Lionel Messi scored one stunning goal but then had a penalty saved as Barcelona failed in their attempt to produce a second Champions League comeback for the ages against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, a 1-1 draw taking the French side through to the quarter-finals 5-2 on aggregate.

Kylian Mbappe netted a hat-trick as PSG stunned Barca 4-1 in the first leg last month, and he extended their advantage in this last-16 tie by netting a first-half penalty in the second leg to put last season's runners-up ahead on the night.

But Messi made it 1-1 with a ferocious strike from 30 metres and the Argentine had the chance to put the visitors ahead after Antoine Griezmann was fouled in the area, only for the outstanding Keylor Navas to tip his spot-kick onto the bar.

Barcelona certainly went for it, but there was to be no repeat of their infamous recovery against the same opponents four years ago, when they lost the first leg 4-0 but triumphed 6-1 in the return.

It is the first time they have gone out before the quarter-finals since 2007 and, after Juventus were knocked out on Tuesday, neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in the last eight for the first time since 2005.

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman can nevertheless be encouraged by the way his team played on a cold, wet and windy night at an empty Parc des Princes.

"We are out, and that is what counts in our sport, but we can feel good about it because we had chances to make life difficult for our opponents," Koeman told Movistar Plus.

"We deserved more, and things could have been different had it been 2-1 at half-time."

Barcelona have been a club in crisis for some time but they have a new president in Joan Laporta, who will hope to restore calm at boardroom level, and they can still hope to finish the season strongly domestically.

Meanwhile PSG are safely through to the quarter-finals as they look to go one better than last season and win the Champions League for the first time.

They will feel this tie marks another step forward in their quest to become Europe's dominant force, after three defeats at Barcelona's hands in knockout ties since the Qatar Sports Investments takeover of a decade ago.

<h2>- Mbappe's tie, Navas' night -</h2>

Victory was achieved despite Neymar missing both legs due to injury, with Mbappe providing enough stardust on his own.

Yet after lighting up the first leg, the French World Cup winner found the going tougher in the return, and coach Mauricio Pochettino will face some questions about his side's approach.

"We are in the quarter-finals and we are very happy," he told RMC Sport, adding: "Sometimes in football you need to be prepared to suffer."

There were jitters, with Barcelona dominating almost from the first minute and squandering chance after chance in the opening half-hour.

Poor decision-making from Ousmane Dembele did not help the away side, although he also saw one ball across the face of goal just escape the outstretched leg of Messi.

As an impromptu fireworks display broke out just outside the stadium, Navas then produced his first superb save midway through the first half when he turned Sergino Dest's shot onto the woodwork, and it was against the run of play that PSG went ahead.

Clement Lenglet caught the heel of Mauro Icardi in the area in the 28th minute, a foul that was almost invisible on first viewing but was confirmed by English referee Anthony Taylor after a VAR review.

Mbappe scored from the spot for his fourth goal in the tie and his 26th of the season.

Barcelona kept coming though, and Messi equalised with a shot from range that was like a tracer bullet that whistled into the top corner, not the kind of goal he scores often.

It was his 25th this season, and he could have scored again in first-half stoppage time as Layvin Kurzawa was penalised for catching Griezmann in the box.

However, Messi was denied by Navas, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper dousing Barcelona's hopes as he continued to do in the second half.

"Navas had a brilliant game. He is a world-class goalkeeper and you saw that tonight," said Pochettino.

Lionel Messi scored one stunning goal but then had a penalty saved as Barcelona failed in their attempt to produce a second Champions League comeback for the ages against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, a 1-1 draw taking the French side through to the quarter-finals 5-2 on aggregate.

Lionel Messi scored one stunning goal but then had a penalty saved as Barcelona failed in their attempt to produce a second Champions League comeback for the ages against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, a 1-1 draw taking the French side through to the quarter-finals 5-2 on aggregate. Kylian Mbappe netted a hat-trick as PSG stunned Barca 4-1 in the first leg last month, and he extended their advantage in this last-16 tie by netting a first-half penalty in the second leg to put last season's runners-up ahead on the night. But Messi made it 1-1 with a ferocious strike from 30 metres and the Argentine had the chance to put the visitors ahead after Antoine Griezmann was fouled in the area, only for the outstanding Keylor Navas to tip his spot-kick onto the bar. Barcelona certainly went for it, but there was to be no repeat of their infamous recovery against the same opponents four years ago, when they lost the first leg 4-0 but triumphed 6-1 in the return. It is the first time they have gone out before the quarter-finals since 2007 and, after Juventus were knocked out on Tuesday, neither Messi nor Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in the last eight for the first time since 2005. Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman can nevertheless be encouraged by the way his team played on a cold, wet and windy night at an empty Parc des Princes. "We are out, and that is what counts in our sport, but we can feel good about it because we had chances to make life difficult for our opponents," Koeman told Movistar Plus. "We deserved more, and things could have been different had it been 2-1 at half-time." Barcelona have been a club in crisis for some time but they have a new president in Joan Laporta, who will hope to restore calm at boardroom level, and they can still hope to finish the season strongly domestically. Meanwhile PSG are safely through to the quarter-finals as they look to go one better than last season and win the Champions League for the first time. They will feel this tie marks another step forward in their quest to become Europe's dominant force, after three defeats at Barcelona's hands in knockout ties since the Qatar Sports Investments takeover of a decade ago. - Mbappe's tie, Navas' night - Victory was achieved despite Neymar missing both legs due to injury, with Mbappe providing enough stardust on his own. Yet after lighting up the first leg, the French World Cup winner found the going tougher in the return, and coach Mauricio Pochettino will face some questions about his side's approach. "We are in the quarter-finals and we are very happy," he told RMC Sport, adding: "Sometimes in football you need to be prepared to suffer." There were jitters, with Barcelona dominating almost from the first minute and squandering chance after chance in the opening half-hour. Poor decision-making from Ousmane Dembele did not help the away side, although he also saw one ball across the face of goal just escape the outstretched leg of Messi. As an impromptu fireworks display broke out just outside the stadium, Navas then produced his first superb save midway through the first half when he turned Sergino Dest's shot onto the woodwork, and it was against the run of play that PSG went ahead. Clement Lenglet caught the heel of Mauro Icardi in the area in the 28th minute, a foul that was almost invisible on first viewing but was confirmed by English referee Anthony Taylor after a VAR review. Mbappe scored from the spot for his fourth goal in the tie and his 26th of the season. Barcelona kept coming though, and Messi equalised with a shot from range that was like a tracer bullet that whistled into the top corner, not the kind of goal he scores often. It was his 25th this season, and he could have scored again in first-half stoppage time as Layvin Kurzawa was penalised for catching Griezmann in the box. However, Messi was denied by Navas, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper dousing Barcelona's hopes as he continued to do in the second half. "Navas had a brilliant game. He is a world-class goalkeeper and you saw that tonight," said Pochettino.

Messi misses penalty as Barcelona fail in latest PSG comeback attempt

Liverpool eased past RB Leipzig into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win in Budapest Wednesday that coach Jurgen Klopp said helps his side put their Premier League woes to one side. &nbsp;

Repeating their rapid-fire double act from the first leg, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane again struck within four second-half minutes to give the Reds a 4-0 aggregate win and keep alive Liverpool's hopes of rescuing their miserable domestic season with European glory.

After six successive defeats at Anfield and dropping to eighth place in the Premier League, Klopp's men looked relieved to be away from home, with the second leg also played in the Hungarian capital due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.

"They were outstanding. We had to switch off the Premier League stuff to get here and to try. To give it a proper try," Klopp told BT Sport.

"The boys really enjoyed themselves tonight which is important," said Klopp.

"It is a big result for us," said Salah.

"We lost a few games in the Premier League, the team is not in the best shape but we want to fight in the Champions League," he said.

"It's been tough in the Premier League, everybody can see that. The last couple of years we were winning, we were flying. This year we had a couple of injuries so we were unlucky, we are trying to fix that but it is hard," he added.

While the Reds showed attacking intent from the off, they squandered a string of chances throughout the first half.

"First-half we created massive chances and didn't score which is a thing we have in 2021," said Klopp.

Unmarked at a corner, Diogo Jota should have opened their account in the 18th minute but the Portuguese striker headed straight at Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi who tipped over.

Midway through the period, an acrobatic scissor kick by Thiago Alcantara released Salah on the left but his left-footed effort was blocked by Gulacsi with Mane unable to convert the rebound.

<h2>- Leipzig miss chances -</h2>

Then on the half-hour, the onrushing Salah couldn't finish from close range after meeting a cross by Trent Alexander-Arnold who was sent clear on the right by a slide-rule pass by Mane.

Roused at last by the narrow escapes, Leipzig began to venture beyond Liverpool's high line and managed to carve out some chances of their own.

Kevin Kampl forced a save from Alisson Becker with a curler from distance, while a minute later Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg, back from injury, clipped a snapshot just wide of the post.

Still, with Brazil's Fabinho back in the starting side and directing affairs in midfield, the better chances fell to Liverpool.

