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  • Man Utd beat Chelsea as Spurs stunned by Brighton equaliser

    Man Utd beat Chelsea as Spurs stunned by Brighton equaliser

    The 2024-25 English Premier League matchday delivered a collection of dramatic twists and pivotal results that reshaped the fight for Champions League qualification and the battle for top-flight survival on Saturday. The most high-stakes outcome came at Stamford Bridge, where Manchester United edged out Chelsea 1-0 to put themselves firmly on course for a return to Europe’s elite club competition after two seasons outside the top four.

    Matheus Cunha scored the match’s only goal just before halftime, sweeping a clinical finish past Chelsea’s goalkeeper from Bruno Fernandes’ precise cross. The result leaves United third in the table, 10 points clear of sixth-placed Chelsea, whose own Champions League aspirations are now effectively ended after a fourth consecutive league defeat. Pochettino’s side were unable to capitalise on a United defensive unit depleted by a string of injuries and suspensions, wasting multiple chances to get back on level terms. For United, a remarkable turnaround under interim manager Michael Carrick has put a return to the Champions League within touching distance, with the club set to bank hundreds of millions in prize money and commercial revenue should they hold their position in the final weeks of the season.

    At the other end of the table, Tottenham Hotspur suffered another gut-wrenching setback in their fight to avoid relegation, blowing a two-goal advantage twice to concede a 2-2 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against Brighton & Hove Albion. The result leaves Spurs still stuck in the relegation zone, one point behind 17th-placed West Ham United, who hold a game in hand that will see them extend their advantage if they pick up three points against Crystal Palace on Monday. A win for Tottenham would have broken a 14-match winless run in the league for the north London side, and looked increasingly likely after Xavi Simons scored a stunning long-range strike with 13 minutes remaining to restore their lead. But five minutes into second-half stoppage time, Georginio Rutter blasted home a squared pass from Jan Paul van Hecke, who outmuscled defender Kevin Danso to create the equaliser. The late blow leaves Tottenham on the cusp of dropping out of the top flight for the first time in nearly 50 years, but new interim manager Roberto De Zerbi, in his first home match in charge, remained defiant after the final whistle. “Everyone of us knows it’s a tough moment, it’s a difficult situation, but we have another five games, 15 points,” De Zerbi told reporters. “And this team is able to win five games in a row.”

    Brighton’s late equaliser had an unexpected knock-on effect for Wolverhampton Wanderers, who avoided official relegation on Saturday despite a 3-0 heavy defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road. Wolves’ eight-year run in the Premier League is still all but certain to end this season, but the draw at Tottenham delayed the confirmation of their drop to the Championship. For Leeds, the result is near enough enough to secure their top-flight survival in their first season back after promotion, compounding Wolves’ misery. Fresh off their first away win against Manchester United at Old Trafford since 1981 the previous week, Leeds got two goals in two first-half minutes from James Justin and Noah Okafor to take full control, before a stoppage-time penalty from Dominic Calvert-Lewin rounded off the scoring.

    Leeds’ successful survival bid bucks a recent Premier League trend that has seen all three newly promoted clubs relegated straight back to the Championship in each of the last two seasons. Daniel Farke’s side have not only secured their long-term future in the top flight, but also have a chance to reach their first FA Cup final since 1973 when they face Chelsea in the semi-final next weekend. Fellow promoted side Sunderland have also impressed this season, putting in a far stronger campaign than most pre-season predictions expected.

    Elsewhere, Eddie Howe’s position as Newcastle United manager came under further pressure after Bournemouth secured a 2-1 win at St James’ Park, extending the Cherries’ unbeaten Premier League run to 13 matches. The result came despite confirmation earlier this week that Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola will leave the club at the end of the season. Goals from Marcus Tavernier and Adrien Truffert earned the south coast side all three points, lifting Bournemouth to eighth in the table, just four points adrift of the top four Champions League places. Newcastle, by contrast, remain stuck in 14th place, with their own hopes of qualifying for European football next season all but over.

