Sunday, 21 June 2026
FIM STEWARDS REJECT APRILIA APPEAL FOR.MARCO BEZZECCHI BRNO MOTOGP BAN
The FIM Appeal Stewards have dismissed an appeal from Aprilia in relation to the suspension of Marco Bezzecchi from the Czech MotoGP.
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| Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 MotoGP Czech Grand Prix, pit box. Credit: Gold and Goose. © Gold & Goose |
An appeal lodged by Aprilia against the suspension of Marco Bezzecchi from the Brno MotoGP has been rejected by the FIM MotoGP Stewards panel.
The decision to suspend Marco Bezzecchi was announced by the FIM MotoGP Stewards panel as a result of an investigation into an incident which occurred after Bezzecchi crashed out of the Sprint at Brno, as the Italian pushed and struck a marshal who was trying to recover his bike.
An appeal was lodged by Aprilia shortly after the suspension was announced at 19:52 local time in Brno. The appeal hearings were held between 20:05 and 20:37 and involved Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola, Aprilia Racing team manager Paolo Bonora, and Simon Crafar, Tamara Matko, and Andres Somolinos from the MotoGP Stewards panel.
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| Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Brno MotoGP. © Gold and Goose |
A statement released from stewards confirmed the rejection of the appeal and the upholding of the suspension of Bezzecchi from the Czech Grand Prix.
The reasoning given by the FIM MotoGP Stewards for the rejection of the appeal is as follows.
“The FIM Appeal Stewards have carefully considered the submissions made on behalf of the rider and the evidence presented, including video footage, official reports and the circumstances surrounding the incident,” a statement from the stewards reads.
“Whilst the Appeal Stewards recognise that riders involved in accidents may experience frustration, disappointment and heightened emotion immediately following an accident, such circumstances cannot excuse or justify physical aggression directed towards circuit personnel performing their official duties.
“Circuit marshals and other safety officials are fundamental to the safe conduct of motorcycle sport. They operate in hazardous environments, often placing themselves in close proximity to moving motorcycles and other dangers in order to protect competitors and facilitate the safe continuation of the event. The sport relies on these officials carrying out their responsibilities without fear of intimidation, abuse, or physical assault.
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| Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Brno MotoGP. © Gold and Goose |
“The principles of sporting conduct require all participants to treat officials, marshals, and volunteers with respect at all times. Any physical contact of an aggressive nature towards a circuit safety official represents a serious departure from those standards and undermines the mutual trust and respect upon which the safe operation of the Championship depends.
“The Appeal Stewards consider it particularly significant that the individuals involved were marshals actively engaged in the recovery of the rider's machine following an accident. Such personnel were acting solely in the interests of rider safety, event safety, and the orderly conduct of the competition.
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| Marco Bezzecchi, 2026 Brno MotoGP. © Gold and Goose |
“Physical aggression towards marshals is wholly unacceptable in professional motorsport and cannot be tolerated regardless of the circumstances leading to the incident. Failure to respond appropriately to such conduct would risk sending the wrong message to competitors throughout the Championship and would be inconsistent with the governing body's obligation to protect officials, volunteers, and workers who contribute to the sport.
“Having regard to the seriousness of the conduct, the status of the persons involved as circuit safety officials, the need to uphold proper standards of behavior, and the need for both specific and general deterrence, the Appeal Stewards are satisfied that the Stewards Panel was entitled to conclude that the rider's actions constituted an action prejudicial to the interests of the sport.
“The Appeal Stewards further conclude that the sanction imposed is proportionate to the seriousness of the infringement and falls within the reasonable range of penalties available to the Stewards Panel. Accordingly, the appeal is rejected and the original decision is upheld in its entirety.”
- Alex Whitworth
Saturday, 20 June 2026
PARAGUAY'S MIGUEL ALMIRON GETS FIRST WORLD CUP RED CARD UNDER NEW FIFA RULE
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| Miguel Almiron remonstrates with referee Ivan Barton IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Darren Yamashita |
Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron has become the first player to be issued a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth, under a new rule from Fifa.
The infraction came during first-half stoppage time as Paraguay played Turkey, with Almiron and defender Mert Mulder exchanging words on the pitch following a foul.
Almiron covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.
A new law passed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in April states that "any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card".
Barton reviewed the video and quickly ruled that Almiron should be sent off
Fifa president Gianni Infantino pushed for the new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide verbal insults towards Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League game earlier this year.
The IFAB said it was approving the rule in a bid to address discriminatory and inappropriate behaviour in football.
Paraguay were leading 1-0 at the time, and managed to hold on for the win despite playing a man down for the entire second half.
After the game, Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said Almiron had apologised to his team for his mistake and told him his absence brought out the “fighting spirit” of the team.
