Hello and welcome to sportsday. Iamjohn i am john watson. Our headlines tonight. An audition for europes best. Will haaland halt Manchester Citys pursuit of the title they desperately crave . Cricketer sarah taylor on why now is the right time to return to the crease. And another olympic setback north korea pulls out of the tokyo games. Also ahead tonight playing the game they loved, but at what cost . Chris sutton on the urgent action football must take in tackling dementia. Heading a football killed my dad. I believe its killed hundreds of other players across the professional game. Yes, good evening. Two big games for british clubs in the Champions League tonight. And with it, some star quality, Kevin Du Bruyne and Erling Braut Haaland europes most coveted striker on show later at the etihad as city welcome borussia dortmund. Well discuss his impact in europe in a moment. In madrid, mo salah and Karim Benzema, not to mention jurgen klopp and zinedine zidane, as liverpool contest the first leg of their quarterfinal. Lauren black from Redmen Tvjoins Me now. Lauren, very good evening to you. Liverpool, as you know, not in the best form domestically but it certainly feels this season most of the best performance as have come in europe and they will have to be one of at the best against one of your� s very best. Of at the best against one of yours very best. Yours very best. Definitely, theres no yours very best. Definitely, theres no denying yours very best. Definitely, theres no denying they yours very best. Definitely, | theres no denying they have yours very best. Definitely, theres no denying they have not been able to magically, but. It is about playing well this season europe. About playing well this season euro e. ,. , about playing well this season euroe. ,. ,. ~ about playing well this season euroe. , ii about playing well this season euroe. , if . About playing well this season euroe. , iif~ europe. Going back to 2018th Madrid came out on europe. Going back to 2018th Madrid came out on tap europe. Going back to 2018th Madrid came out on top against europe. Going back to 2018th Madrid came out on top against liverpool, i came out on top against liverpool, when mo salah was forced off, wasnt he, in the first half following that challenge from sergio ramos . No love lost between them, but worth pointing out there will be no sergio ramos in the real madrid site tonight. He ramos in the real madrid site toniaht. ,. ,. ,. ,. , tonight. No ramos tonight and no varane either tonight. No ramos tonight and no varane either by tonight. No ramos tonight and no varane either by centreback, tonight. No ramos tonight and no varane either by centreback, so | varane either by centre back, so Thatis Varane either by centre back, so that is a huge loss for them. Obviously salah will not get his revenge against him, but that is a huge loss for them come up with those two centre back skiing out. 210 Champion League appearances between those two, but it is huge loss for them, but theyve got plenty of experience in their squad to get through this game. Certainly feels like karim to get through this game. Certainly feels like Karim Benzema to get through this game. Certainly feels like Karim Benzema is to get through this game. Certainly feels like Karim Benzema is really. Feels like Karim Benzema is really fill that void, hasnt he, left by gareth bale and Cristiano Ronaldo . Give us a you at what the moon will be like in the liveable camp going into this gainful to be feels as if europe has offered them some respite from the Premier League. Liverpool camp. Obviously this is the best chance for liverpool to salvage their season. J the best chance for liverpool to salvage their season. The best chance for liverpool to salvage their season. I think so. We are not doing salvage their season. I think so. We are not doing the salvage their season. I think so. We are not doing the best salvage their season. I think so. We are not doing the best in salvage their season. I think so. We are not doing the best in terms salvage their season. I think so. We are not doing the best in terms of. Are not doing the best in terms of the Premier League of the race for top four is heating up, this is a Good Opportunity for us to get that top floor and win this competition, benzema is obsolete and great form, he will be key for real madrid tonight and one to watch obviously great form. I think liverpool will be feeling excited themselves, and i mentioned those two centre back. They have had four starts and four clean sheets in those four games, so do not think there will be no they will be nervous in this Gainful The Adrenaline will be high and the players will relish playing some top level competition. And the players will relish playing some toplevel competition. Yeah, what a game some toplevel competition. Yeah, what a game in some toplevel competition. Yeah, what a game in the some toplevel competition. Yeah, what a game in the offing. Some toplevel competition. Yeah, what a game in the offing. Kick some toplevel competition. Yeah, what a game in the offing. Kick off| what a game in the offing. Kick off at eight p m. For the moment, lauren black from redmen tv, thank you very much indeed forjoining us on sportsday. That is in stark contrast to Manchester City fighting for silverware on four fronts, but this is the competition they desperately want to win but have so far struggled to do so under pep guardiola. Bbc� s Football Correspondent john murray is at the etihad. We can cross enjoin him now. Very good evening to you. City have struggled to get over the line . Is this disease and a long lasting do it . The line . Is this disease and a longlasting do it . The line . Is this disease and a longlasting do it . They are coming into in great longlasting do it . They are coming into in great form, longlasting