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Month: April 2021

Super League a “surprise” to AS Monaco

by: Stephanie Horsman
20/04/2021

The world of football was rocked on Sunday when it was announced that 12 football clubs are breaking away to form a new European Super League that’s set to rival, and hope to eventually replace, the Champions League. 
The European Super League has been greeted with some pretty strong emotion. Primarily, there is outrage mixed with disgust at what many are seeing as a ploy to make money, which, like any business venture, it is.
The new Super League clubs are defending themselves saying that “the formation of the Super League comes at a time when the global pandemic has accelerated the instability in the existing European football economic model. Further, for a number of years, the Founding Clubs have had the objective of improving the quality and intensity of existing European competitions throughout each season, and of creating a format for top clubs and players to compete on a regular basis.
“The pandemic has shown that a strategic vision and a sustainable commercial approach are required to enhance value and support for the benefit of the entire European football pyramid.”
The 12 founding member clubs include six English Premier League teams Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham, plus AC Milan, Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus and Real Madrid.
Notably missing are French champions Paris Saint-Germain and German heavyweights Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, who have so far decided against joining.
The timing of the announcement came just hours before the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) was set to discuss reforms in the Champions League. The proposed reforms were going to be an attempt to compromise with the clubs offering them more matches per season. They were to begin in 2024, expanding the Champions League to 36 teams and adding a full 100 matches to the format, going from 125 to 225.
The reorganisations were meant to be an olive branch to many of the now-break-away teams.
UEFA has since lashed back in an official statement that read, “The clubs concerned will be banned from playing in any other domestic competition, European or international level, and the players could be denied the opportunity to represent their national teams.”
As the news trickled out, other clubs slowly began to express their opinions, including AS Monaco, who have a shot at returning to the Champions League next season.
“This news of the creation of the Super League surprises us a lot. At the moment, we are focusing on the championship and the building of the club,” said Oleg Petrov, AS Monaco’s Vice-President, rather lukewarmly of the news when speaking to RMC Sport.
 
 

Incidence rate falls significantly

by: Cassandra Tanti
20/04/2021

Circulation of the Covid-19 virus in the Principality has dropped dramatically, with the incidence rate now sitting at around 63. It’s a similar story in the Alpes-Maritimes where circulation has finally dropped below national levels.
The incidence rate, calculated per 100,000 inhabitants, is used by governments in their decisions about whether to apply or remove certain restrictions.
Monaco has consistently tested between 4,000 to 5,000 residents and non-residents each week, providing a clear indication of how active the coronavirus is in the Principality.
On Monday, health authorities revealed that the incidence rate had dropped to 62.58. At the end of February and in late March it had peaked at 226.
Of the 4,190 people tested in Monaco last week, only 2.22% returned a positive result.
It’s an encouraging evolution of the health situation that is being mirrored in the neighbouring Alpes-Maritimes region, which has been under tight restrictions for months. There, the incidence rate has dropped to 229 after peaking at 642 in late February. As of Friday, France’s national incidence rate was 342.19.
On Friday 16th April, the Monegasque government revealed that the Principality has now vaccinated 12,094 people, equivalent to 31.82% of the population, with their first jab. Meanwhile, 10,859 of those vaccinated have also received their second shot.
The favourable conditions have allowed authorities to lift some restrictions in Monaco from Monday 26th April. Restaurants will be allowed to reopen for dinner service, sports activities will resume in schools, and the evening curfew has been pushed back one hour to 9pm.
 
READ ALSO: Monaco eases some restrictions
 
Photo by Michael Alesi/Government Communication Department
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Finance specialists unite against corruption in Monaco

by: Cassandra Tanti
19/04/2021

More than 150 public and private professionals have gathered to hear a progress report on Monaco’s fight against money laundering and corruption, and how the Principality is developing its compliance with European standards.
The meeting on 15th April brought together the Director of SICCFIN and head of the Monegasque delegation to the Moneyval committee Michel Hunault, Finance Minister Jean Castellini, President of the National Council Stéphane Valeri and Secretary of State for Justice Robert Gelli. Joining them at the Grimaldi Forum were members of the public and private sectors and the main leaders of the Principality’s economic forces.
It demonstrated the willingness of all players in the Monegasque economy to meet the requirements of international standards, including FATF Recommendations and EU Directives, in the fight against money laundering, the financing of terrorism and corruption.
The 2012 FATF Recommendations oblige countries to identify, assess and understand the money laundering and terrorist financing risks they face and to adapt their systems accordingly.
When the risks of money laundering and terrorist financing are correctly understood, national authorities can then apply AML/CFT measures according to these risks. This risk-based approach is a central element of the FATF standards.
The progress report will be followed by the dissemination of guidelines and practical guides, eagerly awaited by professionals, as well as the development of a national AML/CFT strategy.
In his speech, National Council President Stéphane Valeri said that “the attachment of the National Council to the reputation of the Principality (…) is a pledge of confidence and credibility on the international scene”. However, he added that “the National Council will remain vigilant, within the framework of the adaptation of each of the European directives into Monegasque law, to defend our uniqueness, in the interest of Monaco, while bringing it into conformity with certain European standards.”
 
