Seattle Sounders will play Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup final after winning the Western Conference finals on Monday

Major League Soccer lost almost $1bn (£750m) in revenue during 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

MLS was only two weeks into its historic 25th season when a halt was called to the campaign in March.

It did not resume until July, with the MLS is Back competition in Florida, before a revised regular schedule ran from 12 August.

"The overall [financial] impact is going to be deeper than we expected," said MLS commissioner Don Garber.

With the three Canadian teams forced to play all their matches in the United States and Columbus Crew only able to admit a crowd of 1,500 when they host Seattle Sounders in the MLS Cup final on Sunday, the financial effects of the season will be felt for a long time.

"Revenue for the league and its clubs is down almost $1bn compared to last year," added Garber.

"But we also incurred expenses we were not intending to occur, including charter planes for the teams and creating the whole bubble around MLS is Back."

It has led to a difficult first season for the two expansion teams, David Beckham's Inter Miami and Nashville, who made the Eastern Conference semi-finals, and creates an uncertain backdrop for Austin FC, who will enter the league in 2021.

However, while plans continue around a March launch for the next season, huge uncertainty remains.

"We are concerned about the situation leading into 2021 and we are trying to figure out how to manage through it," said Garber. "No business could sustain the kind of impact we sustained for two years in a row.

"The challenge for next season is nobody has the magic date for when fans can enter stadiums and it will vary state by state.

"We need to make a schedule. We can't wait for a vaccine and we don't know what the reaction will be of fans returning to stadiums.

"It is not just about fans. Fifa has laid out their international dates and Concacaf has laid out Champions League dates. We will need flexibility."

BBC

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey was forced off injured during first-half stoppage time of his side’s Premier League defeat against Tottenham.

Partey returned from injury to make his first appearance for the Gunners in over a month when he was named in the starting XI for the north London derby on Sunday.

He walked over to the touchline during the build-up to Harry Kane’s goal that put Spurs two goals up and was replaced by Dani Ceballos immediately after and just seconds before half-time. Spurs would go on to win the derby 2-0, returning to first place in the Premier League.

After the match Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta confirmed Party would have an MRI, saying he appeared to aggravate his previous injury.

“I applaud their first goal, it is world-class, but the second goal we are a man down, we leave a massive gap and they take advantage,” Arteta told the BBC.

“He [Thomas Partey] has to stay on the pitch. It looks like the same injury he has already had, he will have an MRI.”

Partey had been out of action since he was taken off in his side’s 3-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa on November 8 and subsequently missed Premier League matches against Leeds and Wolves as well as the Europa League encounters against Molde and Rapid Vienna.

The Ghana international only returned to Arsenal training during the week and Arteta said after his side’s win against Rapid Vienna that the summer signing could feature against their city rivals.

Ahead of the game on Sunday, Arteta was asked about the 27-year-old’s inclusion in his starting XI.

He told Sky Sports: “We didn’t expect him to be fit for the game but he has been training well and [is] ready to play.”

Arsenal fell behind just 13 minutes into the match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Son Heung-min led Spurs’ charge forward, combining with striker Kane before lashing past Bernd Leno from outside the box.

Son then turned provider as he passed to Kane who then fired in to double the home side’s advantage, which would be the game’s final goal.

By Goal

Floyd Mayweather, the former five-weight boxing world champion, has announced he will take on YouTuber Logan Paul in a "special exhibition" fight in February 2021.

American Mayweather, 43, ended his career unbeaten in 50 bouts.

He last fought in 2017, beating MMA star Conor McGregor in one of the richest bouts in boxing history.

Paul, 25, has fought once professionally, losing to fellow YouTuber KSI in November 2019.

There has been speculation the fight would be agreed for several months and American Paul, who has more than 22 million subscribers on Youtube, has taunted Mayweather on several occasions, with the pair exchanging insults on social media.

Last week, Logan's younger brother Jake, also a famous influencer, fought on the bill of the Mike Tyson v Roy Jones Jr exhibition in Los Angeles, knocking out former NBA player Nate Robinson.

The fight, which will take place on 20 February and is likely to draw huge pay-per-view numbers, is the latest chance for Mayweather to take on an opponent beyond the traditional boxing world.

In December 2018, he needed just 140 seconds to beat Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa in an exhibition boxing bout worth a reported $9m (£6.7m).

By BBC

Mr. Ben Nunoo Mensah, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has called on Ghanaians, especially the youth to ensure peace and unity before, during and after the 2020 General Elections.

He said the youth play a big role in socio economic development, as they are the driving force and most are into sports and entertainment.

He urged them to look at the bigger picture of Ghana and contribute positively to the electoral process for a free and fair elections.

According to Ben Nunoo Mensah, the IOC and its partners are making all efforts for the next Olympic Games in 2021 in Japan to be successful and memorable.

He said Ghana must also be able to host the 2023 African Games in grand style.

He said the media have to support the LOC to achieve the objectives and goal by encouraging corporate Ghana to consider the Games as a big event.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Derek Asare Jr 15 has signed a youth contract to play for FC KV Machellen JR in Belgium till 2022.

The son of former Black Star defender, Emmanuel Asare was discovered at a tender age and the dad is so glad and desirousto sponsor his third son to the highest level in football and sports.

Derek Jr. has pledged to become a star, and the game is about to begin.

The family prays that he makes a big name on the international football stage for both Ghana and Belgium.

Emmanuel Asare, a former Okwawu Utd star said he is so glad that that the talent of football is in the family and believes his son will become a super star in the near future.

He thanked FC Machellen Jr for the opportunity, and assured that Derek will succeed. Asare has already played for Belgium at youth level after playing for the U16 of the Red Devils

He also thanked the media, saying that without media there will be no sports promotion.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

Ghanaian midfielders Winful Cobinnah and Kwame Bonsu have started training with new club Ceramica Cleopatra ahead of the new Egyptian topflight season.