do it . They are coming into in great form, and longlasting do it . They are coming into in great form, and also longlasting do it . They are coming into in great form, and also i longlasting do it . They are coming into in great form, and also i think. Into in great form, and also i think really portly, they are coming into this period of the season, this final period of the season when they have made the turn for home, with a clean bill of health in which i think is highly significant and an achievement in itself in the season of all seasons. They are in form, theyve got everyone fit, i think you have to say that they have got a great opportunity this season to finally, certainly, give it a real go and perhaps win the Champions League. Go and perhaps win the champions leaaue. � g. , go and perhaps win the champions leaaue. � ,. , ~ league. And, john, we must talk erlin league. And, john, we must talk Erling Haaland. League. And, john, we must talk Erling Haaland. It league. And, john, we must talk Erling Haaland. It seems league. And, john, we must talk Erling Haaland. It seems every i league. And, john, we must talkl Erling Haaland. It seems every big club is coveting the signature of footballs next big superstar, if you like, and it feels like this is a genuine audition in manchester tonight for all of those clubs who are desperate to see him playing in the Premier League. It are desperate to see him playing in the Premier League. The Premier League. It does. There is no getting the Premier League. It does. There is no getting away the Premier League. It does. There is no getting away from the Premier League. It does. There is no getting away from the the Premier League. It does. There is no getting away from the fact, i is no getting away from the fact, and the draw has thrown this up brilliantly, hasnt it, for this match today . The announcement of Sergio Aguero leading Manchester City last week and whatever they say, It Isjust City Last week and whatever they say, it is just not going to go away, the link between Erling Haaland and Manchester City, so it is a highly significant night for him, and he will know that everything will be focused on him before kick off and during the match, to see just how he fares, but, listen, he has done a ok in the Champions League this season ten goals in the Champions League. He has scored in every match he has played in the competition this season for stubbs he is the leading scorer in the competition. So i think will be talk about what Manchester City might be of doing the champions of this season, he himself is a barrier between Manchester City and what they intend to do the season when we talk about what Manchester City do the Champions League. Ii about what Manchester City do the Champions League. Champions league. If anyone can fault him, Champions League. If anyone can fault him, manchester Champions League. If anyone can fault him, Manchester City Champions League. If anyone can fault him, Manchester City can. L fault him, Manchester City can. Finally, you talk about those four trophies Manchester City are chasing. This would be the crowning moment on their season if they could get it . Moment on their season if they could et it . ,. , moment on their season if they could net it . , a, j moment on their season if they could netit . , a, j a, get it . Yes, it would, theyve got themselves get it . Yes, it would, theyve got themselves a get it . Yes, it would, theyve got themselves a great get it . Yes, it would, theyve got themselves a great position get it . Yes, it would, theyve got themselves a great position in i get it . Yes, it would, theyve got| themselves a great position in the Premier League, they are close now to regaining the title, semifinals in the fa cup, finals of the carabao cup. They are indeed tough site of the draw in the Champions League, but i think in the form they are in, all of the others will be fearing Manchester City, because of how they have played and how they have done this season. Have played and how they have done this season this season. They have been at their unstoppable this season. They have been at their unstoppable best this season. They have been at their unstoppable best once this season. They have been at their unstoppable best once again. This season. They have been at their unstoppable best once again. John l unstoppable best once again. John murray at the etihad, thanks for that. That kicks off at 8pm, and chelsea in action tomorrow night against porto. Next up tonight, the number of footballers who died with or are living with dementia has led to calls for players to stop repeatedly heading the ball because of mounting evidence it causes neurodegenerative disease. The former norwich and blackburn striker chris sutton has been telling sally nugent about the death of his dad mike, who suffered with dementia, and the urgent steps needed to protect current players. It was like a macho thing, who could head the ball the furthest. My dad used to head medicine balls, and we would do lots of heading practices. If i had the knowledge of what i know now, there is no way i would have headed 50, 80, 100 balls throughout the afternoons. Chris, thank you so much for talking to us. I know its only very recently that your dad died. Tell me about him. My dad was my hero growing up. He had such a huge influence. I had a lovely upbringing. I had two brothers, two sisters, as well. Were you aware, when you were little, that your dad was different he sounds fantastic. Tell me, then, about when you first started to notice Something Different about him. What happened . The first signs were in his sort of mid 60s, forgetting peoples names at first. It was misplacing his car keys, losing his wallet. Dad was brought up in norwich, knows all the roads like the back of his hand. And he was driving back from