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Manchester City striker Erling Haaland picked the perfect time to end his lean spell in the Premier League with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal to give his side the edge
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The 2026 F1H2O World Championship will make history with its first-ever Central Asian Grand Prix, part of a seven-race calendar spanning the globe.Following the season opener in Cagliari, Italy (May 29–31), the championship heads to
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The continued appeal of the Dubai Duty Free Spring Trials weekend at Newbury Racecourse UK which began on Friday, was underlined by a significant increase in raceday crowds and large fields with more than 100
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FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Chinese Grand Prix - Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China - March 13, 2026 Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff arrives ahead of practice. REUTERS Formula One needs to take a surgical approach to rule changes that might improve racing rather than a big hit with a baseball bat, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said Monday. Teams, engine makers and key F1 stakeholders were due to meet later in the day to put forward tweaks to the new rules in time for the next race in Miami in May."I must really say that the discussions that have been taking place between the group of drivers, the (governing body) FIA, Formula One and the teams have been constructive," Wolff told reporters on a video call."We all share the same objectives. It's how can we improve the product, make it out-and-out racing and look at what can improve in terms of safety, but act with a scalpel and not with a baseball bat."I think we're coming to good solutions that we're going to ratify hopefully today in order to evolve, because it's only three races in," added the Austrian. "And in a way, we need to learn from the past where sometimes decisions were made in an erratic way and then we overshot and realised it wasn't good."MERCEDES DOMINANT SO FAR IN NEW ERAMercedes have won all three races this season, the first two one-two, with Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli leading teammate George Russell in the standings.Red Bull's four-times world champion Max Verstappen, yet to get close to the podium this season, has said the rules are fundamentally flawed and has hinted he could walk away unless some big changes are made.Wolff said he was "carefully optimistic" that everything would align and played down concerns that the tweaks might not go far enough to placate those who wanted to see drivers go flat out without having to "lift and coast" and be slowed by having to manage the electrical energy.The sport has undergone the biggest chassis and engine change in decades with new power units split roughly 50-50 between electric and combustion power.Drivers have also raised safety concerns about widely divergent speeds between cars using an electrical boost and others slowing to recharge.Wolff said everyone involved needed to "understand our responsibility as the guardians of the sport" and work to safeguard competition rather than seek an advantage."We shouldn't bad-mouth in public our own sport," he added. "We've been all falling foul to this in the past because of gamesmanship or because of trying to protect a situation or improve a regulatory situation."But we need to be very careful because the things we say in public, they may not have an immediate repercussion on how the fans perceive the sport but that comes with a lag." Related Story
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USA’s Matt Fitzpatrick looks over his line on 18 green during the third round of the RBC Heritage Tournament at Hilton Head, South Carolina. PICTURE: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Matt Fitzpatrick extended his lead with an erratic three-under par 68 Saturday at the US PGA Tour RBC Heritage as world number one Scottie Scheffler stormed up the leaderboard into second place. Overnight leader Fitzpatrick bounced back from a shaky start, holing out from off the greens on 14 and 15 for birdie and eagle respectively, to finish three strokes clear on 17-under-par at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Having bogeyed the first and third holes, the 2023 RBC Heritage champion clicked into gear around the turn, becoming the only player this week to drive his ball onto the ninth green, with a 338-yarder that he converted for birdie. Fitpatrick reclaimed the solo lead with a confident 