Robert Lewandowski is confident of being named FIFA's best male footballer on Thursday on the strength of his 55-goal haul to help Bayern Munich win the treble last season.
The Poland striker, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are shortlisted in the men's category for FIFA's 'The Best' awards. 
-We were the best, there's no doubt about that- Lewandowski said on Wednesday ahead of the online ceremony at FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
After a season "when you've scored a lot of goals and won everything, I don't think there's anyone I can compare myself to," the 32-year-old added confidently.
His goals helped Bayern lift the Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League trophies in 2019/20 as top-scorer in all three competitions.
Lewandowski has already been named the footballer of the year for Germany and Europe.
Croatia's Luka Modric, voted 'The Best' FIFA men's footballer in 2018, is the only player to have broken Ronaldo and Messi's domination since 2008.
Ronaldo has been voted player of the year five times, one less than Messi.
Can the Poland striker - who team-mate Thomas Mueller has dubbed 'LewanGOALski' - break the mould?
-There's no one who deserves it as much as Robert- said Bayern boss Hansi Flick, who is shortlisted for coach of the year alongside Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp and Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Bayern captain Manuel Neuer - who along with Jan Oblak and Alisson Becker is up for the best male goalkeeper award - says Lewandowski is "unique".
-I'm really happy to have him in my team - and not to have to play against him- Neuer quipped.
The various category winners will be decided by the votes of the captains and head coaches of all the national teams, plus more than 200 media representatives, while fans can also vote.
England's Lucy Bronze, Pernille Harder of Chelsea and French defender Wendie Renard are in the running for the women's award.
However, Bayern players are only too aware of the dangers of getting their hopes up. 
Former Munich winger Franck Ribery was crestfallen in 2013 - when Bayern also won the treble - to have been voted third behind Ronaldo and Messi.
A year later, Neuer had to settle for third behind the superstars despite outstanding displays to help Germany win the 2014 World Cup. 
Lewandowski scored in Bayern's 8-2 thrashing of Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in August with Messi on the losing team.
A footballer from a Bundesliga club has never been voted as the world's best player.
Lothar Matthaeus, the only German voted FIFA world player of the year, was at Inter Milan when he achieved the feat in 1991.
Lewandowski would not be surprised if Messi wins it again on Thursday, adding: "we'll have to wait 100 years until someone like him is born again".

Lewandowski has already been named the footballer of the year for Germany and Europe

A footballer from a Bundesliga club has never been voted as the world's best player

Lewandowski hopes to break Messi, Ronaldo monopoly as world's 'Best'

Doha will host the 2030 Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia announced Wednesday, while Riyadh was named as host of the 2034 edition under a compromise agreed between the rivals.
An executive board meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) unanimously approved the proposal to name the runner-up in the two-horse race for the 2030 games as 2034 hosts.
-I can now announce... that the city who had the highest vote and will host 2030 is Doha- said OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.
-The second hosting city, for 2034, is Riyadh.-
Voting was delayed by hours after technical problems with the online system, in place to allow some national olympic committees to participate remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.
-I apologise for the technical problem we are facing during our voting- said Sheikh Ahmad. 
-Today the difficult things have been solved and the easy things have been problems.-
-I will be glad to have two games in west Asia, to be honest- added Sheikh Ahmad.
Saudi and Qatar are locked in a bitter dispute after an alliance of countries led by Riyadh cut diplomatic, economic and transport ties with Doha in 2017, accusing it of backing radical Islamists and Iran.

Qatar denies the charges and there has been progress to reconcile the dispute in recent weeks with all sides praising Kuwaiti-led mediation.
Ahead of the vote, the OCA's president said he was seeking a "win-win" situation for Doha and Riyadh.
Doha hosted the Asian Games in 2006 while Saudi Arabia has never organised an OCA multi-sport event.
-Our goal is simple. We want to see more Asian athletes in the future, on future Olympic podiums- said Qatar Olympic Committee chief Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani ahead of the vote.
-We want that to be part of your national sports history, not just ours. And we want to support you in the efforts to get there.- 
Qatar is also participating in the bidding process for the 2032 summer Olympics.
A video showcased Qatar's raft of sporting and transport infrastructure being prepared ahead of the 2022 football World Cup that would be repurposed for the 2030 games. The games will have a $1.3 billion budget. 
The Doha bid team claimed that 90 percent of the infrastructure for the 2030 games was already in place.
President of Saudi's Olympic Committee Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud said "when we say the games are a national priority, we mean it".
-It has unwavering political and public support- he said
-Sport has changed social life in the kingdom - especially for women.-
Prince Abdulaziz pointed to Saudi's hosting of major boxing clashes and planning for next year's Formula 1 as proof of the kingdom's readiness for the Asian games.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal Al-Saud: Sport has changed social life in the kingdom - especially for women

