Manchester City captain Fernandinho has signed a one-year contract extension at the Premier League champions, saying he has unfinished business at the club.

The deal keeps the 36-year-old Brazilian at the Etihad Stadium until 2022 and he is targeting another shot at the Champions League after City lost to Chelsea in their first final in the competition last month.
-In my head and my mind, the job is not done yet and so that's why I decided to stay here another year and try to help the team and the club to achieve the goals that they're looking for- said Fernandinho.
-In my point of view, we can do that, there's still places to improve and to get those targets.-He added: -If I can keep doing the same way, leading them inside the pitch, off the pitch, to help them to improve and get better and to perform better during the games, I would be the most happy person there.-Fernandinho joined City from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and has made 350 appearances and won 12 domestic trophies during that time.
-Fernandinho's contribution to Manchester City cannot be overstated- said director of football Txiki Begiristain. -He is an outstanding footballer -- one of the best in the world in his position -- and an exemplary professional.--Since he arrived in 2013, his attitude and consistency have been exceptional, and he has developed into one of our most influential players.-

The deal keeps the 36-year-old Brazilian at the Etihad Stadium until 2022

Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho lifts the Premier League trophy

Fernandinho signs Man City contract extension

German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Tuesday urged the British government to reduce the number of fans allowed into Wembley stadium for the final Euro 2020 matches, as fears grow over the spread of the Delta variant.

-I think it's irresponsible for tens of thousands to gather in close proximity" in countries where the "highly contagious" Delta variant is spreading- Seehofer told Germany's Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper.
The appeal comes just hours before a last-16 clash between England and longtime rivals Germany at London's Wembley stadium.
UEFA and the British authorities have said some 45,000 supporters will be allowed to attend the game, equivalent to 50 percent of capacity.
Attendance will be increased to 75 percent of capacity, or more than 60,000 fans, for the semi-finals and final at Wembley, in what will be the largest crowds at a sports event in Britain since the start of the pandemic.
In Germany, where Munich's Allianz Arena has hosted several Euro 2020 matches, the capacity cap has been set at a strict 20 percent -- or around 14,000 spectators.
Seehofer said the 20-percent rule could serve as "a benchmark" to other Euro 2020 venues as well.
Britain is experiencing a surge in new coronavirus cases blamed on the Delta variant that was first detected in India.
Germany has designated Britain as a virus variant risk area, meaning only German nationals or residents are allowed to enter from the UK, barring a few exceptions. 
All UK arrivals, including vaccinated people, have to quarantine for 14 days once in Germany.
Strict travel curbs imposed by both countries are expected to dissuade many German fans from making the trip to England.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has in recent days repeatedly expressed concern about the Euro championship fuelling the spread of the Delta variant on the continent. 
She has also criticised a lack of European-wide coordination on entry restrictions for travellers from risk areas.
In Germany, the Delta strain now accounts for around half of all new coronavirus cases, the head of the country's Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases told a meeting attended by Health Minister Jens Spahn on Monday.

The appeal comes just hours before a last-16 clash between England and longtime rivals Germany at London's Wembley stadium

UEFA and the British authorities have said some 45,000 supporters will be allowed to attend the game, equivalent to 50 percent of capacity

Berlin urges UK govt to reduce Euro 2020 crowd sizes

Serena Williams said Sunday that she will not compete at the Tokyo Olympics next month, joining fellow Grand Slam legend Rafael Nadal in withdrawing from the Games.

The 39-year-old American revealed her decision at her pre-Wimbledon press conference.
-I'm actually not on the Olympic list, so... Not that I'm aware of. If so, then I shouldn't be on it- she said.
She refused to divulge the reasons for her decision.
However, a ban on foreign fans as well as family members at the Olympics would have meant Williams being separated from her daughter Alexis Olympia.
The Olympics have already been delayed by a year and organisers have been forced to introduce strict measures to fight Covid-19.
-There's a lot of reasons that I made my Olympic decision- she said.
-I don't feel like going into them today. Maybe another day. Sorry.-Williams is the joint most successful Olympian in tennis history in terms of gold medals alongside sister Venus having won one gold medal each in singles and three in doubles.
Venus edges the medal count slightly as she also won a silver in mixed doubles in 2016 in Rio.
Serena, who is bidding to equal Margaret Court's record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles at Wimbledon, added she had not really thought about what it would mean to miss the Games.
She won the 2012 Olympic singles title in London on the same Centre Court where she has won seven Wimbledon singles titles.&nbsp;She also won doubles gold with sister Venus in Sydney (2000), Beijing (2008) and London.