10-foot putt on the 12th. The Englishman putted in a bobbling left-to-right effort from 26 feet off the green for another birdie on 14 -the same hole on which he had bounced off a tree on the way to an improbable birdie a day earlier. And he then executed a perfect chip into the hole from 30 feet on 15 to open a three-shot lead. “It’s always satisfying when you can turn it around, particularly if you have not played that well,” said Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick is seeking his fourth PGA Tour title, adding to last month’s Valspar Championship and the 2022 US Open, as well as his 2023 RBC Heritage title. “Obviously it would have been nicer to go out with nine birdies... and be plenty clear,” he said. “But to be in the position I am tonight, obviously it’s something that you’d snatch your hand off” for. Scheffler - having begun Moving Day seven strokes off the lead -made five birdies in his first six holes to soar into contention. “You can’t ask for much of a better start than that. Came out, nice birdie on the first, good birdie on the second. Kind of stole one on four, and two good birdies there on five and six,” he said after. From a stunning front-nine 31 that shot Scheffler briefly up to tied-first, the four-time major winner’s momentum slowed slightly with a string of frustrating pars. But he birdied the 16th and final holes for a seven-under round of 64, to finish 14-under-par for the tournament with one day to play. “As you start kind of getting back into contention, I think that’s always fun. It’s never as fun being on the outside looking in,” said Scheffler. Meanwhile fellow American Brian Harman hit the day’s best round with a career-low 63 at windy Harbour Town Golf Links featuring nine birdies. The Savannah-born golfer thrived in familiar local conditions, finishing with three straight birdies after holing a bunker chip from 30 feet on 17. “Just tried to keep the pedal down. It’s going to take a low number to win,” said Harman. Norway’s Victor Hovland, who had started the day one stroke off the lead, had a disastrous start, including a bogey on the first and a double bogey on 3. He finished a disappointing day six strokes back with a round of 73. Related Story
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The Qatar Football Association Disciplinary Committee has reshaped the Qatar Stars League title race, ruling in favour of Al Shamal after confirming a player eligibility violation by Qatar SC in their April 13 clash. In its official decision, issued after reviewing Al Shamal’s protest, the committee stated: “The protest submitted by Al Shamal Club is accepted in form and substance.” It added: “Qatar Club lost the match with a score of 3-0, and a financial penalty of (10,000) Qatari riyals only.” The ruling overturns the original 2-0 result and instead awards Al Shamal a 3-0 victory, significantly altering the standings at the top of the QSL. The case centred on a second-half substitution made by Qatar SC after they were reduced to ten men just before half-time following the dismissal of Ali Saoudi for a dangerous challenge on Baghdad Bounedjah. Despite the red card involving a foreign player, Qatar SC later introduced Argentine defender Franco Russo in place of Ahmed a;=Rawi, a local player - a move deemed a direct violation of squad regulations. The committee cited Article 15 of the player status rules, which states that if one of six foreign players is sent off, the team must continue with five foreign professionals and cannot replace a local player with another foreigner. It also referenced Article 61/1/b, noting: “The club shall be penalised as having lost if it commits in any match a violation of the participation system - B: Participation of foreign players.” Al Shamal lodged their protest within 24 hours of the match, arguing that the substitution involving a foreign player after the red card breached the competition rules. Before the decision, the defeat had left Al Shamal trailing leaders Al Sadd by five points, a gap that placed the title out of reach with one round remaining. The revised outcome restores three points to Al Shamal, bringing them back into direct contention and dramatically tightening the race. Defending champions Al Sadd, on 42 points, now lead Al Shamal by just two points. Attention now turns to the final round on April 27, where Al Shamal face Al Sadd in a decisive clash that will determine the QSL champion on the pitch. Related Story
