分类： sports

Iran’s women’s national football team displayed markedly different behavior during national anthem ceremonies at the Asian Cup in Australia, sparking allegations of political coercion. During their opening match against South Korea on Monday, players remained silent during the anthem, but reversed course dramatically in their subsequent game against hosts Australia by singing along while performing military salutes.

The abrupt change occurred against the backdrop of escalating military conflict, with US and Israeli airstrikes hitting Iranian territory in recent days. Alireza Mohebbi, an Australia-based correspondent for Iran International TV, stated unequivocally to BBC’s partner ABC News that the players were under direct instruction from regime officials. “It’s completely obvious that the Islamic Republic’s regime, and the security team which is with the players in Australia, forced them to sing and do the military salute,” Mohebbi asserted.

Team striker Sara Didar emotionally addressed the psychological toll on players, speaking about being separated from loved ones during the crisis. Head coach Marziyeh Jafari acknowledged the difficult circumstances, stating “No-one likes what’s happening, no-one wants war,” while simultaneously insisting the team had “come here to play football.”

The political symbolism extended beyond the pitch as dozens of Iranian-Australians gathered outside the Gold Coast stadium waving Israeli, Australian, and pre-revolution Iranian flags. The team’s sporting prospects suffered simultaneously with a 4-0 defeat to Australia, leaving Iran needing victory against Philippines on Sunday to advance to the knockout stages.

This incident mirrors similar political pressure experienced by Iran’s men’s team during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where players initially remained silent during the anthem before singing in subsequent matches amid widespread domestic protests following Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody.

In a landmark move for gender recognition in motorsports, the Australian Grand Prix has announced the permanent renaming of Turn Six at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit to ‘In Her Corner.’ This historic decision coincides with the 2026 season opener falling on International Women’s Day, March 8th, creating a powerful symbolic gesture.

The corner dedication honors two pioneering female engineers who have shattered glass ceilings in Formula 1: Laura Mueller, Race Engineer for Esteban Ocon at Haas F1 Team, and Hannah Schmitz, Head of Race Strategy at Red Bull Racing. Mueller made history in 2025 by becoming the first full-time female race engineer in F1, serving as the critical communication link between driver and team. Schmitz, with Red Bull since 2009, has been instrumental in crafting championship-winning strategies during the team’s dominant 2022 and 2023 seasons, earning her place as one of only eleven women to ever stand on an F1 podium.

This initiative represents a significant departure from tradition, as circuit corners are typically named after legendary drivers or historical figures. The collaboration between Engineers Australia and the Australian Grand Prix Corporation aims to inspire future generations by showcasing female achievement in STEM fields. Laura Mueller emphasized the importance of visibility, stating, ‘The ‘In Her Corner’ initiative promotes the importance of ‘if you can see it, you can be it’—highlighting women’s accomplishments in engineering is crucial for progress.’

The renamed corner will serve as a permanent tribute during the March 6-8 event, aligning with International Women’s Day’s broader mission to celebrate achievements and advocate for gender equality across social, economic, cultural, and political spheres.

The Australian women’s cricket team enters the one-off Test match in Perth holding a significant four-point lead over India, a position potentially strengthened by the anticipated return of legendary all-rounder Ellyse Perry. However, her role is expected to be limited exclusively to batting due to a recent quad strain that sidelined her during the team’s clean sweep of the One Day International series.

Captain Alyssa Healy, who has announced her retirement from international cricket following this Test, expressed optimism about Perry’s condition. ‘We’ve got a very rough idea of what the XI is going to look like and obviously Ellyse Perry is the key one,’ Healy stated. ‘She trained really well yesterday so it’s looking really promising. But I dare say there will be debutants so we’ll have to wait and see who that will be.’

Healy later essentially confirmed Perry’s inclusion in the lineup, though noting her participation would be as a specialist batter. When questioned about how the all-rounder would manage without bowling, Healy responded, ‘hopefully she will just stay out there and bat all day instead.’

Attention has also turned to potential new faces in the squad, with 19-year-old fast bowler Lucy Hamilton emerging as a strong candidate for a Test debut. Hamilton recently received her ODI cap from Healy and could bring a left-arm bowling option to the iconic WACA pitch, known for favoring such bowlers throughout its history.

Healy praised the young bowler’s maturity, stating, ‘I am excited if she gets her opportunity to see her do her thing. She’s an incredibly mature 19-year-old and was well-deserved of her ODI debut. If she happens to get the baggy green tomorrow, I am excited to see what she can bring.’

The captain herself approaches her final international match with characteristic determination, fresh from a spectacular 158-run innings off just 98 balls in her ODI farewell. When asked about the possibility of another century send-off, Healy remarked with laughter, ‘I am not going out there to make a duck. If three figures come up then so be it, but at the end of the day I just want to contribute to the team’s success.’

The Sydney Roosters are embarking on a bold experiment, hoping history will repeat itself as veteran playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans prepares for his club debut against the NZ Warriors this Friday. The high-stakes move draws direct parallels to the club’s successful acquisition of Cooper Cronk, a Queensland legend who delivered back-to-back premierships during his tenure.