Jota again fired straight at Gulacsi just before the break and then into the side-netting on the whistle after a slip by French defender Dayot Upamecano.

Leipzig, flying domestically on the back of six straight Bundesliga wins but nervy in Budapest, urgently needed a goal to rattle Liverpool but continued to lack penetration in the second half.

In truth, Julian Nagelsmann's men, who dumped Tottenham out at this stage of the competition last year and Manchester United in the group stage this season, rarely looked like claiming an even bigger scalp by turning the tie around.

Their last opportunity arrived on 65 minutes but Alexander Sorloth's header from a cross by Hwang Hee-chan spun over Alisson's fingertips only to rebound off the bar.

Soon after, Salah and Mane ruthlessly took advantage of the let-off by securing Liverpool's berth in the last eight.

In the 70th minute, the Egyptian fired a shot past Gulacsi, then four minutes later Mane turned a cross by substitute Divock Origi past the hapless Hungarian.

"The best thing that the boys did is that no one could see how good Leipzig can be," said Klopp.&nbsp;

"We defended them really well because they are a monster. They usually are so powerful," he said.

"We want to win football games, we feel it now for the first time in a while and it is a massive difference."

Liverpool eased past RB Leipzig into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win in Budapest Wednesday that coach Jurgen Klopp said helps his side put their Premier League woes to one side.

Liverpool eased past RB Leipzig into the Champions League quarter-finals with a 2-0 win in Budapest Wednesday that coach Jurgen Klopp said helps his side put their Premier League woes to one side. Repeating their rapid-fire double act from the first leg, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane again struck within four second-half minutes to give the Reds a 4-0 aggregate win and keep alive Liverpool's hopes of rescuing their miserable domestic season with European glory. After six successive defeats at Anfield and dropping to eighth place in the Premier League, Klopp's men looked relieved to be away from home, with the second leg also played in the Hungarian capital due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. "They were outstanding. We had to switch off the Premier League stuff to get here and to try. To give it a proper try," Klopp told BT Sport. "The boys really enjoyed themselves tonight which is important," said Klopp. "It is a big result for us," said Salah. "We lost a few games in the Premier League, the team is not in the best shape but we want to fight in the Champions League," he said. "It's been tough in the Premier League, everybody can see that. The last couple of years we were winning, we were flying. This year we had a couple of injuries so we were unlucky, we are trying to fix that but it is hard," he added. While the Reds showed attacking intent from the off, they squandered a string of chances throughout the first half. "First-half we created massive chances and didn't score which is a thing we have in 2021," said Klopp. Unmarked at a corner, Diogo Jota should have opened their account in the 18th minute but the Portuguese striker headed straight at Hungarian goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi who tipped over. Midway through the period, an acrobatic scissor kick by Thiago Alcantara released Salah on the left but his left-footed effort was blocked by Gulacsi with Mane unable to convert the rebound. - Leipzig miss chances - Then on the half-hour, the onrushing Salah couldn't finish from close range after meeting a cross by Trent Alexander-Arnold who was sent clear on the right by a slide-rule pass by Mane. Roused at last by the narrow escapes, Leipzig began to venture beyond Liverpool's high line and managed to carve out some chances of their own. Kevin Kampl forced a save from Alisson Becker with a curler from distance, while a minute later Swedish playmaker Emil Forsberg, back from injury, clipped a snapshot just wide of the post. Still, with Brazil's Fabinho back in the starting side and directing affairs in midfield, the better chances fell to Liverpool. Jota again fired straight at Gulacsi just before the break and then into the side-netting on the whistle after a slip by French defender Dayot Upamecano. Leipzig, flying domestically on the back of six straight Bundesliga wins but nervy in Budapest, urgently needed a goal to rattle Liverpool but continued to lack penetration in the second half. In truth, Julian Nagelsmann's men, who dumped Tottenham out at this stage of the competition last year and Manchester United in the group stage this season, rarely looked like claiming an even bigger scalp by turning the tie around. Their last opportunity arrived on 65 minutes but Alexander Sorloth's header from a cross by Hwang Hee-chan spun over Alisson's fingertips only to rebound off the bar. Soon after, Salah and Mane ruthlessly took advantage of the let-off by securing Liverpool's berth in the last eight. In the 70th minute, the Egyptian fired a shot past Gulacsi, then four minutes later Mane turned a cross by substitute Divock Origi past the hapless Hungarian. "The best thing that the boys did is that no one could see how good Leipzig can be," said Klopp. "We defended them really well because they are a monster. They usually are so powerful," he said. "We want to win football games, we feel it now for the first time in a while and it is a massive difference."

Liverpool 'switch off' domestic woes to ease into Champions League last eight

US Olympic chiefs said Wednesday they expect athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics will be vaccinated against Covid-19 "well before" the Games as US immunisation efforts surge ahead.

In a conference call with reporters, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland said the pace of the US vaccine rollout meant athletes may now be vaccinated even before trials and qualifiers for Tokyo.

"We are more optimistic than ever in hoping Team USA athletes will be readily and easily vaccinated well before the Games, and hopefully, some likely even before their trials," Hirshland said.

"The vaccine situation is looking very positive ... the broad base of athletes may have access to the vaccine sooner than we thought initially possible.

"This is great news and we're feeling really positive about the progress we're seeing here in the United States, both in its advantage to US athletes as well as international athletes living and training in our country right now."

Some 62 million people in the United States have received one or more doses of the vaccine, about 19 percent of the adult population, while the White House has targeted inoculating the adult population of 270 million people by May.

Hirshland said most athletes were likely to be vaccinated as part of local level immunisation programs, but did not rule out mass vaccination events where athletes were gathered at a particular location.

"We're exploring a variety of different scenarios," she said. "It is possible that vaccines may be readily and widely available in local communities across the country as early as May based on what the administration is telling us.

"That certainly provides the easiest logistical pathway for athletes training in communities across the country, but we are also exploring opportunities to help support that distribution.

"Ideally the vaccines are administered well in advance of that, but we're exploring every option. We're focused on being as prepared as we can."

Hirshland said while the "vast majority" of Team USA athletes would opt for the vaccine, she was expecting some athletes to decline to do so.

"I absolutely expect there will be Team USA athletes who do not choose to take a vaccine," Hirshland said. "We will respect that right. There are a variety of factors that may play into those decisions.

"Our medical teams are working with athletes on a one-on-one basis to make sure they have the information they need to make the right choice for themselves.

"With or without the vaccine, we're confident we can keep everybody healthy and safe regardless."

Asked if Olympic officials had seen any evidence of reluctance to travel to Tokyo, she added: "I don't have any reports of hesitancy. Our team is eager and ready to go."

US Olympic chiefs said Wednesday they expect athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics will be vaccinated against Covid-19 "well before" the Games as US immunisation efforts surge ahead.

US Olympic chiefs said Wednesday they expect athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics will be vaccinated against Covid-19 "well before" the Games as US immunisation efforts surge ahead. In a conference call with reporters, United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee chief executive Sarah Hirshland said the pace of the US vaccine rollout meant athletes may now be vaccinated even before trials and qualifiers for Tokyo. "We are more optimistic than ever in hoping Team USA athletes will be readily and easily vaccinated well before the Games, and hopefully, some likely even before their trials," Hirshland said. "The vaccine situation is looking very positive ... the broad base of athletes may have access to the vaccine sooner than we thought initially possible. "This is great news and we're feeling really positive about the progress we're seeing here in the United States, both in its advantage to US athletes as well as international athletes living and training in our country right now." Some 62 million people in the United States have received one or more doses of the vaccine, about 19 percent of the adult population, while the White House has targeted inoculating the adult population of 270 million people by May. Hirshland said most athletes were likely to be vaccinated as part of local level immunisation programs, but did not rule out mass vaccination events where athletes were gathered at a particular location. "We're exploring a variety of different scenarios," she said. "It is possible that vaccines may be readily and widely available in local communities across the country as early as May based on what the administration is telling us. "That certainly provides the easiest logistical pathway for athletes training in communities across the country, but we are also exploring opportunities to help support that distribution. "Ideally the vaccines are administered well in advance of that, but we're exploring every option. We're focused on being as prepared as we can." Hirshland said while the "vast majority" of Team USA athletes would opt for the vaccine, she was expecting some athletes to decline to do so. "I absolutely expect there will be Team USA athletes who do not choose to take a vaccine," Hirshland said. "We will respect that right. There are a variety of factors that may play into those decisions. "Our medical teams are working with athletes on a one-on-one basis to make sure they have the information they need to make the right choice for themselves. "With or without the vaccine, we're confident we can keep everybody healthy and safe regardless." Asked if Olympic officials had seen any evidence of reluctance to travel to Tokyo, she added: "I don't have any reports of hesitancy. Our team is eager and ready to go."

US athletes to be vaccinated 'well before' Olympics: USOPC

Hundreds of Argentine football fans demonstrated on Wednesday in Buenos Aires to demand justice for superstar player Diego Maradona, who died on November 25 in circumstances under investigation.

