Sports

Barcelona will face Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals of the 2025–2026 Copa del Rey, setting up a heavyweight showdown between two of Spain’s traditional giants. Hansi Flick’s men secured their place in the last four with a gritty 2–1 victory over Albacete on Tuesday, as Lamine Yamal and Ronald Araújo found the net. Atletico Madrid followed on Thursday with an emphatic 5–0 thrashing of Real Betis to seal their own semi-final spot. The second semi-final is equally enticing, with Real Sociedad set to take on Athletic Club in a fiercely contested all-Basque derby. Copa del Rey Semi-Final Fixtures Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona Real Sociedad vs Athletic Club Both ties will be contested over two legs. The first legs will take place between February 10 and 12, with Atletico ho...

Leicester City have been hit with a six-point deduction by the English Football League (EFL) for breaching profit and sustainability regulations, dealing another blow to their difficult Championship campaign. The penalty takes immediate effect, pushing the Foxes down from 17th to 20th place on the table. They now sit just outside the relegation zone on goal difference, increasing the pressure as the season progresses. The punishment stems from financial charges initially brought by the Premier League in May, relating to breaches over a three-year period up to the 2023–24 season. However, following Leicester’s relegation from the Premier League last season, jurisdiction over the case shifted to the EFL, which assessed the matter under its own financial rules. Leicester City have vo...

Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has warned that Nigeria’s Group C campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will be fiercely contested, describing Zambia as a particularly tough opponent as the defending champions pursue another continental crown. Speaking during an interview on Super Falcons Show, the Paris FC goalkeeper acknowledged Zambia’s growing strength and believes the West Africans should expect a more challenging encounter than their last meeting. According to Nnadozie, facing Zambia at the 2026 WAFCON will be anything but easy, noting that although Nigeria emerged victorious in their previous clash, it was a hard-fought battle. She added that the Zambian team would be eager to respond and prove their quality, describing them as a strong footbal...

The Saudi Pro League has warned Cristiano Ronaldo that "no individual determines decisions beyond their own club" amid doubts over his future at Al-Nassr. The Portugal forward, 41, was left out of Al-Nassr's squad for Monday's Saudi Pro League game against Al-Riyadh. Portuguese outlet A Bola, external reported Ronaldo refused to play, having grown dissatisfied with how the club was being run by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). BBC Sport has been told that former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema's move to league leaders Al-Hilal from Al‑Ittihad earlier this week was the principle reason for Ronaldo's frustration at Al-Nassr. French striker Benzema, 38, scored a hat-trick on his debut for Al-Hilal in a 6-0 win over Al-Okhdood on Thursday. Both Al-Nassr and ...

Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney's son Kai, has reportedly been offered a new deal by the club, where he hopes of follow in the footsteps of his famous dad. The 16-year-old forward has been in United's academy for a number of years, and the club have been impressed by his progress. It is likely a scholarship will be offered to the youngster in the summer or on the eve of the new season, with a £50,000 a year deal in the pipeline, according to The Sun. Kai is said to be part of a 'very strong' group of 14 youngsters offered new deals by the club. The gifted bunch also includes Jacey Carrick, son of Michael, who is the interim United manager. It is understood the Rooney family have not yet agreed to the offer on the table, but a scholarship that turns into a professional...

Algerian boxing star Imane Khelif has stated that she is willing to undergo genetic testing to maintain her eligibility for international competitions, as long as the process is carried out under the authority of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Khelif, who claimed gold in the women’s welterweight category at the Paris 2024 Olympics, became the focus of a global gender eligibility debate after the International Boxing Association (IBA) disqualified her from the 2023 World Championships following sex chromosome tests. The controversy has since intensified following an announcement by World Boxing—the body provisionally recognised by the IOC and set to manage boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—introducing compulsory sex testing for all boxers. Khelif has challenged this ...

New Atlético Madrid forward, Ademola Lookman, marked his debut for the Spanish club with a goal on Thursday, netting the third strike in their Copa del Rey quarter-final clash against Real Betis at the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Lookman finalised his transfer from Atalanta on Monday, resumed training with his new teammates on Tuesday, and wasted no time in opening his account for the club. The Nigerian scored Atlético’s third goal in the 37th minute with a trademark finish, following an opener from David Hancko in the 12th minute and Giuliano Simeone’s strike in the 30th minute. Atlético coach Diego Simeone had hinted on Wednesday at the possibility of handing Lookman his debut in the fixture. The 28-year-old arrived alongside two other winte...

Chelsea head coach, Liam Rosenior has accused Arsenal of showing a lack of respect during the warm-up ahead of their Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg clash at the Emirates Stadium.  Rosenior was visibly furious before kick-off and was caught on Sky Sports cameras confronting members of the Arsenal camp, shouting: “That’s your half – that’s your ******* half. ******* stay there.” Chelsea later crashed out of the competition, losing 4-2 on aggregate.  Broadcast footage showed a member of Arsenal’s coaching staff entering Chelsea’s half of the pitch during the warm-up, a situation Rosenior admitted disrupted his team’s preparations. Speaking on Thursday via Sky Sports, the Chelsea boss made it clear that his frustration was not directed at Arsenal’s players but at what...

Olympic boxing champion Imane Khelif has said she is willing to undergo a s£x test to be eligible for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, while responding to claims by former US President Donald Trump that she is a “male boxer.” Khelif, 26, rose to global prominence after winning gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, but her victory at the Games sparked controversy amid claims that she had allegedly failed a gender eligibility test the previous year. In 2025, World Boxing then confirmed that fighters would be required to undergo mandatory sex screening to compete in their events, singling out Khelif when making the announcement, which the governing body later apologised for. Khelif has not competed since the tests were introduced, taking her fight to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)...

Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, has parted ways with South African club Chippa United, bringing an end to his four-year stay with the club to become a free agent. Chippa United confirmed Nwabali’s departure in a statement released on Thursday, revealing that the 29-year-old submitted a formal request to leave despite signing a three-year contract extension in 2024. The club stated that it had accepted his request and granted him a release. The statement read, “We would like to sincerely thank Stanley Nwabali for the years of service, commitment, and professionalism he has shown during his time at Chippa United Football Club, his contribution to the club will always be appreciated, and we wish him success in the next chapter of his career.” Taking to Instagram to bid farew...