deal at Man City reportedly contributed to the split

Guardiola reportedly spent three days in Barcelona over Easter in a bid to reconcile with Serra
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Serra returned to Barcelona with their youngest child in 2019 to focus on her business interests and was reportedly to have decided to split with Guardiola after learning of his decision to stay in the UK until 2027.
The latest report claims Guardiola has pledge to visit Barcelona once a week, then leave again due to his role as Man City head coach.
Maria Lapiedra, who is married to Barcelona based journalist Gustavo Gonzalez, told the outlet that Guardiola had made the commitment to prevent the couple going weeks without seeing each other.
The report also claims both Guardiola and Serra continue to wear their wedding rings, an apparent display that the couple of 30 years are seeking to reconcile.
Guardiola and Serra married in an intimate ceremony on the outskirts of Barcelona in 2014 but decided to part ways in December.
The couple, who met in 1994, had been living apart for more than five years after Serra moved back to Barcelona with one of their three daughters, Valentina, 17, while Guardiola remained in Manchester.
They have two other children together: Maria, 24 and Marius, 22.
Guardiola and Serra had remained a couple despite not living in the same city and have regularly been pictured together in the years since.

Serra, who had been with Guardiola for 30 years, had been living away from her husband

Guardiola reportedly made the commitment to fly back to Barcelona once a week to see Serra
Spanish outlet Sport reported earlier this year that the decision to end their marriage was made in December, with only members of their inner circle aware of the split. Their trusted friends and family have also been told not to disclose any further information, according to the publication.
Serra decided to leave Manchester in 2019 to help oversee the fashion company owned by her family, Serra Claret, which stocks several brands the City manager is often seen wearing.
Guardiola and Serra met while the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss was modelling for designer Antonio Miro in the shop in the Spanish city.
They began a long-distance relationship when Guardiola was a footballer, before they bought a home together in Barcelona. The couple later moved to Germany when Guardiola was manager of Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
Pep Guardiola, wife to ‘give marriage a second chance’ after Barcelona reconciliation meeting
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Sports
Flying Eagles beat Egypt 2-1 in U-20 AFCON warm-up

Flying Eagles beat Egypt 2-1 in U-20 AFCON warm-up
Nigeria’s U-20 national team, the Flying Eagles, defeated their Egyptian counterparts 2-1 in a friendly match on Tuesday in Cairo, ahead of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the tournament will take place in Egypt from April 27 to May 18.
Kparobo Arierhi gave Nigeria the lead in the 10th minute after receiving a fine pass from Bidemi Amole and coolly slotting it home.
Egypt equalised in the 65th minute through Ahmed Kaabaka, but Nigeria regained the lead in the 83rd minute when Precious Benjamin scored from the penalty spot.
The penalty came after Divine Oliseh was fouled in the box.
The win is a big boost for Nigeria, who arrived in Egypt on Sunday for the 17th U-20 AFCON.
Nigeria, the seven-time champions, is in Group B and will play its first match against Tunisia on Thursday. It will also face Morocco and Kenya in the group stage.
NAN reports that the top four teams from the tournament will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Chile slated for Sept. 27 to October 19. (NAN)
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