The red card means Almiron will miss the side's final group stage match against Australia with second place in Group D on the line.
"He knew about the situation he had left his teammates in with his actions. It happened and it happened," Alfaro said.
This is the second time in two games at the World Cup that Almiron has been carded under a new rule in place this year.
He got a yellow card in the side's opening match against the United States after video review overturned a yellow card issued to Tim Ream and gave it to Almiron instead for diving.
This year's World Cup has also already seen more red cards than in the two tournaments previous, with six given to players so far - and Qatar receiving two in the same game.
- ITV News
THE TRUE STORY OF SIMBA WHEN THEY WERE AWARDED THE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AT THE TABLE, WHEN YANGA REFUSED TO COME TO THE FIELD IN 1965
In the picture, it is 1965 at Ilala Stadium (now Karume), and it is the National Championship Final between the traditional rivals Sunderland (now Simba SC) against Yanga SC. But the match did not reach its conclusion in the usual way.
In the 80th minute, with Yanga leading by one goal, a major commotion broke out on the field. The referee was forced to stop the match right there, and it was ordered that the match be replayed on another day. Yanga did not show up…
The football authorities awarded Simba the championship and the trophy, not by the power of the feet, but by a committee decision.
This photo is a memory of that replay day when Sunderland arrived but Yanga did not appear:
Standing from left: Adam Athuman, Hamisi Kilomoni, Gilbert Mahinya, Kibwana, Kibunzi, Kimimbi, Haji Lesso, Mustafa Choteka and Fikirini. Crouching from left: Arthur Mwambeta, Durban, Mbaraka (Gentula), Salum, Hatibu Mtoto, Luando and Ali Kajo.
#SimbaSportsClub #YoungAfricansSportsClub #yanga #Simba #makinikiayahabari
- Muhidin Issa Michuzi
THE 1977 TANZANIAN NATIONAL BOXING TEAM AND THEIR LEADERS, ALONG WITH SPORTS COUNCIL OFFICIALS
It was at Dar es Salaam Airport in 1977, when the Tanzania National Boxing Team was returning from a competition in Ethiopia, having arrived home with honor around their necks.
In the top row stands Titus Simba (fifth from the left at the back), the National Heavyweight Champion, a boxer whose fists were a weapon of the nation. When this photo was taken, it was not known that this would be his last journey representing Tanzania on international stages. The late Simba left us too soon, but he left an indelible mark in the history of our sports.
Kneeling in front from the right are Ahmed Tesha, Emmanuel Mlundwa, Lucas Msomba, Rashid Mohamed, Habib Kinyogoli, and Bakari Kitivu (who did not go on this trip).
Behind them stand the leaders and pillars of boxing in the country: Coach William Majwala, Vice President of the Tanzania Amateur Boxing Association (TABA) Mzee Pazzi, Chairman of TABA and international referee Salim Seif Nkamba, Secretary General of TABA and international referee Narcis Tarimo, Elias Sulus (from BMT), William Lyimo, Alois Nyuti, and Dr. Kisambale.
Nearly 50 years have passed and many of them have gone ahead to the hereafter, but this photo remains evidence that Tanzania was at the top in boxing even back in the day.
- Emmanuel Mlundwa
BBC PUNDIT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE WIMBLEDON RULE CHANGE AND BLASTS 'INSANITY'
The tennis ace has urged the ATP to introduce a drastic rule change.
Former British tennis star John Lloyd has called on the ATP to reduce men’s Grand Slam matches to best of three sets. It comes amid ongoing suggestions that the hectic tour schedule is negatively impacting players and forcing them to miss tournaments.
Carlos Alcaraz has been the big casualty this year, with the Australian Open champion having sat out the recent French Open. His injury woes also mean he’ll be out for the upcoming Wimbledon Championship, as the effects of elite-level tennis begin to take their toll.
Lloyd is adamant that the solution is to reduce the number of sets the men play at Grand Slams, insisting the best-of-five rule is harming them physically. Commenting on the BBC’s Queen’s coverage, the former world No.23 remarked: “In my opinion, the calendar is awful.
“It has been for years. I think Grand Slams should be best of three sets anyway. I’ve said that for years. All the way through, or certainly from the quarter-finals. I’ve been saying this for years.
“We are going to see more and more injuries, mark my words, unless something is changed. It will happen, there will be more injuries. The best of five sets for four Slams, it’s not just the playing at the tournament that does it, it’s the preparation.”
To win a Grand Slam, players have to come through seven matches, and in a lot of those contests, they’ll be playing at least one more match than they would do during a regular Tour event. Across the course of a Slam, that can add up to just under three extra matches, while during an entire year, it could represent a couple of tournaments worth.