wroxham to where he lived and he got lost. That was where you are thinking, blimey, you know. One thing which. Which really got me was he used to write a diary. And then one day, he picked the pen up and he didnt know how to use it. Sorry. And then things just got worse. I havent cried since his funeral. But things got worse and he had to go in a care home for his own good. How closely linked do you feel his dementia was to his career . I believe heading a football killed my dad. I believe its killed hundreds of other players across the professional game. Do you worry about yourself . I think my daughter worries about me. I have been out on the back grass there when my children were younger and giving them heading practices. I actually feel guilty to think, what on earth was i thinking of . What was i doing . Getting dementia does worry me, but theres no point worrying about it because, if it happens, it happens. Whats important now is that we get on and try and find a solution. The most important thing which could be put into place right now, not in two months, not in three months, not in four months, not in a year, is to limit heading in training. Lets just get on with it. Its not a difficult thing to do. Just do it, it will save lives in the long term. Sally nugent speaking to chris sutton there. And if youve been affected by any of the issues raised by chris story, more information and support is available at bbc. Co. Uk actionline. Now, scotland will prepare for this summers European Championship with friendlies against the netherlands and luxembourg. They face the Czech Republic at hampden park in their group opener. Thats one of four matches that will be played in glasgow in the tournament. Uefa have asked all 12 participating cities to let them know by tomorrow how many fans will be able to safely attend games, and scotlands first minister, nicola sturgeon, says shes hopeful of some being able to return. Were still in a global pandemic. I cant stand here in early april and give absolute 100 guarantees forjune on anything, really. Thats not the nature of what were dealing with, but im very, very hopeful im hopeful that i might be at hampden to cheer on scotland in the European Championships and we will be working hard to make that happen. The Birmingham City womens� team have written to the clubs board about what they call a significantly unfavourable work environment. In it, they address the differences of provisions for the mens and the womens squads, including access to the Training Ground gym, Changing Rooms and travel to away fixtures. They say its preventing them from performing theirjobs to the best of their ability. Birmingham city declined to comment when contacted by the bbc. Well, lets take a quick look at some of the other stories making the sports headlines today. Castleford head coach daryl powell super leagues longest serving head coach will succeed steve price at Warrington Wolves at the end of the year. Price will return to australia with his family. Harriet dart lost in the opening round of the Charleston Open in South Carolina to the 11th seed Yulia Putintseva in straight sets. The british number three made it into the main draw as a lucky loser from the qualifiers. And dart will be in the british team for the Billiejean King cup play off against mexico later this month. Johanna konta wont be, though. Shes still struggling with a knee problem. Heather watson, katie swan, Katie Boulter and Jodie Burrage complete the line up. Now, on sunday, valencia became the first top level team in spain to walk off in protest at racist abuse. Its afterjuan cala the Cadiz Defender was accused of racially insulting mouktar diakhaby, something he denied today. Weve actually heard from both players today. And we can hear from ben croucher now, whos been following events. Ben, just give us a back rent to what exactly we saw on full on sunday. What exactly we saw on full on sunda. ,. ,. , sunday. Very unsavoury incident on sunday. Very unsavoury incident on sunday and sunday. Very unsavoury incident on sunday and that sunday. Very unsavoury incident on sunday and that la sunday. Very unsavoury incident on sunday and that la liga sunday. Very unsavoury incident on sunday and that la liga match, sunday. Very unsavoury incident on sunday and that la liga match, as. Sunday and that la liga match, as you say, between cadiz and valencia. It happened in the 30th minute. We did not quite see or hear what happened on the tv pictures, but what we did seize the aftermath, very angry reaction from diakhaby and the valencia players. He left the field in protest, they did then later come back, although accurate you did take no further part in the match. Valencia have gone on to say that the reason they came back onto the field, they risk being forfeiting points and potentially being forfeiting the match and then being forfeiting the match and then being docked points later on diakhaby did not take further part. They did support diakhaby yesterday, a number of their players taking this picture from their Training Ground, backing diakhaby and believing his account of events. We have heard from juan cala today, so seemingly both players speaking on the events. We seemingly both players speaking on the events. ~. ,. ,. ~. , the events. We heard from diakhaby this morning. The events. We heard from diakhaby this morning, he the events. We heard from diakhaby this morning, he put the events. We heard from diakhaby this morning, he put out the events. We heard from diakhaby this morning, he put out this the events. We heard from diakhaby this morning, he put out this video | this morning, he put out this video on twitter, basically saying, reiterating the phrase that one colour was alleged to have used. He then went on to say it was intolerable, he said one of the cadiz players also asked his