    In west London’s local derby, Brentford missed a golden chance to jump above Chelsea into the top six after being held to a goalless draw by Fulham at Craven Cottage. All eyes now turn to Sunday’s title decider, where league leaders Arsenal travel to the Etihad Stadium to face second-placed Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side hold a six-point lead at the top of the table, but City hold a game in hand and home advantage, meaning the clash could effectively decide who lifts the Premier League trophy at the end of the campaign.

  • England thrashes Scotland as record Murrayfield crowd watches a Women’s Six Nations rout

    England thrashes Scotland as record Murrayfield crowd watches a Women’s Six Nations rout

    On a sun-soaked matchday across the United Kingdom and Ireland, the second round of the 2024 Women’s Six Nations delivered lopsided results that kept the tournament’s biggest anticipated showdown firmly on schedule, while continuing to break fan attendance records for women’s rugby.

    England, the tournament’s dominant defending champions, delivered a staggering 84-7 blowout over host Scotland at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield, a result that stretched their unmatched winning streak to 35 consecutive test matches. Entering the match with significant disruption to their roster — three additional World Cup winners sidelined by injury just one week after a rusty 33-12 win over Ireland at Twickenham — coach John Mitchell was forced to reshuffle his starting lineup: back-rower Abi Burton shifted to an unfamiliar lock position, 19-year-old Demelza Short made her senior international debut, and Emma Sing earned a start at fullback that moved regular Ellie Kildunne out to the wing.

    That reshuffled side put on a masterclass of attacking rugby, crossing the try line 12 times — all converted — from 18 attacking entries into Scotland’s 22-meter zone. Number 8 Maddie Feaunati turned in a Player of the Match performance as an unstoppable attacking force, supported by standout displays from Sadia Kabeya, prop Maud Muir (playing in her 50th test match), scrumhalf Lucy Packer, flyhalf Zoe Harrison, captain Megan Jones, and Sing. Ten different players notched tries for England, including a double from Kildunne that pushed her career test try total to 50 in just 59 appearances, former captain Marlie Packer’s 53rd career try, and scores for replacement players Sarah Bern, Mia Venner and Haineala Lutui.

    Mitchell praised his side’s adaptability after the final whistle, noting “That was a special performance. There’s been a lot of moving parts over the last few weeks, with some serious injuries.” The 84-point result marked the seventh time England has hit the 80-point mark in Six Nations history — no other team has ever done so — and ranks as the fourth-highest single-game score in the tournament’s history, the third time England has put 80 or more points on Scotland. Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm acknowledged the gulf in quality between the two sides, saying “Where we are in our cycle, England aren’t a team that we are ready to compete with. We created some pretty cool chances but we didn’t stop them enough times.”

    The match also made off-field history: a sellout crowd of 30,498 fans packed Murrayfield, the largest standalone crowd for any women’s sporting event in Scottish history. That record attendance continues a tournament-wide trend of growing fan support for the Women’s Six Nations.

    Across the border in Cardiff, second-ranked France pulled away from a stubborn first-half fightback to beat Wales 38-7 at Cardiff Arms Park, keeping their unbeaten record intact and setting up a potential Grand Slam decider against England in the final round of the tournament in Bordeaux. France got off to a disastrous start: prop Yllana Brosseau was sin-binned for four early penalties inside the opening 14 minutes, and scrumhalf Pauline Bourdon Sansus soon joined her for collapsing a Welsh rolling maul, which gifted Wales a penalty try that left the two sides tied 7-7 at halftime with France down to 13 players.

    Playing a man down actually focused the French side, who crossed for their first try through lock Madoussou Fall Raclot before halftime while Wales held firm defensively. The deadlock broke completely after the break, when French captain Manaé Feleu finished off a break from Aubane Rousset to retake the lead. When Wales’ Gwen Crabb was yellow-carded mid-way through the second half, France capitalized in quick succession: Bourdon Sansus set up Léa Murie for a try before crossing for one of her own just five minutes later. Wing Anaïs Grando, playing in just her second test match, closed out the scoring with two late tries to push the final score to 38-7.

    Fall Raclot noted after the match that the slow start was a concern for the side ahead of their tough upcoming fixture: “We need to better prepare our starts. We’ve had two close games now that can’t happen again. We were able to talk to each other, get back together, and in the end we got the job done.”

