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Lampard puts VAR in dock after Lo Celso gets away with ‘leg breaker’
Lampard puts VAR in dock after Lo Celso gets away with ‘leg breaker’
FOOTBALL: Frank Lampard blasted VAR yesterday (Feb 22) after Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso was not sent off for a “leg breaker” stamp on Cesar Azpilicueta in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Spurs. Blues boss Lampard was furious that Lo Celso’s ugly second half foul on Chelsea captain Azpilicueta was not punished with a red card by either referee Michael Oliver or VAR official David Coote in Stockley Park. The VAR review concluded the challenge was not serious foul play, which would have triggered a dismissal but replays made it clear that was the wrong call. The row came just days after Manchester United defender Harry Maguire was lucky to avoid a red card for kicking out at Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi. “It is not good enough, that is two VARs in two games, it is hard to shout about it when you have lost but today everybody saw that. It is a red,” Lampard said. “I hate to call for red cards but that is a leg breaker. Everybody knew they made a mistake. I was just waiting for the red card to be shown.” Adding to Lampard’s frustration, television broadcaster BT Sport later reported that VAR officials had told them Lo Celso should have been sent off. Being told that Stockley Park had admitted the decision was wrong did not change Lampard’s view that the much-maligned VAR system needs an overhaul. “It was a tackle that endangers a player, saying after that they made a mistake isn’t good enough,” he said. “That’s what VAR was brought in for. It’s a huge question mark on VAR. This one doesn’t need the referee to go to the monitor, it’s a clear decision.” Azpilicueta was able to finish the game but had ice strapped to his shin after the final whistle. “I’m not a player that likes to be on the floor because I’m tough but it was not my fault because it was a clear stamp on my shin,” Azpilicueta told BT Sport. Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho unsurprisingly side-stepped questions about the tackle, preferring to reference previous VAR decisions that he felt went against his team. “I hope the noise is exactly the same as when VAR killed us. There should have been a red card for Watford and Liverpool against us. Why didn’t they say they made a mistake then?” Mourinho said. The latest VAR issue could not overshadow a crucial victory for fourth-placed Chelsea, who ended a four-match winless run to move four points clear of Tottenham in the race to qualify for the Champions League. After reports that his position could be in danger if Chelsea’s recent slide continued, Lampard was rewarded for a bold gamble as he recalled fringe players Olivier Giroud and Marcos Alonso. France striker Giroud, making his first start since November, opened the scoring with a fine finish for his first club goal since August. Spanish left-back Alonso, back in the starting line-up for the first time since December, doubled Chelsea’s lead with a 20-yard drive after half-time. Antonio Rudiger’s own goal came too late to deny Chelsea. “I’m pleased, you always look clever when that comes off and get called an idiot when it doesn’t. I’m delighted for them both, they are both experienced lads and it’s not easy when they are not playing,” Lampard said. After Tottenham’s three-game winning run in the league was ended at the hands of his old club, Mourinho admitted injuries to strikers Harry Kane and Son Heung-min have been too much for his team to handle. “I have no complaints about my players that is for sure, with the power that we don’t have at this moment,” he said. “It is an incredible negative situation. We have players trying to do miracles in positions that are not their own.”
Farrell v Farrell as England try to deny Ireland a Grand Slam
Farrell v Farrell as England try to deny Ireland a Grand Slam
RUGBY: Owen Farrell will attempt to end the Grand Slam hopes of father Andy when England face Ireland in the Six Nations.
China virus cases drop as foreign fears rise
China virus cases drop as foreign fears rise
WORLD: Fears mounted today (Feb 22) over the rise of new cases and fatalities outside China from the new coronavirus outbreak, as the World Health Organization warned of a shrinking window to stem the spread of the deadly disease.
Mendes connections allow Wolves to dream again
Mendes connections allow Wolves to dream again
FOOTBALL: Wolverhampton Wanderers have only sporadically enjoyed European football since their golden era in the 1950s, but a controversial connection with Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes has made them a force to be reckoned with again.
Tyson ready to unleash the Fury in Wilder heavyweight title rematch
Tyson ready to unleash the Fury in Wilder heavyweight title rematch
BOXING: Britain’s Tyson Fury vowed to deliver a career-best performance in his heavyweight title rematch with American Deontay Wilder, expecting a “war” in their showdown in Las Vegas tomorrow, Feb 22 (Sunday morning Thai time).