-I have not thought about it (missing the Games)- said Williams, who plays world number 100 Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in the first round at Wimbledon.
-In the past it's been a wonderful place for me. I really haven't thought about it, so I'm going to keep not thinking about it.-Nadal announced earlier this month he would be missing Wimbledon and the Olympics so as to look after his body and prolong his career.
His great rivals Roger Federer and Novak Đoković have yet to decide whether they will go to Tokyo.
Federer, who like Serena is 39, said Saturday it will depend on how he fares at Wimbledon. 
Two-time defending Olympic singles champion Andy Murray will be going, fitness permitting, as he has been selected in the Team GB squad.
Austrian Dominic Thiem will be another absentee.
The 27-year-old 2020 US Open champion announced his decision on the same day as Nadal and just before he withdrew from Wimbledon due to a wrist injury.

She refused to divulge the reasons for her decision

Serena Williams joins Nadal in missing Tokyo Olympics

UEFA on Tuesday rejected plans by the city of Munich to light the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours for the Germany-Hungary Euro 2020 match in support of the LGBT community and to protest at a law passed by the Hungarian government.

-UEFA is a politically and religiously neutral organisation- said European football's governing body in a statement ahead of Wednesday's match.
-Given the political context of this request, a message aimed at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament, UEFA must refuse.-UEFA'S stance quickly drew criticism from Germany's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
-We find it very disconcerting how UEFA deals with values that should generally be accepted in society- Markus Ulrich, a spokesman for Germany's Lesbian and Gay Association (LSVD), told AFP subsidiary SID.
-UEFA has not recognised the signs of the times -- and it is clear to see which side it is taking with its decision.-The mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, had wanted the stadium in rainbow colours for the crucial Group F match to "send a visible sign of solidarity" with Hungary's LGBT community.
Hungary's right-wing government last week passed a law banning the "promotion" of homosexuality to minors, outlawing any educational programmes or material in which homosexuality is mentioned.
On Monday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto claimed that plans to light the Munich stadium in rainbow colours were "harmful and dangerous".
While UEFA have rejected the request for the day of the match, it has suggested alternative dates for June 28, which is Christopher Street Liberation Day, an annual celebration and demonstration held in various cities across Europe, or from July 3-9, the week of gay pride in Munich.
The last European Championship match in Munich takes place on July 2.
UEFA had previously opted not to take disciplinary action against Germany skipper Manuel Neuer for wearing a rainbow-coloured captain's armband.
Tensions are running high on and off the pitch.
Hungary need a win to have a chance of reaching the last 16, while hosts Germany know just a draw would secure a spot in the knockout phase.
An investigation into an allegedly homophobic banner and monkey noises at Hungary's first two Euro matches in Budapest was opened by UEFA on Sunday.
A UEFA source had previously told AFP that it would consider moving the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final to Budapest from London if the British government refuses to grant VIPs exemption from Covid-19 quarantine measures.

The mayor of Munich, Dieter Reiter, had wanted the stadium in rainbow colours for the crucial Group F match to "send a visible sign of solidarity" with Hungary's LGBT community

Given the political context of this request, a message aimed at a decision taken by the Hungarian national parliament, UEFA must refuse

UEFA refuses to light Munich stadium in rainbow colours for Germany-Hungary match

India's Olympic body has slammed as "unfair" strict rules imposed by the Japanese government on athletes from several Covid-hit nations for the Tokyo Games starting next month.