    In Galway, Ireland kept the pressure on France with a record-breaking 57-20 win over Italy, putting Ireland in position to upset France’s Grand Slam hopes when they face Les Bleues in Clermont-Ferrand next weekend. The result marked a major rebound for Ireland after a tight, low-scoring opening round loss to England, and drew a crowd of 9,206 to Connacht Rugby’s 12,500-capacity stadium — a sellout for Ireland’s first ever test match hosted in Galway.

    Winger Beibhinn Parsons, who made her international debut at just 16 years old in 2018, seized the opportunity to play her first senior test in her home region, scoring a hat trick of tries. Fellow winger Robyn O’Connor, called up from the national sevens program, scored a try on her debut, crossing for the bonus-point fourth try as early as the 23rd minute. Last year’s Six Nations MVP, number 8 Aoife Wafer, bounced back from a quiet opening round to put on a dominant display: 12 carries, eight tackles, one turnover and a try in just 53 minutes of play.

    Ireland held a commanding 45-10 lead at halftime, and while Italy rallied in the second half to score four tries and earn a bonus point, Ireland’s nine tries pushed their final total past the previous record of 54 points against Italy set one year ago. After the match, Ireland coach Scott Bemand said his side was already focused on the huge upcoming test against France, adding “There are some things to tidy up from today but if we get those bits right we know we can put in a performance to compete with the French. We think we are getting better.”

    With two rounds complete, England and France remain the only two unbeaten sides, on a direct collision course for a Grand Slam decider in the final round in a month’s time. If Ireland can pull off an upset over France next weekend, they will throw the tournament table wide open heading into the final matches.

  • Kennedy Wesley scores 1st international goal and adds assist as USWNT beats Japan 3-0

    Kennedy Wesley scores 1st international goal and adds assist as USWNT beats Japan 3-0

    COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – In a frigid, snow-dusted friendly match at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Friday night, the U.S. Women’s National Team delivered a dominant second-half performance to secure a resounding 3-0 win over Japan, wrapping up their three-game international series with two victories to Japan’s one.

    The game kicked off in nearly freezing temperatures, just hours after overnight snowfall left a white dusting across the Major League Soccer pitch that hosts the Colorado Rapids. Japan faced an early setback when defender Hikaru Kitagawa suffered an injury in the 25th minute and had to stretchered off the pitch, replaced by Miyabi Moriya. For the U.S., starting defender Tierna Davidson took a hard fall in the 30th minute, received on-field medical evaluation, and managed to play through the end of the first half.

    Despite the U.S. holding a commanding 9-1 shot advantage in the opening 45 minutes, neither side could find the back of the net, and the two teams went into halftime locked in a 0-0 draw. The game’s momentum shifted dramatically immediately after the break, when substitute Kennedy Wesley – who entered the match to replace the injured Davidson – sparked the U.S. scoring surge. In the 47th minute, Wesley redirected a header off a cross toward the near left post to set up Naomi Girma, who buried a point-blank header to put the U.S. ahead 1-0.

    The Americans doubled their lead nine minutes later, in the 56th minute, after winning possession near the midfield. Trinity Rodman played a precise through ball to Rose Lavelle, who outpaced Japan’s backline down the center of the pitch and slotted a clinical shot from the edge of the 18-yard box inside the left post. The goal extended Lavelle’s impressive recent scoring run; the veteran playmaker has now contributed to 10 goals – five scored and five assisted – across her last 10 matches.

    Wesley, a young rising prospect, capped off the rout with her first career international goal in the 64th minute. Off a corner kick delivered perfectly by Jaedyn Shaw, Wesley connected on a clean volley to push the U.S. lead to 3-0, a score that would hold through the final whistle. Goalkeeper Claudia Dickey earned a clean sheet for the U.S. with three key saves.

    A post-match interview, a clearly elated Wesley spoke about her milestone goal. “I really don’t have any words,” she said. “I mean, it was the perfect ball from Jaedyn and I was just in the right place at the right time. I’m just over the moon.”
    U.S. head coach Emma Hayes praised her side’s sharp finishing after the break, noting, “I felt we came out in the second half and there was no coming back, to be honest. I felt tonight we were just clinical in the final third.”

