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After Riots at the Old Firm: No Away Fans and Bizarre Compensation Payments

Sports Of The Day
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After Riots at the Old Firm: No Away Fans and Bizarre Compensation Payments

No game in Scotland generates as much excitement as the Old Firm. But in the future, it will have to do so without away fans, as Celtic and Rangers have taken this decisive step in response to the chaotic scenes at Ibrox in early March.

The Cup quarterfinal between the Glasgow archrivals on March 8 was marred by serious riots, which led, among other things, to dozens of arrests. Hundreds of Rangers supporters, some of whom were masked, stormed the field and sought confrontation with Celtic fans, who had invaded the field to celebrate their team’s 4–2 victory in a penalty shootout. Pyrotechnics were set off on the field, and objects were thrown.

However, the decisive intervention of security personnel and police prevented a clash between the two rival fan groups on the field at Ibrox Stadium. In retrospect, an independent investigation into the incidents concluded that “mass panic” and “life-threatening violence” had been narrowly averted.

As a result, both clubs have now agreed not to allow visiting fans to attend the derby this season. However, this is not intended to be a permanent arrangement, as the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) stated in its announcement regarding the measures: “This temporary arrangement allows both clubs, together with the SPFL, Scottish police, and other relevant stakeholders, to properly review the findings and recommendations of the independent review, take the necessary measures, and ensure that sufficient time is available for thorough planning of future matches.”

Match Behind Closed Doors Plus Compensation Payments

However, banning away fans from upcoming derbies isn’t the only consequence; both clubs must also play their next home Scottish Cup match behind closed doors. There is also a somewhat curious consequence: Due to the lost revenue from shared ticket sales, both clubs must each pay the other 100,000 pounds (equivalent to 116,363 euros) in compensation. In effect, this is a classic case of “robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

On the field, the two clubs will face off soon—twice, in fact: On September 13, Rangers will host Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup. A week later, the two archrivals will meet for their first league matchup at Celtic Park. That match will take place under the new regulations.

Isak Scores Twice and Barcola Makes His Debut: Lackluster Liverpool Celebrates First Win

T0m@dmin1
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Isak Scores Twice and Barcola Makes His Debut: Lackluster Liverpool Celebrates First Win

At Ipswich Town, Alexander Isak scored twice to put Liverpool on the path to victory early on. New signing Bradley Barcola made his Reds debut.

2-2 in Newcastle, 2-2 against Nottingham—and 2-2 in Ipswich too? At least it was clear early on at Portman Road that Liverpool would score at least two goals on Friday night. After Isak first converted a through ball from Gakpo to make it 1-0 (6th minute), the striker added the Reds’ second goal just three minutes later to make it 2-0. Goalkeeper Scherpen didn’t look good on either occasion.

It was the perfect start for Andoni Iraola’s team, who started Barcelona loanee Araujo for the first time—and as a right back. New signing Barcola, whom Liverpool recently acquired from Paris for at least 125 million euros, started on the bench.

The 24-year-old Frenchman’s new teammates continued to dominate and created several chances to add a third goal. The Tractor Boys, who had most recently lost 2–5 at Manchester United, saw Scherpen make three saves on long-range attempts by Szoboszlai (20’, 23’, 40’). However, the score remained 2–0 in favor of the visitors at halftime.

No penalty for the Reds—Ipswich can’t close the gap

With a 2–0 lead, the Reds increasingly scaled back their offensive efforts, so that Isak, Wirtz, and company were hardly noticeable in the second half. Ipswich, in turn, found more confidence but was unable to create any clear-cut chances for a long time.

Instead, the next highlight was the substitution of Barcola, who made his Liverpool debut in the 64th minute. Shortly afterward, Iraola’s team had reason to hope for a penalty kick, but after a VAR review, it was determined that Szoboszlai, who had been fouled, was offside (70th minute). Since Alisson was hardly tested even in the closing stages, Liverpool held on to their two-goal lead without much fanfare.

Ipswich, which suffered its second loss to a Premier League heavyweight, faces Crystal Palace on the road this Saturday (4 p.m.). The Reds, who secured their first win, will kick off their Champions League campaign on Wednesday (9 p.m.) against Atlético Madrid, before hosting Fulham on Saturday (4 p.m.).

Mbappé Misses from the Spot: Real Suffers First Loss of the Season at Betis

Andrew Jackson
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Mbappé Misses from the Spot: Real Suffers First Loss of the Season at Betis

Real Madrid suffered its first loss of the new season ahead of the Champions League opener. The final minutes, in particular—featuring a disallowed dream goal and a missed penalty kick—were especially dramatic.