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Al Rayyan beat Kuwait’s Al Qadsia 2-0 at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in the semi-final Sunday. Al Rayyan booked their place in the final of the Gulf Champions League for Clubs after defeating Kuwait’s Al Qadsia 2-0 at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in the semi-final Sunday. Goals from Roger Guedes in the 17th minute and Aleksandar Mitrovic in the 50th sealed a deserved victory as Al Rayyan produced a controlled and confident performance to advance to the title decider. Al Rayyan asserted their dominance early through high pressing and sustained attacking pressure, opening the scoring when Abdulaziz Hatem delivered a precise pass to Guedes, who drove into the penalty area before unleashing a powerful shot into the net. The home side continued to threaten and created several chances, but the first half ended with Al Rayyan holding a narrow one-goal advantage. After the break, Al Rayyan maintained their momentum and doubled their lead from a corner taken by Khalid Ali. The ball rebounded off the goalkeeper and Mitrovic reacted quickest to finish from close range in the 50th minute. Al Rayyan then managed the game effectively, preserving their lead for the remainder of the match to secure progression to the final. They will now face Saudi Arabia’s Al Shabab, who advanced to the final after defeating Iraq’s Zakho SC 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time in the other semi-final at Khalifa International Stadium. Related Story
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Punjab Kings’ Priyansh Arya bats while Lucknow Super Giants’ Rishabh Pant tries to keep wickets during their IPL match in New Chandigarh, India, Sunday. (Reuters) Explosive knocks from opener Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly helped top of the table Punjab Kings hammer Lucknow Super Giants by 54 runs to stay unbeaten in the season Sunday. Arya struck 93 off 37 balls and fellow left-hander Connolly hit 87 to power Punjab to this season’s highest total of 254-7 after being invited to bat first in New Chandigarh. In reply, Lucknow managed just 200-5 as Punjab consolidated their top spot in the 10-team table with five wins and one no result in six matches. An early reprieve for Connolly proved costly for Lucknow after skipper Rishabh Pant decided not to review an lbw call in the second over from Mohsin Khan and replays suggested the ball would have hit the stumps. Australia’s Connolly was on four at the time and put on 182 runs for the second wicket with Arya as the two bludgeoned the opposition attack with sixes. Arya reached his second fifty of the season in 19 balls and soon the Lucknow attack had no answers for the batting blitz. Connolly went after Aiden Markram with three straight sixes and Arya finished the over with two more in a 32-run 13th over and Punjab looked at 300. But pace bowler Prince Yadav took down Connolly and Arya fell three balls later in the next over to miss out on a century. Mohsin dismissed skipper Shreyas Iyer for five but Australia’s Marcus Stoinis steered the team to a mammoth total with his 16-ball 29. Mitchell Marsh, who hit 40, and Ayush Badoni (35) handed Lucknow a brisk start and Pant hit 43 but regular wickets and the ever-increasing run rate kept the team behind the chase. Markram hit a valiant 22-ball 42 and despite a few dropped catches from Punjab fielders Lucknow lost their third straight match. BRIEF SCORESPunjab Kings 254 for 7 (Arya 93, Connolly 87, Prince 2-25, Siddharth 2-35) beat Lucknow Super Giants 200 for 5 (Pant 43, Markram 42*, Marsh 40, Jansen 2-37) by 54 runs
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Bayern Munich players celebrate in Munich Sunday, after winning the Bundesliga for a record-extending 35th time. (AFP) Harry Kane scored his 32nd goal of the campaign as Bayern Munich cruised to a 4-2 home win over Stuttgart to claim a record-extending 35th Bundesliga title. Raphael Guerreiro, Nicolas Jackson and Alphonso Davies joined Kane on the scoresheet, while Chris Fuehrich and Chema Andres scored for the visitors. Borussia Dortmund’s limp 2-1 defeat at Hoffenheim on Saturday, their second in two matches, left the door open for Bayern, who only needed a point at home to secure the title with four games to spare. “It’s been a fantastic season for us,” said Bundesliga leading scorer Kane. “To finish the league off in the way we have with the goals we scored... credit to the lads... we still have a lot to play for... but all the hard work, this makes it all worth it.” Coach Vincent Kompany left regular starters Kane, Michael Olise, Manuel Neuer, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah on the bench with Wednesday’s German Cup semi-final at Bayer Leverkusen in mind. Bayern fell behind when Chris Fuehrich scored with 21 minutes gone