President of the Olympic Council of Asia Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah gestures as he delivers a speech during the closing ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games

Doha to host 2030 Asian Games, Riyadh 2034 edition

Newcastle coach Steve Bruce said on Tuesday two of his players are "not well at all" after contracting coronavirus.
The Magpies' Premier League match against Aston Villa on December 4 was postponed and the club's training ground was closed for more than a week after an outbreak of the illness among Bruce's squad.
Defender Federico Fernandez was one of a number of players infected, but he is in contention to face Leeds on Wednesday after his latest negative test.
Bruce refused to reveal the identities of the players still dealing with the virus, but admitted he is concerned about their health, as well as two members of his backroom staff who also remain ill.
-One of the players who had coronavirus is back - that's Fernandez- Bruce said on Tuesday. 
-He's tested negative and I can say that because he himself revealed that he's had the virus. But he's OK now.
--Players and staff have had three negative tests in the past six days so it does look as if we've overcome it. But we've got two players in particular who are not well at all and two members of staff who are still poorly.
--We're relieved that nobody else has got it but we're also concerned about the members of staff and two players who it's having a bad effect on.
--If you ever underestimated this thing then don't, because you're talking about elite professionals here and the way it got a hold of everybody was quite scary stuff.
--For everybody out there, for goodness' sake stay safe. I know it's Christmas but after what we've just witnessed then you've got to be careful.-

Defender Federico Fernandez was one of a number of players infected

Bruce says two Newcastle players 'not well at all' with virus

Tokyo 2020 organisers said Tuesday they will press ahead with a nationwide, socially distanced torch relay - 100 days before the Olympic flame begins its coronavirus-delayed journey around Japan.
Despite a recent spike in infections, Games officials believe the relay can be held safely-- and in front of spectators -- with around 10,000 runners carrying the torch around Japan's 47 prefectures.
The torch relay was postponed just two days before it was due to begin earlier this year when the decision was taken to delay the Games by 12 months because of the pandemic.
Now it will start on March 25, 2021, with Olympic officials to lay out detailed anti-virus measures in the coming weeks.
-We want to make sure that everyone's health is secure -- the spectators, the torchbearers, the officials and the citizens in the local areas," said Tokyo Games Vice-Director General Yukihiko Nunomura.
-We want the runners to smile and we want the spectators to smile as they welcome the torch. We want to generate excitement so that people really feel that the Tokyo Olympics are coming.-
The announcement comes after a poll released earlier Tuesday by national broadcaster NHK showed a majority of Japanese people oppose holding the Games next year, favouring another delay or cancellation of the massive event.
Japan has seen a relatively small Covid-19 outbreak overall, but has been battling record numbers of new cases in recent weeks.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday suspended a controversial domestic tourism campaign and urged residents to reconsider New Year travel plans.
Guidelines on whether Olympic torchbearers will need to wear masks have not yet been issued, but this month an interim report said participants will be told to keep their distance and refrain from talking loudly.

The Olympic flame, which had already arrived in Japan from Greece when the relay was postponed, is currently on display in Tokyo.
Starting in the Fukushima region -- which was hit by nuclear disaster after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami -- it will crisscross Japan before arriving in Tokyo for the July 23 opening ceremony.
Organisers announced some minor changes to the relay route on Tuesday, but reaffirmed their commitment to visiting every part of the country.
-We hope that the power of the torch relay can be exposed to as big an audience as possible- said Nunomura.
-We also will be providing online opportunities for people to watch the torch go around Japan, and we will be sharing that with the entire world.-
Torchbearers who were selected for the original relay will be invited back next year, although Tokyo 2020 chiefs acknowledged not everyone will be able to do so.
The relay will visit 859 municipalities around Japan, with a local celebration welcoming the flame to be held at the end of each day.
Organisers announced changes to several celebration venues, with festivities set to be simplified in a bid to cut costs.
The postponement of the Games has added at least an extra $2.4 billion to an already outsized budget, set last year at around $13 billion.
The NHK poll released Tuesday shows public sentiment has shifted little since the summer, when surveys in Japan also found only a minority backing plans to hold the Games next year, despite the imminent arrival of new vaccines.