"Maradona has been left to die and it is not fair, it is not fair that a person who gave us Argentines so much ends up like that," Abel Chorolque, a 44-year-old cab driver, told AFP at the protest.&nbsp;

Maradona, who was 60, died of a heart attack just weeks after undergoing brain surgery on a blood clot.

Investigators are looking into the health treatment he received prior to his death to determine whether or not to bring a case of wrongful death, a conviction for which would result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

The "10M" demonstration was organized on social media by different Maradona fan groups under the slogan "Justice for Diego, he did not die, he was killed."&nbsp;

Two of his adult daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, as well as the youngest of his five children -- Diego Fernando, 8 -- were at the protest, though they had to leave as the atmosphere turned tense.

As darkness fell some in the crowd chanted death threats against Matias Morla, Maradona's last lawyer, who would have appointed the medical team that treated him at the end of his life.&nbsp;

Maradona underwent surgery on November 3, just four days after he celebrated his 60th birthday at the club he coached, Gimnasia y Esgrima.

However, he appeared in poor health then and had trouble speaking.

Maradona had battled cocaine and alcohol addictions during his life. He was suffering from liver, kidney and cardiovascular disorders when he died.

A panel of experts, made up of 10 official specialists and 10 more selected by the interested parties, is due to deliver its findings on his cause of death in two or three weeks.

Maradona's neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Diaz are under investigation as well as two nurses, a nursing coordinator and a medical coordinator.

Hundreds of Argentine football fans demonstrated on Wednesday in Buenos Aires to demand justice for superstar player Diego Maradona, who died on November 25 in circumstances under investigation.

Hundreds of Argentine football fans demonstrated on Wednesday in Buenos Aires to demand justice for superstar player Diego Maradona, who died on November 25 in circumstances under investigation. "Maradona has been left to die and it is not fair, it is not fair that a person who gave us Argentines so much ends up like that," Abel Chorolque, a 44-year-old cab driver, told AFP at the protest. Maradona, who was 60, died of a heart attack just weeks after undergoing brain surgery on a blood clot. Investigators are looking into the health treatment he received prior to his death to determine whether or not to bring a case of wrongful death, a conviction for which would result in a prison sentence of up to 15 years. The "10M" demonstration was organized on social media by different Maradona fan groups under the slogan "Justice for Diego, he did not die, he was killed." Two of his adult daughters, Dalma and Gianinna, as well as the youngest of his five children -- Diego Fernando, 8 -- were at the protest, though they had to leave as the atmosphere turned tense. As darkness fell some in the crowd chanted death threats against Matias Morla, Maradona's last lawyer, who would have appointed the medical team that treated him at the end of his life. Maradona underwent surgery on November 3, just four days after he celebrated his 60th birthday at the club he coached, Gimnasia y Esgrima. However, he appeared in poor health then and had trouble speaking. Maradona had battled cocaine and alcohol addictions during his life. He was suffering from liver, kidney and cardiovascular disorders when he died. A panel of experts, made up of 10 official specialists and 10 more selected by the interested parties, is due to deliver its findings on his cause of death in two or three weeks. Maradona's neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque, psychiatrist Agustina Cosachov and psychologist Carlos Diaz are under investigation as well as two nurses, a nursing coordinator and a medical coordinator.

Argentine fans demonstrate to demand 'justice' for Diego Maradona

After a year of games behind closed doors, Bundesliga clubs are contemplating losses of a "billion euros" as players and coaches wonder when Germany's football grounds will be full again in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

"They feel like training games at times," Freiburg striker Nils Petersen has said of matches behind closed doors.

Borussia Moenchengladbach's 2-1 win over Cologne on March 11, 2020, was the first ever Bundesliga game played without spectators.

Two days later, all Bundesliga matches stopped as Germany went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

After a two-and-a-half month hiatus, the league resumed in May with the last nine rounds of matches void of fans so the 2019/20 season could be finished.

Since then, the stadiums in Germany's top flight have largely remained empty.

A few thousand supporters were allowed into 33 games in certain grounds for matches at the start of this season, but Germany's second wave of coronavirus put paid to that.

Bundesliga matches have been played behind closed doors since November when Germany went into a second lockdown, which is still in place.&nbsp;

<h2>- 'Just the beginning' -</h2>

The 36 clubs in Germany's top two leagues are counting the financial cost of lost matchday revenue with their combined turnover plummeting by 300 million euros ($358 million) in 2019/20 compared to the previous season.

"And this is just the beginning," warned Christian Seifert, the CEO of the German Football League (DFL), on Tuesday.

With no end to the current lockdown in sight, Germany's top clubs are forecast to lose a billion euros this season compared to figures before the crisis.

"It's no longer the same job as it was before the pandemic," said Werder's coach Florian Kohfeldt.&nbsp;

"I can't get used to it and I don't want to get used to it," he said of games without fans - dubbed 'Geisterspiele' (ghost games) in German.

"What makes you so enjoy doing your job is totally missing: the emotions in the stadium.

"It's like going to work in a normal job without these extraordinary moments."

Rising stars who made their Bundesliga debuts in the last 12 months, like Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, 16, and Schalke forward Matthew Hoppe, 19, have never experienced the atmosphere of playing in a packed stadium.

"Our sport has become colder. More objective," said Union Berlin goalkeeper Andreas Luthe.

<h2>- 'Privileged position' -</h2>

However, German football enjoys the privileged position of being able to continue when the lockdown has forced many business to close.

"You couldn't imagine what this pandemic would do to many people and companies," Augsburg coach Heiko Herrlich told magazine Kicker.

"We are in a privileged position in football because we are allowed to practice our profession. Many others cannot do that."

Champions Bayern Munich have not played in front of fans at the Allianz Arena since March 8, 2020.

The lack of noise from supporters means every word can be heard on the pitch -- and from the opposing bench.

"That's not always nice," says Bayern coach Hansi Flick, who admits sometimes finding it "a very big challenge" not to react to heckling from the opposition's bench.

There has also been an impact on the pitch.

Without home fans cheering their team on, the host club has won only a third of Bundesliga matches over the last year,&nbsp;according to a study by magazine Kicker.

In the preceeding 12 months up to March 2020, just under half of matches were won by the home team.

"Our work has changed", said Kohfeldt.

"Whether you play away or at home, it has neutralised itself to a certain extent."

However, the lack of passionate fans also seems to have calmed players' tempers.

Half as many red cards were dished out over the last year compared to the same period in the preceding 12 months.

After a year of games behind closed doors, Bundesliga clubs are contemplating losses of a "billion euros" as players and coaches wonder when Germany's football grounds will be full again in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.

After a year of games behind closed doors, Bundesliga clubs are contemplating losses of a "billion euros" as players and coaches wonder when Germany's football grounds will be full again in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. "They feel like training games at times," Freiburg striker Nils Petersen has said of matches behind closed doors. Borussia Moenchengladbach's 2-1 win over Cologne on March 11, 2020, was the first ever Bundesliga game played without spectators. Two days later, all Bundesliga matches stopped as Germany went into lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After a two-and-a-half month hiatus, the league resumed in May with the last nine rounds of matches void of fans so the 2019/20 season could be finished. Since then, the stadiums in Germany's top flight have largely remained empty. A few thousand supporters were allowed into 33 games in certain grounds for matches at the start of this season, but Germany's second wave of coronavirus put paid to that. Bundesliga matches have been played behind closed doors since November when Germany went into a second lockdown, which is still in place. - 'Just the beginning' - The 36 clubs in Germany's top two leagues are counting the financial cost of lost matchday revenue with their combined turnover plummeting by 300 million euros ($358 million) in 2019/20 compared to the previous season. "And this is just the beginning," warned Christian Seifert, the CEO of the German Football League (DFL), on Tuesday. With no end to the current lockdown in sight, Germany's top clubs are forecast to lose a billion euros this season compared to figures before the crisis. "It's no longer the same job as it was before the pandemic," said Werder's coach Florian Kohfeldt. "I can't get used to it and I don't want to get used to it," he said of games without fans - dubbed 'Geisterspiele' (ghost games) in German. "What makes you so enjoy doing your job is totally missing: the emotions in the stadium. "It's like going to work in a normal job without these extraordinary moments." Rising stars who made their Bundesliga debuts in the last 12 months, like Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko, 16, and Schalke forward Matthew Hoppe, 19, have never experienced the atmosphere of playing in a packed stadium. "Our sport has become colder. More objective," said Union Berlin goalkeeper Andreas Luthe. - 'Privileged position' - However, German football enjoys the privileged position of being able to continue when the lockdown has forced many business to close. "You couldn't imagine what this pandemic would do to many people and companies," Augsburg coach Heiko Herrlich told magazine Kicker. "We are in a privileged position in football because we are allowed to practice our profession. Many others cannot do that." Champions Bayern Munich have not played in front of fans at the Allianz Arena since March 8, 2020. The lack of noise from supporters means every word can be heard on the pitch -- and from the opposing bench. "That's not always nice," says Bayern coach Hansi Flick, who admits sometimes finding it "a very big challenge" not to react to heckling from the opposition's bench. There has also been an impact on the pitch. Without home fans cheering their team on, the host club has won only a third of Bundesliga matches over the last year, according to a study by magazine Kicker. In the preceeding 12 months up to March 2020, just under half of matches were won by the home team. "Our work has changed", said Kohfeldt. "Whether you play away or at home, it has neutralised itself to a certain extent." However, the lack of passionate fans also seems to have calmed players' tempers. Half as many red cards were dished out over the last year compared to the same period in the preceding 12 months.