A few days before the start of the Champions League, José Mourinho made three changes for the away game against fellow Champions League contender Real Betis following the recent 4-0 win over Málaga. In defense, Dumfries and Konaté replaced Alexander-Arnold and Rüdiger. Arda Güler also started in place of Brahim Díaz.

In the opening minutes, however, the focus was less on the game than on the ball itself. The Royals complained several times about deflated balls, which took up quite a bit of time. It wasn’t until about ten minutes in that the issue was resolved, and both teams were able to refocus on the game.

Mbappé misses a double chance

And the pace was quite fast: Neither side held back, deploying their attacking lines quickly and directly. After a great chance by Huijsen (12′), Vinicius Junior hit the outside post from a tight angle shortly thereafter (15′). At the other end, first Antony forced Courtois into a save (18th), and then Cucho Hernandez narrowly missed the goal with a first-time shot (21st).

After that, however, the match took a brief breather. Real lacked the drive toward the goal, while Coach Manuel Pellegrini’s team was able to clear the ball effectively time and again. It wasn’t until a little later that the star-studded Madrid side took control of the game once more—only to squander top-notch chances. A double chance by Mbappé, which substitute and former Dortmund player Bartra cleared off the line (42′), was followed by a header from Bellingham (45′), which Betis goalkeeper Valles brilliantly saved. So the teams went into the locker rooms scoreless.

Real’s Minds Already on the Champions League

After the restart, however, Mourinho’s team struggled significantly again—and was lucky not to find themselves a man down. After Arda Güler had already been shown a yellow card in the first half, he committed another foul worthy of a yellow against former Munich player Roca but got away without a second yellow (54′).

The pace that had characterized the end of the first half had completely evaporated, and the Royals posed hardly any threat. A shot by Mbappé (67′) was the only real chance for a long time. It wasn’t until the closing stages that things really heated up. In the 81st minute, substitute Parrott struck a blow right to the heart of the Royals, scoring on a rebound to make it 1–0 for the home team.

After that, Real pressed forward; Mbappé hit the crossbar with a wayward cross (85th minute), and then Espi saved the visitors with a beautiful bicycle kick. But the goal was disallowed due to an offside call (89th minute). Deep into stoppage time, Madrid was even awarded a penalty after Natan fouled Vinicius Junior. Mbappé took the kick but was denied by Valles (90’+4). In the end, Real suffered their first narrow loss of the season.

Both teams now have Champions League matches on the schedule this week. Real Betis faces Lille OSC on Tuesday (9:00 p.m.). At the same time, Real Madrid hosts Inter Milan.

A Perfectly Bad Start: PSG Loses to Monaco

Sotd Editor
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A Perfectly Bad Start: PSG Loses to Monaco

After two flattering draws to start the season, Paris Saint-Germain fell to AS Monaco in front of its home crowd on Friday night. PSG remains winless—and is already seven points behind the Monegasques.

Most recently, Luis Enrique’s Parisian side had failed to cover themselves in glory in a 2-2 draw at Lille—just as they had in the season opener at Rennes—and only managed to salvage a point late in the game thanks to two goals in stoppage time. Facing AS Monaco, who had started the season with two wins, including a 2-0 victory over Olympique Marseille, PSG was determined to set the record straight from the very beginning.

After about half an hour, Marquinhos put the attacking hosts ahead: Kvaratskhelia was sent down the baseline by Fabian, and Marquinhos chest-tapped his cross over the line (31′). After that, Monaco coach Filipe Luis had his goalkeeper to thank for keeping the deficit from growing before halftime, but former Leverkusen player Hradecky was on his toes time and again and also shone with some spectacular saves.

He would have been powerless to stop a shot by his former teammate Akliouche after the break, but the ball slammed off the crossbar. On the other end, the Monegasques equalized seemingly out of nowhere: Golovin found Teze, who looked for Brunner—who had been inconspicuous that evening—but Brunner missed the ball. Teze’s second cross, however, landed in front of the goal: Flavio Nazinho nodded it in to tie the game (58th minute).

And things got even worse for PSG: The Parisians failed to clear a run by Zakaria; Golovin laid the ball off to Idumbo, who fired a powerful shot under the crossbar into the near corner to give the visitors the lead (72′). Paris pressed forward in the ensuing minutes; after a nice combination, substitute Ferran Torres put the ball in the net—but the goal was called back for offside. Dembelé, also a substitute, hit the side netting again in stoppage time and forced Hradecky into a brilliant save shortly afterward. But that was all they could manage.