Photo from left to right: Michel Hunault – Director of SICCFIN (at the desk), Magali Vercesi – Secretary General of CCAF, Stéphane Valeri – President of the National Council, Jean Castellini – Minister of Finance and Economy, and Robert Gelli – Secretary of State for Justice, Director of Judicial Services. By Michael Alesi / Government Communication Department
 
 

When will border with America reopen?

by: Cassandra Tanti
19/04/2021

France plans to open its borders to vaccinated Americans as soon as this summer, French President Emmanuel Macron has told US media.
The French president was speaking in English on the American network CBS News on Sunday, saying discussions on how to resume international travel between the US and France had already started with the White House.
“We will progressively lift the restrictions at the beginning of May, which means that we will organise in the summertime with our professionals in France for French European citizens, but as well for American citizens,” said Macron. “So, we are working hard to propose a very concrete solution, especially for U.S. citizens who are vaccinated, so with a special pass, I would say.”
The president was referring to the European Union’s plans for a digital green certificate that will store information about whether a person has tested negative for Covid, has been vaccinated or has recovered from the disease. The EU believes this digital pass will help open the borders between countries, restore travel routes and kickstart economies.
Meanwhile, France will impose a 10-day mandatory quarantine on those arriving from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and South Africa over concerns about variants of the coronavirus stemming from the region, the office of Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Saturday.
Flights from Brazil had earlier been suspended until at least next Friday over concerns about the P1 variant of the coronavirus, which is more contagious than the original strain and can also reinfect those who have had the original virus.
 
Photo by Jan Rosolino on Unsplash
 
 

Leclerc “frustrated” at 4th place finish

by: Stephanie Horsman
19/04/2021

Charles Leclerc says he was disappointed to not take the podium in Imola, one of Ferarri’s home courses, on Sunday in a race that saw the king, Lewis Hamilton, dethroned and Max Verstappen take the top spot.
The Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola on Sunday was no picnic. Starting conditions were soggy and a chilling accident occurred between Valtteri Bottas and George Russell where they both came out unharmed but angrily laid blame squarely on the other.
Charles Leclerc started off the race well as Ferrari had anticipated the wet start and tweaked their set-up to favour the conditions. This worked well for him as he made his way to second place with a good lead over Lando Norris and Sergio Perez, but that went up in smoke after the crash.
The rain stopped, the track dried out and the field closed up, leaving Ferrari’s wet set-up ineffective on the straights. Leclerc still held on to fourth place, whilst new teammate Carlos Sainz came in fifth, just behind him.
“I’m happy with the race, but at the same time a little bit frustrated,” Leclerc said. “The first part of the race, we were very competitive and everything looked good. Then with the red flag, all the cars were reshuffled, and it repacked everyone. And then we started to be a bit vulnerable in the straights. I was the first of the pack at first, struggled to defend on Lando, and then on Lewis a bit later.
“We should be very happy about this so yes, I’m happy with how things are going, we need to keep pushing and hopefully, we’ll be fighting further very, very soon.”
After the accident was cleared, the rolling restart could have been an opportunity for Leclerc to pass leader Verstappen, which in the end he decided against.
When asked after the race why he didn’t take the chance, he replied, “I considered it at one point, but at the same time I backed off. I think looking back at it, it was the right choice because I think he always had one wheel on the track.”
In the end, Verstappen held onto his lead, followed by Lewis Hamilton in second and Lando Norris third.
The next race on the Grand Prix schedule is 2nd May in Portugal at the Heineken Grande Premio de Portugal.
 
Photo credit: @Scuderia Ferrari Press Office
 
 

The family legacy continues

by: Stephanie Horsman
19/04/2021

Stefanos Tsitsipas has won his first Monte-Carlo Open and ATP Masters 1000, claiming the day after defeating Andrey Rublev in a 6-3, 6-3 victory on his home turf.
After slaying the British giant slayer Dan Evans on Saturday 6-2, 6-1, Stefanos Tsitsipas went on to crush sixth ranked Andrey Rublev in the finals in a mere 71 minutes.
“I had an unbelievable week in Monte-Carlo,” Tsitsipas said in his post-match interview. “I can’t describe my feelings right now. I am overwhelmed by so many different emotions and nostalgia. It is incredible that I am able to be in the position that I am. We both deserved to be in the final. We put on an amazing fight and an amazing show… I would consider it as the [best] week of my life so far.”
The 23-year-old Greek lost to Rublev in the semi-finals in Rotterdam last month but took the opportunity to pay him back at the weekend. Claiming early breaks in each set, he was relentless in his play in Monaco.
The two finalists of the Open now sit in the top two positions of the 2021 leader board and are the only players to have 20 or more victories this season. Rublev is in the number one position with a 24-5 win-loss record and Tsitsipas with a 22-5 record.
“I knew that he was going to be a very difficult opponent to face. There were a lot of nerves coming into that match,” said Tsitsipas. “[We] always want to bring the best out of [ourselves] when facing each other. Playing Andrey was a very difficult thing to do today, also considering that it was a final. There is extra stress and extra importance in the match that we had to play. [I am] definitely proud of the way I managed to behave and be out on the court today.”
He went on to say, “The clay court season couldn’t have started better. It is the best thing winning my first Masters 1000 and it is even more special doing it here on home soil in Monte-Carlo and doing it on clay, which is my favourite surface.”
Tsitsipas’ mother, Julia Salnikova, won the junior title at the Monte-Carlo Open in 1981.
“[To share] this is incredible. [The] first time I walked in that club, the Monte-Carlo Country Cub, with my mom, I think that was when I was six years old. She showed me her name up there. I remember seeing it for the first time. I was stunned. I was like, ‘Wow. That is really cool.’ How cool is that?” said Tsitsipas.
 
PHOTO VALERY HACHE, AFP