This strategic signing places Cherry-Evans, 37, in an unfamiliar five-eighth role alongside young halfback Sam Walker, creating one of the most anticipated new partnerships of the NRL season. While trial matches showed promising offensive coordination between the veterans, head coach Trent Robinson emphasizes that true validation will only come under regular season pressure.

“That has to be seen,” Robinson stated regarding the duo’s on-field chemistry. “We’re really happy with the work that we’ve done in the pre-season with those guys and the combination that they have, but it does start with an off-field connection.”

The veteran’s transition follows his surprising departure from Manly after 352 games as their primary playmaker. Despite changing jersey numbers, Cherry-Evans remains a potent offensive threat after setting up 24 tries last season. “I’ve been playing for a long time, so there’s a lot of my game that’s going to be very similar when it comes to the way a halfback plays,” Cherry-Evans commented. “Yeah, I’m wearing number six, but there’s a lot of things that I need to do for this team when it comes to leading the team around.”

Meanwhile, the Roosters face additional considerations with centre Robert Toia likely sidelined due to injury and representative forward Angus Crichton committed to the club before his planned code switch to rugby in 2027.

As Bayern Munich continues its dominant march toward another Bundesliga championship, all eyes are fixed on English striker Harry Kane’s remarkable campaign to shatter Robert Lewandowski’s single-season scoring record. With 30 goals already registered in just 24 league appearances, Kane finds himself merely 11 strikes away from eclipsing the legendary Pole’s benchmark established during the 2020-21 season.

The record-chasing narrative intensifies as Bayern prepares to host struggling Borussia Mönchengladbach at Munich’s Allianz Arena on Friday. Despite their commanding 11-point advantage with only 10 matches remaining, the Bavarian giants show no indications of reducing their offensive intensity. The team itself approaches another historic milestone, requiring just 14 more goals to break the Bundesliga’s single-season scoring record of 101 goals set back in 1971-72.

Kane maintains a characteristically methodical approach toward his record pursuit, revealing to German publication Bild: “I break the season into distinct phases with specific targets rather than focusing solely on Lewandowski’s achievement. The probability appears reasonably balanced at present, though maintaining this performance level presents a significant challenge.”

Meanwhile, Stuttgart’s revelation Deniz Undav emerges as an intriguing subplot to Kane’s headline-grabbing campaign. The German international has netted 14 times in 20 matches, achieving a career-best scoring rate of every 106 minutes. Remarkably, Undav’s open-play contribution nearly matches Kane’s, with just two fewer non-penalty goals than the English captain despite Kane’s 14 successful spot-kicks.

The 29-year-old forward expressed frustration regarding perceptions of his playing role, stating: “Despite possessing the league’s most efficient scoring record, people persistently categorize me as a false nine rather than recognizing my capabilities as a classical striker. I’ve consistently demonstrated proficiency both in finishing and chance creation throughout my career.”

Historical context adds intrigue to Friday’s encounter, with Gladbach having lost only six of 19 meetings against Bayern between 2014-2023, including a memorable 5-0 German Cup victory representing Bayern’s heaviest defeat since the 1970s. However, the Bavarians have since reestablished dominance with five consecutive victories against their rivals.

With Champions League and German Cup commitments looming, manager Vincent Kompany faces strategic decisions regarding Kane’s utilization, though legendary striker Jürgen Klinsmann asserted: “Vincent would never obstruct Harry’s record pursuit. Benching him to prevent making history remains inconceivable.”

A pivotal personal connection has positioned the Brisbane Broncos as the leading contenders to secure the signature of Warriors enforcer Mitch Barnett for the 2027 season. The defending premiers are actively seeking a top-tier replacement for Payne Haas, whose departure to the South Sydney Rabbitohs was confirmed earlier this year.

The recruitment landscape shifted dramatically last week when the New Zealand Warriors announced their co-captain would return to Australia for personal reasons, immediately triggering interest from multiple NRL clubs. While Parramatta Eels coach Jason Ryles publicly confirmed his club’s consideration of Barnett, a significant strategic advantage has emerged for Brisbane.

Broncos coach Michael Maguire, who oversaw Barnett’s State of Origin debut for New South Wales in 2024, has confirmed a personal meeting with the forward to discuss his future. This established coach-player relationship is now viewed as a major asset in the negotiation process. “I met with him, but I talk to a lot of the players that I’ve coached over time, and he’s one of them,” Maguire stated ahead of his team’s clash with Penrith. He further praised Barnett as “a great character and my style of player,” though he deferred final contractual discussions to the club’s front office.

The Warriors organization has indicated they will seek compensation for Barnett’s early release, a matter Maguire prefers to distance from his coaching duties. His immediate focus remains on the current season, emphasizing present commitments over future roster speculation.

Securing Barnett would provide crucial stability for the Broncos, who face the monumental task of filling the void left by Haas, widely regarded as the world’s premier forward. Despite his impending move, Haas remains fully committed to Brisbane’s title defense campaign. Maguire affirmed his star player’s professional dedication, noting, “He dials into every meeting and everything we do… while we’ve got players like Payne here, we’re going to make sure we represent that every day.” The coach characterized Haas’s decision as a personal life change, acknowledging the realities of professional sports while maintaining confidence in his team’s current focus and cohesion.