Billion-euro nightmare as German football counts cost of year behind closed doors

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach promised to deliver a "safe, secure" Tokyo Olympics this year as he was re-elected for a second term on Wednesday.

As he opened the IOC Session, Bach said it was no longer a question of whether the Olympics, which were postponed last year as the coronavirus pandemic spread around the globe, would take place but in what conditions they will be held.

"Tokyo remains the best prepared Olympic city ever and at this moment, we have no reason to doubt that the opening ceremony will take place on July 23," Bach said.

"The question is not whether, the question is how these Olympic Games will take place.

"The IOC is working at full speed together with our Japanese partners and friends to make the postponed Olympic Games a safe manifestation of peace, solidarity and resilience of humankind in overcoming the pandemic."

Bach said his aim was to create "a safe, secure and fair environment for all the athletes".

The local Japanese organisers are due to announce by the end of the month whether foreign spectators will be allowed to attend the Games, although it is widely reported that they will be barred due to Covid-19 concerns.

<h2>- Overwhelming support -</h2>

Bach, 67, received unanimous backing in the election for IOC president in which he was the sole candidate, with 93 of the 94 valid votes from IOC members in favour of his re-election.

"Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for this overwhelming vote of confidence and trust," said Bach, sending out a 'virtual' hug to his supporters.

"This is more overwhelming given the reforms and difficult decisions we had to take.

"It's touching me deeply and also makes me humble," the German said, describing his first eight-year mandate as "not so easy".

"Hopefully we'll have us facing one less problem than we've had in the last eight. Who knows?!"

Bach is a popular, long-standing figure within the IOC. He was elected an IOC member at the age of 37 and went on to play a series of influential roles within the organisation before being initially elected its ninth president in September 2013.

Bach succeeded Belgian Jacques Rogge for his opening term. Under IOC rules introduced in 1999, Bach's second term will last four years.

The Tokyo Olympics is the most pressing agenda item at the start of his new term, after an opening eight years that turned out to be unexpectedly eventful.

Under his reign as IOC chief, Bach has had to grapple with several political challenges, and has notably overseen the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Summer Games, both perceived as the most troublesome in recent years.

He has also been a key player in the ongoing Russian doping saga, although the IOC came in for criticism from some quarters for not issuing Moscow with a blanket ban over its state-sponsored doping system.

Bach also came under fire for reinstating the Russian National Olympic Committee after the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics despite failed drugs tests there.

He is credited, however, with having put in place the Olympic Agenda 2020, reforms aimed at cutting costs and streamlining bidding processes to better attract potential host cities.

It saw Paris granted the 2024 Olympics and Los Angeles the 2028 Games back in 2017, and the IOC last month accorded preferred candidate status to Brisbane for the 2032 Games.

But the German lawyer and businessman could well have his biggest challenge ahead of him, in the form of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, with Beijing scheduled to host the 2022 Winter Olympics just six months after the proposed Tokyo Games.

IOC member Dick Pound, summing up the near-blanket support for Bach, described his re-election as "especially important in these difficult times".

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach promised to deliver a "safe, secure" Tokyo Olympics this year as he was re-elected for a second term on Wednesday.

International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach promised to deliver a "safe, secure" Tokyo Olympics this year as he was re-elected for a second term on Wednesday. As he opened the IOC Session, Bach said it was no longer a question of whether the Olympics, which were postponed last year as the coronavirus pandemic spread around the globe, would take place but in what conditions they will be held. "Tokyo remains the best prepared Olympic city ever and at this moment, we have no reason to doubt that the opening ceremony will take place on July 23," Bach said. "The question is not whether, the question is how these Olympic Games will take place. "The IOC is working at full speed together with our Japanese partners and friends to make the postponed Olympic Games a safe manifestation of peace, solidarity and resilience of humankind in overcoming the pandemic." Bach said his aim was to create "a safe, secure and fair environment for all the athletes". The local Japanese organisers are due to announce by the end of the month whether foreign spectators will be allowed to attend the Games, although it is widely reported that they will be barred due to Covid-19 concerns. - Overwhelming support - Bach, 67, received unanimous backing in the election for IOC president in which he was the sole candidate, with 93 of the 94 valid votes from IOC members in favour of his re-election. "Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for this overwhelming vote of confidence and trust," said Bach, sending out a 'virtual' hug to his supporters. "This is more overwhelming given the reforms and difficult decisions we had to take. "It's touching me deeply and also makes me humble," the German said, describing his first eight-year mandate as "not so easy". "Hopefully we'll have us facing one less problem than we've had in the last eight. Who knows?!" Bach is a popular, long-standing figure within the IOC. He was elected an IOC member at the age of 37 and went on to play a series of influential roles within the organisation before being initially elected its ninth president in September 2013. Bach succeeded Belgian Jacques Rogge for his opening term. Under IOC rules introduced in 1999, Bach's second term will last four years. The Tokyo Olympics is the most pressing agenda item at the start of his new term, after an opening eight years that turned out to be unexpectedly eventful. Under his reign as IOC chief, Bach has had to grapple with several political challenges, and has notably overseen the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics and the 2016 Rio Summer Games, both perceived as the most troublesome in recent years. He has also been a key player in the ongoing Russian doping saga, although the IOC came in for criticism from some quarters for not issuing Moscow with a blanket ban over its state-sponsored doping system. Bach also came under fire for reinstating the Russian National Olympic Committee after the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics despite failed drugs tests there. He is credited, however, with having put in place the Olympic Agenda 2020, reforms aimed at cutting costs and streamlining bidding processes to better attract potential host cities. It saw Paris granted the 2024 Olympics and Los Angeles the 2028 Games back in 2017, and the IOC last month accorded preferred candidate status to Brisbane for the 2032 Games. But the German lawyer and businessman could well have his biggest challenge ahead of him, in the form of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, with Beijing scheduled to host the 2022 Winter Olympics just six months after the proposed Tokyo Games. IOC member Dick Pound, summing up the near-blanket support for Bach, described his re-election as "especially important in these difficult times".

Re-elected Bach promises 'safe, secure' Tokyo Olympics

Roger Federer played his first match for over a year Wednesday as the Swiss 20-time Grand Slam champion returned from injury to take on British number one Dan Evans at the Qatar Open in Doha.

Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, won the toss and elected to serve first after joking with the umpire about the rules of the game.

He received a rapturous welcome from the 20 percent-capacity crowd at Doha's Khalifa Tennis Complex, beaming back at the crowd.

The 39-year-old initially pulled ahead winning his service game which was tempered by Evans also winning his opening service game.

Federer hasn't played a match since a semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January 2020 and acknowledged it was unusual for a player of his age to return after injury.

"I know it's on the rare side for a 40-year-old to come back after a year out," he said at a media briefing in the Qatari capital Doha Sunday.

"I feel there is still something -- retirement was never really on the cards."

While he was out of action, he saw Rafael Nadal equal his record Grand Slam title haul with a 13th Roland Garros triumph.

Djokovic, meanwhile, captured a ninth Australian Open last month to take his career Slam tally to 18.

Roger Federer played his first match for over a year Wednesday as the Swiss 20-time Grand Slam champion returned from injury to take on British number one Dan Evans at the Qatar Open in Doha.

Roger Federer played his first match for over a year Wednesday as the Swiss 20-time Grand Slam champion returned from injury to take on British number one Dan Evans at the Qatar Open in Doha. Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries in 2020, won the toss and elected to serve first after joking with the umpire about the rules of the game. He received a rapturous welcome from the 20 percent-capacity crowd at Doha's Khalifa Tennis Complex, beaming back at the crowd. The 39-year-old initially pulled ahead winning his service game which was tempered by Evans also winning his opening service game. Federer hasn't played a match since a semi-final defeat by Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January 2020 and acknowledged it was unusual for a player of his age to return after injury. "I know it's on the rare side for a 40-year-old to come back after a year out," he said at a media briefing in the Qatari capital Doha Sunday. "I feel there is still something -- retirement was never really on the cards." While he was out of action, he saw Rafael Nadal equal his record Grand Slam title haul with a 13th Roland Garros triumph. Djokovic, meanwhile, captured a ninth Australian Open last month to take his career Slam tally to 18.

