FIFA PRESIDENT GIANNI INFANTINO DENIES CLAIMS OF UEFA PAYING OFF HIS ALLEGED LOVER: 'CATEGORICALLY UNTRUE'

An investigation alleged that UEFA made a severance payment to a woman who was reportedly involved in a relationship with Gianni Infantino

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is facing renewed scrutiny after an investigation alleged that UEFA made a severance payment to a woman who was reportedly involved in a relationship with him while he was the organisation's general secretary. The claims, reported by The Daily Telegraph, have emerged at a particularly difficult time for Infantino, who is already facing criticism over his recently abandoned proposal to bring private investment into FIFA's commercial operations.

Troubles continue to mount for FIFA President Gianni Infantino. (AP Photo/Santiago Saldarriaga)

However, Infantino has strongly rejected the allegations. A spokesperson for the FIFA president told The Telegraph that the claims were "categorically untrue" and denied any suggestion of inappropriate conduct or a breach of regulations.

"FIFA president Gianni Infantino strongly denies these allegations, and they are categorically untrue. Any insinuation of inappropriate conduct or violation of statutes or regulations is defamatory," a FIFA spokesman told the Telegraph.

“No employee at UEFA and FIFA has ever raised a complaint regarding Mr Infantino's behaviour because there never was an incident where he was involved,” the spokesperson added.

UEFA, however, confirmed that a payment had been made to the woman referred to in the report. The European governing body said the payment was connected to her departure from the organisation and included costs associated with completing an MBA programme at a local business school.

According to UEFA, the payment complied with the regulations that were in place at the time. The organisation added that its rules have since been strengthened and now reflect the standards expected of a modern, high-profile institution.

Infantino worked at UEFA from 2000 and rose to the position of general secretary in 2009. He held the role until 2016, when he was elected FIFA president following the departure of Sepp Blatter.

More allegations

The latest allegations come as Infantino attempts to navigate an increasingly turbulent period at the top of world football. His proposal to establish a major commercial entity involving private investment in FIFA's competitions triggered opposition from several football bodies and raised questions about the organisation's future direction.

The plan, which reportedly involved opening a substantial stake in FIFA's commercial arm to private investors, was eventually shelved amid significant criticism. Infantino subsequently acknowledged that mistakes had been made in the handling of the proposal, but he has remained in office.

Senior FIFA figures backed the president at a meeting in Morocco earlier this week, despite mounting calls for him to consider his position.

The controversy surrounding the investment proposal has also caused tension with European football authorities. Some European associations have threatened to boycott FIFA events, arguing that concerns surrounding the wider issue have not been fully addressed, even after the investment plan was withdrawn.

Infantino, meanwhile, continues to retain support in other parts of the football world. South America's CONMEBOL and the Confederation of African Football have backed him, while the football associations of Mexico, one of the 2026 World Cup's co-hosts, and Argentina have also expressed support.

- Vishesh Roy

ZIDANE APPOINYED FRANCE HEAD COACH AFTER 2026 WORLD CUP

Zinedine Zidane has been appointed head coach of the France men’s national football team, the French Football Federation (FFF) announced on Tuesday.

The 54-year-old takes over from Didier Deschamps, who stepped down following the 2026 FIFA World Cup after leading France for 14 years.

Zidane’s appointment comes after France’s disappointing campaign at the tournament in North America. Widely regarded as one of the favourites, Les Bleus were eliminated by eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals before losing to England in the third-place playoff.

The former France captain returns to coaching for the first time since leaving Real Madrid in 2021, where he enjoyed one of the most successful managerial spells in modern football.

“I have often said there is nothing greater than the French national team. It is therefore a joy and obviously a great honor to become the coach of France. It is also a responsibility,” Zidane said in a statement released by the FFF.

“I want to thank President Philippe Diallo, the Executive Committee and the French Football Federation for their trust and salute the fourteen years of Didier and his staff. I also have a special thought today for all my teachers. Needless to say, I have a lot of ambition for the French team.”

As a player, Zidane is regarded as one of France’s greatest footballers. He inspired the country to its first FIFA World Cup title in 1998, scoring twice in the 3-0 victory over Brazil in the final, before helping France win the UEFA European Championship in 2000.

His international playing career ended in dramatic fashion when he was sent off during the 2006 World Cup final against Italy following his infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi.

Zidane now aims to emulate Deschamps by winning the World Cup as both a player and a coach.

Speaking at his unveiling, Zidane said coaching the French national team had always been his ambition.

“It’s a continuation for me, a dream come true. Over the last four or five years, I’ve received offers to lead a club and I rejected them all for the France national team. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted to do,” he said.

Zidane brings an outstanding club coaching record to the role. During two spells in charge of Real Madrid, he guided the Spanish giants to three consecutive UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga championships and two FIFA Club World Cup trophies.

His immediate challenge will be preparing France for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, with a squad featuring attacking stars including Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola.

“We’ll be doing things differently. Deschamps is Deschamps, Zidane is Zidane. I will do what I know how to do,” he said. “I guarantee continuity so that the French national team keeps winning.”