Tokyo 2020 organisers said Monday that additional measures will be used to reduce infection risks from several countries, including India, that have seen "significant impact from variants" of Covid-19.
The protocols will involve daily testing of athletes for a week before they depart for Japan and for them to "refrain from coming into contact with other teams for three days after they arrive" in Japan.
But the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said the rules would cause athletes to lose three crucial training days.
-Athletes are allowed to arrive in the Games village only five days before their event- IOA president Narinder Batra and secretary Rajeev Mehta said in a joint statement released on Saturday.
-Now three days will be wasted, this is the time the athletes need to be moving towards their mode to peak... highly unfair for Indian athletes, who have worked hard for five years, to be discriminated against just five days before the Olympics.-The sports administrators said 11 countries, including India, Pakistan and the UK, would be affected.
-Where and when will the athletes have their breakfast, lunch, dinner during these three days, as everyone has food in the Games village food hall where all athletes and officials of other NOCs (National Olympic Committees) are present all the time- the statement added.
Where can athletes train? it asked, because "practice/training areas are never empty and athletes and officials of other NOCs are present all the time."
The Tokyo 2020 organisers said in a statement to AFP that they had received a document from India's Olympic body.
-For participants from areas such as India that have seen significant impact from variants, it is necessary that they follow more stringent rules than those outlined in the (athletes) Playbook, and are similar to the existing border control measures- they added.But the organisers did not clarify whether athletes from the affected countries would be allowed to train in the three days after their arrival.
Batra told AFP last week that Indian athletes will be fully vaccinated before the Games starting July 23. 
The country has eased some lockdown restrictions in recent weeks as it emerges from a brutal surge in infections and deaths in April and May.
The International Olympic Committee said in late May that six countries -- Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka -- had pledged to fully vaccinated their delegations and conduct additional testing.
Some Indian athletes, including javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and wrestler Vinesh Phogat, are training abroad and will travel to Tokyo from their respective locations.
But most of the Olympic team will depart from India.
Despite its huge population, India won just two medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The protocols will involve daily testing of athletes for a week before they depart for Japan and for them to "refrain from coming into contact with other teams for three days after they arrive"

Organisers did not clarify whether athletes from the affected countries would be allowed to train in the three days after their arrival

India protest 'unfair' Tokyo Olympic rules for Covid-hit nations

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos left the club Wednesday after 16 years of service, according to the Spanish football powerhouse. 

-Real Madrid C. F. announces that tomorrow, Thursday 17 June, at 12:30 p.m. [1030GMT], an institutional act of tribute and farewell to our captain Sergio Ramos will be held, which will be attended by our president Florentino Perez- the club said in a statement.
The 35-year-old central defender will say goodbye to Real Madrid fans at a virtual press conference.
Ramos joined Real Madrid from Sevilla in 2005.
He won five Spanish La Liga and four UEFA Champions League titles and three UEFA Super Cup trophies with Real Madrid.
Ramos also helped the Whites win four Spanish Super Cups and two Spanish Cups.
He scored 101 goals in 671 appearances for Real Madrid.
His contract at the club will expire on June 30.
Ramos was a decent Spanish national team member, winning two back-to-back European championships: the UEFA Euro 2008 and 2012.
In addition, he won the 2010 FIFA World Cup with his native Spain.

The 35-year-old central defender Sergio Ramos will say goodbye to fans at a virtual press conference

Ramos joined Real Madrid from Sevilla in 2005

Real Madrid captain exits club after 16 years

World number three Rafael Nadal will not play at the Summer Olympic Games and Wimbledon, the Spaniard confirmed on Thursday.

-Hi all, I have decided not to participate at this year’s Championships at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in Tokyo- Nadal said on Twitter.
-It’s never an easy decision to take but after listening to my body and discuss it with my team I understand that it is the right decision- he added.
The 35-year-old also said: -Sport prevention of any kind of excess in my body is a very important factor at this stage of my career in order to try to keep fighting for the highest level of competition and titles.-Spain's Nadal, who won the gold medal in Beijing in 2008, holds a 20-time grand slam title in men's singles.
The Championships, Wimbledon will kick off on June 28 as Tokyo 2020 will start from July 23.
The Summer Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 23 to Aug. 8 without overseas spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

'Never an easy decision' Rafael Nadal says on Twitter

Spanish tennis star Nadal pulls out of Tokyo 2020, Wimbledon

Danish star Christian Eriksen, who suffered a cardiac arrest during his country's Euro 2020 opener last weekend, will have a heart defibrillator implanted, the Danish Football Union (DBU) announced Thursday.

The Inter Milan midfielder collapsed and required CPR during Denmark's game against Finland in Copenhagen where he remains in hospital.
-After Christian has been through different heart examinations it has been decided that he should have an ICD (heart starter)- the Danish football body said in a statement on Twitter.
-This device is necessary after a cardiac attack due to rhythm disturbances- it added. 
DBU provided no details on the potential consequences for the 29-year-old Inter Milan player's future career.
Eriksen "has accepted the solution" and it had also been "confirmed by specialists nationally and internationally who all recommend the same treatment," DBU said.
Players, such as Dutchman Daley Blind, have been able to resume their careers after being fitted with the device, which controls and regulates the heart rate.
The announcement of the medical procedure comes hours before the kick-off to Denmark's next match against Belgium, where a tribute to the Danish number 10 is scheduled to take place in the 10th minute of the match.