    Friday’s match closed out a tightly contested three-game series between two of the world’s top-ranked women’s teams. The U.S. took the first matchup 2-1 last week in San Jose, California, before Japan pulled off a 1-0 upset win in Seattle on Tuesday. That victory snapped the U.S.’s 10-game winning streak, ended a 42-game scoring stretch for the Americans, and marked the U.S.’s first loss since a 2-1 defeat to Portugal last October. Hayes had rotated her entire starting lineup for the second Seattle game as part of her ongoing work to expand the team’s player pool ahead of 2024 World Cup qualifying, marking the fourth time during her tenure she has fielded a completely new starting 11 in consecutive matches.

    Japan entered the series riding high after a dominant championship run at the 2025 Women’s Asian Cup, where the side outscored all its opponents 29-1 and beat host Australia 1-0 in the final. The technically skilled Japanese side had also beaten the U.S. at the 2024 SheBelieves Cup, giving them momentum heading into the three-game series. Ahead of Friday’s decider, Hayes acknowledged Japan’s elite standing in international women’s soccer. “They’re a world-class team,” she said. “I think when you win the first one, inevitably, the second one becomes that challenge. They are a top side, so we have to give them a lot of credit. So, game on for the third game.”

  • World Cup fans to pay $150 for NY stadium train ticket: official

    World Cup fans to pay $150 for NY stadium train ticket: official

    A fiery public dispute has broken out over exorbitant planned train ticket prices for soccer fans traveling to 2026 FIFA World Cup matches at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, with state officials, political leaders and global soccer governing body FIFA trading blame over who should cover massive event-related security and transit costs.

    Local transit officials confirmed Friday that fans making the 36-mile round trip between midtown Manhattan and the Meadowlands Sports Complex, where MetLife Stadium will host eight World Cup matches including the tournament final, will be charged $150 for a same-day round-trip rail ticket. For comparison, a standard round-trip ticket on the same route normally costs just $12.90. Only 40,000 train tickets will be made available to fans for each match, capping public transit capacity for the high-profile games.

    Kris Kolluri, CEO and president of NJ Transit, confirmed the flat $150 rate for World Cup match days in a public briefing, clarifying the price covers travel between New York City and MetLife Stadium and back.

    After initial reporting on the drastic fare markup by sports outlet The Athletic, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill placed full responsibility for the price hike on FIFA. She explained the state is facing a projected $48 million bill to provide enhanced security for World Cup spectators at MetLife, and she has refused to pass that cost onto regular New Jersey commuters in the long term.

    “I won’t stick New Jersey commuters for that tab for years to come, that’s not fair,” Sherrill wrote on social media, noting that FIFA is projected to earn $11 billion in total revenue from the 2026 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. “So here’s the bottom line: Fifa should pay for the rides, but if they don’t, I’m not going to let New Jersey commuters get taken for one.”

    Sherrill’s stance drew support from top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, who also publicly called on FIFA to cover all fan transportation costs for World Cup venues. New York Governor Kathy Hochul also joined the criticism, writing on social media platform X that charging more than $100 for a short regional train ride “sounds awfully high” to her administration.

    FIFA, however, has pushed back sharply against the criticism, noting that original host city agreements required free fan transportation to all World Cup matches. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, for example, spectators received free access to Doha’s entire metro system with any valid match day ticket. After negotiations, the agreement was amended to only require transit be offered “at cost” on match days, the organization said.

    “We are quite surprised by the NJ Governor’s approach on fan transportation,” FIFA said in a formal statement. The organization added that the 2026 tournament will draw millions of international visitors to North America, generate billions in regional economic activity, and that it has never been required to cover fan transportation for previous major events held at MetLife Stadium, from other top-tier sports tournaments to global sold-out concert tours.

    Local media reports also note that $100 million in federal infrastructure funding has already been allocated to U.S. World Cup host cities to cover transit network upgrades and event-related costs. Of that total, the New York-New Jersey region has received $10.4 million, while Boston and Massachusetts have been allocated $8.7 million for their own World Cup preparations.