- Ariana News

RACING ICON FRANKIE DETTORI HOSPITALIZED AFTER NEWMARKET CAR CRASH

Credit: USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Legendary former jockey Frankie Dettori has been rushed to the hospital following a serious car accident in Suffolk – with the accident happening at British horse racing HQ – Newmarket.

According to his management team, H Talent Management, the terrifying incident happened on the evening of Wednesday, July 1, in Newmarket.

Another vehicle reportedly struck the rear passenger side of Dettori’s car, causing it to spin out of control and flip over.

Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene, and the 55-year-old was taken straight to the nearby hospital.

Frankie Dettori Suffers Broken Ribs and Thumb In Newmarket Car Crash

Doctors have confirmed that horse racing legend Dettori sustained a few broken ribs and a broken thumb.

He remains hospitalized under close observation while medical staff run further scans to fully assess his injuries.

In an official statement, his agency shared a message from the racing icon:

“Frankie would like to thank the emergency services who attended the scene, together with the doctors, nurses and wider medical team caring for him. His focus is now on resting and recovering. H Talent Management respectfully asks that Frankie’s privacy is respected at this time. No further comment will be made until there is a meaningful update.”

This frightening setback comes just a few months after Dettori officially hung up his saddle in February, following a high-profile farewell tour through America and Brazil.

His final race in Britain was an unforgettable one-a spectacular victory aboard King Of Steel in the Champion Stakes at Ascot three years ago.

While Frankie had been enjoying his hard-earned retirement, he was already locked in for a highly anticipated comeback this autumn, signing up for the charity Legends race at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting in September.

Given the nature of his injuries, however, those plans are now up in the air as his recovery takes absolute priority. With the race on Friday September 11, 2026.

Frankie Dettori Pulled Out Of Plane Crash in Newmarket in 2000

The recent Frankie Dettori car crash in Newmarket, isn’t the first time the former champion jockey has had a serious accident at British horse racing’s HQ.

On 1 June 2000, Frankie Dettori survived one of the most harrowing incidents in British racing history when a light aircraft carrying him, fellow jockey Ray Cochrane and pilot Patrick Mackey crashed moments after taking off from Newmarket Racecourse.

The trio had been travelling to Goodwood for an afternoon of racing when the Piper Seneca failed to gain sufficient height, struck an embankment known as the Devil’s Dyke and burst into flames.

Patrick Mackey Killed In Tragic Frankie Dettori Plane Crash

Pilot Patrick Mackey was tragically killed in the accident, while Dettori and Cochrane escaped from the wreckage in what police described as a “miracle.”

Dettori suffered a broken right ankle, facial cuts and other injuries that ruled him out of racing for several months, while Cochrane sustained burns and bruising.

In the moments after the crash, Cochrane managed to pull Dettori from the wreckage before bravely attempting to rescue Mackey, but the intense flames made it impossible to reach the pilot. Cochrane’s actions later earned him the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in recognition of his efforts to save his fellow jockey.

The accident had a profound effect on Dettori, who has spoken openly in the years since about believing he was about to die as the aircraft came down.

The experience changed his outlook on both racing and life, with the Italian admitting he became more focused on spending time with his family and appreciating every opportunity he had in the saddle.

Despite the traumatic ordeal, he returned later that season and went on to enjoy many of the greatest successes of his career, including further Classic victories, multiple Royal Ascot triumphs and becoming one of the sport’s most celebrated jockeys.

An investigation by the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch was unable to determine a single definitive cause of the crash, although it concluded the aircraft failed to climb properly after take-off and struck the embankment before crashing.

More than two decades later, the Newmarket plane crash remains one of the defining moments of Dettori’s life and career, serving as a stark reminder of how close horse racing came to losing one of its greatest stars.

- Andy Newton

MUCH-MISSED ELEMENT OF F1 GRID REVIVED FOR MIAMI GP WITH STUNNING RACING BULLS LIVERY

Racing Bulls will race in yellow at the Miami Grand Prix, returning a much-missed colour to the F1 grid for the first time since 2020.

© Red Bull Contentpool
Racing Bulls

Racing Red Bullls have unveiled a vibrant yellow special livery for this weekend's Miami Grand Prix, marking the return of a much-missed colour to the Formula 1 grid for the first time since 2020.

The striking design, inspired by the Red Bull Summer Edition Sudachi Lime energy drink, will adorn the VCARB03 at the Miami International Autodrome, restoring yellow to F1's colour palette after a six-year absence.

Renault was the last team to field a yellow car before rebranding as Alpine in 2021, but that was predominantly black in later years.

recent memory, Jordan raced bright yellow cars during the late 1990s until the name left F1 at the end of 2005.

Before Red Bull owned the team that is now Racing Bulls, Minardi also ran a bright yellow car in 2000 due to its sponsorship with mobile network giant Telefonica.

This marks Racing Bulls' second one-off livery of the 2026 season, having already run a special white and pink design at the Japanese Grand Prix in March.

