Heavy rain left Real Madrid’s pitch almost unplayable Hosts beat Arsenal 2-0 in first leg of WCL quarter-final The Arsenal manager, Renée Slegers, said that improving pitch conditions is “the next step for women’s football” after the state of the playing surface at the Estadio Alfredo di Stéfano drew strong...
Manchester United insist season-ticket price increases are ‘fair and reasonable’
Chief executive Omar Berrada says 5% rise is necessary Fan group MUST criticises decision not to freeze prices Manchester United have defended their decision to raise season-ticket prices despite the club’s faltering on‑field performance. Tickets at Old Trafford will go up by 5% next season, with under-16s the only group...
Conor McGregor anti-immigration rant in White House condemned by Irish PM
Micheál Martin says MMA fighter’s comments before Trump meeting ‘do not reflect spirit of St Patrick’s Day’ Ireland’s taoiseach has denounced anti-immigration comments made by Conor McGregor as the MMA fighter visited the White House before a St Patrick’s Day meeting with Donald Trump. McGregor said “Ireland is on the...
Women’s Champions League quarter-finals: can anybody stop Barcelona?
Race to reach the final begins with an all-English battle and Lyon facing Bayern Munich’s steely defence After a three-month wait for restless fans since the conclusion of the group stage, Europe’s top clubs finally return to continental action this week as the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals get under way....
F1: five things we learned from season-opening Australian Grand Prix
McLaren look like having their best car in years, Hamilton’s learning curve at Ferrari and mixed report cards for rookies Having played down a strong performance in testing, there was no way to disguise reality at the Australian Grand Prix. During practice the field still looked close, indeed right through...
McIlroy lays down Masters marker with Players Championship playoff triumph
Northern Irishman wins ‘fifth major’ for second time McIlroy: ‘I feel like I’m a better player now than ever’ Masters fever just got louder. The prospect of Augusta National morphing into Rory Land in mid-April has intensified. Rory McIlroy’s second Players Championship victory suggests that maybe, just maybe, he has...
Six Nations 2025 awards: our writers pick their tournament highlights
From box-office Bielle-Biarrey to Daly denying France a shot at the grand slam, our highs and lows in 2025 Maro Itoje (England). Played every minute of every England game and, in his first championship as captain, helped guide his side to four consecutive wins. The more responsibility he is handed...
Women’s players face stark pay divide with average salary less than $11,000, Fifa reports
Female player annual salary across globe averages $10,900 USD One in five head coaches at professional clubs are women The average annual salary for a female professional football player globally is $10,900 USD (£8,400 GBP, $17,000 AUD), says Fifa’s annual report on the women’s game, a figure skewed by a...
Newcastle’s Carabao Cup win: part feelgood story, part PR triumph for dictator state ambition | Barney Ronay
Newcastle United’s historic trophy is euphoric for fans and a significant victory for Saudi Arabia. Both things can be true Well, that’s the nice bit done. Warm feelings, heritage bonds, a cocoon of distracting noise. Wembley is such a different place on these domestic cup days, certainly compared with the...
A new Manchester United stadium isn’t about regeneration and never will be | Jonathan Liew
If ‘New Trafford’ is such a nailed-on wealth generator, then why aren’t Ratcliffe and the Glazers funding it themselves? The roof of the proposed new Manchester United stadium has three points, which is more than can often be said for the team who will play underneath it. According to Nigel...