Roger Federer plays first match for over a year

Danushka Gunathilaka on Wednesday became the first Sri Lankan player to be given out for ‘obstructing the field’ after the batsman was given out in a controversial fashion during the first ODI against West Indies in Antigua. Gunathilaka had pushed the ball away from the bowler, seemingly unintentionally, and was given out after an appeal from Kieron Pollard.&nbsp;

The incident happened during the 22nd&nbsp;over of the Sri Lankan innings when Gunathilaka took a couple of steps forward in a bid to take a single but decided against it. However, when he was moving back to the crease, the ball deflected away from Pollard's reach with the underside of Gunathilaka's foot.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Windies&nbsp;skipper&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;appealed and the third umpire was called into action. The on-field umpire gave the soft signal as out. After going&nbsp;through the replays in slow-motion, the decision was upheld.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/to-officiate-in-t20-world-cup-and-ashes-is-my-next-target-nitin-menon-to-wion-369471" hreflang="en">To officiate in T20 World Cup and Ashes is my next target: Nitin Menon to WION</a>

<h2 lang="EN-US" paraeid="{62a8adbe-cff5-4177-a399-4f052e26cf0f}{121}" paraid="1003868456" >Watch Video: Here's how Danushka Gunathilaka was dismissed for obstructing the field:</h2>

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIvSL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIvSL</a> 
Obstruction or not ? 😵 <a href="https://t.co/AblpoGG9rY">pic.twitter.com/AblpoGG9rY</a>
— Rahul ® (@RahulSadhu009) <a href="https://twitter.com/RahulSadhu009/status/1369667950391693321?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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That should have been not-out! Gunathilaka didn't do that intentionally.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIvSL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIvSL</a> <a href="https://t.co/914OAWV0zk">pic.twitter.com/914OAWV0zk</a>
— Darpan Jain (@darpanjain103) <a href="https://twitter.com/darpanjain103/status/1369672773165977611?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Gunathilaka was stunned by the decision. Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur was spotted walking out of the dressing room and heading towards the match referee's&nbsp;or the fourth umpire's&nbsp;room.&nbsp;

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“Wilful obstruction” no way was that wilful... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/shocker?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#shocker</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIvSL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIvSL</a>
— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomMoodyCricket/status/1369667140505116680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Don’t think that was willful at all. I wouldn’t appeal but hey 🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️
— Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) <a href="https://twitter.com/darensammy88/status/1369667420818968580?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Even Tom Moody and former West Indies captain Darren Sammy were left shocked by the decision. Even fans on social media disagreed with the call with&nbsp;many saying it was against the spirit of the game.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-test-rankings-rishabh-pant-achieves-career-best-7th-position-virat-kohli-witnesses-major-dip-369458" hreflang="en">ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant achieves career-best 7th position, Virat Kohli witnesses major dip</a>

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Doesn't look intentional to me. Should've been not out <a href="https://t.co/bdyPVY1OPu">https://t.co/bdyPVY1OPu</a>
— Amartya Choudhary (@AmartyaChoudha1) <a href="https://twitter.com/AmartyaChoudha1/status/1369680803169402881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Obstructing the Field rules needs to be revisited and written with more clarity to avoid innocent wickets like these 🤷‍♂️ <a href="https://t.co/f7epP31b7O">https://t.co/f7epP31b7O</a>
— Allons-y Kriash (@Allonsy75) <a href="https://twitter.com/Allonsy75/status/1369676688913694730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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As Ian Bishop rightly pointed out the circumstance there, Giving Gunathilaka run out obstructing the field wasn't a correct decision by the umpire. Poor interpretation of footage right there.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WIvSL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WIvSL</a> <a href="https://t.co/hD3eFAaPxR">https://t.co/hD3eFAaPxR</a>
— Arjun (@LifeIsAnElation) <a href="https://twitter.com/LifeIsAnElation/status/1369675325936865281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Not out <a href="https://t.co/yVKpRS2baL">https://t.co/yVKpRS2baL</a>
— Prince Sanghvi (@princesanghavi) <a href="https://twitter.com/princesanghavi/status/1369668679877595136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Danushka Gunathilaka has been given out Obstructing the field. Very difficult to interpret if this was a wilful obstruction. Looks unintentional but has been given out as per the laws<a href="https://t.co/CJh3GmzvaN">pic.twitter.com/CJh3GmzvaN</a>
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) <a href="https://twitter.com/bhaleraosarang/status/1369674426514427904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Danushka Gunathilaka on Wednesday became the first Sri Lankan player to be given out for ‘obstructing the field’ after the batsman was given out in a controversial fashion during the first ODI against West Indies in Antigua.

Danushka Gunathilaka on Wednesday became the first Sri Lankan player to be given out for ‘obstructing the field’ after the batsman was given out in a controversial fashion during the first ODI against West Indies in Antigua. Gunathilaka had pushed the ball away from the bowler, seemingly unintentionally, and was given out after an appeal from Kieron Pollard. The incident happened during the 22nd over of the Sri Lankan innings when Gunathilaka took a couple of steps forward in a bid to take a single but decided against it. However, when he was moving back to the crease, the ball deflected away from Pollard's reach with the underside of Gunathilaka's foot. The Windies skipper immediately appealed and the third umpire was called into action. The on-field umpire gave the soft signal as out. After going through the replays in slow-motion, the decision was upheld. ALSO READ: To officiate in T20 World Cup and Ashes is my next target: Nitin Menon to WION Watch Video: Here's how Danushka Gunathilaka was dismissed for obstructing the field: #WIvSL Obstruction or not ? 😵 pic.twitter.com/AblpoGG9rY — Rahul ® (@RahulSadhu009) March 10, 2021 × That should have been not-out! Gunathilaka didn't do that intentionally.#WIvSL pic.twitter.com/914OAWV0zk — Darpan Jain (@darpanjain103) March 10, 2021 × Gunathilaka was stunned by the decision. Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur was spotted walking out of the dressing room and heading towards the match referee's or the fourth umpire's room. “Wilful obstruction” no way was that wilful... #shocker #WIvSL — Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) March 10, 2021 × Don’t think that was willful at all. I wouldn’t appeal but hey 🤷🏿‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️ — Daren Sammy (@darensammy88) March 10, 2021 × Even Tom Moody and former West Indies captain Darren Sammy were left shocked by the decision. Even fans on social media disagreed with the call with many saying it was against the spirit of the game. ALSO READ: ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant achieves career-best 7th position, Virat Kohli witnesses major dip Doesn't look intentional to me. Should've been not out https://t.co/bdyPVY1OPu — Amartya Choudhary (@AmartyaChoudha1) March 10, 2021 × Obstructing the Field rules needs to be revisited and written with more clarity to avoid innocent wickets like these 🤷‍♂️ https://t.co/f7epP31b7O — Allons-y Kriash (@Allonsy75) March 10, 2021 × As Ian Bishop rightly pointed out the circumstance there, Giving Gunathilaka run out obstructing the field wasn't a correct decision by the umpire. Poor interpretation of footage right there.#WIvSL https://t.co/hD3eFAaPxR — Arjun (@LifeIsAnElation) March 10, 2021 × Not out https://t.co/yVKpRS2baL — Prince Sanghvi (@princesanghavi) March 10, 2021 × Danushka Gunathilaka has been given out Obstructing the field. Very difficult to interpret if this was a wilful obstruction. Looks unintentional but has been given out as per the lawspic.twitter.com/CJh3GmzvaN — Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) March 10, 2021 ×

Watch: Out or not-out? Danushka Gunathilaka given out for 'obstructing the field' against West Indies

Former Real Madrid and AC Milan forward Robinho's nine-year prison sentence for his role in a gang-rape has been upheld after judges of Milan's Court of Appeal determined that the Brazilian forward “belittled” and "brutally humiliated" an&nbsp;Albanian woman in Milan.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Robinho, 37, was originally found guilty for his role in a gang rape in 2017 before he was sentenced in December. The gang-rape of a 23-year-old Albanian woman took place in Milan, Italy in 2013&nbsp;at a nightclub on her birthday. Robinho denied the charges and went on to appeal the verdict.&nbsp;

However, according to a report in Globo, fresh details have&nbsp;emerged from the Court of Appeal in which it has been alleged that Robinho and his representatives "attempted to deceive investigators”&nbsp;by providing different accounts on&nbsp;“previously agreed facts”.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/djokovic-and-family-celebrate-in-belgrade-as-serb-sets-all-time-record-as-world-no-1-369081" hreflang="en">Djokovic and family celebrate in Belgrade as Serb sets all-time record as world No. 1</a>

Robinho's conviction was upheld with his friend Richard Falco also being charged for the offence.&nbsp;

But with Robinho residing in Brazil, it is unlikely that the former Real Madrid forward will be incarcerated in Italy. Brazil doesn't extradite its own citizens.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Earlier, the crucial evidence that was used to convict the Brazilian in the year 2020 consisted of intercepted phone calls and messages between Robinho and those allegedly involved in the alleged gang&nbsp;rape in which the footballer allegedly said&nbsp;'the woman was completely drunk'.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, following the upheld verdict,&nbsp;Robinho has 45 days to submit a further appeal to the highest court of appeal in Italy – the Supreme Court. Notably, no prison sentence enforced in Italy&nbsp;until&nbsp;all of the appeals has been exhausted by the convict.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/will-jurgen-klopp-replace-joachim-loew-as-germany-coach-liverpool-manager-responds-369199" hreflang="en">Will Jurgen Klopp replace Joachim Loew as Germany coach? Liverpool manager responds</a>

Robinho's contract with Brazilian club Santon was suspended in the build-up to the hearing with club president Orlando Rollo confirming that the player will be sacked if the decision is upheld.&nbsp;

Robinho was playing for Italian giants AC Milan at the time of the incident.&nbsp;

Former Real Madrid and AC Milan forward Robinho's nine-year prison sentence for his role in a gang-rape has been upheld after judges of Milan's Court of Appeal determined that the Brazilian forward “belittled” and "brutally humiliated" an Albanian woman in Milan.

