Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

England’s top clubs took commanding strides toward European finals on Thursday night as Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea all secured impressive first-leg victories in their respective UEFA competitions. Manchester United Cruise in Bilbao Manchester United delivered a clinical away performance to beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in Spain, setting themselves firmly on course for the Europa League final. Goals from Casemiro and a brace from captain Bruno Fernandes secured the win against a Bilbao side reduced to 10 men early in the second half. United dominated large spells of the match and showed composure under pressure in front of a…

As the Formula 1 paddock gathers in Miami, Mercedes driver George Russell has called for “action, not words” from the FIA over its controversial ban on swearing and criticism by drivers. The call comes in response to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem’s recent social media comments that he is “considering making improvements” to the statutes that introduced penalties for verbal conduct. Russell, one of four directors of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), expressed frustration over the lack of dialogue between the FIA and the drivers’ body since an open letter was sent in November 2024. That letter requested that…

As Formula 1 arrives in Miami for the sixth round of the 2025 season, McLaren’s Lando Norris remains calm despite trailing team-mate Oscar Piastri in the drivers’ standings. Piastri’s dominant start to the season—three wins in five races, including a recent triumph in Saudi Arabia—has put the young Australian 10 points clear at the top of the championship. Meanwhile, Norris, who won the opening race in Australia, has struggled to match his team-mate’s consistency, particularly in qualifying. Yet, ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, Norris insists he’s “not worried at all” about falling behind in the title race. “[Piastri’s]…

The English Football Association (FA) has announced a controversial new policy that will bar transgender women from participating in women’s football across England from 1 June 2025. The decision, which follows a recent UK Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of “woman” is based on biological sex, has reignited a polarising debate about fairness, inclusion, and the future of women’s sports. Under the new policy, only individuals assigned female at birth will be eligible to participate in women’s football. The ruling applies to all levels of the game, including amateur and grassroots competitions. The FA confirmed that 28 transgender…

In a pulsating UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg, Barcelona and Inter Milan played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. The match featured multiple lead changes, standout individual performances, and left the tie finely balanced ahead of the return leg in Milan. (Barça 3-3 Inter: Recap) Early Drama and First-Half Comebacks Inter Milan stunned the home crowd by taking the lead within the first minute, as Marcus Thuram flicked in a brilliant opener. Denzel Dumfries doubled Inter’s advantage in the 21st minute with an acrobatic volley. However, Barcelona responded with determination. Lamine Yamal ignited the…

The Mexico City Grand Prix will remain a fixture on the Formula 1 calendar until at least 2028, following the signing of a new three-year contract extension that secures the event’s immediate future amid concerns following the exit of local hero Sergio Perez. The announcement puts to rest weeks of speculation over whether the popular race would continue, particularly in the wake of Red Bull Racing’s decision to part ways with Perez at the end of the 2024 season. Despite Perez’s absence from the 2025 grid, the Grand Prix has retained strong institutional and commercial support within the country. The…

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has insisted that even a Europa League triumph this season will not “save” what has been a dismal domestic campaign—but says it could mark the beginning of a much-needed transformation at Old Trafford. United travel to Spain on Thursday to face Athletic Club in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final. Despite the significance of the fixture, Amorim was quick to temper expectations about what winning the trophy might mean in the bigger picture. “Everybody knows that it’s really important for our season,” the Portuguese manager said. “We know that nothing is going to…

Manchester City have been handed a timely boost ahead of a defining period in their season, as star striker Erling Haaland has returned to full training following an ankle injury sustained in March. The 24-year-old Norwegian, who has netted an impressive 39 goals in all competitions for club and country this season, picked up the knock during City’s 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Bournemouth on 30 March. After weeks on an individual training programme, Haaland was seen rejoining first-team training at the club’s Etihad Campus on Wednesday. City boss Pep Guardiola has yet to confirm Haaland’s availability for Friday’s…

Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger has been handed a six-game suspension after throwing an object at the referee during a heated Copa del Rey final defeat to Barcelona in Seville. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed the sanction, citing “minor violence against the referees” under article 101 of its disciplinary code. The German international, who had been substituted in the 111th minute after suffering a knee injury, was shown a straight red card along with teammate Lucas Vazquez for their furious reaction to a foul call against Kylian Mbappé in the closing moments of the match. Both players had already left…

FIFA is taking a major step towards tackling the surge of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s football by funding a pioneering research project to investigate whether hormonal changes during menstrual cycles could be contributing to the increased risk. The year-long study, set to begin next month at Kingston University London, comes as the sport grapples with a troubling trend: female footballers are reported to be two to six times more likely to suffer ACL injuries than their male counterparts. The study, led by Simon Augustus, senior lecturer in sport biomechanics at Kingston University, will closely monitor players from…