Due to the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prix postponements, the Faenza-based squad has now deployed special liveries for half of the four rounds contested so far this year.

The reveal took place at Kiki On The River, a waterfront venue along the Miami River, where Red Bull wakeboard athlete Guenther Oka launched off a ramp and backflipped over the car whilst pulling away the cover mid-air. Drivers Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad witnessed the unveiling whilst arriving on Ski-Doos.

Peter Bayer, CEO of Racing Bulls, said: "Miami has become a special place for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls to express who we are as a team. For the past two years, we've used this race to showcase something bold and unique, and this latest livery is no exception.

"The Red Bull Summer Edition livery brings a vibrant energy which reflects who we are as a team, creative and willing to push boundaries. We're very excited to give wiiings to the new seasonal flavour and bring the distinctive design to track this weekend."

The livery features bold yellow colouring complemented by citrus patterns on the team kit, capturing the textures found inside the sudachi lime fruit. The VCARB03 will hit the track in the custom livery when practice begins on Friday.

- RacingNews365 Staff

VICTOR WEMBANYAMA REACHES ANOTHER MILESTONE

 

A HISTORY OF EUROOEAN BASKETBALL'S GROWTH

Basketball arrived in Europe through American soldiers and YMCA missionaries in the early twentieth century, but the sport spent decades in relative obscurity compared to football. The game found pockets of enthusiasm in Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Balkans, yet it lacked the structure needed to compete for public attention. That changed in 1958, when the FIBA European Champions Cup was established, giving the continent a competitive framework that would shape the next six decades of the sport.

What followed was a slow build. The competition operated under FIBA's control until 2000, when Euroleague Basketball was created as a separate governing body. This split marked a turning point in how European basketball was managed, marketed, and monetized. The league rebranded, restructured, and began attracting larger audiences and deeper investment.

The Early Decades Under FIBA

From 1958 through the late 1990s, the European Champions Cup served as the primary stage for the continent's best club teams. The format changed multiple times, but the competition remained under FIBA's administration. Real Madrid dominated the early years, winning multiple titles and establishing Spain as a basketball stronghold. Italian and Soviet clubs followed, with teams from Yugoslavia adding their own chapters during the Cold War era.

The game remained popular in southern and eastern Europe, where basketball culture had developed strong roots. Greece saw its clubs become regular contenders, and the sport became a national obsession in countries like Lithuania after the fall of the Soviet Union. Yet the competition lacked consistent commercial backing, and attendance figures remained modest compared to football. In 1996, the competition was renamed the FIBA EuroLeague, but the real restructuring came four years later. Euroleague Basketball took control of operations, and Euroleague Commercial Assets began managing the business side. This separation from FIBA allowed for more aggressive expansion and marketing strategies.

Revenue Streams Beyond the Arena

The global sports betting market reached $100.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $187.39 billion by 2030, according to industry estimates. This growth has changed how leagues generate income. The NFL signed partnerships worth over $1 billion with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars, while total team sponsorship revenue from betting brands approached $300 million during the 2022-2023 US seasons. European basketball has followed a similar path, with Euroleague Basketball and bwin renewing their multi-year sponsorship agreement through 2026. Still, regulatory pressure is tightening across Europe. Spain banned betting advertisements during prime time in 2021 and prohibited promotion on team jerseys and in stadiums, costing La Liga an estimated 90 million euros. Italy maintains a full blanket ban on sports marketing from betting firms. For those betting on sports, these restrictions have pushed operators and leagues to find alternative sponsorship models, even as the four major US sports leagues are set to earn a collective $4.2 billion from legal sports betting revenue.

Attendance Records and Arena Culture

The modern EuroLeague has seen consistent growth in live attendance. During the 2024-25 season, the average reached 10,589 spectators per game, breaking the previous record of 10,383 set the year before. That 2% increase continued a four-year streak of attendance milestones. The regular season drew a total of 3,039,060 spectators, placing the league fifth among all professional indoor sports leagues worldwide and second among basketball leagues globally, trailing only the NBA.

These numbers tell a story of fan investment. Arenas across Europe have upgraded facilities to accommodate growing demand, and game-day atmosphere has become a selling point for the league. Greek fans remain among the loudest, while Spanish and Turkish arenas regularly fill to capacity for high-profile matchups.

Expansion Beyond European Borders

The 2025-26 season brought a major structural change. The league expanded from 18 to 20 teams, with Dubai Basketball joining as the first non-Israeli team from outside Europe. This move signaled the league's ambitions beyond its traditional geography. The same year, the Final Four was held in Abu Dhabi, marking the first time the championship tournament took place outside Europe.

The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, partnered with Etihad Airways, signed a four-year title sponsorship agreement. This deal replaced the previous partnership with Turkish Airlines, which had been in place since 2010 and was valued by GlobalData Sport at $12.5 million per year. The new arrangement reflects the league's push into Middle Eastern markets, where sports investment has accelerated over the past decade.

Screens and Social Platforms

Television viewership for the EuroLeague has doubled over the past five years. Social media metrics have grown even faster. Total impressions reached 1.5 billion, with video views surging 56% to total 816 million. Content engagement across platforms tripled in recent years, driven by highlight clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and player-focused storytelling.

