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OTB Brief: Sterling calls out English race issues, GAA plans stall, NZ rugby is back

Here is everything you need to know about what's going on in the world of sport on this Tuesday m...



OTB Brief: Sterling calls out...
Racing

OTB Brief: Sterling calls out English race issues, GAA plans stall, NZ rugby is back

Here is everything you need to know about what's going on in the world of sport on this Tuesday morning in the OTB Brief.

You can also get the latest news - back pages - and much more on this morning's OTB AM.

SOCCER

England and Manchester City star Raheem Sterling appeared on the BBC's Newsnight last night to discuss the current anti-racism protest movement.

File photo dated 07-12-2019 of Manchester City's Raheem Sterling during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

He said that English football lacks diversity in coaching and backroom teams.

Sterling highlighted the divergence in the careers of English stars Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole - highlighting the fact that the two white former-pros have quickly landed jobs with top-clubs:

"The coaching staff that you see around football clubs: there's Steven Gerrard, your Frank Lampards, your Sol Campbells and your Ashley Coles. All had great careers, all played for England.

Raheem Sterling of Manchester City during the UEFA Champions League match, round of 16 first leg, between Real Madrid v Manchester City at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by pressinphoto/Sipa USA)

"At the same time, they've all respectfully done their coaching badges to coach at the highest level and the two that haven't been given the right opportunities are the two black former players.

"The change is being able to speak to people in Parliament, people at the hierarchy at my football club, football clubs across the country, people at the national team of England, to implement change and give equal chances to not just black coaches but also different ethnicities.

"Give black coaches, not just coaches but people in their respective fields, the right opportunity. I feel like that's what's lacking here, it's not just taking the knee, it is about giving people the chance they deserve."

 

Players of both teams (Dortmund yellow jersey) kneel around the centre circle before the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Hertha BSC Berlin in Dortmund , Germany, Saturday, June 6, 2020. (Lars Baron, Pool via AP)

Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari has called on English football authorities to back clubs and players who make anti-racism gestures when play restarts next week.

He praised FIFA and the Bundesliga for not classing these displays as 'political gestures,' which carry punishments.

The Kick It Out chief highlighted the fact that he believes that the league has a unique platform for players and teams to make a stand:

“I think it’s at the point now where something should be organised – I would love to see every club doing something together but it has to be completely up to the players.

File photo dated 12-11-2019 of Sanjay Bhandari.

“It would be a fantastic signal if every club took a knee before a game. You can’t shake hands before kick off, so maybe they could replace it with a new pre-match ritual," he told PA.

Mr Bhandari added that the organisation are in contact with players and that he believes that any response must be player-lead.

 

Tony Dunne, Manchester United
Tributes have been paid to former Manchester United and Ireland defender Tony Dunne, who has died at the age of 78.
The Dubliner was a member of the United side that won the European Cup in 1968.
He won two League Championships at Old Trafford and the 1963 FA Cup.
Dunne went on to make over 500 appearances for Man United, and was also an FAI Cup winner with Shelbourne while still a teenager.
His former Man United and Ireland team-mate John Giles says Dunne was the best left-back in England for a decade.

otb brief Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic (bottom) attempts a slide tackle on Liverpool's Adam Lallana
Adam Lallana is set to sign a very short contract extension with Liverpool.
The midfielder’s current deal was due to expire on June 30th, but he’ll be needed as the champions-elect see out the season.
GAELIC GAMES
Tony Holohan has poured cold water on the prospect of a half-full Croke Park happening this year.
The All Ireland championships are set for a mid-October start, and GAA president John Horan says they’re hopeful of allowing crowds into matches.
Horan said that Croke Park could hold 21-thousand if current social distancing measures stay in place, or 42-thousand if it’s reduced to a metre.
But the Chief Medical Officer says it’s too soon to talk about attendances of such a scale.
NZ RUGBY
New Zealand's Super Rugby teams will take part in a new competition over the next ten weeks.
It will be the world's first professional sports tournament to allow full crowds into stadiums since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The country has gone two weeks without a covid-19 death and New Zealand Rugby have confirmed the Super Rugby Aotearoa tournament starting this weekend will be played in front of fans.

SNOOKER
Mark Allen has missed out on a place in the next phase of the Championship League in Milton Keynes.
The Antrim cueist drew with Martin O'Donnell 2-2 late last night - a result which saw him miss out on progressing to the winners' phase from Group 11.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is back in action this afternoon at the behind closed doors event.
LEAGUE ONE
League One clubs are expected to vote to end their season early when they meet today.
If the campaign is brought to a conclusion, points per game would be used to decide the final table.
It would mean Tranmere, Southend and Bolton would be relegated to League Two.
RACING
After racing’s safe return at Naas yesterday there’s an eight-race card at Leopardstown this afternoon.
The first goes to post behind closed doors at one o'clock.

OTB Brief: Sterling calls out English race issues, GAA plans stall, NZ rugby is back

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