This device is necessary after a cardiac attack due to rhythm disturbances

Denmark's Eriksen to have defibrillator implanted

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) expects 70%-80% of the news media covering the Olympics in Tokyo this summer to be vaccinated, organisers said in statement at the launch of the updated coronavirus guidelines for the Games on Tuesday.

The organisers also said every sports delegation arriving in Japan will have a COVID liaison officer coordinating with the organisers on the implementation of the measures to stop the spread of the virus at the event due to start on July 23.

The organisers also said every sports delegation arriving in Japan will have a COVID liaison officer

The logo of the Tokyo Olympic Games, at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office building in Tokyo, Japan, January 22, 2021.

Up to 80% of Tokyo Olympics media will be vaccinated, say organisers

Christian Eriksen, the Danish football player who collapsed on the pitch in his country's opening Euro 2020 game, said that he was doing "fine" in an Instagram post from hospital on Tuesday.

-I'm fine -- under the circumstances, I still have to go through some examinations at the hospital, but I feel okay- he wrote in a post accompanying a photo of him smiling and giving a thumbs-up while lying in bed.

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overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CQIbbREAXo5/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Christian Eriksen (@chriseriksen8)</a></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

In a scene that shocked the sporting world and beyond, the 29-year-old Inter Milan midfielder suddenly collapsed on the field in the 43rd minute of Denmark's Group B game on Saturday against Finland in Copenhagen.

Medical personnel administered CPR as he lay motionless on the field for about 15 minutes before being carried off the pitch and rushed to hospital.
He was later confirmed to have suffered cardiac arrest.
-Big thanks for your sweet and amazing greetings and messages from all around the world. It means a lot to me and my family- he wrote in Tuesday's post.
-Now, I will cheer on the boys on the Denmark team in the next matches. Play for all of Denmark.-

It was confirmed that he have suffered cardiac arrest

Denmark's Eriksen says 'I'm fine' from hospital

Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić has won the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, the NBA announced on Wednesday.

-With the first Kia NBA MVP Award of his career, Jokić becomes the first player to earn the honor as a member of the Nuggets- the NBA said in a statement.
-He is also the first player from Serbia to be selected as the NBA MVP and joins Dirk Nowitzki (Germany) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) as MVP winners from Europe.-It added: - Jokić received 91 first-place votes and earned 971 total points from a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters as well as the Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award fan vote, making for 101 ballots.-Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (586 points) came in second place, followed by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (453 points) in third, Milwaukee Bucks forward Antetokounmpo (348 points) in fourth, and Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (139 points) in fifth place.
In his sixth season for the Nuggets, Jokic played all 72 games and averaged a career-high 26.4 points, 10.9 rebounds, a career-high 8.4 assists, and 1.32 steals in 34.8 minutes.
With his season averages, the Serbian center ranked 12th in the NBA in points, ninth in rebounds, sixth in assists, and 22nd in steals.
The 26-year-old is the third player in NBA history to average at least 26.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 8.0 assists in a season, joining the legendary Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.
Jokić's Nuggets finished the regular season 47-25, good enough for the 3rd spot in the Western Conference.

Nikola Jokić 1st player from Serbia to be selected as NBA Most Valuable Player

Denver Nuggets' Jokic wins 2020-21 NBA MVP award

Several World Cup football qualifiers scheduled to be played in China were moved to Dubai on Monday over coronavirus infections in the Syria and Maldives teams, the Chinese Football Association said.

Seven Group A fixtures involving China, Syria, Maldives, the Philippines and Guam are affected, playing further havoc with the already heavily disrupted Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
-In view of the recent epidemic infections in the Maldives and Syrian national football teams... they must be strictly quarantined upon entry and cannot participate in the games as scheduled- a CFA statement said.
-According to recommendations from the AFC (Asian Football Confederation), the Chinese FA agreed that the remaining qualifying matches... will not be held in Suzhou and will be transferred to Dubai and held there- it added.
The games were supposed to take place over the next fortnight in a secure "bubble" in the Chinese city of Suzhou.
The AFC stopped short of confirming that Dubai will now stage the matches, saying in a statement they will take place at "a neutral venue, which will be decided and announced in the coming days".
-The decision was made due to the mounting challenges faced by several participating teams in travelling to China- it added.
According to China's Titan Sports, the Maldives and Syria are in Dubai and were denied permission to depart for China. 
Maldives striker Ali Ashfaq tweeted that he had tested positive and won't be playing in the qualifiers.
China, who smashed Guam 7-0 on Sunday, were scheduled to face the Maldives on Thursday, while Syria and the Maldives were set to play on June 7.
China are second in the group behind Syria and are fighting to keep their World Cup hopes alive. The games double as qualifiers for the 2023 Asian Cup in China.
"The Chinese Football Association will make every effort to prepare for the matches," the CFA said.
The AFC said it hopes to keep to the original schedule, with the final round of matches on June 15.

