Mourinho admits he was in the wrong over training session

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Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho has accepted he was in the wrong for holding a one-on-one training session with midfielder Tanguy Ndombele in a public park in London.

Mourinho was pictured on social media flaunting government rules by meeting up with the midfielder Tuesday, even though they kept to social distancing guidelines.

Fellow Spurs players Davinson Sanchez and Ryan Sessegnon were spotted running side by side in a separate session, while Serge Aurier filmed himself on Instagram running alongside a friend.

"I accept that my actions were not in line with government protocol and we must only have contact with members of our own household," said the Portuguese manager.

"It is vital we all play our part and follow government advice in order to support our heroes in the NHS and save lives."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC the players and Mourinho should be leading by example.

"My concern is people, particularly children, who might support Spurs or follow football may see these images, pick up a paper, watch the internet and think, well if it's OK for them, why isn't it OK for me?" he said.

The Premier League has been suspended since mid-March due to the spread of COVID-19.

The British government has introduced a strict series of measures to prevent the spread of the virus and Tottenham have reminded players of their responsibilities.

The club said last week they would be using the government's furlough financial assistance programme for non-playing staff, a move that was seen as controversial and attracted a lot of criticism.

Bundesliga stars glad to train again, even with social distancing

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Wearing gloves for hygienic reasons and observing social distancing on the pitch are among the challenges facing Bundesliga footballers back in training this week amid hopes the league could resume next month.

Most of the 18 clubs in Germany's top flight returned to their clubs on Monday, albeit in small groups with limited contact to meet health guidelines due to the coronavirus.

League matches in Germany have been suspended since March 13.

The German Football League (DFL) is in talks with the clubs and authorities about the Bundesliga resuming on May 2, but with matches played in front of empty terraces and fans locked out while public events remain banned in the country.

A decision about when the competition can resume is expected on April 17, which could make it the first of Europe's top leagues to return.

Meanwhile, the league's stars are adjusting to training in the era of social distancing.

Defending champions Bayern Munich, who were four points clear when the league was halted, were typical of sides in holding sessions in small groups.

Contact is kept to a minimum with hugs of greeting and handshakes banned and players staying 1.5m apart, even on the training pitch.

"It was a very unusual feeling to train in small groups," admitted Bayern captain Manuel Neuer with a maximum of five players per group permitted at their state-of-the-art training complex.

Like most other clubs, Bayern's squad members were told to shower elsewhere and handed post-training snacks in a box to eat at home.

In Wolfsburg, the players trained wearing gloves despite warm spring temperatures.

"For hygienic reasons, we have to wear gloves, even though it's 22 degrees (Celsius)," said forward Maximilian Arnold.

"Of course it's necessary, but also a bit funny."

Tackling and close-quarter challenges for the ball are frowned upon at all outfits.

"I would love to tackle, but I can't do that now," said Hoffenheim defender Havard Nordtveit.

Previous weeks at home, in many cases filled by hours on the PlayStation games console, had left a toll.

"My ball control was never perfect, but you can tell that a few team-mates have not trained with the ball for three weeks," Nordtveit added.

"The most important thing, is to keep working on our fitness now and be ready" should the season resume.

In Berlin, Union defender Christopher Lenz was just as happy to have team-mates to pass to again and "have a real ball" at his feet.

"I missed the boys. The PlayStation had been my best friend".

After weeks of training individually, or in online groups like Bayern did, most players were pleased to be back on a pitch, despite the new hygiene measures.

"It's a nice feeling" to "play a bit of football and see the colleagues again," Fortuna Duesseldorf forward Rouwen Hennings said.

"Of course you can't put in hard tackles or challenges, but I think it's quite well regulated for the here and now."

In Gelsenkirchen, Schalke coach David Wagner said his squad were happy to be put through their paces.

"The fitness coaches can really let off steam, and the boys are up for it too," said the former Huddersfield boss.

"Anything is better than running alone through the forest."

However, players training in small groups offers an extra advantage for eagle-eyed coaches.

"Nobody can hide," said Duesseldorf coach Uwe Roesler with any lack of fitness quickly showing up.

Rangers blast plans to end Scottish season early

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Rangers strongly criticised plans unveiled on Wednesday to terminate the divisions below the Premiership, warning of "severe consequences for the Scottish game".

With play halted due to the coronavirus, the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) announced proposals to determine final placings by points per game in league matches played to date by each club.

The resolution, to be voted on by clubs, also recommends the top tier remains postponed for the time being, although final placings would be determined by the same system if the SPFL's board determines matches cannot be played.

That would see Celtic crowned champions for the ninth successive season and Hearts relegated, but the immediate impact of the plans would be relegation for Partick Thistle from the second-tier Championship and Stranraer from League One.

Steven Gerrard's second-placed Gers, 13 points behind Celtic, said in a statement they would oppose "in the strongest possible terms" any attempt to railroad changes to existing rules.

They said they would immediately propose a member's resolution that would release prize money to be distributed to all clubs throughout Scotland urgently.

Rangers said forcing through change "without due care and attention" would have severe consequences for the Scottish game.

"Nothing is more important than protecting the future of every club in Scotland as we are cognisant that this has a direct impact upon people's livelihoods," the statement said.

"It is abhorrent that certain clubs could be unfairly relegated if the current SPFL proposals were implemented. We must future-proof the Scottish game."

Partick, bottom of the Championship, said they would not accept the proposal as it stood, adding it needed more scrutiny and debate.

Dundee United would be promoted to the Premiership if the resolution passed, while Raith Rovers would move up to the Championship and Cove Rangers would join League One.