With this 1-2 loss, PSG—which faces Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) in its Champions League opener—has just two points after three games. Monaco, on the other hand, already has nine points and will travel to face Racing Strasbourg this coming Saturday (5:15 p.m.).

Former Top Pick Simmons Returns to the NBA

Jeffrey Gooding
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Former Top Pick Simmons Returns to the NBA

Ben Simmons is returning to the NBA after a year away. The former top pick has signed a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings.

This was reported by Shams Charania of ESPN. The Australian has signed a contract with the Kings for the upcoming season and will earn $3.5 million, which is the minimum salary.

Ben Simmons, who was selected first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, was not under contract with any NBA team last season and sat out the entire season. Most recently, he stayed in shape with the Australian national team and had announced that he would like to play for the Boomers at the 2028 Olympics.

Simmons last played for the Brooklyn Nets during the 2024–25 season and subsequently for the L.A. Clippers. In 51 games, the forward averaged 5.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, but was never able to recapture the form of his best years. A persistent back injury, which plagued him throughout his entire time in Brooklyn, also played a role in this.

Kings: Rebuilding with Simmons

Simmons had his best season statistically in 2018–19, when the Australian was named an All-Star and, playing for the Philadelphia 76ers alongside Joel Embiid, narrowly missed advancing past the eventual champion from Toronto in the playoffs. During that season, Simmons averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game.

Even back then, however, his lack of a jump shot was a problem. In his 383 NBA games, the point guard attempted only 36 three-pointers—and made just five of them. In Sacramento, Simmons now has a new opportunity; the California team is in the midst of a rebuild and won only 22 of 82 games last season. The Kings are expected to remain among the worst teams in the NBA this coming season as well, and even Simmons’ return will do little to change that.

Kimi Antonelli: Advice from Roger Federer Eases Pressure in the World Championship Race

Sotd Editor
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Kimi Antonelli: Advice from Roger Federer Eases Pressure in the World Championship Race

World Championship leader Kimi Antonelli doesn’t want to let his current success distract him—advice from tennis legend Roger Federer is helping the 20-year-old do just that

Kimi Antonelli is already in the thick of the World Championship race in his second Formula 1 season. With victories in China and Japan, he took the overall lead this year as the youngest driver ever to do so. Four more Grand Prix wins before the summer break further extended his lead.

Antonelli currently leads by 59 points over his Mercedes teammate George Russell and Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton. Despite this comfortable position, the young driver is aware that the season is far from decided.

Antonelli Doesn’t Want to Get Carried Away by Success

During the summer break, Antonelli looked back on his successes so far with his team, as he revealed to F1.com: “We watched some of the races on TV over dinner. We were still talking about Formula 1, but in a nice way.”

“We just took a moment to remember what we’ve achieved,” says the current championship leader. At the same time, he believes it’s crucial to put these successes into perspective and not get ahead of himself regarding a potential title.

“You have to be happy about it, but at the same time, you can’t let it go to your head—you have to stay focused,” Antonelli cautions. Because he knows: “The work isn’t done yet. We’re only halfway there, and there’s still so much that needs to happen, and so much we can achieve.”

Despite his lead, he sees no reason to lose focus. The second half of the season still holds many opportunities to change the current World Championship standings.

Tennis Legend Federer Gives Antonelli Important Advice

Advice from tennis legend Roger Federer also plays a key role in Antonelli’s development. The Italian met Federer at a Pirelli Hot Laps event and took away a message that apparently helps him cope with the pressure of the title race: “Always stay true to yourself and be able to enjoy it.”

Antonelli credits this approach with playing a major role in his ability to now approach his task with greater ease. “When you understand that you also have to enjoy it, it makes a difference,” explains the Mercedes driver.

“Because it helps you—at least that’s how I’ve felt in my case—to drive more relaxed, to enjoy driving more, and to get a better feel for the car. Then performance comes much more naturally. It’s a big difference from when you’re chasing performance and driving tensely.”

Taking the Positive from Difficult Situations

In addition to the joy of driving, Antonelli places great importance on staying true to himself and putting setbacks into perspective. Especially over the course of a long Formula 1 season, difficult situations are unavoidable. Then it’s a matter of “seeing the positive even in difficult situations,” he emphasizes.

After all, even mistakes and bad weekends can be learning experiences: “When something goes wrong, there’s always something positive you can take away from it. You can find that, and it can help you grow.”

That’s why Antonelli tries to maintain the very balance that Federer instilled in him: stay focused, learn from setbacks, and never lose the joy of driving.

