The Guardian

Colapinto abused over Bearman’s high-speed crash in Japan Former Alpine driver Ocon clashed with Colapinto in China The Alpine Formula One team have condemned on Thursday online abuse of their Argentinian driver Franco Colapinto for an incident in the Japanese Grand Prix as well as death threats directed at the team’s former racer Esteban Ocon over prior events in China. They also dismissed suspi…

Cerefin issues stark warning to Italian authorities ‘Football infrastructure is among the worst in Europe’ The Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, has warned Italy it risks not being able to co-host Euro 2032 due to the condition of the country’s stadiums, which he called “some of the worst in Europe”. “Euro 2032 is scheduled and will take place, of that there is no doubt. I just hope that the in…

Visiting teams have won two of 24 last-16 ties, so it is no surprise players needing post-Six Nations rest skip trips The odds on multiple away wins in this weekend’s Champions Cup last 16 are not terribly good. Since the single-leg concept was born three years ago there have been 24 matches, with the hosts losing only two. If that strike rate alters significantly this time it will certainly conf…

The Lions of Mesopotamia have waited 40 years to return to the World Cup and they have had to do it the hard way If anyone deserves the chance to celebrate Iraq’s return to the World Cup it is Aymen Hussein and not just because the striker scored the winning goal in the final intercontinental playoff against Bolivia on Tuesday. Born and raised in Kirkuk in northern Iraq, a region affected first b…

New tickets released for some group games and final Fans attempting to buy tickets encounter glitches Fifa raised its top ticket price for the World Cup final to $10,990 during the glitch-hampered reopening of sales on Wednesday after the 48-team field for this year’s tournament was finalized . The top price for the final had been $8,680 when Fifa sold tickets after the tournament draw in Decembe…

It’s unlikely but there could be seven English clubs in the Champions League, three in the Europa League and one in the Conference League By Opta Analyst The Premier League title race might be as good as over but the battle for European places is as competitive and exciting as ever, with as many as 13 teams in with a chance of qualifying. A number of factors have combined to make it so open. The …

Player was in rehab before lawsuit was filed, says attorney Wide receiver’s lawyer says client innocent of wrongdoing Los Angeles Rams star Puka Nacua is in rehab and was there before he was sued by a woman who says he made an antisemitic statement and bit her on the shoulder, according to his attorney. “He was in [rehab] a substantial period of time before any of these allegations broke ... and …

The defender, a sole link between the past and present, is focused on nurturing young talent to help her country realise its 50-year plan “Ranking!?” Saki Kumagai says with a laugh. In the afterglow of her team’s Asian Cup triumph in Australia , the veteran Japan defender is asked about where this trophy sits among the many other titles she has won throughout her staggering 17-year career. But sh…

Marc Skinner called for more investment in experienced players from Manchester United in order for his team to push on, after they succumbed to two late Bayern Munich goals and were knocked out in the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals despite a spirited, second-leg performance. Skinner’s team led on the night for 70 minutes after Melvine Malard’s opener but Bayern built up a heavy spell of …

The most recent data shows stark levels of inactivity in one of the poorest areas in the country but the West Midlands is fighting back “Being in nature and among the trees, getting some nice air and oxygen and exercise, that’s what clears the mind,” says Kelvin Gilkes, the human dynamo behind the Pendeford Community Bike Hub. A place where he fixes old and abandoned bicycles and helps people rid…

NWSL newcomers attracted more than 60,000 fans to Mile High Stadium for landmark fixture against Washington On Saturday in Denver, the NWSL set a new single-game attendance record for the second time in less than a year. This time, it was the league’s 16th franchise, Denver Summit, who did the honors in their first home game, hosting 63,004 fans at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium (home to the …

Rival fans have raged after 11 of Mikel Arteta’s players withdrew from action with their countries before the season finale With the benefit of hindsight, Mikel Arteta’s response to a question before Arsenal’s victory over Everton last month about how the forthcoming international break might affect his squad was revealing. “We have really good communication with most of them,” Arteta replied whe…

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen and Nicky Bandini as Italy suffer World Cup heartbreak once again, and Spurs call on Roberto De Zerbi to rescue them from relegation Continue reading...

The IBF and WBC welterweight champion on returning to the ring, boxing politics and her imminent wedding A year ago, on a historic night for boxing when an all-women card of fights was held at the Royal Albert Hall last March , Lauren Price produced an imperious headline performance which should have led to a series of even more prestigious bouts. Her dominant display in outclassing the venerable…

Thomas Tuchel played down the significance of latest friendlies and history suggests team lineups can have little bearing on actual tournament “It’s just March,” Thomas Tuchel said after a winless international break. March doesn’t matter. March is for winding up the Wembley crowd by playing Ben White. For Phil Foden as a false 9. For Dominic Calvert-Lewin agonising over narrow misses. For Jason …