This growth aligns with a younger audience that consumes sports through mobile devices and streaming services rather than traditional broadcasts. The league has invested in content production, partnering with creators and platforms to extend its reach beyond live games. The result is a more consistent presence in fans' daily feeds, even during off-seasons.

Sponsorship and Commercial Partnerships

The global sports sponsorship market is projected to grow from $64.1 billion in 2024 to approximately $144.9 billion by 2034, according to industry projections. European basketball has positioned itself to capture a portion of this growth. The EuroLeague's expanded geography and improved viewership numbers make it more attractive to brands seeking international exposure.

Betting companies remain a complicated partner. While deals with firms like bwin continue to provide revenue, restrictions in Spain and Italy have limited how these partnerships can be activated. The league must balance commercial interests with regulatory realities, a tension that will shape future sponsorship strategies.

What Comes Next

European basketball has grown from a regional curiosity to a global product with audiences in the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. The league's decision to host events outside Europe and add non-European teams suggests further expansion is likely. Whether this growth can be sustained depends on continued investment in arenas, broadcasting, and player development.

The sport has built a foundation over nearly seven decades. What it does with that foundation in the coming years will determine how it competes for attention in a crowded global sports market.

- Eurobasket

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH JANE GOODALL

Photo by Getty Images

Over 44 years, I’ve accumulated incredible memorabilia: notes from presidents, letters from Nelson Mandela’s office, my Buckingham Palace press pass, assorted awards and shiny trophies. But none have been as impactful as the heartfelt, handwritten letter I got from visionary Jane Goodall just after we met in Manhattan during the 2000 US Open. It read: 

“Dear William, or do you prefer Bill?

“It was so wonderful to bump into you in the Roger Smith Hotel restaurant, and thank you so much for the copies of the two articles you wrote on your safari and on bullfighting. Both were very moving. You have a big heart and you care about the things which are so important to me.

“I’m back in the UK for 10 days and have to be in London for two of the remaining six. Then it’s off to Germany for a Roots and Shoots youth summit, then I go to the USA for five non-stop weeks, then straight to Japan, Hong Kong, China, Cambodia and Taiwan. Then five days in the UK, before going to Tanzania. It’s crazy, n’est pa? 

“Anyway, I do hope we can work out some kind of plan to help the Jane Goodall Institute raise some money via tennis. 

“Any ideas you have will be most exciting. Do keep in touch. I hope that our paths will cross again soon, and in the meantime, all power to you.

“Together we can make this a better world for all living things. 

“Love, Jane”

Soon after, I met her again in California, near my home. I hung out with her, did an interview and attended her talks. I suggested an initiative with the Prince racket company and tried unsuccessfully to get the Los Angeles ATP tournament to have a Jane Goodall fundraising day. 

Jane told me, “Humans and chimps alike have five universal expressions: fear, disgust, happiness, surprise and anger.”

“So,” I asked, “is there a connection between human sports and animal behavior?” She replied: “Chimpanzees invent all kinds of games and make all kinds of sounds when playing. In the animal world, play is rewarded with a flush of happiness. It brings opiates and is a kind of brain fertilizer.” 

She noted that play is a way for many animals to learn life skills without paying a price. Play stokes imagination, combats boredom, teaches about taking turns and establishes social hierarchies. It’s all important practice for facing inevitable dangers. Jane added that 20% of youngsters’ energy is devoted to it. “Play signals that nature’s wisdom is being enacted.” 

She once saw a juvenile chimp throw a fruit the size of a tennis ball into the air, “and, to our amazement, he caught it! He then spent the next 10 minutes trying to repeat the performance, going after the ball every time it rolled off into the undergrowth.” 

Goodall shared how Chimpanzees, our closest cousins, each have individual personalities, and share with us the critical qualities of empathy, grief and loyalty. She observed, “We are both fellow prisoners of the splendor and travail of the Earth.”  

She once asked a probing question: “How should we relate to beings who look into mirrors and see themselves as individuals, who mourn companions, and may die of grief, who have consciousness of self? Don’t they deserve to be treated with the same sort of consideration we accord to other highly sensitive beings?”

I chuckled when I read that Jane “was a competitive and powerful tennis player, though she would occasionally groan loudly at a bad shot.” Plus, she reportedly admired the endurance required to play five-set matches. But I never got to ask her about the faux controversy over her playing tennis on Good Friday. 

VENUS WILLIAMS BOWS OUT OF US OPEN AS STREAMLINED ALCARAZ SAILS THROUGH

USA's Venus Williams waves at supporters after losing against Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova at the end of their women's singles first round tennis match on day two of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City

Image: Kena Betancur / AFP

Venus Williams battled bravely before bowing out of the US Open on her return to Grand Slam tennis on Monday as Spanish ace Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the second round with a dominant opening win.

The second full day of action in New York saw all eyes turn to the Arthur Ashe Stadium's night session, where the 45-year-old Williams lost in three sets to 11th seed Karolina Muchova.

