A bizarre year of football during a pandemic is coming to an end. Here are BabaGol’s 20 football events, people and phenomena that made 2020 the hectic year it was.
The Best of 2020
Al-Hilal Is Out: AFC Champions League Winners Go Home due to Coronavirus
Al-Hilal, who has been severely hit with coronavirus, failed to list 13 squad players for the last game in the group stage. As a result, they were withdrawn from the competition. The full narrative of the craziest clash between coronavirus and football we’ve seen so far.
K League Under Threat, as South Korea Faces Coronavirus Comeback
South Korea is facing what is seen as a second wave of coronavirus. Although K League returned to have 25% of stadiums capacity, is now back to play behind closed doors, with a severe risk to be suspended.
Al-Masry Port Said: An 'Early Bird' of a Wider Phenomena?
Al-Masry of Port Said has announced earlier this week that is welcoming “donations from fans”. A club asking fans to save their beloved football team is usually an of true fandom, but the Al-Masry case may hint on another phenomenon.
Fans are Football's Blood: An interview with Stefano Cusin
An exclusive interview with Stefano Cusin, the Italian coach of Iranian side Shahr Khodrou, about the return of the local league, football without fans, life in the Middle East and much more.