Human Interest

TOKYO — Thirty four years after making his professional debut, Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura became the oldest player to appear in a J-League first division match when he led Yokohama FC on Wednesday at the age of 53.

The player known as "King Kazu", who started his career in Brazil in 1986 because Japan did not have a professional league for him to play in, was given the captain's armband, but he could not inspire his team who lost 3-2 to league leaders Kawasaki Frontale.

Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder on Monday urged Bayern Munich fans not to travel to the UEFA Super Cup final against Sevilla in Budapest this week or risk turning the event into a hotbed for COVID-19 to spread.

The German champions, who won the Champions League, face Europa League winners Sevilla in the Hungarian capital on Thursday.

"My stomach hurts thinking about the Super Cup. Budapest is a risk area. We have to be very careful that we don't risk turning it into a football-Ischgl," he said.

Newly promoted Cádiz, playing in LaLiga for the first time since 2005-06, started the new campaign brightly on Sunday with a 2-0 away victory over Huesca. 

There were a couple of feel-good stories on the day, including 35-year-old striker Álvaro Negredo scoring his first LaLiga goal since 2016 after a sojourn abroad that included stints with Manchester City, Middlesbrough and Beşiktaş. 

But even better was the first top tier appearance for 41-year-old goalkeeper Alberto Cifuentes, who became the oldest-ever LaLiga debutant and kept a clean sheet. 

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Monday hit out at fans who sing and cheer at soccer matches, saying they were frustrating the fight against the coronavirus amid a surge in infections.

Limited crowds have been allowed back in Dutch stadiums since the start of the new season this month, but only if they adhere to social distancing rules and refrain from singing and shouting.

"Just shut up when you're sitting there," Rutte said when asked about fans' behavior in the stadiums. "Watch the game and don't shout. It's possible."

Former England striker Les Ferdinand believes 'taking a knee' in support of the Black Lives Matter cause has become nothing short of a PR stunt and that the real message is being diluted.

Ferdinand, who is Black, is now Director of Football at Queens Park Rangers who were criticized after both sets of players opted not to take the knee before their match against Coventry City in the Championship on Friday.

Former Derby County winger Reg Harrison, who was the oldest living winner of the FA Cup, has died at the age of 97, the Championship club announced on Friday.

Harrison lifted the FA Cup as a 22-year-old when Derby beat Charlton Athletic 4-1 after extra time at Wembley in 1946 for their only FA Cup triumph.

Derby County are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of 1946 FA Cup winner, Reg Harrison.

We will miss you, Reg