  • Tickner starts late Bangladesh collapse for New Zealand to win first ODI

    Tickner starts late Bangladesh collapse for New Zealand to win first ODI

    In the opening fixture of a three-match One Day International series hosted in Mirpur, Bangladesh, New Zealand’s fast bowling unit delivered a clinical, match-winning performance under oppressive high humidity on Friday to secure a 26-run victory over the home side.

    After winning the toss and electing to bat first on a slow, challenging pitch, New Zealand compiled a competitive total of 247 runs for the loss of eight wickets. The innings was anchored by opener Henry Nicholls’ patient 68 runs, and boosted by a quick-fire 59 from all-rounder Dean Foxcroft, who would later claim player of the match honors for his contributions with both bat and ball. Nicholls shared a 73-run stand for the second wicket with Will Young, who scored 30, as the pair weathered a devastating opening spell from Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam. Shoriful, making his first ODI appearance since December 2024 after stepping in for injured star Mustafizur Rahman, turned in an impressive outing, finishing with 2 wickets for just 27 runs from his full 10 overs.

    Foxcroft acknowledged after the match that his side viewed 247 as an attainable target for Bangladesh, meaning consistent pressure with the ball would be critical to securing a win. “It’s not an easy place to come here and win games. It was extremely hot and we’re not used to it. It’s winter in New Zealand now,” Foxcroft noted of the challenging conditions the visiting side overcame.

    Bangladesh’s chase got off to a disastrous start, with New Zealand pacer Nathan Smith striking early to dismiss top-order batters Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Najmul Hossain Shanto on consecutive deliveries, leaving the home side reeling at 21 runs for the loss of two wickets. A 93-run third-wicket partnership between Saif Hassan and Litton Das pulled Bangladesh back into the contest, putting their chase firmly on track. Will O’Rourke broke the stand by dismissing Saif, who top-scored for Bangladesh with 57 runs, before Foxcroft removed Litton for 46. Lower-order batters Towhid Hridoy and Afif Hossain built a new resistance partnership, which left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox interrupted by sending Afif back to the pavilion for 27, leaving Hridoy to hold the innings together at 194 for 5 in the 44th over, with Bangladesh still well on course to reach the target.

    That was when seamer Blair Tickner produced a devastating match-winning collapse. In a legendary late spell, Tickner claimed four wickets for just five runs, starting with the key dismissal of Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who nicked a catch behind the stumps for six runs. Tickner, who had been relatively erratic in his earlier overs, found his rhythm to clean up Bangladesh’s tail, claiming all four of his wickets in his final four overs to finish with figures of 4 for 40. Smith closed out the innings by dismissing Hridoy for 55, finishing with 3 for 45 as Bangladesh was bowled all out for 221 in 48.3 overs.

    Reflecting on the match, Saif Hassan noted that the pitch had unique challenges for batters. “The wicket was a bit challenging from the beginning but once a batter got set it became easier. It was tougher for new batters. If I could have stayed longer, things might have been easier for the team,” he said.

    The two sides will return to the field for the second ODI of the series on Monday, with Bangladesh looking to level the fixture and New Zealand aiming to extend their early lead.

  • Catholic schools Notre Dame, Villanova to open hoops season in Rome with men’s-women’s doubleheader

    Catholic schools Notre Dame, Villanova to open hoops season in Rome with men’s-women’s doubleheader

    Two of U.S. college basketball’s most prominent Catholic institutions, Notre Dame and Villanova University, are set to tip off their upcoming seasons with a groundbreaking transatlantic doubleheader in Rome, Italy, that blends athletic competition, academic exchange and spiritual celebration. The landmark event, scheduled for November 1, is designed to honor the shared mission and centuries-old religious heritage that bind both institutions, organizers have confirmed.

    Villanova’s official announcement outlined that the day will extend far beyond on-court action, featuring curated special programming that weaves together academic collaboration, cultural exploration and spiritual connection. “From academic engagement and cultural immersion to shared worship and elite athletics, this journey offers a profound opportunity to grow in mind, body and spirit,” explained the Rev. Peter Donohue, president of Villanova University.

