Guardiola Urges Christmas COVID-19 Precautions at Man City

Pep Guardiola. (AP)
Pep Guardiola. (AP)
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Guardiola Urges Christmas COVID-19 Precautions at Man City

Pep Guardiola. (AP)
Pep Guardiola. (AP)

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has asked his players to take all the necessary precautions during Christmas celebrations with their friends and families to avoid a COVID-19 outbreak at the Premier League club.

Fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur had a second match postponed this week after the league agreed to call off Sunday's game at Brighton & Hove Albion due to a number of COVID-19 cases.

Spurs also had their Europa Conference League game against Stade Rennais called off by UEFA after the club said they had 13 positive cases - eight players and five members of staff.

Leicester City were without several players for their Europa League game at Napoli on Thursday due to COVID-19, and Guardiola said he hoped to avoid a similar situation at his side, calling on his players to be vigilant.

"They know they have to be careful, be at home as much as possible. When they go out, social distance and wear a mask. Look at the statistics, the rules from the government. It's still there... and there are setbacks," Guardiola said.

The Spanish manager, whose mother died due to COVID-19 last year, said leaders City cancelled plans for a Christmas party.

"You have to protect yourself, because at Christmas time there's a tendency for more parties, going out more often," added Guardiola, whose side take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday.

"Everyone at home organizes a party with family and kids. They're going to do it. We're not going to say don't do it, but be careful. The risk is high.

"Look at what happened at Tottenham and Leicester. It can happen here as well, if we don't pay attention. That's a big problem for them, for their health and family, but of course, the team."



UEFA Bans Barcelona Fans from One Away Game in Champions League

Barcelona's Spanish forward #19 Lamine Yamal reacts during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on September 25, 2024. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish forward #19 Lamine Yamal reacts during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on September 25, 2024. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)
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UEFA Bans Barcelona Fans from One Away Game in Champions League

Barcelona's Spanish forward #19 Lamine Yamal reacts during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on September 25, 2024. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)
Barcelona's Spanish forward #19 Lamine Yamal reacts during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Getafe CF at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on September 25, 2024. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)

UEFA banned Barcelona on Friday from selling tickets to fans for its next away game in the Champions League for “racism and/or other discriminatory conduct” during a game at Monaco.
The disciplinary sanction will apply on Nov. 6 when Barcelona plays at Red Star Belgrade, The Associated Press reported.
UEFA did not specify details of the misconduct during a 2-1 loss at Monaco last week in the teams’ opening game in the new format Champions League opening phase.
The ticket sales ban activated a probationary sanction UEFA ordered for Barcelona last season. In April, fans made Nazi salutes at Paris Saint-Germain in a Champions League game.
UEFA said its disciplinary judges also fined Barcelona 10,000 euros ($11,000) and ordered a new probationary sanction for a repeat offense in the next year. That will activate another ticket sales ban for one away game in a European competition.