European governing body UEFA has warned national leagues that a failure to complete the current campaign could lead to exclusion from European competition.

SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster said the situation regarding the Premiership "remains particularly complicated".

"Everyone is aware of UEFA's desire for the family of European football to work together to resolve the issues that confront us all," he said.

"We are keen to work with UEFA and remain in discussion with them over the situation in Scotland."

CONMEBOL asks FIFA for coronavirus fund meeting

getty, Philipp Schmidli

South American football chief Alejandro Dominguez on Wednesday asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to hold discussions on setting up a global fund to help football clubs during the coronavirus pandemic.

CONMEBOL president Dominguez wants to hold a videoconference with FIFA's Task Force "to generate opportune solutions instantly available to members to be approved without further delay."

The message issued by CONMEBOL said football restarting around the world would "depend on this timely support."

CONMEBOL said "the needs of South American associations are growing day by day."

The continent's governing body has already made available $75 million (69 million euros) for clubs that have lost revenues from the suspension of South America's flagship club competitions, the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.

Global governing body FIFA has set up a working group to tackle the issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Real Madrid players accept up to 20 percent pay cut

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Real Madrid players have agreed to cut their salaries by as much as a fifth, the La Liga club announced on Wednesday, as Spanish football remains on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, Real said players and coaches from the side's football and basketball teams, as well as key directors, had voluntarily agreed to the reduction, of either 10 or 20 percent, "depending on the circumstances that may affect the closing of the current 2019/20 sports season".

Real didn't say what circumstances would affect the rate of salary cut, but Spanish media reported players will receive 10 percent less if the season is completed and 20 percent less if the current campaign is terminated.

The cuts will shave between 28 million and 56 million euros ($30.4 million and $60.8 million) off Real's salary bill.

It also means the club has avoided using the partial unemployment (ERTE) scheme that cut Barcelona and Atletico Madrid players' salaries by 70 percent.

La Liga has recommended clubs take advantage of the scheme, and both Sevilla and Espanyol have also put in a request to be included on the ERTE scheme.

Over 14,000 people have died from COVID-19 in Spain, the second worst hit country from the virus after Italy, with 146,690 registered cases.

Balotelli's Brescia accept player pay cuts

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Serie A's Brescia, who want the Italian season stopped because of the coronavirus pandemic, announced on Wednesday their players have agreed to salary cuts.

In a statement adressed to season-ticket holders, president Massimo Cellino praised "the great sensitivity and responsibility shown by our players who, almost all, have accepted very quickly the proposals to reduce salaries, in order to protect the integrity of the club in such a delicate moment".

No details were given on how much players at the promoted club, who include Italian international Mario Balotelli, had agreed to forego.

The town of Brescia is at the epicentre of Italy's coronavirus crisis, with nearly 10,000 people infected by the virus.

"The club would like to avoid resuming (the season) out of respect for the sad reality of Brescia," the team added.

They were promoted to the top flight last season and are currently bottom of the table, nine points from safety.

League leaders Juventus announced late last month that they had cut their players' and coach Maurizio Sarri's salaries over the period from March to June.

The Italian champions estimated the cuts would have "a positive impact of 90 million euros on the 2019/2020 financial year".

The Italian footballers' association (AIC) has rejected attempts by clubs to cut salaries.

Premier League stars launch fund to 'help' health service virus fight

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Jordan Henderson

Premier League players announced on Wednesday they had launched an initiative to generate funds for Britain's National Health Service (NHS) to help against the coronavirus pandemic.

The idea -- named #PlayersTogether -- has been set up to "help those fighting for us on the NHS frontline" during the COVID-19 outbreak.

"It is about we, as players, collaborating together to create a voluntary initiative, separate to any other league and club conversation," a statement from the group said.

"To try and help, along with so many others in the country, to make a real difference," it added.

Individuals such as league leaders Liverpool's captain Jordan Henderson, Tottenham's Harry Kane and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were among those to post on social media about the move.

Earlier this week, the Premier League proposed wage cuts of 30 percent but talks have hit a stumbling block, with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) warning the NHS could suffer from the loss of tax receipts.

The league's chief executive Richard Masters admitted the virus fall-out could cost the top-flight "at least £1 billion" ($1.23 billion, 1.13 billion euros).

PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said the players had "agreed to play their part" as pressure mounts to find a collective pay deal.

England's top-flight stars had come under heavy fire over their lack of action, which contrasts sharply with significant pay cuts taken by players at other leading European clubs such as Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Manchester United attacker Marcus Rashford defended his fellow players.

"I think there has been plenty of occasions, for me personally, where we've tried to help but we've not helped in the best way possible," Rashford told BT Sport.

"You can get some backlash from that. We wanted to take our time with the decision," he added.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock was originally among senior politicians calling for players to take a cut and "play their part".

"Warmly welcome this big-hearted decision from so many Premier League footballers to create #PlayersTogether to support NHS Charities. You are playing your part," he tweeted after the Wednesday's announcement.

On Tuesday, English Football Association chief Greg Clarke called on players and fans to "share the pain to keep the game alive".

Appearing at an FA Council meeting, Clarke warned football faces economic challenges "beyond the wildest imagination of those who run it" as a result of the health emergency.

Spurs have come under pressure from fans to follow Jurgen Klopp's side in reversing their decision to use public money to pay employees.

The Reds, the European champions and the world's seventh richest club, ditched their controversial plan to furlough some of their non-playing staff during the virus on Monday after coming under intense pressure from ex-players and fans.

More than 60,000 people, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is being treated at an intensive care unit, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Britain, and more than 7,000 have died from the virus.