Despite a recent spike in infections, Games officials believe the relay can be held safely

The Olympic flame is currently on display in Tokyo

Tokyo 2020 unveils plan for socially distanced Olympic torch relay

Gerard Houllier, the French coach who set Liverpool back on the path to Premier League and European glory, has died aged 73.
Houllier, who managed the Anfield giants from 1998 to 2004, died overnight Sunday to Monday after undergoing heart surgery. 
His career was blighted by health problems and he had to take a break during his time at Liverpool to recover from heart issues.
The Frenchman, who also managed Aston Villa later in his career, guided the Reds to an FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup treble in 2001, the highlight of his six-year spell in charge.
He won Ligue 1 titles in France with Paris-Saint Germain and Lyon and also had a spell in charge of the French national team from 1992 to 1993, when they failed to qualify for the 1994 finals in the United States.
The cerebral Houllier played an important role in shaping Liverpool after the club that had dominated English football in the 1970s and 1980s lost their way. 
His affiliation with Liverpool began decades before he took charge at Anfield. He worked as a teacher in the city during the 1960s, first taking in a Reds match on the Kop in 1969.
Although he was unable to lead them to the Premier League title -- that had to wait until this year under German coach Jurgen Klopp -- Houllier was loved by the Anfield club's supporters.
-We are mourning the passing of our treble-winning manager, Gerard Houllier- Liverpool tweeted.
-The thoughts of everyone at Liverpool Football Club are with Gerard’s family and many friends. Rest in peace, Gerard Houllier 1947-2020.-&nbsp;

Houllier became joint team manager with Roy Evans at Anfield in 1998 but their relationship soon became strained and long-term club servant Evans resigned later that year to leave the Frenchman in sole charge.
He masterminded one of the greatest single seasons in the club's illustrious history in 2000/01, winning three cups.
In October 2001, Houllier fell ill at half-time during Liverpool's match against Leeds and required life-saving heart surgery.
He returned after five months as Liverpool finished second in the league to Arsenal.
Houllier guided Liverpool to a second League Cup triumph of his tenure in 2003 but left the following year after overseeing 307 matches and successfully re-establishing the club as a modern force.
In 2005 Liverpool, now with Rafael Benitez as manager, became champions of Europe for the fifth time in their history, inspired by Steven Gerrard, whose career was launched by Houllier.
Many of Liverpool's treble-winning squad paid tribute to their former boss.
Gerrard, now manager of Rangers, wrote on Instagram: "Devastated to hear the news my former manager Gerard Houllier has passed away. I will never forget what this man did for me and my career. Rest in peace Boss."
Former Liverpool and England forward Michael Owen tweeted that he was heartbroken, describing Houllier as a "great manager and a genuinely caring man".
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher tweeted: "Loved that man to bits, he changed me as a person &amp; as a player &amp; got @LFC back winning trophies. RIP Boss."
Houllier made his name with Lens and Paris Saint-Germain, winning Ligue 1 with PSG in 1986 and later winning the title twice more with Lyon, in 2006 and 2007.
-He created a relationship of friendship- said long-time Lyon owner Jean-Michel Aulas.
-I have few friends that strong but he was one of the people who could be counted on for football and everything in between.-
Houllier became Villa manager in 2010 but suffered further health problems during his spell in Birmingham. He was admitted to hospital in April 2011 after falling ill and did not return to work before stepping down by mutual consent in June that year.
The Villa job proved to be his final role in day-to-day management. 
More recently, he worked as the head of global football for the Red Bull group, which owns RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg and the New York Red Bulls, as well as advising Lyon.

His career was blighted by health problems and he had to take a break during his time at Liverpool to recover from heart issue

Gerard Houllier celebrates Liverpool's cup treble in 2001 on an open-top bus parade with Steven Gerrard and Sami Hyypia

Ex-Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier dies at 73

Paris Saint-Germain, last season's beaten finalists, will face Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League while Liverpool were paired with RB Leipzig in Monday's draw.
French champions PSG will relish another chance to avenge their soul-destroying 'Remontada' defeat to the Catalan giants in 2017.
Having beaten Barca 4-0 in the French capital, PSG crashed to a 6-1 defeat at the Camp Nou orchestrated by Neymar. 
The Brazilian, who won the 2015 Champions League with Barca, then joined PSG in a world record move weeks later but has yet to taste similar European success with Ligue 1's dominant force.
They came closest last season when they were beaten 1-0 in the final by Bayern Munich, who claimed a sixth European crown thanks to a goal from PSG youth product Kingsley Coman.
With the first legs due to be played in February, PSG seem hopeful Neymar will have recovered in time from an ankle injury which forced him to be stretchered off the pitch in his side's 1-0 Ligue 1 defeat to Lyon on Sunday.
On Monday PSG said Neymar's prognosis was "reassuring" while the 28-year-old said on Instagram that his injury "could have been worse" following a rough tackle from Lyon midfielder Thiago Mendes which left him screaming in agony.
Barca may not be as intimidating opponents as in the past after a troubled start to the season influenced by boardroom chaos and Lionel Messi's attempt to leave the club in the summer.
Messi saved Barca's blushes on Sunday with the only goal in a home win over lowly Levante, but they are nine points behind La Liga leaders Real Sociedad.