    The idea for hosting the matchup in Rome traces back to Pope Leo XIV, an Augustinian friar and distinguished alumnus of Villanova, whose connection to both the university and the Holy See served as the core inspiration for the cross-continental event. For fans, players and staff traveling to Italy for the excursion, the experience will include exclusive opportunities: a joint Mass held at St. Peter’s Basilica, a scheduled private papal audience with Pope Leo XIV ahead of tipoff, and after-hours private tours of the Vatican Museums.

    Broadcast details have already been finalized for U.S. viewers: the men’s matchup will air live nationally on Fox beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, while the women’s game will follow immediately after on FS1 at noon Eastern.

    The Rome doubleheader is part of a growing trend of U.S. college basketball programs taking high-profile matchups overseas, a shift fueled by the rapidly rising number of international student-athletes competing in the NCAA. Data underscores this transformation: 23 of the 62 total players on 2024 men’s Final Four rosters hail from countries outside the United States, and official NCAA statistics show that the total number of international players competing at the Division I level now sits at 888, more than doubling the count recorded back in 2010.

    This shift has spurred industry leaders to launch dedicated international series to expand the footprint of college basketball. The Intersport and Rochelle Management Group have already announced the creation of the new College Basketball International Series, with additional matchups scheduled for November in Croatia and Serbia currently in active development.

  • Men caught competing in the women’s category of a prestigious South African marathon

    Men caught competing in the women’s category of a prestigious South African marathon

    One of South Africa’s most prestigious annual running events has been marred by a brazen act of cheating that saw two male runners disqualified for posing as female competitors to secure top-10 finishes at the iconic Two Oceans Marathon. Held in Cape Town on April 12, the race draws more than 16,000 competitors annually across two distances: a 56-kilometer ultramarathon and a 21.1-kilometer half marathon. Earning a spot in the top 10 is widely considered a major career milestone for most amateur and professional runners alike, making the deceptive scheme all the more damaging to honest participants who trained for months to compete. The two men, identified as Luke Jacobs and Nic Bradfield, initially crossed the finish line in seventh and 10th place in the women’s division, pushing two legitimate female runners outside of the top 10 rankings before the fraud was uncovered. The cheating plot was ultimately exposed by Stuart Mann, a member of the Two Oceans Marathon board, after online photos and race timing technology revealed the ruse. Mann first received a public tip after Jacobs posted social media photos of himself at the finish line, where sharp-eyed observers noticed the name printed on his race bib was “Larissa” — not a name matching any male competitor. Further investigation confirmed Jacobs was running under a bib registered to Larissa Parekh, a female athlete originally signed up for the women’s race. A second discrepancy emerged when official finish line observer records clashed with data from the RFID timing chips embedded in all race bibs: officials had only recorded 10 women crossing the top-10 mark, but chip data showed two additional female-registered bibs had finished in the top window. That mismatch led investigators to Bradfield, who was found to be running under a bib registered to another female runner, Tegan Garvey. Garvey later admitted she had given Bradfield her bib after a sudden hip injury left her unable to compete just one day before the race. “The day before, my hip gave in completely, leaving me unable to even walk. I felt bad as to give up my race entry so my friend ran in my place,” Garvey explained in a post-scandal statement. In the wake of the exposure, Jacobs issued a written apology for his actions, admitting he had made a severe lapse in judgment. “I made an error in judgment and did not consider the consequences. I should not have taken part,” Jacobs wrote. Parekh has not offered a clear public explanation for her role in the scheme, Mann confirmed, though both Garvey and Parekh have issued formal apologies and already received two-year competition bans from the Two Oceans Marathon event. The two disqualified male runners now face formal disciplinary action from the race’s independent disciplinary subcommittee, with additional sanctions likely to be announced in the coming weeks. Following the disqualification, the two female runners who were originally pushed outside the top 10 have been officially recognized for their legitimate top-10 finishes. Mann, who led the investigation into the cheating, emphasized that bib swapping has grown increasingly common in distance running in recent years — but the practice carries far more severe consequences than just unfair competition. Beyond the ethical breach that undermines the hard work of honest runners, Mann warned bib swapping poses serious life-threatening health risks during races. “Not only is it considered unethical, but it also poses health and medical risks in case of an emergency as wrong medication may be administered to a wrong person,” Mann explained. Runners engage in bib swapping for a range of motivations, he added: some do it to avoid losing entry fees when an injury or last-minute emergency prevents them from competing, while more intentional cheaters use the tactic to secure faster qualifying times for prestigious future races. The scandal comes as distance running governing bodies around the world are cracking down on fraudulent entry practices, with many events increasing the use of chip timing, photo verification and post-race social media monitoring to catch cheaters before unfair results are finalized.