Seven Group A fixtures involving China, Syria, Maldives, the Philippines and Guam are affected

World Cup qualifiers moved from China to Dubai over virus cases

Tokyo Olympics fans may have to be vaccinated or test negative for the coronavirus before being allowed into venues, a Japanese newspaper report said Monday.

Cheering, eating, high-fives and drinking alcohol would also be banned under controls now being considered, the Yomiuri Shimbun daily said, citing unnamed government officials.
Organisers are set to decide in June how many spectators -- if any -- will be allowed to attend the pandemic-postponed Games.
Overseas fans are already barred, and the report warned domestic spectators may be denied entrance or kicked out for breaking the rules.
-The plan is to stop the spread of infections during Games time with strict countermeasures- the paper said.
Under the plan, spectators must be able to show a vaccination certificate or a negative test taken at their own expense less than a week before entering the venue.
They must wear masks and fill in health-check sheets, and once inside must not cheer loudly or high-five each other.
Security guards would be stationed around venues monitoring behaviour, the report said, with public viewing venues cancelled or scaled down.
Japan's vaccine rollout has been moving slowly, with less than 2.5 percent of the population fully vaccinated so far.
Tokyo and other parts of the country are under a virus state of emergency which was extended on Friday until June 20, just over a month before the opening ceremony on July 23.
The Yomiuri also published a new poll on Monday that shows 49 percent of people living in Tokyo want the Games to go ahead, while 48 percent want them cancelled.
A total of 25 percent said they wanted the Games to go ahead with a limited number of spectators, while 24 percent said they wanted them to be held with no fans.
A new country-wide poll by the Nikkei newspaper found that 62 percent of respondents wanted the Games to be cancelled or postponed again, while 34 percent were in favour of them being held this summer.
Organisers have repeatedly ruled out the Games being postponed again.

Cheering, eating, high-fives and drinking alcohol would also be banned under controls now being considered

Foreign spectators have already been banned from the Tokyo Olympic Games, and now restrictions on local fans could be in store

Tokyo Olympics fans to need vaccination or virus test

World number one Novak Đoković said on Thursday that he would reconsider taking part in the Tokyo Olympics if spectators were banned from attending.

The world number one's reaction came after calls grew in Japan for the Games to take place behind closed doors, with one doctors' association saying the event should be cancelled altogether. 
-I plan on playing in the Olympics, as long as fans are allowed- Đoković said in a press conference.
-If not, I'd think twice about participating.-Đoković is not the first tennis star to express doubts over the rescheduled Olympics -- Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams recently said they were unsure whether they would compete.
Roger Federer said athletes needed a firm decision on whether the event is going ahead, adding he was still in two minds.
Japanese stars Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori have both raised concerns about whether Tokyo should be hosting the Games at all.
Medical groups have warned the massive event could introduce new variants to Japan even as parts of Japan, including capital Tokyo, are still under states of emergency.
Haruo Ozaki, chairman of the Tokyo Medical Association, said on Thursday that holding the Games without spectators "is the bare minimum given the current situation".
"This is the Olympics in a time of emergency," he said at a press conference.
Organisers have already barred overseas fans, while a decision on domestic spectators is expected in late June.
Tokyo's current virus restrictions allow venues to have up to 5,000 fans or 50 percent capacity, whichever is fewer.
Đoković was speaking after he booked his place in the semi-finals in the Belgrade tournament with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Federico Coria, a victory that puts him fifth on the list of Open era wins.
The 56-minute demolition of the 96th ranked Argentine took Đoković to 952 wins, putting him one ahead of Guillermo Vilas.
-It was a great performance- said Đoković, who is tuning up for the French Open which begins in Paris on Sunday. 
-And probably one of the best matches, if not the best match, I played this year. I felt fantastic on the court from the first point.-Đoković will face either fellow Serb Dušan Lajović or qualifier Andrej Martin in the semi-finals. 
He improved to 18-3 for the season and is attempting to reach his third final of the year. 
Đoković won the Australian Open for a ninth time but lost the Italian Open final on clay to Nadal.
Vilas, also an Argentine, played professionally between 1969 and 1992, reaching eight major finals, winning four.
He was a four-time French Open finalist, winning in 1977 with a straight sets demolition of the American Brian Gottfried.