Reigning champions Bayern play Italian side Lazio, who are in the knockout phase for the first time in over two decades.
-They are a very difficult opponent, we saw them in the group against Dortmund- said Bayern's sports director Hasan Salihamidzic. 
-It is always difficult against the Italian teams. But it is always nice to go to Rome.-
Lazio's Spanish midfielder Luis Alberto described the draw as "complicated".
Pep Guardiola's Manchester City team, who like PSG are still seeking a first Champions League title despite serious investment from Gulf state owners, must get past Borussia Moenchengladbach, European Cup finalists way back in 1977.
-I learned when I was in Germany how big and important and historical a team Gladbach are. I respect the beauty of their football- said former Bayern boss Guardiola.
-I want to arrive in the best condition when we play them. We want to compete as best as possible and go through.-
Frank Lampard said that Chelsea, winners in 2012, have been handed the hardest possible draw with their tie against Atletico Madrid.
-I think most people will say it's the toughest draw that we could have had- the Blues boss said.
-We have to have belief in ourselves and, when that game comes around, you're going to have to beat these sort of teams if you're going to win the Champions League.-
Cristiano Ronaldo and Juventus will play Portuguese side Porto, winners in 2004, while Real Madrid take on last season's surprise quarter-finalists Atalanta.
-We want to face them in the same manner we took on Barcelona- said Juve vice president Pavel Nedved, referring to the 3-0 win at the Camp Nou which allowed the Italians to top their group.
Liverpool will be wary of an attack-minded RB Leipzig side who ended the hopes of Manchester United in the group phase.
That match will be a clash of German managers as Jurgen Klopp's Reds face a Leipzig side led by young coach Julian Nagelsmann.&nbsp;

French champions will relish another chance to avenge their soul-destroying 'Remontada' defeat to the Catalan giants in 2017

Paris St-Germain will hope Neymar has recovered from injury in time to face Barcelona

PSG face Barcelona in Champions League knockout phase

Max Verstappen topped the times ahead of Valtteri Bottas in Friday’s opening free practice at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.&nbsp; The Dutchman clocked a best lap in 1min 37.378sec in his Red Bull to outpace the Finn, in his Mercedes, by 0.034 seconds, while seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was fifth on his return from his Covid-19-inflicted absence.
Esteban Ocon was third for Renault, 1.1 seconds off the pace, ahead of Alex Albon in the second Red Bull, Hamilton and the two Racing Points of Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez, fresh from his maiden win in last weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix.
Daniil Kvyat was eighth ahead of Alpha Tauri team-mate Pierre Gasly and Kimi Raikkonen of Alfa Romeo.
The session ran in perfect weather conditions with a blue sky, warm sunshine and an air temperature of 25 degrees. The track was 39 degrees and the teams were set to use the softest range of tyres available from Pirelli on the smooth Yas Marina circuit.
Hamilton’s return for Mercedes, preceded by his arrival at the paddock in an eye-catching ‘zebra’ suit, meant George Russell returned to Williams, but it was Mick Schumacher’s appearance in FP1 for Haas that attracted attention too along with Robert Kubica’s possible swansong run for Alfa Romeo.
On a weekend of farewells, Vettel’s departure from Ferrari topped the list after his self-declared ‘failure’ with the Italians, having aimed to claim another title with them in his six-year stay.
His friend and rival Hamilton was quick to join the early fray for some ‘welcome back’ laps, but brake problems soon had him called back to the pits as Bottas went took the early initiative.
Ricciardo was also halted, after only 23 minutes, when he came to a halt on the back straight. His stranded Renault was rescued under Virtual Safety Car (VSC) conditions before Verstappen went quickest only for Bottas to respond with a determined lap.
After repairs, Hamilton returned to action and shared a waved greeting with team-mate Bottas on the straight as he worked with the ‘hard’ compound tyres.
Verstappen rose again to top the times ahead of Bottas, but in a session run in daylight sunshine, it was of little use as an indicator of what lies ahead in the twilight zone, when qualifying and the race take place.