  • ICC’s anti-corruption unit is investigating alleged corruption charges against Cricket Canada

    ICC’s anti-corruption unit is investigating alleged corruption charges against Cricket Canada

    International cricket’s governing body has launched a formal investigation into multiple serious corruption claims leveled against Cricket Canada, following the broadcast of an explosive investigative documentary that centered on potential match fixing during Canada’s 2024 T20 World Cup fixture against New Zealand.

    The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) released the documentary *Corruption, Crime and Cricket* on Friday, which brought a series of alarming claims to public attention. One of the most high-profile allegations targets Canada’s national team captain Dilpreet Bajwa, specifically focusing on his performance in the fifth over of the June match against New Zealand, a fixture of the co-hosted tournament held in India and Sri Lanka.

    Bajwa, 22, was only appointed to the captaincy three weeks before Canada kicked off their World Cup campaign. During the over in question, New Zealand had already lost two wickets for 35 runs when Bajwa stepped in to bowl. The captain opened the over with a no-ball, followed by a leg-side wide, before ultimately conceding 15 runs from the six deliveries. This unusual sequence of plays has now drawn formal scrutiny from the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU).

    In an official statement provided to the Associated Press, Andrew Ephgrave, interim general manager of the ICC’s integrity unit, confirmed the regulator is aware of the allegations laid out in the CBC documentary. “Consistent with its established operating procedures, the ACU is not in a position to comment on the substance of any allegations contained within it,” Ephgrave added, declining to share further details while the investigation is ongoing.

    The match-fixing claim tied to the New Zealand fixture is not the only controversy raised in the documentary. The program also featured interviews with former Canada national team head coach Pubudu Dassanayake, who alleged that outside parties exerted improper, undue influence over team selection decisions for the 2024 T20 World Cup squad.

    Beyond corruption and selection interference claims, the documentary also exposed deep structural and administrative issues within Cricket Canada. It revealed that Canadian national team players did not receive their full share of 2024 T20 World Cup prize money on time, and that the entire roster went without official contracts starting in July 2024. Players were only placed on four-month retainer contracts in the lead-up to this year’s tournament, highlighting persistent financial instability for the country’s top cricket athletes.

  • Storm brewing: Melbourne need lightning to strike twice after they slump to fifth loss in a row thanks to emerging Raiders star

    Storm brewing: Melbourne need lightning to strike twice after they slump to fifth loss in a row thanks to emerging Raiders star

    One of rugby league’s most dominant dynasties over the past 20 years is facing its biggest crisis in more than a decade, as the Melbourne Storm’s five-match losing skid has left their long-running finals appearance streak on the brink of extinction following a 26-22 comeback defeat to the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium.

    The Storm’s current slump marks the first time the club has dropped five consecutive contests since 2012, the same year they capped off the downturn with a premiership title. But even with Craig Bellamy at the coaching helm, few analysts are predicting a repeat of that unlikely turnaround this time around, after a string of key injuries and off-season departures have finally gutted the roster of the depth and star power that once made the purple-clad side the most feared outfit in the NRL.

    Melbourne got off to a promising start to the 2026 season, opening with two dominant wins to reinforce expectations of another deep finals run. But the rot has set in quickly in recent weeks: opposition sides no longer approach matches against the Storm with the same title-tested trepidation they once did, and the club’s vaunted superstar spine can no longer produce game-changing plays, starved for space by a depleted forward pack and lacking dynamic wide threats that can turn broken plays into points.