The former Hearts and Kotoko stars joined their new teammates on Saturday morning for their first training session.

Both players joined the Egyptian Premier League newcomers in the transfer window, and are expected to be the key players for the team in the upcoming campaign following their enormous experience playing around the world.

Kwame Bonsu is not new to North African football, having played for African giants Esperance de Tunis for the past two seasons.

Meanwhile, Winful Cobinnah who is joining from Albanian club KF Tirana spent a season in the gulf where he played for Najran FC.

Bonsu and Cobinna are both joining the club on a two-year deal.

The new season begins on December 11, 2020, with Cleopatra opening their campaign with a trip to El Entag El Harby.

From Sammy Heywood Okine

24 year old Robert Kobby Saba is a young Ghanaian footballer now playing in Rwanda.

He was born in Ghana, but decided to travel to the most beautiful country on the continent of Africa to play because he plays and scores beautiful goals.

He stands at 6feet 5inches and loves to score goals whenever playing football because he believes the reason for playing is to score.

He played for Gaddafi Under 12 colts football in Mamprobi, Accra, before joining Liberty Professionals, and went to Attram de Vissar FC, and later Tema Youth on loan, then enjoyed some beach soccer before coming to the limelight.

Robert Saba comes from a football family at Mamprobi, as all his ten uncles and aunties are footballers.

His target is to win a national league cup, African Nations Cup and participate at the FIFA World Cup.

His idols are his uncles Robert Sabah and Christian Sabah who played for Accra Hearts of Oak and the national teams of Ghana.

Currently Sabah is enjoying himself in the Rwandan league with SC Kiyovo Sports FC and he is very hopeful of moving to bigger clubs and possibly Europe or the Arabian leagues.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

 Former WBO Africa super welterweight champion, Patrick Allotey (40  - 4 - 0) will be in the ring to box against Victus Kemavor (15 - 3 - 0) at the Idrowhyt Events Centre (Dansoman) on Boxing Day, December 26.

Allotey also called ‘Arrow’ says he has not been himself since he had a problem at the Accra Sports Stadium with a football fan and promised to use the occasion to thrill special guests and patrons.

He added that the Covid-19 pandemic affected boxing in a big way, so he is glad that after 9 months the game is coming back in Ghana.

He thanked managers of Cabic Promotions, Messrs Ivan Bruce Cudjoe and Ellis Quaye for their support, encouragement and motivation.

He also thanked the media, those who love him and those who hate him, but hoped to return to the world stage to have another crack at the world title.

He promised to put up a good show on the bill dubbed ‘Boxing Day Rumble’.

His last fight was on 14^th September, 2019 when he lost the world title opportunity against the tough champion Jaime Munguia at the Dignity Health Sports Park , Carson, USA for the World Boxing Organisation World Super Welter Title.

Other boxers on the bill are Emmanuel Quaye, Yusif Seidu and Michael Pappoe.

According to Jingles, marketing manager of Idrowhyt and Cabic, the promotion is strictly by invitation and the main boxing arena will be crowd-free for only media and  and ring officials, with the few guests on the terrace.

Meanwhile, Alex Ntiamoah Boakye of Box Office assured that all Covid-19 tests and protocols will be observed.

The promotion which has been approved by the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) is a collaboration between Box Office / Cabic Promotions and sponsored by Idrowhyt Events Centre.

By Sammy Heywood Okine

No good news to report from the AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas as Ghana's Habib Ahmed was given a beat down before being stopped in round 2 by Sebastian 'Towering Inferno' Fundora.

The 6-feet-6 Fundora battered Ahmed throughout the first round and again in the second round, until Ahmed’s trainer, Herman Caicedo instructed a Texas commission official to stop their one-sided junior middleweight match. Referee Laurence Cole stepped between them to halt their scheduled 12-rounder at 1:30 of the second round on the Errol Spence Jr.-Danny Garcia undercard.

The 22-year-old Fundora, of Coachella, California, improved to 16-0-1 and recorded his 11th knockout. The 30-year-old Ahmed (27-2-1, 18 KOs, 1 NC), of Accra, Ghana, lost by technical knockout for the second time in nine years as a pro.

From Dornu’s Corner

Korle-Gonno Napoli Beats Mamprobi Happy Mama To Win Hon. Ben Brown Football Gala

Twenty-four (24) local Football teams from three (3) Communities namely, Korle-Gonno, Chorkor and Mamprobi, all in Accra, took part in the 2-week Football  Gala Competition, organised by Hon. Mr. Bernard Nii Anyaa Brown, NPP's MP Aspirant for Ablekuma South Constituency, which ended with Napoli beating Happy Mama at the final at the Bannerman Park at Korle-Gonno.

Korle-Gonno Napoli Fc (i.e. KG-All-Stars), beat Happy-Mama Fc, from Mamprobi on penalties (3-0), to lift the magnificent Trophy and a Cash prize.

Napoli Fc led with an early goal in the first half and dominated the game but Happy-Mama Fc came bach strongly to equalise, two minutes to full-time through a defensive blunder.

Experienced Happy-Mama Fc featuring Ismaila Mills and PaaTee Copson were sure of carrying the day, but shocked fans when they missed the penalties to allow Korle-Gonno Napoli Fc scored all their kicks to lift the trophy.

Former top colts star Bala Mohammed (Skipper), led Napoli FC to victory and received the Trophy which was presented by Collins Asante (Chief), on behalf of Bernard Brown (Shiatsε) the organizer of the event.

By Sammy Heywood Okine / Naa Amerley Commey