Williams only returned to competitive tennis in July following a 16-month absence from the sport and had been granted a wild card into the main draw at Flushing Meadows.

But hopes of a fairytale run -- 28 years after her debut in the tournament -- ended in a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 loss to Muchova, who was not even born when Williams turned professional in 1994.

"I didn't win today but I'm very proud of the way I played," Williams, the US Open champion in 2000 and 2001, said.

"I don't think I've ever had a crowd on my side like that. I knew people around the world and around the United States were really rooting for me, and that felt great."

With the American exiting, 2022 men's champion Alcaraz took centre-stage in the late game in his first round tie against unseeded American Reilly Opelka.

The Spaniard arrived for the game sporting a striking new hairstyle -- a severe crew cut -- and he duly chopped down the 6ft 11in Opelka with a blistering 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 victory in 2hr 5min.

"Today was a really difficult one," Alcaraz said. "Reilly is a great, tough player. I couldn't get the rhythm that I wanted to get but I'm just really happy with what I did today. I did a great performance today."

Alcaraz is chasing a second US Open title following his maiden Grand Slam victory at the tournament three years ago.

Australian Open winner Madison Keys became the highest-ranked player to exit so far, the sixth seed losing to Mexico's Renata Zarazua 6-7 (10/12), 7-6 (7/3), 7-5.

"Today was the first time in a while where my nerves really got the better of me and it kind of became a little bit paralyzing," home hope Keys said.

"I was just slow, I wasn't seeing things the way that I wanted to, which I feel like resulted in a lot of bad decisions and lazy footwork."

Kvitova farewell

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova bundled out rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko, defeating the teenager 6-3, 6-2.

Belgian 19th seed Elise Mertens ousted wild card Alyssa Ahn 6-1, 6-0 while Ukrainian 30th seed Dayana Yastremska exited in a 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 loss to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova brought the curtain down on her career after a 6-1, 6-0 defeat to France's Diane Parry.

The 35-year-old Czech had already announced her intention to retire after the US Open, but was nonetheless overcome with emotion as she said farewell to the sport, breaking down in tears as she addressed fans afterwards.

"I hoped I would put on a better show today," Kvitova said. "It was tough to know it could be my last match, and emotionally it was very tough as well."

Qualifier Coleman Wong became the first man from Hong Kong to record a victory in a Grand Slam singles event in the Open era with a 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) defeat of US player Aleksandar Kovacevic.

It was the latest in a series of breakthrough results by young Asian players at this year's US Open.

Alexandra Eala of the Philippines -- who trains with Wong at Rafael Nadal's academy in Spain -- and Indonesia's Janice Tjen both won their first-round matches in the main draw.

British fifth seed Jack Draper needed four sets to get past Argentina's Federico Gomez, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 6-2.

Other seeds to advance included Norway's Casper Ruud, the 12th seed, who downed Austria's Sebastian Ofner 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).

US 17th seed Frances Tiafoe beat Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.

- AFP

TOP 10 NBA FINALS PLAYS SINCE 2000 | ESPN THROWBACK

 

GRAND NATIONAL HORSE CELEBRE D'ALLEN DIES AFTRE COLLAPSING AT AINTREE

Jockey Micheal Nolan has been suspended after continuing to ride the horse when he had 'no more to give'

Celebre D’Allen was pulled up just before the end of the Grand National (Photo: Martin Rickett/PA)

Grand National horse Celebre D’Allen has died three days after collapsing during Saturday’s race.

The 13-year-old outsider collapsed in the aftermath of the race but had been “going the right way” during recovery on Monday after being pulled up just before the end of the four-mile showpiece event.

However, trainers Philip Hobbs and Johnson White on Tuesday confirmed the horse had passed away, leaving them “heartbroken”.

“He received the very best treatment by the veterinary teams and was improving,” a statement from the pair said.

“However, he deteriorated significantly last night and could not be saved. He was a wonderful horse, and we will all miss him greatly.”

A stewards’ enquiry after the race handed jockey Micheal Nolan a 10-day suspension for continuing to ride the horse after jumping the penultimate fence “when the horse appeared to have no more to give and was clearly losing ground”.

Celebre D’Allen is the 17th horse to have died during or in the aftermath of the Grand National since 2000.

Ben Newman, spokesperson for the animal activist movement Animal Rising, said: “Celebre D’Allen, like every other victim of the Grand National, deserved a long and peaceful life. Instead, he was raced to death by an industry driven by greed and profit.

“The blame for his death lies not with any individual but with the ‘sport’ of horse racing itself. Again and again, we see horses pushed far beyond their limits to the point of injury, collapse, and death.

“Animal lovers across the UK are united in calling for an end to this rotten, archaic sport. The verdict is clear: horse racing is long past its sell-by date.”

Brant Dunshea, acting chief executive of the British Horse Racing Authority, said the organisation was saddened to learn of the horse’s death.

“As with all runners in the Grand National, Celebre d’Allen was provided with a thorough check by vets at the racecourse,” Dunshea said.

