World champion O’Sullivan thrashes Iran’s Vafaei in ‘grudge’ match

London (AFP) – Title-holder Ronnie O'Sullivan eased into the quarter-finals of the world snooker championship with a 13-2 hammering of Hossein Vafaei in Sheffield. O'Sullivan, 6-2 ahead overnight, won all seven frames at the Crucible Theatre on Saturday as the seven-times world champion booked his place in the last eight with a session to spare. Snooker …

Arsenal can handle title stress as Man City close in, vows Arteta

London (AFP) – Arsenal's bid to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004 is in danger of imploding, but Mikel Arteta remains adamant the leaders can cope with the pressure of the title race. Arteta's side blew a two-goal lead for a second successive game as West Ham hit back to snatch a …

Arsenal blow lead again in damaging West Ham draw

London (AFP) – Arsenal blew a two-goal lead for the second game in a row as Bukayo Saka's penalty miss proved crucial in the Premier League leaders' damaging 2-2 draw against West Ham on Sunday. Mikel Arteta's side struck twice in the first 10 minutes at the London Stadium thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus and …

Hats off as intelligence operatives hound matchfixers

Paris (AFP) – A spectator removing their hat or taking off their jacket at a sporting event sounds innocuous but it can be a sign the match in question is fixed, Sportradar's Director of Intelligence and Investigations told AFP. Such apparently insignificant gestures could, for example, be signals to players in a football match to allow …

10-man Everton strike late to hold Tottenham

Liverpool (AFP) – Michael Keane's stunning 90th minute equaliser struck dented Tottenham's challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League as Cristian Stellini's caretaker spell in charge of Spurs started with a 1-1 draw at Everton. Harry Kane's penalty looked set to take Tottenham third in the table after Abdoulaye Doucoure had been sent off …

Fury clash is the fight the ‘boxing world needs’ – Anthony Joshua

London (AFP) – Anthony Joshua has insisted a "Battle of Britain" with Tyson Fury is the bout "the boxing world needs" after he came through a "do or die" fight with American heavyweight Jermaine Franklin. Former world champion Joshua enjoyed his first professional victory since 2020, albeit in somewhat grinding fashion, with a unanimous points decision …

Vieira sacked by Crystal Palace after winless run

London (AFP) – Crystal Palace sacked manager Patrick Vieira on Friday after a miserable run of one win in 14 Premier League games pulled them into a relegation battle. The London club, without a win in 2023 under the former Arsenal and France midfielder, are 12th in the table but are just three points above the …

Kompany returns to Man City as rising star of management

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Vincent Kompany could walk past his statue at the Etihad Stadium on his way to the away dressing room for Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final as the former Manchester City captain returns as Burnley boss. A winner of four Premier League titles in an 11-year City career as a player, Kompany will …

Arsenal seek to pull clear of City as Premier League strugglers battle

London (AFP) – Arsenal have a golden chance to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League this weekend with Manchester City distracted by the FA Cup as the scramble to avoid the drop intensifies. Tottenham will leapfrog third-placed Manchester United if they beat struggling Southampton while Newcastle can strengthen their push for a …

Iranian TV channel halts London broadcasts after threats

London (AFP) – The private network Iran International TV said Saturday that it had been forced on UK police advice to shut down its London studios, blaming a surge in threats from the protest-hit regime in Iran. The station has been giving extensive coverage to anti-regime demonstrations that erupted in Iran five months ago, and says …

James Tomkins earns point for Crystal Palace against Brighton

James Tomkins took advantage of a mistake by Brighton goalkeeper Robert Sanchez to earn Crystal Palace a 1-1 draw against Brighton at Selhurst Park. Sanchez was unable to hold a Michael Olise free-kick and Tomkins pounced to nod home to level in the 69th minute. Brighton had taken the lead six minutes earlier when Solly …

Odegaard says ‘no limits’ for title-chasing Arsenal

London (AFP) – Martin Odegaard says there are "no limits" to what Arsenal can achieve this season as the Gunners hunt down their first Premier League title for 19 years. Arsenal are five points clear of defending champions Manchester City at the top of the table after slipping to just a second defeat of the campaign …

Zelensky asks allies for fighter jets on UK visit

London (AFP) – President Volodymyr Zelensky used a historic visit to London on Wednesday to urge allies to send combat aircraft to Ukraine and deliver "wings for freedom". Britain said it would consider the proposal in the "long term", although the United States and other NATO allies remain wary of getting more embroiled in Ukraine's war …

London rapper Little Simz wins prestigious Mercury Prize

London (AFP) – London rapper Little Simz on Tuesday won Britain's prestigious Mercury Prize for album "Sometimes I Might Be Introvert", beating off competition from "One Direction" singer Harry Styles, among others. The 28-year-old said she was "very, very overwhelmed" as she picked up the £25,000 (28,700 euros, $28,300) prize at the London ceremony, and paid …

Rashford vows United will redeem themselves after Liverpool woe

Marcus Rashford revealed his "embarrassment" as he vowed Manchester United will redeem themselves after their 5-0 thrashing against Liverpool. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side suffered their heaviest ever defeat at home to the Reds, while losing to-nil by five-plus goals at home for the first time since February 1955. Marcus Rashford cuts a frustrated figure as …