The Dutchman clocked a best lap in 1min 37.378sec in his Red Bull

Max Verstappen topped the times ahead of Valtteri Bottas in Friday’s opening free practice at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Verstappen tops opening Abu Dhabi GP practice, Hamilton fifth

Paolo Rossi, who fired Italy to victory in the 1982 World Cup after almost missing the tournament through a match-fixing scandal, has died aged 64, prompting an outpouring of grief and tributes.
Rossi's wife Federica Cappelletti announced the death in an Instagram post featuring a photo of the couple, accompanied by the comment "Forever," followed by a heart.
-There will never be anyone like you, unique, special, after you the absolute nothing...,- she added on Facebook.
The cause of Rossi's death was not revealed but Italian media reported he had been suffering from "an uncurable disease".
Tributes flooded in for 'Pablito', who was banned for three years for his part in the betting scandal, but returned to win the World Cup in Spain and the Ballon d'Or the same year.
Rossi scored 20 goals in 48 appearances for Italy, and more than 100 Serie A goals with Italian clubs including Juventus, Milan and Verona. In the 1982 World Cup he was top scorer with six goals.
Goalkeeper Dino Zoff, who captained the 1982 winning side, described Rossi as an "extraordinary footballer, excellent teammate and friend".
He said Rossi's ban -- later reduced to two years -- did not bother him, as "we knew who Paolo Rossi was, what a serious person he was and what an extraordinary footballer we had with us". 
-He was irreplaceable in that group. And the relationship with him was great. We were a team of friends, a great group- Zoff said.
Juventus said on the club's website: -Pablito' has passed away: for the entire nation, he was the man of an unforgettable Mundial, and for us, he was so much more.-
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte paid tribute to an "unforgettable champion", saying that his goals that summer "gave a dream to an entire generation".
His death comes just two weeks after Argentina football legend and former Napoli star Diego Maradona died aged 60.

Rossi won the hearts of Italian fans when his goals propelled Enzo Bearzot's Azzurri -- who started the tournament with three uninspiring draws -- to a third world title.
But he almost missed the whole tournament.
In 1980, he was caught up in match-fixing scandal known as "Totonero" -- a play on the Italian for football pools -- that also led to top teams including AC Milan and Lazio being relegated.
Rossi was banned for three years, missing out on the 1980 European Championship on home soil, where Italy finished fourth.
After protesting his innocence he was cleared to play after two years and was rehired by Juventus, going on to earn his spot in the World Cup squad.
A slight winger who converted to centre-forward, Rossi had an uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time.
He exploded onto the stage of the 1982 tournament with a hat-trick in the 3-2 defeat of Brazil.
In the semi-finals he scored both goals as Italy beat Poland 2-0, and he hit the opening goal in the 3-1 win over West Germany in the final.
He was voted European Footballer of the Year in 1982.
Along with Christian Vieri and Roberto Baggio, he holds the Italian record for nine goals scored in the World Cup.

Born in Prato in Tuscany, Rossi made his professional debut at Juventus in 1973, but his initial two-year spell at the Turin club was blighted by knee injuries.
His first successes were with Vicenza, helping the club into the top flight. However, following relegation he left for a loan spell at Perugia, where scandal struck.
After his suspension Rossi returned to Juventus, and the 1983-1984 season was his most successful at club level.
He formed a formidable trio with Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek and accumulated trophies -- two Serie A titles, the Italian Cup, Cup of Cups, and European Supercup. 
-Paolo was a friend, a golden boy: benevolent, humble and intelligent- Platini said in a statement to AFP. 
-He will be forever remembered by the (Juventus) team and everyone with a black and white heart.-
In 1985, Juventus won the European Cup amid the tragedy of the Heysel Stadium final against Liverpool, where 39 fans were killed. It was to be Rossi's last match with the 'Bianconeri'.
He went to rivals AC Milan for an unsuccessful season which was overshadowed by injury, as was his final season at Hellas Verona. 
In 1987, aged 31, Rossi decided to turn the page after nearly 400 league games and 154 goals, and 48 caps and 20 goals for Italy.
After his career as a footballer, Rossi worked as a TV pundit. 
Rossi is survived by his wife and three children.

Rossi's wife Federica Cappelletti announced the death in an Instagram post

Rossi made his professional debut at Juventus in 1973.

Italy's 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi dead at 64

The World Indoor Athletics Championships scheduled to take place in the Chinese city of Nanjing next year have been postponed until March 2023, World Athletics announced on Thursday.
The event had already been moved from this year to March 19-21, 2021, because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
-While we have been liaising with the organising committee and the Chinese Athletics Association to evaluate the staging over the past few weeks, given the current global situation, there is still significant uncertainty about the state of the Covid-19 pandemic in the early part of 2021- track and field's governing body said in a statement.
The Nanjing event will now take place a year after the 2022 world championships in Belgrade.