“This health check includes a trot up, physical examination of limbs to check for any heat, pain or swelling, and listening to the heart to check for any murmur or rhythm disturbance.”

He added: “The BHA and Aintree racecourse will analyse the race and this incident in detail, as is the case every year and with every fatal injury in any race. This will include the horse being sent for post-mortem.

“The process of reviewing every fatality allows us to build on our existing data and help us understand how all reasonable avoidable risk can be reduced in order to keep our horses and riders as safe as possible.

“This process previously led to the changes that were made to the Grand National in 2024, including the reduction in the number of runners. Prior to Saturday’s race, there had been no fatal injuries in the previous nine races run over the Grand National course since the 2023 National.

“The steps we have taken to improve safety over the years reflect the great respect we have for our horses and our commitment to their safety.”

- James Gray

REAL MADRID MISS TOP EIGHT AND WILL FACE MAN CITY OR CELTIC

Real Madrid must go through the Champions League play-offs and a tie against either Manchester City or Celtic after failing to finish in the top eight despite comfortably beating Brest.

A Rodrygo double and Jude Bellingham's strike secured a win for the reigning champions, who needed a win in France to stand a chance of an automatic place in the round of 16.

But results elsewhere mean Carlo Ancelotti's side must play an extra two-legged tie if they are to defend their title.

Brest also go into the knock-out play-offs in their debut Champions League campaign.

After a slow start, Madrid assumed control in Guingamp and deservedly took the lead after 27 minutes through a fine goal from Rodrygo.

The Brazilian, who now has 10 goals in as many matches, cut inside a defender on his right foot, before shimmying back onto his left and striking a low effort in off the far post.

Madrid suffered a mighty scare as Ludovic Ajorque squeezed home a shot deflected off Aurelin Tchouameni, only to be determined narrowly offside following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.

Instead, Bellingham made it 2-0 after 57 minutes when he finished from Lucas Vazquez's cutback, and Rodrygo added a third by turning in the rebound from a Marco Bizot save.

Victories for Bayer Leverkusen, Lille and Aston Villa meant it was mathematically impossible for Madrid to reach the top eight no matter their result.

Instead the European champions finish 11th, and will face one of Manchester City or Celtic in the play-offs with the draw to be made on Friday.

Brest come 18th, and will face Benfica or Ligue 1 rivals Paris St-Germain in the next round.

Madrid made to pay for slow start

Rodrygo (left) has scored 10 goals across his last 10 Real Madrid matches

Madrid have been in fine form of late, and have now won their last five games while scoring 20 goals in the process.

But their slow start to this Champions League campaign, in which they lost three of their first six matches, has ultimately cost them automatic progress to the round of 16.

Their vaunted attack in particular has found their touch too late - Rodrygo is now scoring at will, but only after going two and a half months without a goal.

Similarly Mbappe now seems to have adapted to his Real role as a central number nine, but the teething problems that were so evident earlier this campaign - such as the damaging loss at Liverpool - have still cost Madrid in the end.

It means Madrid must now go through an extra two play-off games in order to defend the title they regard as their birthright. While they will be well fancied to reach the last 16 and go further, it will be a sore point for Europe's most successful side that they have to take this road at all.

Brest, by comparison, will be thrilled to have reached the knockout stages of their first ever Champions League campaign.

The French side made a blistering start by going unbeaten in their first four league stage matches, but four winless games in the back half have cost them a top eight finish.

Eric Roy's side did have a tough draw - they are the first debutants to lose to Real Madrid and Barcelona in the same Champions League campaign since Leeds in 2000-01.

- Emma Smith, BBC Sport journalist

JENSON' BUTTON HAS BELIEF THAT WILLIAMS IN ON THE RIGHT PATH IN F1

 

Jenson Button has seen 'belief' restored at Williams

Jenson Button claims he has seen “belief” within the Williams outfit that it is back on the right path in Formula 1.

Button made his F1 debut with the team – then under the stewardship of founder Sir Frank Williams and technical guru Patrick Head – back in 2000, and rejoined as a senior advisor in 2021.

The 2009 World Champion, who also provides analysis for Sky Sports, has observed the similarities between his early days with the team and the present, during which time it has negotiated some rocky spells under the transition of ownership and new team principals.

“The atmosphere kind of feels the same as back in 2000,” Button told Crash.net.

“It feels fun, exciting, obviously serious when it comes to racing, but it is a nice family atmosphere.

“When I re-joined the team as an ambassador the atmosphere wasn’t quite the same,” he explained.

“You had people that have been here for a couple of decades, [even] three decades, and then you had an influx of new talent coming into the team.

“There was a need to put together the right leadership to bring everyone together to work as one.”

Despite enduring a difficult 2024 campaign, scoring just 17 points to finish ninth in the Constructors’ standings, Williams is a team determined to build for a better future.

That is the mantra of Team Principal James Vowles and Button believes Williams has “belief” from within that things are trending upward.

“Now I think there’s a lot more belief in the direction of where the team is going, which is so important when you’re trying to work together to build for the future,” he said.

