Football: Klopp named Premier League Manager of the Season

Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp was named the Premier League's Manager of the Season on Saturday after leading the Merseyside club to their first top-flight title in 30 years.

Klopp's Liverpool side won 32 of their 38 league fixtures and amassed a club-record 99 points to seal the title with seven games to spare.

Klopp, 53, beat Chelsea boss Frank Lampard, Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers and Sheffield United coach Chris Wilder to the award.

The German won the Manager of the Month award five times last season, surpassing Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola's four from the 2017-18 campaign.

Klopp had been named League Managers' Association (LMA) manager of the year last month.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, who provided 13 assists -- second only to Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne, was named Young Player of the Season on Friday.

The 21-year-old came out on top of a shortlist that also included Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood, and Chelsea duo Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount.

PSG fined for late start to second half vs Atalanta

Paris St Germain have been fined 30,000 euros ($36,000) by UEFA for causing the second half of their Champions League quarter-final against Atalanta to kick off late on Wednesday.

In a statement UEFA said coach Thomas Tuchel had also been warned after being held responsible for the delay.

French champions PSG trailed 1-0 at halftime in Lisbon and were heading for the exit until an incredible late rally saw them overcome the Italian side with goals by Marquinhos and Eric Choupo-Moting, the second coming in stoppage time.

PSG, who have reached their first semi-final in the competition since 1995, will face RB Leipzig on Tuesday.

Sancho going nowhere, says Dortmund chief Watzke

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke says the Bundesliga club will not be making any major signings this summer but ruled out the possibility of winger Jadon Sancho departing.

Sancho, who scored 17 league goals and set up another 16 last season, has been linked with a move to a host of top clubs, including Manchester United.

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said this month the England international would not be leaving the Bundesliga club, and Watzke echoed his sentiment.

"Sancho staying is set in stone. We will not discuss the details," Watzke told German media. "What I can say is if Zorc, who is a Westphalian like me, talks about a definite decision, then it's definite. There is no room for interpretation."

Watzke acknowledged Dortmund's finances have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's a fact that there is no more money left for transfers. We definitely can't make any more big leaps."

Palace defender Van Aanholt subjected to online racial abuse

Crystal Palace defender Patrick van Aanholt called for social media companies to take stronger action against racism on Friday after he shared a screenshot to illustrate the kind of vile abuse he has been subjected to online.

"This is not about me... I've got enough love and I'm blessed in my life to not let stuff like this upset me BUT it really ain't on," the Dutch defender wrote on Twitter.

"I stand for those that can't defend themselves and have to deal with this... daily. SOCIAL MEDIA you are accountable for this... @instagram sort it out because we are sick and tired of being sick and tired."

Palace, the Premier League and the Football Association did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Van Aanholt's Palace team mate Wilfried Zaha had previously called on social media platforms to identify and remove users who resorted to racist abuse after he was targeted last month.

The growth of social media has fuelled discriminatory abuse towards footballers in recent years.

On Thursday, the Premier League said that it would support Brighton Hove & Albion's French forward Neal Maupay to bring legal action against an individual in Singapore who subjected him to abuse online.

The league set up a dedicated reporting system by which players, managers and coaching staff could flag up serious discriminatory online abuse.

Aaditya Thackeray pledges support to 1,000 coaches during COVID-19 pandemic

Mumbai District Football Association President Aaditya Thackeray has pledged to help 1,000 coaches who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"@AUThackeray pledges to support coaches across India. He handed over the first box of supplies to AIFC Director @DineshNair74. AIFC extends our gratitude towards him on behalf of all the coaches," the Association of Indian Football Coaches said in a tweet.

Aaditya is the son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and also a Cabinet Minister in the state government. He is also an office bearer of the Western India Football Association (WIFA), which governs football activities in Maharastra.

In response, Aaditya said, "Happy to do my bit @DineshNair74 for our coaches across."

AIFC Director Dinesh Nair said, “On behalf of all the coaches & AIFC, I would like to thank Aaditya Thackeray for his help & support. We will ensure that this reaches all the right people. With this help, we can now also reach out to other stakeholders of Indian Football.”

The AIFC has also launced a campaign to support the coaches during the pandemic.

Football activities in India have come to a grinding halt since mid-March when the nation-wide lockdown was enforced to contain the spread of COVID-19.