LONDON: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his club is to blame for Alexis Sanchez missing a doping test on the day the forward completed his move to Manchester United.
Wenger was reacting to reports that Sanchez has fallen foul of the English Football Association’s whereabouts rule by allegedly not being present for a routine doping test on Monday. On that day, Sanchez was in the northwest of England, tying up his transfer to United as part of a swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Wenger says “on the administration side, it would still be our responsibility. On the day, he had not moved.”
Wenger says “the intention of Alexis was not to hide,” adding: “It’s a special event for him to miss a drugs test because he was certainly busy somewhere else ... it’s just a bad day for him to be tested.”
Wenger says Arsenal to blame for Sanchez missing doping test
Wenger says Arsenal to blame for Sanchez missing doping test
Palestinian refugees’ football pitch saved after UEFA president intervenes
DUBAI: A football pitch used by Palestinian refugees in the West Bank was saved from demolition after Aleksander Ceferin, the president of European football’s governing body UEFA, stepped in.
The Aida refugee camp, located outside Bethlehem, was due to be demolished. Israeli media said the decision was made by the Central Command due to security reasons based on its location.
However, The Guardian reported that Israel Defense Forces said the pitch was built unlawfully.
Now, however, it seems the pitch has been saved. A statement from UEFA said: “We can confirm that the UEFA president has been in contact with the Israel Football Federation regarding the preservation of a football pitch in a refugee camp in the West Bank.”
The IFA was facing scrutiny from international football organizations and was allegedly on the verge of being banned from taking part in UEFA competitions.