Alpine-bound Colapinto ‘refreshing’

Button also heaped praise on Franco Colapinto, who raced in the final nine rounds of last season with Williams, scoring five points, tempting Alpine to poach him on a multi-year deal which begins with a reserve driver role in 2025.

“It’s been really refreshing to watch a driver jump into the car and be competitive from the word go,” Button said of the Argentine.

“I think we all have a lot of respect for Alex [Albon], how good he is and what he is able to achieve in this sport. For somebody young to be able to jump in and push him is very impressive.

“You learn from your teammates no matter how old or young they are, whether they’re inexperienced or experienced, you still learn from the data.

“It really helps the team move forward as well if they have two drivers that are competitive, that can learn from each other and move this team forward.”

Albon will of course face stern competition this year in the form of established Grand Prix-winner Carlos Sainz, who joins from Ferrari.

- Jack Oliver Smith

AJAZ STARS AS NEW ZEALAND BEAT INDIA 3-0 IN HISTORIC TEST SWEEP

New Zealand's Ajaz Patel celebrates the win against India at the end of their third Test in Mumbai (INDRANIL MUKHERJEE)

New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel took six wickets as his side sealed a historic 3-0 Test sweep in India with a thrilling 25-run win in the third Test on Sunday.

Chasing 147 for victory, India were bowled out for 121 in 29.1 overs on day three, after Rishabh Pant hit a valiant 64 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium.

Ajaz roared in delight as he bowled Washington Sundar to take the final wicket and the Black Caps celebrated a first Test series win on Indian soil in style.

It was the first time India had been swept in a Test series at home since South Africa's 2-0 win in 1999-2000 and the first time they were beaten 3-0 at home.

"This will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home," India skipper Rohit Sharma told reporters.

"I fully take responsibility for that. As a leader, I have not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series.

"With the bat as well, I have not been good enough."

New Zealand did the unthinkable under new captain Tom Latham, and in the absence of senior batsman Kane Williamson, who was recovering from a groin injury back home.

The Black Caps turned around their fortunes from a 2-0 whitewash in Sri Lanka, and made India suffer their first Test series loss at home in 12 years.

"Very ecstatic," said Latham. "Looking back at the start of the series, to now be in this position, the boys have done a fantastic job over the last three Test matches."

Mumbai-born New Zealander Ajaz ended with a match-haul of 11 wickets at a venue where he created history by claiming all 10 wickets in a Test innings in 2021.

In a tricky chase on a turning pitch, New Zealand reduced India to 29-5, before the left-hander Pant made counter-attacked with his half-century.

- Pant controversy -

Ajaz, after lunch, had Pant caught by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, a decision denied by the on-field umpire but successfully reviewed by New Zealand. An unconvinced Pant trudged back.

"If we say something, it will not go down well. If the decision is not conclusive then the decision has to stand with what the on-field umpire calls," said Rohit.

"I don't know how that decision was overturned."

Glenn Phillips then got two in two balls and Ajaz wrapped up the innings to be named player of the match.

India bowled out New Zealand quickly for 174 in the first session, with Ravindra Jadeja taking five wickets on a turning wicket for 10 in the match.

But the New Zealand bowlers led by Ajaz ripped into India's top order.

Fast bowler Matt Henry dismissed Rohit Sharma in the third over, getting the captain to mis-hit to Phillips at midwicket for 11.

He extended his poor run with the bat in the series with scores of 2, 52, 0, 8 and 18 in his previous five innings.

Ajaz bowled Shubman Gill and then had Virat Kohli, on one, caught by Daryl Mitchell at slip to silence the home crowd.

Kohli has also struggled in the series, with just one half-century and four single-digit scores in the series.

Pant put on 42 runs for the sixth wicket to revive the chase, but Ajaz struck again to remove Jadeja for six.

Will Young's 71 and 51 in the two New Zealand innings proved key and he was named player of the series for amassing 244 runs.

- Faisal Kamal

AT THE PARIS OLYMPICS, IT WILL LONGER BE PERSONAL FOR UKRAINE’S ATHLETES. THIS TIME, IT'S WAR

 KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — For Ukrainian hurdler Anna Ryzhykova, each stride on the Paris Olympic track will have meaning far beyond the time she clocks.

Her competitions are no longer strictly an individual battle, but war on a different front. Her goal is not just gold, but also to rivet global attention on her country’s fight for survival against Russia.

“You’re not doing it for yourself anymore,” she says. “Winning a medal just for yourself, being a champion, realizing your ambitions — it’s inappropriate.”

But the broader war is making it increasingly difficult for Ukraine, once a post-Soviet sports power, to get those headline-capturing medals, an Associated Press analysis found.

Skater Oksana Baiul won Ukraine's first Olympic gold, at the 1994 Winter Games, just three years after Ukraine declared independence. The medal ceremony in Lillehammer, Norway, was delayed while organizers hunted for a recording of Ukraine’s anthem, finally securing one from the Ukrainian team.