The Nanjing event will now take place a year after the 2022 world championships in Belgrade

Nanjing will now host the 2023 IAAF World Indoor Championships

2021 World Indoor Athletics Championships postponed two years

Czech referee Pavel Kralovec, who officiates in the Champions League, has been implied in a local match-fixing scandal, Czech media said Wednesday.
The case involves former Czech Football Association (FACR) deputy head Roman Berbr, who has been in custody over suspected match-fixing since October.
Citing police wiretaps, the DNES broadsheet said Berbr had called Kralovec ahead of July's Czech Cup final, in which Sparta Prague beat Slovan Liberec 2-1 to reach the Europa League group stage.
-Very simply, I need just one political thing, OK? You will understand. Josef Krula stopped by on Monday- Berbr said, according to the wiretap.
Krula is Sparta's sports manager and a former referee.
Kralovec, who answered that he did understand, came under fire after the game as he had notably refused to send off Sparta midfielder Martin Frydek for stepping on an opponent, despite calls from the video referee.
On Tuesday night, the 43-year-old Kralovec managed the Champions League game pitting Chelsea against Krasnodar.
Sparta, who have lost a chance to advance from the Europa League Group H also comprising AC Milan, Lille and Celtic Glasgow, have denied any wrongdoing and said they want "thorough investigation" of the case.
Berbr was one of 19 people detained by police in October as part of an organised group in the match-fixing case, four of whom have ended up in custody.
He stepped down from his position as a result.
A 66-year-old former referee, Berbr held his post since 2013 and according to local media has been pulling the strings in Czech football for years.
Media have made allegations over Berbr in relation to corruption cases and bullying at the FACR, but he has never been charged.
His wife Dagmar Damkova, the first female referee in the Czech Republic, stepped down from a post on the UEFA referees committee following the charges.

The case involves former Czech Football Association (FACR) deputy head Roman Berbr

Champions League referee implicated in match-fixing case

Lewis Hamilton is in a race against time as he battles to recover from Covid-19 and return to action for Mercedes at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, according to team chief Toto Wolff.
The Austrian boss told reporters after Sunday's dramatic Sakhir Grand Prix, in which the seven-time champion's substitute George Russell excelled, that Hamilton's condition was improving every day.
But, he added, he had to complete a full recovery and return a negative coronavirus test result by Thursday – and, if not, super-sub Russell, on loan from Williams, would take his seat again.
-If Lewis recovers - and he is getting better every day - and he is being considered Covid-free and negative then he will be fine- said Wolff. -I think we need to see how well Lewis recovers.-
-That's the most important - that he's well - and he says he's a bit better so he's made a big step.
-If the test is negative, it's his car and then, I am sure, he will drive a brilliant race. But, if the test in Abu Dhabi is positive, then George is in the car.-
Wolff rejected suggestions that the prodigious Russell's dazzling display for Mercedes –- he looked certain to win the race until a pit-stop bungle and a puncture ended his challenge -– was a useful factor in negotiating a new contract with Hamilton.
-No, they are two different things- he countered. -Lewis has been with the team for eight years. We have had great success in the past.
--He is a team member and I have said it already - none of the events will interfere or change any of our negotiations. That wouldn't be fair against him and it wouldn't be fair against us.
--It could have gone the other way around and been a race weekend where George wouldn't have been on the pace. Our negotiations go much beyond that.-
Hamilton will be out of contract at the end of this season. Talks, postponed due to his illness, are expected to resume later this month.

Toto Wolff: I think we need to see how well Lewis recovers

Hamilton will be out of contract at the end of this season. Talks, postponed due to his illness, are expected to resume later this month.

Hamilton in race against time to prove fitness for season finale

Manchester United will travel to RB Leipzig for Tuesday's Champions League match confident they can reach the knockout stages but knowing they have made life unnecessarily hard for themselves.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team looked certain to ease out of the group phase after an impressive win at Paris Saint-Germain followed by a 5-0 hammering of RB Leipzig at home.
But a shock defeat away to Istanbul Basaksehir threw Group H wide open and last week's home reverse against PSG leaves the French champions, United and Leipzig locked together on nine points.
United need just a draw at the home of the German team, who are third in the Bundesliga. That would take them through on the basis of a superior head-to-head record.
The three-time European champions can take heart from their striking away form this season, with the exception of their ill-fated trip to Turkey.
They have won all five of their Premier League away games, taking their total of consecutive league wins on the road to a club-record nine.
But United, desperate to re-establish themselves among the European elite, have also made a habit of getting themselves into difficulty -- they have trailed in every away game in the top-flight this season.
Saturday's match at West Ham was no different. Solskjaer's men were 1-0 down at half-time and could have been further behind before a stirring second-half comeback.
Paul Pogba, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford all scored in a 3-1 win at the London Stadium that took the team, at least temporarily, into the top four of the Premier League.