China reports 118 more COVID-19 deaths
China reports 118 more COVID-19 deaths
The death toll in China from the coronavirus epidemic rose to 2,236 today (Feb 21) after 118 more people died, most of them in the hard-hit epicentre province of Hubei, the government said.
Malaysia 1MDB fugitive spotted in virus-hit Chinese city
Malaysia 1MDB fugitive spotted in virus-hit Chinese city
WORLD: A fugitive Malaysian financier wanted over a massive graft scandal has been spotted in the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak, police said, although it was unclear if he had left before Chinese authorities imposed a lockdown.
Thai retail giant Central launches record-breaking IPO
Thai retail giant Central launches record-breaking IPO
BANGKOK: Thai conglomerate Central Retail launched Thailand’s biggest ever IPO today (Feb 20), giving it a market cap of around $8.1 billion (B253.935bn) in a punt on a sputtering economy now hampered by the new coronavirus.
McLaren taking coronavirus precautions at Barcelona F1 test
McLaren taking coronavirus precautions at Barcelona F1 test
FORMULA ONE: Formula One team McLaren revealed yesterday (Feb 19) that they are taking measures to counter the threat of the deadly coronavirus, including banning entry to their motorhome at winter testing to anyone who has travelled from China.
China’s death toll hits 2,123 after Hubei province reports 108 more virus deaths
China’s death toll hits 2,123 after Hubei province reports 108 more virus deaths
WORLD: The death toll from China’s new coronavirus epidemic jumped to 2,123 today (Feb 20) after 108 more people died in Hubei province, the hard-hit epicentre of the outbreak.
Gutsy Atletico given hope after surprise win over Liverpool
Gutsy Atletico given hope after surprise win over Liverpool
FOOTBALL: Liverpool were the victims of an old-fashioned Atletico Madrid masterclass yesterday (Feb 18) as Diego Simeone’s side ground out a 1-0 win in Madrid to give themselves hope of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals.
China virus death toll surges past 2,000
China virus death toll surges past 2,000
WORLD: The death toll from China’s new coronavirus epidemic jumped past 2,000 on Wednesday after 136 more people died, with the number of new cases falling for a second straight day, according to the National Health Commission.
Vietnam F1 Grand Prix gets go-ahead despite virus fears
Vietnam F1 Grand Prix gets go-ahead despite virus fears
FORMULA ONE: Vietnam’s inaugural Formula One Grand Prix will take place in Hanoi in April as planned, organisers told AFP yesterday (Feb 18), avoiding the fate of the Chinese Grand Prix which was postponed over the deadly coronavirus.
Hamilton, Messi share men’s Laureus award
Hamilton, Messi share men’s Laureus award
WORLD: Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and football superstar Lionel Messi shared the Laureus sportsman of the year award at yesterday’s (Feb 17) ceremony in Berlin.
Wuhan hospital director dies of coronavirus
Wuhan hospital director dies of coronavirus
WORLD: A hospital director at the epicentre of China’s virus epidemic died today (Feb 18), state media said, the latest medical worker to fall victim to the coronavirus which has spread across the country.
Lampard asks for Chelsea fight after smash and grab United defeat
Lampard asks for Chelsea fight after smash and grab United defeat
FOOTBALL: Chelsea manager Frank Lampard told his side the “fight starts now” for a place in the Champions League next season after suffering a 2-0 smash and grab defeat at the hands of Manchester United yesterday (Feb 17).
China virus death toll passes 1,800
China virus death toll passes 1,800
WORLD: The toll from Chinas coronavirus epidemic jumped to 1,868 today (Feb 18) after 98 more people died, according to the National Health Commission.
Virus-hit Hong Kong racing gallops on behind closed doors
Virus-hit Hong Kong racing gallops on behind closed doors
HORSE RACING: The bell sounds as 11 runners in the Gold Cup break from the stalls at Hong Kong’s famous Sha Tin racecourse.
Virus causes chaos in Chinese football
Virus causes chaos in Chinese football
FOOTBALL: Chinese football clubs have been left scattered across the globe by the coronavirus epidemic, with homesick players training for a season that has no starting date and teams from other countries too scared to play them.
Judo master, 97, puts ‘spirit’ above medals at Olympics
Judo master, 97, puts ‘spirit’ above medals at Olympics
JUDO: Proudly sporting the red belt marking him out as one of the 15 highest-ranked Japanese judo masters in history, 97-year-old Ichiro Abe hopes the sport’s homecoming at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be more than a quest for gold.