Marc Marquez Shows an Unvarnished View of His Right Arm

Phil Laffertey
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Marc Marquez Shows an Unvarnished View of His Right Arm

Marc Marquez shares a series of photos on Instagram—one photo in particular clearly shows how much his right shoulder has already sunken in

Marc Marquez posted a series of photos on his Instagram profile, which he captioned with just one word: “Unposted.” These are personal photos, including some taken at MotorLand Aragón, where he won both the Sprint and the Grand Prix.

As a result, he finished ninth in the Sprint at Silverstone and seventh in the Grand Prix. In the Ducati documentary series “Inside,” he was heard saying that he had “no control” over his right arm.

As he explained at the press conference in Aragon on Thursday, that statement was not actually meant to be made public. However, MotorLand Aragon was a track where he was willing to risk everything.

He succeeded in doing so and took home the maximum possible 37 World Championship points. But the multiple world champion’s arm remains severely injured, as he himself demonstrated after the Aragon race weekend.

In Aragon, Maximo Quiles—who is managed by Marquez through the company Vertical Management—won the Moto3 race after breaking his right collarbone three weeks earlier at Silverstone.

Quiles was asked if, like Marquez, he had won with “one and a half” arms. The 18-year-old rider replied: “That’s not comparable. Marc isn’t riding with one and a half arms. He’s riding with just one arm because the other one is completely destroyed.”

Ferrari: Michael Schumacher’s Data Analysis Continues to Shape the Team Today

Andrew Jackson
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Ferrari: Michael Schumacher’s Data Analysis Continues to Shape the Team Today

Michael Schumacher won five world championships with Ferrari, but Piero Ferrari sees his greatest legacy in something that goes far beyond those successes

It is often said that Michael Schumacher put Ferrari back on the path to success in the 1990s. It is just as often said that one person alone could never have achieved such a feat. But 30 years after Schumacher’s first Ferrari home victory at Monza, Piero Ferrari stated: “It’s true. During Michael’s time, our way of working changed fundamentally.”

As the son of Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari, Piero Ferrari has closely followed the resurgence of the legendary Italian brand under the leadership of team principal Jean Todt. In his opinion, however, it was Schumacher above all who left his mark on Maranello.

Because before Schumacher arrived, “the development of the car was based mainly on the driver’s feel, his feedback, and the technical data collected on the track,” said Piero Ferrari.

What Michael Schumacher Did Differently

“Michael took it a step further: He began to intensively analyze what he himself was doing in the car. I remember that he took the telemetry data home with him to examine every detail of his driving. He wanted to understand where he could improve and at which points on the track he could make a difference.”

This highly methodical and data-driven approach had a profound influence on the work culture at Ferrari—one that continues to this day: “Certain practices within the team still reflect this approach today,” said Piero Ferrari.

Why Schumacher’s “Basic Principle” Still Holds True Today

But 30 years after Schumacher’s debut season in red, Formula 1 is a completely different sport. Schumacher, for example, was able to test significantly more than Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc do today. Back then, Schumacher and Ferrari were usually better prepared than many of their rivals, even before a single wheel had turned during race weekend. According to Piero Ferrari, however, “the basic principle has remained the same.”

“Michael showed how important it is to examine every detail, use data as a tool, and prepare with the utmost care—even off the track. I believe this ability to analyze one’s own work and constantly seek opportunities for improvement is one of the most significant legacies he left to Ferrari.”

The fact is: The Ferrari team after the Schumacher era was in a much better position than the Ferrari team before the Schumacher era. The 2007 Drivers’ World Championship title won by Schumacher’s successor, Kimi Räikkönen, as well as the 2007 and 2008 Constructors’ World Championship titles immediately following Schumacher’s retirement underscore this.

The first home victory as a pivotal moment for “Schumi” and Ferrari

In 1996, however, the situation was different: Ferrari spent most of the season playing catch-up and managed only a few highlights—mainly thanks to Schumacher and his “extraordinary abilities,” according to Piero Ferrari. “His 1996 victory at Monza is a perfect example of this: That was the performance of a great champion—and it took place at a venue that holds very special significance for Ferrari.”

Thus, the home victory at the Italian Grand Prix became a pivotal moment in the relationship between Schumacher, Ferrari, and the Tifosi. “Michael understood what it meant to drive for Ferrari and how important that was to our fans,” explained Piero Ferrari. “I believe that’s also why he became such an important part of their history and earned a very special place in their hearts.”