-The boys now have the belief and the confidence that we can turn things around- said Solskjaer. -You don't panic.- 
-Yeah, we were under pressure before half-time, and half-time came at a good time for us. We had to clear our heads and go again. We've done it too often now to be a coincidence, those comebacks.
--It's in these boys and in this badge. Of course you are very happy with the away form and how we're performing.-
United have enviable firepower in their ranks and can be devastating on the break but the feeling remains that they are rarely in total control of their destiny.
The Norwegian boss has a decision to make in midfield, with Fred absent after a red card in the defeat to PSG.
Bruno Fernandes is the key man creatively, as he showed again at West Ham, creating eight chances after coming on at half-time.
Does Solskjaer stick with Pogba, who has been a peripheral player this season? Does he throw in Nemanja Matic alongside Scott McTominay to give greater defensive ballast? Or can he find room for all three?
There are also potential issues up front, with both Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani withdrawn during the West Ham victory with niggles.
Leipzig, last season's Champions League semi-finalists, will likely need to win to progress from Group H, because PSG are expected to beat Basaksehir. That could play into United's hands, giving them space to exploit.
But they cannot afford to produce a display as limp and disjointed as they did in the first half against West Ham.
McTominay said it was important to put last month's hammering of Leipzig out of their minds.
-The result at home is completely out of the equation now- the Scotland midfielder told MUTV.
-We forget about that. It's a game where we have to go and win. It's a game where you can't just go there and play for a point. You have to go and approach it like you want to win that football match and that's definitely what we're going to do.-

United need just a draw at the home of the German team, who are third in the Bundesliga

Manchester United came from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 in the Premier League

Comeback kings Man Utd brace for Leipzig Champions League decider

About 18 percent of tickets sold in Japan for next year's coronavirus-postponed Olympics will be refunded, Tokyo 2020 organisers said Thursday, with over 3.6 million seats still reserved domestically for the Games.
A three-week refund window for domestic tickets closed November 30, and organisers said about 810,000 of the 4.45 million tickets sold in Japan would be refunded and resold at a later date.
A refund application window for Paralympics tickets bought in Japan will run from December 1-21. People who purchased tickets elsewhere in the world have been told to seek refunds from local retailers.
The Games were postponed in March in the first peacetime delay of an Olympics, and are now scheduled to start on July 23, 2021.
Organisers this week laid out a raft of safety measures they said would make it possible to hold the Games, even if the pandemic has not been brought under control.
While International Olympic Committee boss Thomas Bach has said he is "very confident" spectators will be allowed at next year's event, he has also warned full stadiums may not be possible as the pandemic rages on.
A decision on the number of spectators allowed is not expected until next spring.
Organisers have promised more reimbursements if events are cancelled, or fewer seats are available because of coronavirus safety measures.

Over 3.6 million seats still reserved domestically for the Games

The Games were postponed in March  and are now scheduled to start on July 23, 2021.

18 percent of Olympic tickets sold in Japan to be refunded

Max Verstappen has returned a negative test for Covid-19 ahead of this weekend’s Sakhir Grand Prix amid concerns that he had been a 'close contact' of Lewis Hamilton last weekend.
The newly-crowned seven-time champion Hamilton returned a positive test result on Monday following his victory at last Sunday’s dramatic Bahrain Grand Prix, where he shared the podium and post-race media commitments with Verstappen.
The Dutchman was tested on Wednesday and his result was negative, according to Dutch news reports.
Verstappen also revealed on his website that he had contacted his family during the stoppage last Sunday following Romain Grosjean’s fireball crash and miraculous escape.
-The Grosjean crash was fierce- he said. -I face-timed with my father and sister and had a chat and sent some messages.-
-When the red flag was waved and we were still on our way to the pit lane, we saw the flames.-
-That was the worst moment. At the time, I didn’t know what had happened or whether he was out of the car yet.
--Once we got to the pit lane, we had seen on the screen that Grosjean had jumped out of the car. Then you know that it is fortunately relatively okay.
--Crashes do happen, which is of course not nice. This was a huge hit that you hope never happens.-
Verstappen will be bidding to take advantage of Hamilton's absence this weekend to claim victory and press home his bid to take the runners-up place in the drivers’ championship ahead of the Briton’s Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas.
Briton George Russell has been released by Williams to replace Hamilton this weekend while Brazilian Pietro Fittipaldi makes his debut as Grosjean's substitute in the Haas team.