Former Real Madrid and AC Milan forward Robinho's nine-year prison sentence for his role in a gang-rape has been upheld after judges of Milan's Court of Appeal determined that the Brazilian forward “belittled” and "brutally humiliated" an Albanian woman in Milan. Robinho, 37, was originally found guilty for his role in a gang rape in 2017 before he was sentenced in December. The gang-rape of a 23-year-old Albanian woman took place in Milan, Italy in 2013 at a nightclub on her birthday. Robinho denied the charges and went on to appeal the verdict. However, according to a report in Globo, fresh details have emerged from the Court of Appeal in which it has been alleged that Robinho and his representatives "attempted to deceive investigators” by providing different accounts on “previously agreed facts”. ALSO READ: Djokovic and family celebrate in Belgrade as Serb sets all-time record as world No. 1 Robinho's conviction was upheld with his friend Richard Falco also being charged for the offence. But with Robinho residing in Brazil, it is unlikely that the former Real Madrid forward will be incarcerated in Italy. Brazil doesn't extradite its own citizens. Earlier, the crucial evidence that was used to convict the Brazilian in the year 2020 consisted of intercepted phone calls and messages between Robinho and those allegedly involved in the alleged gang rape in which the footballer allegedly said 'the woman was completely drunk'. Meanwhile, following the upheld verdict, Robinho has 45 days to submit a further appeal to the highest court of appeal in Italy – the Supreme Court. Notably, no prison sentence enforced in Italy until all of the appeals has been exhausted by the convict. ALSO READ: Will Jurgen Klopp replace Joachim Loew as Germany coach? Liverpool manager responds Robinho's contract with Brazilian club Santon was suspended in the build-up to the hearing with club president Orlando Rollo confirming that the player will be sacked if the decision is upheld. Robinho was playing for Italian giants AC Milan at the time of the incident.

Brazilian footballer Robinho sentenced to 9-year jail for ‘brutally humiliating gang-rape victim’

Nitin Menon, who was inducted in the ICC Elite Panel of&nbsp;Umpires in June 2020, has set the standards high with top-notch officiating in the recently concluded four-Test series between India and England.&nbsp;Menon and his fellow&nbsp;umpires’ performances were lauded by many including the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Swann as India went on to seal the series 3-1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In an interview with WION, Nitin Menon talked about his experience of umpiring in all four Test matches between India and England,&nbsp;his next targets in the world of umpiring,&nbsp;living inside bio-secure bubbles,&nbsp;DRS and the much-talked-about umpire’s call and much more.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Menon's performance as an&nbsp;umpire&nbsp;was applauded by fans and pundits. As he continues to set fresh benchmarks as&nbsp;umpire,&nbsp;Menon hardly&nbsp;got his decisions wrong. For the 37-year-old, praises&nbsp;come as&nbsp;recognition&nbsp;for the good work&nbsp;but he&nbsp;is focusing on getting better with many&nbsp;series and tournaments coming thick and fast in a hectic cricketing schedule.&nbsp;

“You feel happy when your performances are praised by so many people including some of the legends of the game. But it is important to not get too ahead&nbsp;of yourself. My career is just starting as an ICC Elite&nbsp;Umpire&nbsp;and I just want to focus on getting better.&nbsp;My colleague Anil Chaudhary, Virender Sharma and C Shamshuddin did a great job as well. As a group, we enjoyed our performances and are&nbsp;really proud,” Nitin Menon, who made his international umpiring debut in a T20I between India and England in January 2017,&nbsp;told WION.&nbsp;

Menon and his fellow umpires in the series were spot on with their decisions. While it is natural to get a few wrong calls in challenging conditions, Menon feels Indian&nbsp;umpires are more apt in officiating in&nbsp;both spin and seaming conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/monty-panesar-sachin-tendulkar-is-the-greatest-athlete-ever-to-play-against-him-is-huge-honour-369446" hreflang="en">Monty Panesar: Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest athlete ever, to play against him is huge honour</a>

“We&nbsp;(Indian&nbsp;umpires)&nbsp;get plenty of experience in Ranji Trophy or other domestic tournaments. Over the years, we know how a certain pitch or ball will behave in particular conditions.&nbsp;Both spinning conditions and seaming conditions possess a different set of challenges and it is the same for&nbsp;umpires like players, we have to adapt to conditions quickly,” Menon said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Decision Review System (DRS) became the talk of the town after a few decisions&nbsp;were concluded on the basis of 'umpire’s call’. Fans and experts are often quick to pass judgement on some of the decisions on the field, Menon remains unfazed by the criticism&nbsp;around the technology.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“With umpire's&nbsp;call, we are sure that the decision wasn't wrong.&nbsp;There will always be marginal calls during the match.&nbsp;Our final call will always be based on what the&nbsp;third umpire is telling us in that case,” Menon said.&nbsp;

Menon had the best seats in the house as Joe Root started the series with a double century followed by masterclasses by Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar among others.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wtc-final-how-do-india-and-new-zealand-fare-at-ageas-bowl-in-southampton-a-look-at-key-stats-368918" hreflang="en">WTC Final: How do India and New Zealand fare at Ageas Bowl in Southampton? A look at key stats</a>

When asked whether umpires discuss a particular knock or spell during the match or in-between the breaks, Menon said: “We remain so focus on our job that sometimes we don't even know which batsmen are batting at what score. I agree that umpires are at the best spot to enjoy a certain knock or spell but we are here to do our job and can't let ourselves get distracted. Even during the drinks break or other breaks, we don't talk about cricket as that is the only time, we get to relax a bit during a match.”&nbsp;

When asked what his next target would be after such a splendid show in the India versus England Test series&nbsp;Menon named the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in India and the Ashes which is scheduled to be hosted by Australia.&nbsp;

“Definitely the ICC T20 World Cup and hopefully, the upcoming Ashes as well. These are the two immediate targets for me.&nbsp;The Ashes is like a dream and it would be great if I could officiate in the series,” Menon said.

From living inside bio-bubbles to regular testing for COVID-19, umpires also have to follow strict bio-secure bubbles protocols as the players.

"It is challenging with all the restrictions and staying away from your family. But we are among the privileged ones to be able to do our jobs. The last year was gloomy with so many things happening with the pandemic. But thankfully, we are able to get some live cricket now and can't complain much. Hopefully, things will be back to normal very soon," Menon concluded.

Nitin Menon, who was inducted in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in June 2020, has set the standards high with top-notch officiating in the recently concluded four-Test series between India and England.

Nitin Menon, who was inducted in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in June 2020, has set the standards high with top-notch officiating in the recently concluded four-Test series between India and England. Menon and his fellow umpires’ performances were lauded by many including the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Graeme Swann as India went on to seal the series 3-1. In an interview with WION, Nitin Menon talked about his experience of umpiring in all four Test matches between India and England, his next targets in the world of umpiring, living inside bio-secure bubbles, DRS and the much-talked-about umpire’s call and much more. Menon's performance as an umpire was applauded by fans and pundits. As he continues to set fresh benchmarks as umpire, Menon hardly got his decisions wrong. For the 37-year-old, praises come as recognition for the good work but he is focusing on getting better with many series and tournaments coming thick and fast in a hectic cricketing schedule. “You feel happy when your performances are praised by so many people including some of the legends of the game. But it is important to not get too ahead of yourself. My career is just starting as an ICC Elite Umpire and I just want to focus on getting better. My colleague Anil Chaudhary, Virender Sharma and C Shamshuddin did a great job as well. As a group, we enjoyed our performances and are really proud,” Nitin Menon, who made his international umpiring debut in a T20I between India and England in January 2017, told WION. Menon and his fellow umpires in the series were spot on with their decisions. While it is natural to get a few wrong calls in challenging conditions, Menon feels Indian umpires are more apt in officiating in both spin and seaming conditions. ALSO READ: Monty Panesar: Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest athlete ever, to play against him is huge honour “We (Indian umpires) get plenty of experience in Ranji Trophy or other domestic tournaments. Over the years, we know how a certain pitch or ball will behave in particular conditions. Both spinning conditions and seaming conditions possess a different set of challenges and it is the same for umpires like players, we have to adapt to conditions quickly,” Menon said. The Decision Review System (DRS) became the talk of the town after a few decisions were concluded on the basis of 'umpire’s call’. Fans and experts are often quick to pass judgement on some of the decisions on the field, Menon remains unfazed by the criticism around the technology. “With umpire's call, we are sure that the decision wasn't wrong. There will always be marginal calls during the match. Our final call will always be based on what the third umpire is telling us in that case,” Menon said. Menon had the best seats in the house as Joe Root started the series with a double century followed by masterclasses by Rishabh Pant, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin, Washington Sundar among others. ALSO READ: WTC Final: How do India and New Zealand fare at Ageas Bowl in Southampton? A look at key stats When asked whether umpires discuss a particular knock or spell during the match or in-between the breaks, Menon said: “We remain so focus on our job that sometimes we don't even know which batsmen are batting at what score. I agree that umpires are at the best spot to enjoy a certain knock or spell but we are here to do our job and can't let ourselves get distracted. Even during the drinks break or other breaks, we don't talk about cricket as that is the only time, we get to relax a bit during a match.” When asked what his next target would be after such a splendid show in the India versus England Test series Menon named the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup in India and the Ashes which is scheduled to be hosted by Australia. “Definitely the ICC T20 World Cup and hopefully, the upcoming Ashes as well. These are the two immediate targets for me. The Ashes is like a dream and it would be great if I could officiate in the series,” Menon said. From living inside bio-bubbles to regular testing for COVID-19, umpires also have to follow strict bio-secure bubbles protocols as the players. "It is challenging with all the restrictions and staying away from your family. But we are among the privileged ones to be able to do our jobs. The last year was gloomy with so many things happening with the pandemic. But thankfully, we are able to get some live cricket now and can't complain much. Hopefully, things will be back to normal very soon," Menon concluded.

