Digest

SOCCER

Messi confirms Barca pay cut, contributions

Lionel Messi confirmed on Monday that Barcelona's players will take a 70 percent pay cut and make financial contributions to ensure the Catalan club's other employees are paid in full during the coronavirus crisis in Spain.

In a lengthy message posted on his Instagram account, the Argentine superstar also took another swipe at the Barca board, led by president Josep Maria Bartomeu, whom he accused of undermining the players during recent negotiations.

Other Spanish clubs are expected to follow suit in applying temporary pay cuts, as soccer's hiatus due to the pandemic leaves a number of them fighting for financial survival.

"For our part, the time has come to announce that, as well as the reduction of 70 percent of our salary during the State of Alarm, we will also make contributions so the club's employees can collect 100 per cent of their salary while this situation lasts," Messi wrote.

Newcastle furloughs non-playing staff

Newcastle United have become the first English Premier League club to place members of its non-playing staff on temporary leave in response to the coronavirus crisis, according to the BBC.

The report said Newcastle's managing director, Lee Charnley, informed the staff in an email on Monday, saying the decision was taken to safeguard the club's future.

Newcastle has joined second-tier clubs such as Birmingham City and Millwall in placing the majority of its workforce, with the exception of players and first-team coaching staff, on furlough.

Britain announced earlier this month that furloughed workers can claim 80 percent of their wages up to 2,500 pounds ($3,081) per month as part of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has long been unpopular with Magpies fans, thousands of whom skipped matches this season to protest against his running of the club.

Ashley was criticized this month after a number of supporters were charged for their next season ticket, despite the ongoing suspension of the Premier League.

BASKETBALL

Orlando aces team up for charity donations

Orlando Magic forward Wes Iwundu not only decided to help those affected by the coronavirus pandemic, he chose to help out a teammate as well.

The Magic announced on Monday that Iwundu donated to teammate Jonathan Isaac's effort to feed children in Orlando who are in need. Isaac also revealed the donation on his social media platforms.

Isaac announced last week that he is teaming up with J.U.M.P. Ministries Global Church to provide hot breakfasts and lunches to schoolchildren on weekdays for the duration of the pandemic. The 22-year-old is helping families obtain nonperishable food items once a week, things like oatmeal, cereal and instant rice.

Meanwhile, Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart says he has been cleared by medical officials after testing positive for the new coronavirus earlier this month. "Stay safe and stay together－apart!" Smart wrote on social media.

RUGBY

US federation blames bankruptcy on virus

USA Rugby filed for bankruptcy on Monday, with the federation's financial troubles exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement posted on its website, USA Rugby said it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows financially struggling organizations to reorganize and restructure debt.

"Existing financial challenges have been accelerated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rugby activities," USA Rugby said.

Sports around the world have been brought to a virtual standstill by the outbreak as authorities have banned large gatherings in a bid to slow the spread of the virus.

USA Rugby said the suspension of competition resulted in "significant loss of revenue from spring and summer membership dues, sponsorship drawbacks and additional revenue sources".

The bankruptcy filing includes a plan for a financial support package approved by the executive committee of global governing body World Rugby. That will bolster the federation through reorganization, with World Rugby and other creditors to sign off on an eventual restructuring plan.

AMERICAN FOOTBALL

Brady made first move, says Buccaneers GM

Tom Brady made his pitch to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before general manager Jason Licht and head coach Bruce Arians attempted to reel in the six-time Super Bowl champion.

Brady signed a two-year contract with the Buccaneers earlier this month after 20 seasons with the New England Patriots.

"We had a great conversation... we talked to him (Brady) for over an hour and a half. And he made it clear in the conversation that he was very, very interested," Licht said on ESPN's Get Up on Monday morning. "It was almost like a recruitment on his part, telling us why it would make sense for him to come to Tampa Bay. The next call we made, we signed him, but it was at that phone call that we realized, that we felt like we had him."

The Bucs already had a quarterback－Jameis Winston. But the former No 1 overall pick was in a walk year and Arians decided against him returning without seeing who else was out there.

GYMNASTICS

Qualifiers to restart 'when crisis behind us'

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has announced it will restart Olympic qualification events once the current "global health crisis is behind us".

The Tokyo Games have been rescheduled from this summer to July 23-Aug 8 next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement released on Tuesday, FIG president Morinari Watanabe praised the IOC, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japanese government for "quickly setting the new dates" for the Games.

"This announcement will enable us to best address the issues left open by the postponement of the Games by one year, starting with the Olympic places that have not yet been allocated," said Watanabe.

The IOC has confirmed that all athletes that have qualified for Tokyo will keep their places for next year's rescheduled Games.

Watanabe said that the FIG will focus on respecting the spirit of the Olympic qualification system as defined in the rules.

Xinhua - Agencies