The Dutchman was tested on Wednesday

Max Verstappen tested negative for coronavirus

Verstappen negative after contact with Covid-case Hamilton

The Australian Open tennis Grand Slam will start three weeks late on February 8, reports said on Wednesday, with players cleared to train during quarantine following lengthy negotiations with state authorities.
According to Australian media, the start date was announced to players by tournament director Craig Tiley. If confirmed, it will join the three other major tournaments in being disrupted by the coronavirus.
Tennis Australia has been in protracted talks with Victoria state authorities in Melbourne, which only emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of cases.
-It's taken a while, but the great news is it looks like we are going to be able to hold the AO (Australian Open) on 8 February- Tiley was quoted as telling players in a leaked letter.
-Players will have to quarantine for two weeks from 15 January, but the Victorian government has agreed to special conditions for AO participants — agreeing that they need to be able to prepare for a Grand Slam.-
Under the plan, players who test negative for the virus will be able to train while in isolation, Tiley wrote.
Tennis Australia did not confirm the reports on Wednesday, and said plans were still awaiting approval from the state government.
A February 8th start date would allow for a week of warm-up tournaments after quarantine, but would likely mean scrapping the flagship ATP Cup men's team event due to a lack of time.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews earlier said he remained committed to holding the Australian Open, but that safety was paramount.
-Unlike every other tennis tournament that the men's and women's tours will play this year, only the Australian Open is a tennis tournament in a city where it can likely be assumed that those players will bring the virus here- he told reporters.
-Just think about that for a moment – every other Grand Slam (is happening in a place where) cases are running wild.-
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal last month said it was an unprecedented situation and urged patience from players.
-That is difficult for everyone- he said at the ATP Finals in London. -We need to be flexible to understand the situation and to find a way to play as many tournaments as possible next year.-
This year, the US Open was held behind closed doors and the French Open was delayed and took place in front of limited crowds, while Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II.

Players who test negative for the virus will be able to train while in isolation

Australian Open Grand Slam will start on February 8th

Australian Open tennis Grand Slam delayed to February 8th

Mick Schumacher, the son of seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, will drive in Formula One for the first time with Haas next season, the team announced on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old will get a taste of what is in store when he takes part in free practice ahead of the 2020 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 11 before taking part in testing a few days later.
-Haas F1 Team has signed Germany's Mick Schumacher as part of its all-new driver lineup for the 2021 FIA Formula 1 World Championship and beyond in a multi-year agreement- Haas said in a statement.
Schumacher junior, long tipped for a Formula One spot, will partner Russian driver Nikita Mazepin, also 21, in the Haas lineup.Mick Schumacher currently heads the Formula Two drivers' standings with one race to go in Bahrain this weekend.
His father was seriously injured in a skiing accident in December 2013 and has not been seen in public since.
His wife Corinna, the mother of Mick, issued a rare statement on the Formula One legend's 50th birthday in January 2019, saying the family were doing "everything humanly possible" to help her husband.
British driver Lewis Hamilton this year won his seventh Formula One world title to equal Michael Schumacher's all-time record.

Lewandowski hopes to break Messi, Ronaldo monopoly as world's 'Best'

Doha to host 2030 Asian Games, Riyadh 2034 edition

Bruce says two Newcastle players 'not well at all' with virus

Tokyo 2020 unveils plan for socially distanced Olympic torch relay

Ex-Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier dies at 73

PSG face Barcelona in Champions League knockout phase

Verstappen tops opening Abu Dhabi GP practice, Hamilton fifth

Italy's 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi dead at 64

2021 World Indoor Athletics Championships postponed two years

Champions League referee implicated in match-fixing case

Hamilton in race against time to prove fitness for season finale

Comeback kings Man Utd brace for Leipzig Champions League decider

18 percent of Olympic tickets sold in Japan to be refunded

Verstappen negative after contact with Covid-case Hamilton

Australian Open tennis Grand Slam delayed to February 8th

Schumacher's son joins Haas for first F1 drive next season

Sports

Lewandowski hopes to break Messi, Ronaldo monopoly as world's 'Best'

Doha to host 2030 Asian Games, Riyadh 2034 edition

Bruce says two Newcastle players 'not well at all' with virus

Tokyo 2020 unveils plan for socially distanced Olympic torch relay

Ex-Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier dies at 73

PSG face Barcelona in Champions League knockout phase

Verstappen tops opening Abu Dhabi GP practice, Hamilton fifth

Italy's 1982 World Cup hero Paolo Rossi dead at 64

2021 World Indoor Athletics Championships postponed two years

Champions League referee implicated in match-fixing case

Hamilton in race against time to prove fitness for season finale

Comeback kings Man Utd brace for Leipzig Champions League decider

18 percent of Olympic tickets sold in Japan to be refunded

Verstappen negative after contact with Covid-case Hamilton

Australian Open tennis Grand Slam delayed to February 8th

Schumacher's son joins Haas for first F1 drive next season