The world number one's reaction came after calls grew in Japan for the Games to take place behind closed doors, with one doctors' association saying the event should be cancelled altogether

Đoković will play Olympics only if fans allowed

Nigeria will play Mexico in a friendly on July 3 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in the United States, officials said Wednesday.

-We are happy to be able to announce this match, which is a clash between two very big teams from two different continents- said Jairo Pachon, Nigeria's official match agent.
-Mexico against Nigeria is a big match any day and the venue is class.-The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a 77,000-capacity facility which hosted the 1996 Olympics football event which Nigeria won.
The countries have clashed five times at this level – four draws with Mexico recording a win.
Their last meeting was in October 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia, and the game ended in a goalless draw.
The teams are expected to announce their squads next month.
Mexico are 11th in the FIFA Ranking, while Nigeria are 32nd.
Mexico are also the current holders of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which they have won eight times.

Their last meeting was in October 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia, and the game ended in a goalless draw

The teams are expected to announce their squads next month

Nigeria announce Mexico date in Los Angeles

Football fans in Germany will return to stadiums for the first time since October on Saturday after Berlin authorities agreed to lift Covid curbs for 2,000 people to attend Union Berlin's final game of the Bundesliga season against RB Leipzig.

-Union Berlin made an application, and we have decided in consultation with the health authorities that 2000 fans will be allowed into the stadium- Martin Pallgen, spokesperson for the Berlin government's sports department, told AFP subsidiary SID.
The move allows season ticket holders to watch from the stands as the Berliners fight for a place in next year's Europa Conference League on the final day of the season.
In a statement on their website, Union said the "pilot event" will only be allowed to go ahead if "the pandemic situation permits".
According to Pallgen, the approval is conditional on Berlin's seven-day incidence rate remaining at less than 100 new cases per 100,000 people this week.
If infection rates do remain low, fans who have recovered from Covid-19, are fully vaccinated or can provide an up-to-date negative test will be allowed into the Alte Foersterei stadium, which usually holds around 20,000 supporters. 
With demand from Union's famously passionate supporters far outstripping supply, tickets will be allocated via a lottery among season-ticket holders.
Strict coronavirus restrictions have been in place in Germany since last autumn, and Bundesliga stadiums have remained empty since late October.
Yet with infection rates dropping all over Germany and the country's vaccination campaign now firing on all cylinders, many states have made cautious moves to open up the economy. 
Outdoor dining is set to be allowed in Berlin from next weekend for the first time since October, while coastal areas such as Schleswig-Holstein have opened up for tourists.
Yet Union will probably be the only top-flight club cheered on by their fans this weekend, after authorities in Munich and the football-mad western state of North-Rhine Westphalia ruled out a return for supporters.
The Berlin club, who are punching above their weight on the pitch this season, have been among the most active in their attempts to re-open for supporters.
Criticised last summer for announcing controversial plans to return the stadium to full capacity, they have since been among the first clubs to trial matchday testing on journalists and club staff at games behind closed doors.
Fans attending Saturday's game will be able to get a free rapid antigen test at the club's own test centre, which opened to the public on a site adjacent to the stadium last month.&nbsp;

The move allows season ticket holders to watch from the stands as the Berliners fight for a place in next year's Europa Conference League on the final day of the season

The last time fans were allowed into Bundesliga stadiums was back in October 2020.

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Sports

Fernandinho signs Man City contract extension

Berlin urges UK govt to reduce Euro 2020 crowd sizes

Serena Williams joins Nadal in missing Tokyo Olympics

UEFA refuses to light Munich stadium in rainbow colours for Germany-Hungary match

India protest 'unfair' Tokyo Olympic rules for Covid-hit nations

Real Madrid captain exits club after 16 years

Spanish tennis star Nadal pulls out of Tokyo 2020, Wimbledon

Denmark's Eriksen to have defibrillator implanted

Up to 80% of Tokyo Olympics media will be vaccinated, say organisers

Denmark's Eriksen says 'I'm fine' from hospital

Denver Nuggets' Jokic wins 2020-21 NBA MVP award

World Cup qualifiers moved from China to Dubai over virus cases

Tokyo Olympics fans to need vaccination or virus test

Đoković will play Olympics only if fans allowed

Nigeria announce Mexico date in Los Angeles

Berlin lifts virus curbs for football fans to return to stadium