but roared back, scoring three goals in seven minutes. Jamal Musiala created Guerreiro’s opener before Luis Diaz laid on two goals in four minutes for Jackson and Davies to grab control of the match by the break. Kane grabbed another early in the second-half to ensure another Bundesliga crown was quickly added to his burgeoning team trophy collection. With victory secure, Bayern took their foot off the pedal as an assistant brought bags full with ‘2026 Champions’ t-shirts to the sideline. Andres added a late goal for Stuttgart with two minutes remaining but Bayern were on cruise control with title celebrations in mind. The title victory once again illustrated Bayern’s modern and historical dominance of German football. The Bavarian giants have now won 13 of the past 14 Bundesliga titles. Bayern have 35 league titles, with no other team reaching double figures. Bayern’s wealth and influence outshines all of their domestic rivals and this season has been truly remarkable. Bayern have scored 109 goals, the most in Bundesliga history and eight more than the previous record set back in 1971-72, with four games remaining. Free-scoring Bayern have 79 points and a goal difference of 80. If the season ended today, Bayern would become the first team to have a greater goal difference than points tally in Bundesliga history. With four wins in their remaining four games, Bayern could bring up 91 points, equalling the best mark set by their treble-bound side in 2012-13. Then there are the individual records. Kane, who became the first Englishman since 1930-31 to reach a half-century of goals in a season in all competitions on Wednesday, can still reach Robert Lewandowski’s single-season goals record of 41. The England captain has 32 goals from his 27 games this campaign and is in with an outside chance of catching Lewandowski. Michael Olise has 18 assists, three shy of the all-time mark set by Thomas Mueller in 2019-20. Earlier, Freiburg pushed last-placed Heidenheim closer to the drop with a 2-1 home win. Johan Manzambi put the Europa League semi-finalists ahead after 24 minutes but Heidenheim’s Budu Zivzivadze levelled things up just before the hour mark. Freiburg’s Maximilian Eggestein scored the winner with seven minutes remaining to help his side leapfrog Eintracht Frankfurt into seventh spot. The defeat leaves Heidenheim, who hosted Chelsea in the Europa Conference League last season, seven points behind the relegation play-off spot and 11 from safety with four games to play. Related Story
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AC Milan’s Adrien Rabiot (right) fights for the ball with Hellas Verona’s Moatasem al-Musrati during the Serie A match in Verona. (AFP) Adrien Rabiot boosted AC Milan’s bid to return to the Champions League with the only goal in Sunday’s 1-0 win at Verona, which moved his team back up to second in Serie A. France midfielder Rabiot swept home the only goal in the 41st minute at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to give Milan an eight-point cushion on Como and Roma in fifth and sixth. The 31-year-old calmly netted his sixth league goal of the season after snatching possession in midfield and exchanging passes with Rafael Leao, for the only real highlight of a largely drab encounter. “The important thing is winning and getting the points we need to achieve our objectives, but we made a lot of mistakes today. We could have played a lot better,” said Rabiot. “We need to stay focussed on qualifying for the Champions League.” Milan took advantage of Como falling to a surprise defeat at Sassuolo on Friday and Roma drawing with Atalanta on Saturday night, and with five matches remaining in the season, the Rossoneri are all-but sure of a top four finish. The seven-time European champions have had no continental football this season after a disastrous previous campaign which led to Massimiliano Allegri retaking the reins as coach last summer. Allegri said on Friday that he has already started planning for next season with Milan’s management, and after Saturday’s win the 58-year-old again ruled himself out of the vacant Italy job. “No-one has contacted me (from the Italian Football Federation), and all my thoughts are on Milan: we’ve started something together and we’ll continue it together,” said Allegri. Verona’s fifth straight defeat means almost certain relegation, as Paolo Sammarco’s team are bottom of the division and 10 points behind Cremonese, who sit just outside the drop zone and drew 0-0 at Torino in the day’s early fixture. Juventus sit in the final Champions League spot and can move five points ahead of Como and Roma with a home win over Bologna. Related Story
