Milan have confirmed left-back Theo Hernandez has tested positive for COVID-19.

The 24-year-old played a crucial role in France s Nations League success, scoring a dramatic 90th-minute winner in the 3-2 semi-final victory over Belgium before assisting Kylian Mbappe s decisive strike in the 2-1 final triumph over Spain.

The showpiece contest against Luis Enrique s Spain was held in Milan, meaning Hernandez was able to stay in the city as he returned to his club side.

However, he is now set to miss the visit of Hellas Verona on Saturday as club action resumes.

Official Statement: Theo Hernández

Comunicato Ufficiale: Theo Hernández

— AC Milan (@acmilan)

Hernandez has enjoyed a fine start to the season with Milan, leading t…

Japanese and Chinese spectators will be separated at an Asian Games football group match in Guangzhou Monday amid a simmering diplomatic row and a history of bitter rivalry between fans.

Cameras, banners and bottles containing any liquid will be also banned at the match to prevent any untoward situation as part of measures enforced by security authorities, the Japanese consulate-general in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou said on its website.

Please refrain from heckling opponent players and supporters, insulting the opposite country or cheering in any other unfriendly manner as it is dangerous, it added in a notice to Japanese visitors.

The warning comes as tensions between the Asian giants persist following Japan s arrest of a Chinese trawler captain fo…

The Scottish Football Association (SFA) said Monday they would do everything possible to avoid a strike by referees that threatens to wipe out this weekend s fixture programme.

George Peat, president of the SFA Scottish football s governing body said the planned strike by the country s premier, category one officials to refuse appointments this weekend was a sad day for Scottish football .

Peat added: We will do everything we possibly can to broker a deal before the weekend because it s obviously important that officials are on duty on Saturday and Sunday.

If the strike goes ahead it will hit the Scottish Premier League (SPL) programme featuring Celtic s match against Inverness and leaders Rangers visit to Dundee United.

Officials are planning a walkout…

Borussia Dortmund closed the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to seven points with a comfortable 3-0 win against 10-man Hamburg, their bogey club, at Signal Iduna Park on Sunday.

The first two goals came within a six-minute period at the end of the first half, with Christian Pulisic scoring the opener by rounding off a training ground set-piece routine to give Dortmund the lead after what had been a sloppy start.

The hosts doubled their advantage when Adrian Ramos scored a terrific solo goal to give his side complete control and they were barely troubled from that point on.

Hamburg s chances of a comeback were dealt a huge blow shortly after the interval when goalkeeper Rene Adler was dismissed for bringing down Shinji Kagawa outside the box.

Dort…

Middlesbrough have sealed the loan signing of playmaker Gaston Ramirez from Southampton until the end of the season.

Ramirez, 25, had only made three substitute appearances for Ronald Koeman s side in the Premier League this season and he spent most of last season on loan at Hull City.

The Uruguay international joined Southampton from Bologna in a deal reportedly worth £12 million in 2012 and will now continue his career in the Championship with Middlesbrough.

Boro head coach Aitor Karanka told the club s official website: I am really pleased. He is a really good player who knows the league and the country.

He has international experience and has played in the World Cup. He is another good player for us.

He is the kind of player who wants to jo…

Barcelona will hold presidential elections on March 20 and 21 next year.

Incumbent Josep Maria Bartomeu, who cannot stand for re-election after spending two consecutive terms in office, had previously confirmed they would hold elections between January and the end of March after rejecting calls for them to be this year.

The LaLiga club announced on Thursday that the elections will be held at various sites around the territory, and that postal votes shall be permitted due to the risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Although he is due to remain in office until next year, Bartomeu and the board are facing the possible threat of a motion of no confidence.

The movement, Mes que una Mocio , has the backing of presidential candidates including Victor Font, J…

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted he was never worried about Mohamed Salah s form after the forward scored a hat-trick against Bournemouth.

Salah s treble helped Liverpool to a 4-0 win and to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday.

The Egypt international is yet to recapture his incredible form of last season, but is now up to 12 goals in 22 games this campaign.

But Klopp said he was never concerned by Salah s form despite the questions surrounding the 26-year-old.

Look, your business [the media] is a difficult one as well – you have to judge always the moment, he told UK newspapers.

I m interested in the moment but I never judge it because the moment is just a little part of all what we do. So I was not for one second worried. …

Chelsea are willing to sell Callum Hudson-Odoi in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the winger is wanted by two clubs in the Saudi Pro League, and that Chelsea are ready to cash in on him. However, the player himself is keen on staying in Europe and believes that he could play at the highest level.

Hudson-Odoi is out of contract at Chelsea at the end of next season. The 22-year-old England international winger spent last season on loan at Bayer Leverkusen from the Blues. The youngster made seven starts and seven substitute appearances in the Bundesliga for Bayer last season, providing one assist in the process. The winger also gave one goal in six UEFA Champions League matches and made one substitute appearance in the UEFA Europa League.

…

UEFA has launched an investigation into potential discriminatory incidents during Hungary s opening two games at Euro 2020.

Budapest is one of the host cities for the tournament and Hungary s 3-0 defeat to Portugal and 1-1 draw against France in Group F each took place at the Puskas Arena.

During the Portugal game, images of a banner among the home supporters in the stands reading ANTI LMBTQ – referring to the Hungarian language abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer – circulated on social media. The matter was reported to UEFA by anti-discrimination group Fare.

Before Sunday s game with France, some Hungary fans took part in a pre-match march in Budapest and unveiled a banner opposing the act of kneeling before matches, a peaceful an…

Manchester City will play their home matches for the next 10 years at Etihad Stadium after a naming rights agreement was confirmed on Friday.

Formerly known as the City of Manchester Stadium, the club s home stadium will carry the name of the Abu Dhabi-based company, who are already the club s shirt sponsor.

The 2011 FA Cup winners were taken over by a consortium of Abu Dhabi businessmen in 2008.

We are delighted to be expanding our relationship with Etihad Airways through this partnership agreement, City chief executive Garry Cook said.

Despite the mega-rich club spending big in recent years, they racked up a debt of over 123 million pounds last season and the move which has annoyed traditionalists should help City with the financial fair play regulati…