Pole vault star Sergei Bubka and the boxing Klitschko brothers — Vitali and Wladimir, the Olympic super-heavyweight champion in 1996 — were among other athletes who put the new nation on sport’s map. At the Summer Games, Ukraine outperformed every former Soviet or Eastern bloc state — except Russia and, in 2000, Romania — and through to London in 2012, always finished among the top 13 nations, ranked by total medals won.

Ukrainian performances began dipping after 2014. Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea that year was followed by eight years of armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow backed armed separatists before unleashing its even deadlier full-scale invasion in 2022 to subdue the whole country.

Ukraine’s haul of 11 medals at the 2016 Rio Games was its smallest as an independent nation and it tumbled to a low of 22nd in the country rankings. Ukraine recovered to 16th at the pandemic-delayed Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 but just one of its 19 medals was gold — another new low.

Part of the explanation is that fighting takes lives and resources. Just as important is the psychological burden the war imposes on athletes.

While honing their bodies and skills for Paris, they have wrestled with their consciences. Athletes have had to explain to themselves and others why they are still competing when soldiers are dying and lives being ripped apart. Some are emerging from the journey with their priorities reordered and armed with new motivation to fight, through sport, for the broader national cause.

“Our victories are to draw attention to Ukraine,” Ryzhykova says.

She ran on Ukraine’s bronze medal-winning 400-meter relay team in the London Olympics in 2012, and placed 5th in her specialty in Tokyo, the 400-meter hurdles. Any medals she earns this summer will be for her country in a very real sense.

“Attention is drawn to you only when you win, when you perform, when you are on the podium,” she said in an AP interview. “The higher you are, the more attention you attract.”

A SPORTS POWER BEING DESTROYED

More than 500 sports facilities have been destroyed since the war began in February 2022. That was the year Russian missiles hit the Lokomotiv sports center in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, depriving Ukrainian artistic swimmers of the training venue they used before winning the team bronze medal in Tokyo. The gleaming “Neptune” aquatic center in Mariupol was bombed in the Russian siege of that devastated port city and now the city is under occupation. That ruined the plans of diver Stanislav Oliferchyk to use it as his Olympic training base for Paris.

High jumper Oleh Doroshchuk, aged 23 and one of Ukraine’s brightest prospects in Olympic track and field in Paris, has learned to ignore aid raid sirens that blare over his hometown, Kropyvnytskyi in central Ukraine, so they don’t interrupt his training. Still, after particularly deadly Russian attacks that regularly hit the country, Doroschuk says he’s been forced to look inside himself, questioning whether it’s morally right that he’s “just training” when other men are defending front lines.

“I think everyone has these kinds of thoughts,” he said. “Many people among those whom I know are fighting, and some were killed.”

Across Ukraine, air raids often derail training.

“You sit in the bomb shelter for an hour, then come out for 15 minutes and start warming up and moving again. The alarm goes off again, and you go back to the bomb shelter,” Ryzhykova says. She mostly trains abroad as a result.

SPORTS IN MOURNING

Among Ukraine’s many tens of thousands of dead and injured are athletes, coaches and others in sports organizations who together helped Ukraine to stand on its own as a sporting nation after it broke free of the former Soviet sports machine.

Some of the athletes killed might have had a shot of qualifying for Paris. Some of the coaches had been nurturing future generations.

Ryzhykova lost a mentor who helped ignite her passion for sports. Coach Valentyn Vozniuk and his wife, Iryna Tymoshenko, were among 46 people killed by a supersonic missile that slammed into an apartment building in Dnipro in 2023.

Vozniuk, who was 75, led the Dnipro sports school where Ryzhykova started track and field and where she still trains on trips home.

“He was always very cheerful, a happy person who did everything to make children come, enjoy, and stay,” she recalls.

She worries the war will accelerate a downward spiral for Ukrainian sport. “Few children are coming for training now, many have left,” she notes.

“There are times when depression and a feeling of not wanting to do anything set in,” she says. “And when you’re at a training camp and read the news about a massive rocket attack, you worry about all your relatives and loved ones.”

FACING RUSSIA IN PARIS

In Paris, Ukrainian athletes will endure another ordeal: the likelihood of crossing paths with competitors from Russia and ally Belarus.

The International Olympic Committee barred the two nations from team sports in Paris but didn’t bend to Ukrainian pleas for their complete exclusion.

Instead, Russians and Belarusians who pass a two-step vetting procedure will compete individually as neutrals. They must not have publicly supported the invasion or be affiliated with military or state security agencies.

The IOC has said dozens of Russian and Belarusian athletes qualify.

Ryzhykova struggles with the prospect of face-to-face encounters.

“I can’t even imagine this anger,” she says. “How to restrain oneself, how to look at them.”

Her priority remains Ukraine and keeping its losses and sacrifices in the spotlight.

“We cannot be without a position, be on the sidelines — because we are opinion leaders. And we have to be a support for our people,” Ryzhykova says.

“It will be challenging at this Olympics because there is no room for defeat or injury,” she adds. “It’s tough to cope with, but it’s both motivation and responsibility.”

- HANNA ARHIROVA and JOHN LEICESTER