After Malukas’s Outburst: Chevrolet Explains Restart Problem

Phil Laffertey
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After Malukas’s Outburst: Chevrolet Explains Restart Problem

First frustration, then regret, and finally clarification: After David Malukas’s bitter restart drama in Milwaukee, Chevrolet clarifies the cause of the glitch

It was the most crucial moment of Sunday’s make-up race in Milwaukee: With 19 laps to go, David Malukas was on track for his first IndyCar victory when his engine suddenly stuttered briefly while shifting up during the decisive restart. Pato O’Ward slipped through on the inside, celebrated the one-two finish—and a devastated Malukas had to settle for second place for the fourth time in the 2026 season and the sixth time in his career.

Immediately after the race, the 24-year-old lost his temper on IndyCar Radio: “Chevy just let us down. I mean, fuel-ignition in the intake plenum [‘Plenum Event’]—every time I drive out of the pit lane, I have to lift off the gas in first and second gear. That’s ridiculous.”

“The team did a fantastic job; this car was insane. We were so fast—faster than the rest. And then you get let down like that on that restart.” When asked if the rev limiter had kicked in, he added in frustration: “I don’t want to go into detail. We were let down today. We should have won that. We’re just cursed.”

Malukas’ Regret: “Childish and Immature”

But the dust settled quickly. On Monday morning, the Penske driver addressed the public on social media and completely backtracked: “Well, I’m not proud of what I said yesterday. It was childish and spoken out of frustration.”

“Chevy has done a great job for me this year, and without them I wouldn’t have achieved these results. I apologize for what I said—it was immature of me.”

Malukas directly refuted rumors that the engine manufacturer had forced him to issue a watered-down rebuttal: “Nobody said anything to me. Chevy admitted the mistake. My behavior and my words were simply wrong. When I crashed in a previous race and Chevy had to build a new engine, they didn’t tear me apart—they supported me.”

He simply woke up, felt guilty, and wanted to know what it feels like to be criticized despite giving 110 percent.

Chevrolet Clarifies: Sensor Malfunction Led to the Misfire

The U.S. manufacturer has since issued an official clarification. In a statement to Motorsport.com USA, Chevrolet explained the exact technical cause of the power loss on lap 231 and, at the same time, expressed understanding for Malukas’ emotional outburst.

“David Malukas had a problem with an engine sensor that caused a ‘plenum event’ while shifting up during the final restart shortly before the end of Sunday’s race at the Milwaukee Mile,” the manufacturer stated. The 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 is operating at its absolute limit to provide drivers with maximum power.

“We fully understand David’s frustration at having missed out on the victory he was aiming for. Motorsports is a constant balancing act between maximizing performance and minimizing risk. We will use the insights from last weekend for the season finale at Laguna Seca.”

That puts the heated feud to rest. For Malukas, however, the bitter statistic remains ahead of the finale at Laguna Seca Raceway: With six second-place finishes and not a single victory, he shares this unfortunate record with Romain Grosjean, among others—in this inglorious all-time list, only Victor Meira (eight second-place finishes) ranks ahead of him.

Outburst of Tears After Upset

Jason Maverick
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Outburst of Tears After Upset

Taylor Townsend continues her run at the U.S. Open. The American knocked out a seeded opponent and then burst into tears.

Taylor Townsend has once again pulled off a major upset at the US Open, reaching the round of 16 for the third time in her career. The 30-year-old American defeated 15th-seeded Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-7 (3-7), 6-3 in the third round and burst into tears after clinching the match.

Now the fan favorite faces a showdown with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. For Townsend, it’s one of the biggest highlights of her career. “I’m absolutely over the moon,” she said on the court, laughing.

Townsend Sheds Tears

After a dominant first set against Shnaider, Townsend already seemed on her way to victory. But the current world No. 96 had to dig deep after losing the tiebreak in the second set. In the decisive set, she maintained control against the tournament’s No. 15 seed and secured her spot in the round of 16 after 2 hours and 27 minutes.

For Townsend, this marks the second year in a row that she has reached the round of 16 at her home Grand Slam. She always plays at her best in New York.

Townsend was once predicted to have a stellar career. As a junior, she won the Australian Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open, and was also ranked No. 1 in the world. But on the professional circuit, her big breakthrough has yet to materialize. Her highest ranking came in 2024, when she reached No. 46.

The left-hander has struggled with her weight throughout her career. Patrick McEnroe, then head of player development for the U.S. Tennis Association, resorted to drastic and widely criticized measures even during her junior days. The association cut off Townsend’s travel expense coverage until she lost weight. “I cried; I was devastated,” the player recalled years later.

In doubles, meanwhile, Townsend has been a world-class player for years. She has already won three Grand Slams with Katerina Siniakova and was ranked No. 1 in the world in 2025. She is currently ranked second.

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