Bale faces possible 12-game ban
MADRID: Gareth Bale could face a suspension of up to 12 matches because of a gesture he made toward fans during Real Madrid’s 3-1 derby win at Atletico Madrid on Saturday. Bale has been reported by La Liga to the Spanish federation over his celebration after scoring Real Madrid’s third goal. A statement on La Liga’s website says Bale “moves his right arm up towards his head in a signal of provocation towards the fans, creating a possibly obscene gesture by moving his other arm and striking halfway up his right arm.” That gesture is considered offensive in Spain.
MARTIAL, LINGARD OUT
MANCHESTER: Manchester United will be without Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard for Monday’s FA Cup clash at Chelsea with both sidelined for up to three weeks after picking up injuries during Tuesday’s Champions League defeat by Paris St Germain. The duo will also miss Liverpool’s visit to Old Trafford in the Premier League on February 24 and face a race against time to make the second leg of last 16 tie against PSG in Paris on March 6.
BARCA RETAIN COACH
BARCELONA: Barcelona have extended coach Ernesto Valverde’s contract by another year until the end of the 2019-20 season with an option for one more season. The 55-year-old guided Barcelona to the league and Cup double last season.
WORLD CUP BID
SANTIAGO: Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay are to submit a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup, Chile president Sebastian Pinera announced. Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay had already submitted a joint bid to host the centenary edition of the World Cup but Pinera said that those countries’ presidents had agreed to Chile’s participation in the ‘joint candidacy’. Argentina and Uruguay originally announced their intention to submit a joint bid in 2017.
UEFA HAPPY WITH VAR
NYON: Video Assistant Referee (VAR) “worked perfectly” at all stadiums that hosted the first leg of the last-16 Champions League ties this week, according to UEFA’S chief refereeing officer Roberto Rosetti. “I am very happy with the way VAR was implemented,” Rosetti said in a statement on the UEFA website.