    Saturday’s clash actually marked an improvement from Melbourne’s prior outing, a humiliating home loss to the New Zealand Warriors. Fullback Sua Fa’alogo turned in a particularly sharp performance for the Storm, though his night ended early when he was forced from the pitch after a high tackle. Even with the improved effort, however, the Storm’s thin roster cannot compete with the league’s top contenders, leaving Bellamy needing to pull off an all-time coaching miracle to keep the club’s finals streak alive.

    For Canberra, the narrow win marked back-to-back victories, with centre Simi Sasagi turning in the performance of a lifetime to carry the Raiders across the line. A versatile utility who has filled multiple roles for the club over his career, Sasagi has found a permanent home on the right edge this season, and he delivered his best form of the year when it mattered most.

    The match got off to a chaotic start: the Raiders thought they had opened the scoring through Hudson Young just minutes in, only for a Bunker review to disallow the try, a call that sparked widespread outcry across social media. A minute later, Ethan Strange executed a sharp build-up play that put Sasagi over for the game’s opening try, before lock Corey Horsburgh extended Canberra’s lead to 12-0 inside the first 10 minutes.

    But Canberra’s fast start was nearly derailed by a moment of disciplinary madness from Horsburgh. After opening the scoring, the fiery lock lashed out at referee Peter Gough over what he deemed slow ruck speed from the Storm, earning a penalty for dissent while the Raiders held possession. Melbourne capitalized immediately, crossing for a try through Fa’alogo. The incident was far from the first time Horsburgh’s temper has cost his side, after a sin-binning against Cronulla earlier this season opened the door for two Sharks tries; coach Ricky Stuart pulled the lock aside for a quiet word at halftime to address the outburst, though the mistake ultimately did not cost Canberra the win.

    Sasagi stepped up to flip the momentum of the match when the Storm looked poised to pull away. With Canberra trailing and on the ropes, the centre pulled off a game-saving intercept to stop the Storm from opening up a 10-point lead, before throwing a pinpoint offload to send Strange over for a try that leveled the score. He notched a second critical intercept on another Storm attacking drive, finished the night with a team-high 182 running metres, and only missed out on a second assist when a forward pass call negated the play.

    Canberra held on to lock in the win, but the side will now face an anxious wait over the fitness of veteran forward Josh Papalii, who was forced from the match with a left calf injury.

  • Ngor Nai: Basketballer pleads not guilty to rape charge, committed to stand trial

    Ngor Nai: Basketballer pleads not guilty to rape charge, committed to stand trial

    A 26-year-old professional basketball player Ngor Nai has formally entered a not guilty plea to a single count of rape during a Friday morning hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court, confirming he will contest the allegations at a full trial. The charge against Nai centers on an alleged incident in May of last year, when prosecutors claim he intentionally sexually penetrated a complainant without a condom, and did not hold a reasonable belief that she consented to intercourse without barrier protection.

    Nai has built a notable career across multiple regional and national basketball leagues in Australia and New Zealand. He was a squad member for the Adelaide 36ers during the NBL25 season, and had been drafted to join the Manawatu Jets, a team competing in New Zealand’s top basketball league, for the 2026 season. Prior to these stints, he also played for the Ringwood Hawks and Ipswich Force in Australia’s NBL1 competition.

    When Nai first appeared in court on February 2, the court was informed that the 6-foot-10 forward was in the process of relocating to New Zealand ahead of the 2026 Manawatu Jets season. However, just weeks before the new season was set to kick off on March 27, the Jets announced via social media that the organization and Nai had reached a mutual agreement to separate immediately, ending his contract with the team ahead of his debut. During Friday’s hearing, Nai’s legal aid representative told the court that the player has since returned to Melbourne to reside while the legal process moves forward.

    Nai currently remains on bail, with strict conditions that require him to live at a confirmed fixed address and prohibit him from leaving Australia. His next court appearance is scheduled for May 15 at the County Court, where he will attend a preliminary directions hearing to outline next steps for the upcoming trial.