To win a Grand Slam, players have to come through seven matches, and in a lot of those contests, they’ll be playing at least one more match than they would do during a regular Tour event. Across the course of a Slam, that can add up to just under three extra matches, while during an entire year, it could represent a couple of tournaments worth.
Continuing with his assessment, he added: “In our day, the best of five in my day is the equivalent of the best of three sets now. The physicality of the players is night and day to what it was in my day. We have to change this. We will get more injuries unless something is done.
“Best of five sets, when players have to come out from the starting point, every match will be dynamic. People remember great matches, but they remember them because they were at Slams. Not because it’s five hours, a three-hour match will be remembered as much if they are at the Slams.”
- Amos Murphy
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026: SAIBARI SCORES FASTEST GOAL OF THIS EDITION AS MOROCCO BEAT SCOTLAND 1-0
Massachusetts [US], June 20 (ANI): Morocco secured a clinical 1-0 victory over Scotland at Boston Stadium, with Ismael Saibari scoring the decisive goal as the Atlas Lions maintained control to claim a crucial Group C win.
Morocco completed 601 passes against Scotland, the most by an African team in a FIFA World Cup match on record since 1966, as per OptaJoe's X handle.
Morocco struck early through Saibari, who broke past the Scottish defence, controlled a precise pass from Brahim Diaz, and fired a powerful finish into the roof of the net beyond goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
The strike proved to be the fastest goal of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 and also Morocco's quickest ever at the global tournament, helping them move to four points and temporarily top Group C ahead of Brazil's fixture in Philadelphia.
After the interval, both sides created chances in an open contest. Saibari nearly doubled the lead but saw his deflected effort crash off the crossbar after a sharp move initiated by Bilal El Khannouss.
Morocco came close again when El Khannouss almost converted a near-post corner from Achraf Hakimi, only for Gunn to deny him once more.
In the closing stages, Scotland pushed hard for an equaliser, with John McGinn, Ben Gannon-Doak and Scott McTominay leading repeated attacks. However, Morocco held firm under pressure to secure all three points and complete a vital win.
During the clash, Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari etched his name into the record books after scoring the fastest goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026, finding the net just 70 seconds.
Saibari struck after only one minute and 10 seconds, surpassing the previous fastest goal of the tournament scored by Czechia's Michal Sadilek, who had netted after five minutes and seven seconds against South Africa earlier in the competition.
The early breakthrough underlined Morocco's positive start to the match and highlighted Saibari's growing influence on the international stage.
The goal also saw Saibari achieve another significant milestone. He became only the second African player to score in each of his first two FIFA World Cup appearances, joining Egypt's Mohamed Salah in the exclusive list.
In addition, the strike is now the fastest goal ever scored by Morocco at a FIFA World Cup and the second-fastest goal scored by an African nation in the tournament's history. The record for the fastest World Cup goal by an African player remains with Ghana's Asamoah Gyan, who scored against the Czech Republic during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Ismael Saibari's early effort has now become the quickest goal of the ongoing edition of the World Cup, highlighting his immediate impact in the high-profile clash.
However, the fastest goal in FIFA World Cup history remains unchanged. Turkey's Hakan Sukur still holds that record, having scored just 11 seconds into a match against South Korea in 2002. Sukur had capitalised on a defensive lapse straight from kickoff to slot home and create a milestone that continues to stand as the quickest strike in World Cup history.
- ANI
Friday, 19 June 2026
OSCAR COLLAZO MAIN EVENT NOW A.NON TITLE
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| COURTESY OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS |
Another day, another turn for Oscar Collazo.
Informed early that his replacement opponent, Mexico’s Neider Valdez, had no chance of making the 105-lbs weight limit for Saturday night’s DAZN main-event minimumweight title bout at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California, Collazo weighed in Friday at 110.6lbs while Valdez came in at 111.2lbs.
Collazo’s WBO and WBA belts will no longer be on the line, but the Puerto Rican will fight for the WBA International flyweight strap.
Who is Ruben Aguilar? And why should you follow his career… Share your thoughts 💭 below 👇 #Boxing
Valdez, 15-3-3 (12 KOs), was summoned this week after top-15 ranked original opponent Joey Canoy could not secure a travel visa to reach the U.S. from the Philippines and first-choice replacement opponent, Luis Castillo of Mexico, couldn't either.
Collazo, 14-0 (11 KOs), told BoxingScene Thursday he’s considering moving on from the 105lbs division to either seek the winner of the July 20 Shokicki Iwata-Erik Badillo WBC light flyweight title bout, or to make the bigger leap to flyweight and pursue fellow Golden Boy Promotions fighter and unified 112-lbs champion Ricardo Sandoval.
Collazo assured that his power will transfer up in weight, and now he’ll have the opportunity to prove that against Valdez, who has been knocked out twice in the past two-plus years.
- Lance Pugmire
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