To officiate in T20 World Cup and Ashes is my next target: Nitin Menon to WION

Rishabh Pant’s ascent in the Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings continues unabated and he is now at a career-best seventh position after smashing a match-winning 101 in the fourth Test against England in Ahmedabad which India won by an innings and 25 runs to clinch the series 3-1.

Pant has moved up seven slots and shares seventh place with compatriot Rohit Sharma, who has inched up one spot, and Henry Nicholls of New Zealand. Pant’s 747 rating points are the joint-15th highest by any India batsman, and the highest by a full-time Test wicketkeeper from his country.

Washington Sundar, who also played a crucial role in India’s passage to the final of the ICC World Test Championship, has gained 39 places and is in 62nd position, thanks to his 96 not out, but captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara had below-par series. Kohli is at his lowest points tally since November 2017 while Pujara is under 700 rating points for the first time since September 2016.

There was no surprise in the rankings reflecting kindly on spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, who ripped through the England innings time and again during the series.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/monty-panesar-sachin-tendulkar-is-the-greatest-athlete-ever-to-play-against-him-is-huge-honour-369446" hreflang="en">Monty Panesar: Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest athlete ever, to play against him is huge honour</a>

Ashwin, the player of the series, has leapfrogged New Zealand’s Neil Wagner to the second position among bowlers, the first time since August 2017, after finishing with eight wickets in the match. &nbsp;He is also ranked fourth among all-rounders, now ahead of Shakib Al Hasan.&nbsp;

Patel’s nine wickets have lifted him eight places to 30th with 552 rating points. Only two bowlers have achieved more points after their first three Tests – former India leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani (564) and Australia fast bowler Charlie Turner (553) who played in the 19th century.

For England, Dan Lawrence has moved up 47 places to 93rd among batsmen with scores of 46 and 50 and James Anderson has moved up two places to fourth position after his haul of three for 44 in Ahmedabad.

Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan inside two days and captain Sean Williams’s knock of 105 in Abu Dhabi has helped him move up 24 places to 43rd. Sikandar Raza is another one to move up, a gain of eight places taking him up to 56th position.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-test-championship-final-to-be-held-at-hampshire-bowl-in-southampton-icc-369392" hreflang="en">World Test Championship final to be held at Hampshire Bowl in Southampton: ICC</a>

Blessing Muzarabani reentered the rankings in a creditable 86th position after finishing with six wickets in the match while Victory Nyanchi (up 37 places to 57th) and Donald Tripano (up seven places to 77th) were other Zimbabwe bowlers to gain.

For Afghanistan, Ibrahim Zadran (up 24 places to 69th) and Hamza Kotak (up 33 places to 46th) gained in the men’s weekly ranking update, which included a T20I rankings update from the last three matches of the Australia-New Zealand series and the three-match West Indies-Sri Lanka series.

The ICC Men’s T20I Rankings saw Australia captain Aaron Finch move up to the second place from fourth after scoring 197 runs in the series, which was won 3-2 by New Zealand. Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis also moved up into the 90s in the rankings while left-arm spinner Ashton Agar progressed four places to fourth among bowlers after finishing with eight wickets in the series.

For New Zealand, Martin Guptill has gained three slots to reach the eighth position after topping the series with 218 runs while Devon Conway’s 192 runs helped him to 11th place with 192 runs.

The West Indies-Sri Lanka series, won 2-1 by hosts West Indies, saw Kieron Pollard, who smashed six sixes off an over from Akil Dananjaya in the first match, has moved up four places to 53rd &nbsp;while Fabien Allen has moved up 44 places to 42nd. For Sri Lanka, Danushka Gunathilaka (up 15 places to 55th) among batsmen and Lakshan Sandakan (up nine places to 10th) have made notable gains.

Rishabh Pant’s ascent in the Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings continues unabated and he is now at a career-best seventh position after smashing a match-winning 101 in the fourth Test against England in Ahmedabad which India won by an innings and 25 runs to clinch the series 3-1.

Rishabh Pant’s ascent in the Tyres ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings continues unabated and he is now at a career-best seventh position after smashing a match-winning 101 in the fourth Test against England in Ahmedabad which India won by an innings and 25 runs to clinch the series 3-1. Pant has moved up seven slots and shares seventh place with compatriot Rohit Sharma, who has inched up one spot, and Henry Nicholls of New Zealand. Pant’s 747 rating points are the joint-15th highest by any India batsman, and the highest by a full-time Test wicketkeeper from his country. Washington Sundar, who also played a crucial role in India’s passage to the final of the ICC World Test Championship, has gained 39 places and is in 62nd position, thanks to his 96 not out, but captain Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara had below-par series. Kohli is at his lowest points tally since November 2017 while Pujara is under 700 rating points for the first time since September 2016. There was no surprise in the rankings reflecting kindly on spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, who ripped through the England innings time and again during the series. ALSO READ: Monty Panesar: Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest athlete ever, to play against him is huge honour Ashwin, the player of the series, has leapfrogged New Zealand’s Neil Wagner to the second position among bowlers, the first time since August 2017, after finishing with eight wickets in the match. He is also ranked fourth among all-rounders, now ahead of Shakib Al Hasan. Patel’s nine wickets have lifted him eight places to 30th with 552 rating points. Only two bowlers have achieved more points after their first three Tests – former India leg-spinner Narendra Hirwani (564) and Australia fast bowler Charlie Turner (553) who played in the 19th century. For England, Dan Lawrence has moved up 47 places to 93rd among batsmen with scores of 46 and 50 and James Anderson has moved up two places to fourth position after his haul of three for 44 in Ahmedabad. Zimbabwe beat Afghanistan inside two days and captain Sean Williams’s knock of 105 in Abu Dhabi has helped him move up 24 places to 43rd. Sikandar Raza is another one to move up, a gain of eight places taking him up to 56th position. ALSO READ: World Test Championship final to be held at Hampshire Bowl in Southampton: ICC Blessing Muzarabani reentered the rankings in a creditable 86th position after finishing with six wickets in the match while Victory Nyanchi (up 37 places to 57th) and Donald Tripano (up seven places to 77th) were other Zimbabwe bowlers to gain. For Afghanistan, Ibrahim Zadran (up 24 places to 69th) and Hamza Kotak (up 33 places to 46th) gained in the men’s weekly ranking update, which included a T20I rankings update from the last three matches of the Australia-New Zealand series and the three-match West Indies-Sri Lanka series. The ICC Men’s T20I Rankings saw Australia captain Aaron Finch move up to the second place from fourth after scoring 197 runs in the series, which was won 3-2 by New Zealand. Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis also moved up into the 90s in the rankings while left-arm spinner Ashton Agar progressed four places to fourth among bowlers after finishing with eight wickets in the series. For New Zealand, Martin Guptill has gained three slots to reach the eighth position after topping the series with 218 runs while Devon Conway’s 192 runs helped him to 11th place with 192 runs. The West Indies-Sri Lanka series, won 2-1 by hosts West Indies, saw Kieron Pollard, who smashed six sixes off an over from Akil Dananjaya in the first match, has moved up four places to 53rd while Fabien Allen has moved up 44 places to 42nd. For Sri Lanka, Danushka Gunathilaka (up 15 places to 55th) among batsmen and Lakshan Sandakan (up nine places to 10th) have made notable gains.

ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant achieves career-best 7th position, Virat Kohli witnesses major dip

The Road Safety World Series T20 has turned the clock back for not only legends of the game but also for all cricket lovers. With teams like India Legends, England Legends, Sri Lanka Legends, South Africa Legends among others participating in the tournament, former cricketers have left no stones unturned to bring their A-game to the field.&nbsp;

The much-awaited match between India Legends and England Legends didn’t disappoint the fans as it ended up being a last-over spectacle.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Monty Panesar, Irfan Pathan and Manpreet&nbsp;Gony&nbsp;stole the show with their performances, there was a sense of Deja-vu as many witnessed legends lock horns in an intense battle. England Legends ended up winning the match by six runs after an onslaught by Irfan and&nbsp;Gony.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Deja vu, boys are still buzzing from the amazing game last night. No wonder <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IPL</a> is the best T20 league in the world. India is the place to be. <a href="https://twitter.com/RSWorldSeries?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RSWorldSeries</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sachin_rt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sachin_rt</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KP24</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BrianLara?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BrianLara</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RyanSidebottom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RyanSidebottom</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Hoggy602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Hoggy602</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jimmyt20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jimmyt20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/scho?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@scho</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/sonamakapoor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sonamakapoor</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/karanjohar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@karanjohar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/KapilSharmaK9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KapilSharmaK9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/IhInhtwUqz">pic.twitter.com/IhInhtwUqz</a>
— Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MontyPanesar/status/1369518301420736512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2021</a></blockquote>
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For England Legends, the star with the ball was Monty Panesar as the left-arm spinner scalped three wickets in his four-over spell while conceding just 15 runs. Panesar's wickets included the likes of&nbsp;Sachin&nbsp;Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh as the England spinner bamboozled the India Legends.&nbsp;

Panesar, who had dismissed Tendulkar five times in international cricket&nbsp;(four&nbsp;times in Test cricket&nbsp;and once in ODI cricket), got the better of the Master Blaster once again in the Road Safety&nbsp;World&nbsp;Series T20&nbsp;and ended up silencing the crowd in Raipur.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/world-test-championship-final-to-be-held-at-hampshire-bowl-in-southampton-icc-369392" hreflang="en">World Test Championship final to be held at Hampshire Bowl in Southampton: ICC</a>

“It was an absolute pleasure to play against&nbsp;Sachin&nbsp;Tendulkar again. To watch him go about his things is education itself. He is the greatest athlete ever and to get him out one more time was a huge&nbsp;honour. I don’t have many words to explain how I felt bowling at him again. I am still having goosebumps,” Monty Panesar told WION in an exclusive interview.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<img alt="Sachin Monty" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3a6c20ca-7111-4f07-a6a4-73db11c94ace" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/EwDKo4YU8AUtQ97.jpg" />

“The way&nbsp;the crowd started cheering when India Legends&nbsp;were&nbsp;taking the field, it was phenomenal. Even when Kevin Pietersen was smashing it all over the park, the&nbsp;crowd&nbsp;was tremendous. It became a bit silent after early dismissals during India Legends but they&nbsp;found their voice back when Irfan Pathan and Manpreet&nbsp;Gony&nbsp;intensified the run-chase,” Panesar said about the crowd in Raipur.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“To play in India is always great. I always say it is the best place to play cricket. The crowd, the quality and intensity are unparalleled. The pitches here are so good for white-ball cricket. We as a bunch are loving it.”&nbsp;

Monty's fitness and bowling performances in the ongoing Road Safety World Series have been lauded by many. While in England Legends' first match against Bangladesh Legends, Monty bowled an economical spell of 4 overs and gave away just 15, he looked at his best against India Legends.&nbsp;

“I have to credit our skipper Kevin Pietersen for it. The way he has led the side in a composed manner&nbsp;and allowed me and other bowlers the freedom have to be applauded. I have watched a lot of cricket over the last couple of years and to bring that on the field again was a terrific feeling,” Panesar said.&nbsp;

<img alt="England Legends" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ca15f951-d3d1-4acd-9129-6954e954ac32" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/EwDMrSQXIAMv4GO.jpg" />

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/i-turned-to-rahul-dravid-and-asked-sam-billings-recalls-watching-rishabh-pant-for-first-time-369165" hreflang="en">'I turned to Rahul Dravid and asked...' Sam Billings recalls watching Rishabh Pant for first time</a>

When asked whether he would be available to play professional cricket again, Panesar said: “Yes, I would. I am fit enough to be part of franchise cricket and I feel I am in good rhythm as well. It would be great if an IPL franchise or some other team in the world pick me up. I am ready to prove myself if given a chance in professional cricket. I would be more than&nbsp;delighted,” Panesar&nbsp;quipped.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The England spinner, who&nbsp;has 167 wickets in Test cricket and in 50 appearances for England, thanked the crowd for coming in and supporting the Legends.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It has been great to see the fans coming in and supporting us. I would just say keep supporting us but keep the COVID-19 protocols in mind. The fans have been tremendous so far and hopefully, we will keep on getting the love for the remainder of the tournament,” Monty concluded.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Road Safety World Series T20 has turned the clock back for not only legends of the game but also for all cricket lovers. With teams like India Legends, England Legends, Sri Lanka Legends, South Africa Legends among others participating in the tournament, former cricketers have left no stones unturned to bring their A-game to the field.

The Road Safety World Series T20 has turned the clock back for not only legends of the game but also for all cricket lovers. With teams like India Legends, England Legends, Sri Lanka Legends, South Africa Legends among others participating in the tournament, former cricketers have left no stones unturned to bring their A-game to the field. The much-awaited match between India Legends and England Legends didn’t disappoint the fans as it ended up being a last-over spectacle. While the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Monty Panesar, Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony stole the show with their performances, there was a sense of Deja-vu as many witnessed legends lock horns in an intense battle. England Legends ended up winning the match by six runs after an onslaught by Irfan and Gony. Deja vu, boys are still buzzing from the amazing game last night. No wonder @IPL is the best T20 league in the world. India is the place to be. @RSWorldSeries @sachin_rt @KP24 @BrianLara @RyanSidebottom @Hoggy602 @jimmyt20 @scho @sonamakapoor @karanjohar @KapilSharmaK9 #Cricket pic.twitter.com/IhInhtwUqz — Monty Panesar (@MontyPanesar) March 10, 2021 × For England Legends, the star with the ball was Monty Panesar as the left-arm spinner scalped three wickets in his four-over spell while conceding just 15 runs. Panesar's wickets included the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Kaif and Yuvraj Singh as the England spinner bamboozled the India Legends. Panesar, who had dismissed Tendulkar five times in international cricket (four times in Test cricket and once in ODI cricket), got the better of the Master Blaster once again in the Road Safety World Series T20 and ended up silencing the crowd in Raipur. ALSO READ: World Test Championship final to be held at Hampshire Bowl in Southampton: ICC “It was an absolute pleasure to play against Sachin Tendulkar again. To watch him go about his things is education itself. He is the greatest athlete ever and to get him out one more time was a huge honour. I don’t have many words to explain how I felt bowling at him again. I am still having goosebumps,” Monty Panesar told WION in an exclusive interview. “The way the crowd started cheering when India Legends were taking the field, it was phenomenal. Even when Kevin Pietersen was smashing it all over the park, the crowd was tremendous. It became a bit silent after early dismissals during India Legends but they found their voice back when Irfan Pathan and Manpreet Gony intensified the run-chase,” Panesar said about the crowd in Raipur. “To play in India is always great. I always say it is the best place to play cricket. The crowd, the quality and intensity are unparalleled. The pitches here are so good for white-ball cricket. We as a bunch are loving it.” Monty's fitness and bowling performances in the ongoing Road Safety World Series have been lauded by many. While in England Legends' first match against Bangladesh Legends, Monty bowled an economical spell of 4 overs and gave away just 15, he looked at his best against India Legends. “I have to credit our skipper Kevin Pietersen for it. The way he has led the side in a composed manner and allowed me and other bowlers the freedom have to be applauded. I have watched a lot of cricket over the last couple of years and to bring that on the field again was a terrific feeling,” Panesar said. ALSO READ: 'I turned to Rahul Dravid and asked...' Sam Billings recalls watching Rishabh Pant for first time When asked whether he would be available to play professional cricket again, Panesar said: “Yes, I would. I am fit enough to be part of franchise cricket and I feel I am in good rhythm as well. It would be great if an IPL franchise or some other team in the world pick me up. I am ready to prove myself if given a chance in professional cricket. I would be more than delighted,” Panesar quipped. The England spinner, who has 167 wickets in Test cricket and in 50 appearances for England, thanked the crowd for coming in and supporting the Legends. “It has been great to see the fans coming in and supporting us. I would just say keep supporting us but keep the COVID-19 protocols in mind. The fans have been tremendous so far and hopefully, we will keep on getting the love for the remainder of the tournament,” Monty concluded.

Monty Panesar: Sachin Tendulkar is the greatest athlete ever, to play against him is huge honour

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