Month: February 2024

James Vowles believes Formula 1 must have “trust” in the Red Bull investigation that cleared Christian Horner of inappropriate behaviour.
On Wednesday, Horner was officially cleared by Red Bull GmbH after a lengthy investigation after the Team Principal and CEO was accused of inappropriate behaviour by a female member of staff.
Horner repeatedly denied the allegations when questioned about them, with the FIA, F1 and Red Bull’s 2026 engine partner Ford all urging a swift resolution.
Horner had been carrying out his duties as normal as the investigation was carried out, with the complainant able to appeal the verdict of Red Bull Racing’s parent company, if she so wishes.
Williams boss Vowles was the first F1 Team Principal to react when Horner was placed under investigation in early February, and now the case has been closed, Vowles feels Red Bull’s handling of the case should be backed.
“I have no knowledge of any of the detail behind any of it and it would be incorrect for me to comment on any of that,” Vowles told media including RacingNews365.
“I do feel two things. One, I have a responsibility to Williams and my responsibility to Williams is should anything like this happen, I want to make sure that we properly investigate it, and that have do have a robust process that is then clear to the outside world what has happened and what we’ve done to rectify it.
“I can control that, I can’t control what has happened elsewhere.
“Within what has happened at Red Bull, I trust that Red Bull has done a strong process, we have to in that circumstance.
“What I want is us as a sport, though, to be proud that we’re sitting on several foundations that are of inclusivity, openness and transparency.
“All I asked for in that matter is that we make sure we have faith and trust in all of us as organisations that are working with the same standards.”

Kiran Navgire and Grace Harris took much of the limelight during UP Warriorz’ seven-wicket win over the Mumbai Indians but their captain Alyssa Healy wasn’t too far behind. While Healy was instrumental in the chase, scoring 33 off 29 balls herself, the Australian wicketkeeper-batter caught the eyeballs with how she dealt with a pitch invader during the MI innings as well.
The incident happened just as Anjali Sarvani was getting ready to bowl the last ball of the MI innings(PTI)
The incident happened just as Anjali Sarvani was getting ready to bowl the last ball of the MI innings. She had just got a wicket off the fifth ball and the new batter was ready to face up, but the umpire asked Sarvani to stop just as she was getting into her run up. That was because a man had run on to the field of play but Healy was having none of it. She could be seen tackling the invader to the ground before officials escorted him off the field. Australian media drew comparisons to how the late all-rounder Andrew Symonds and Australia women’s football icon Sam Kerr had also dealt with pitch invaders in a similar fashion.
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Alyssa Healy could be seen tackling the invader before officials escorted him off the field.(PTI)
Australian media drew comparisons to how the late all-rounder Andrew Symonds and Australia women’s football icon Sam Kerr had also dealt with pitch invaders in a similar fashion.(PTI)
MI, who are the defending champions, were restricted to a score of 161/6 which UPW chased down in 16.3 overs. Healy (33 runs from 29 balls) and Kiran Navgire (57 runs from 31 balls) opened for the Warriorz and made a solid 94-run partnership.
The Healy-Navgire duo gave the UP-based franchise a fiery start while chasing a target of 162 runs. Healy smashed 5 fours with a strike rate of 113.79. Meanwhile, Navgire slammed his fifty after playing just 25 balls. She smashed 6 fours and 4 sixes. However, the player’s knock had to come to an end after Amelia Kerr made the first breakthrough of the game after she dismissed Navgire in the 10th over.
Issy Wong scalped the second wicket of the inning after she dismissed Tahlia McGrath (1 run from 4 balls) in the 11th over. Wong’s spell helped Mumbai to make a comeback in the game after she removed skipper Healy in the 10th over. Even though the Mumbai-based franchise picked up two quick wickets but still failed to take control of the game.
After losing three wickets, Grace Harris (38* runs from 17 balls) and Deepti Sharma (27* runs from 20 balls) took charge of the batting lineup as they chased the target without any difficulty. Harris smashed 6 fours and 1 six with a strike rate of 223.53. Meanwhile, Deepti hit 4 fours.

Valencia striker Hugo Duro spoke out against the racial abuse suffered by Real Madrid player Vinicius Junior during a match at Mestalla last team. In an interview with GOL Play, ahead of Viniciuss return to Mestalla this weekend, Duro expressed his stance and emphasized that it does not represent Valencia fans or the broader Valencian society.
The Unfortunate Incident
Last season, Vinicius Junior experienced an unfortunate racist episode where several fans at the Mestalla hurled racist abuse towards him both inside and outside the stadium. It was among many racist episodes he faced in various away stadiums in La Liga. The Brazilian winger was subjected to discriminatory remarks, which caused an international uproar in the on-going fight against racism.
Duros Message
Ahead of the upcoming game between Valencia and Real Madrid, Hugo Duro wanted to send a clear message to Vinicius: Im looking forward to Saturday so that Vinicius can see that those idiots do not represent Valencia fans, nor Valencian society, nor anyone else. Duro emphasized that the abusive behavior was unacceptable and did not reflect the true spirit of Valencia as a club.
A Hostile Environment
Duro, who attacked Vinicius Jr and put him in a chokehold last season at the Mestalla, acknowledged that the atmosphere at Mestalla would be hostile for Vinicius, but he clarified that it would be purely from a footballing perspective. He hoped that Vinicius would feel the pressure but with respect. Duro added, Its obviously going to be a hostile environment for him, but on a footballing level, for him to suffer that pressure from Mestalla, but with all the respect in the world. And I want Vinicius and Real Madrid to come so that he can see that Valencia is a club that he respects, but always on a footballing level and that the match is very nice.

With the season entering the business end, clubs are already starting their plans for the summer transfer window, with Real Madrid being no different.
While progress is being made in pursuit of Kylian Mbappe and Alphonso Davies, Los Blancos must also make some decisions regarding some of their current players that are in the squad or away on loan.
One such player, who will be facing an uncertain future come summer is youngster Rafa Marin. Currently away on loan at Deportivo Alaves, the 21-year-old has been playing regularly and gathering valuable experience in La Liga.
However, there is no guarantee that Rafa Marin will walk into the Real Madrid first-team squad next season once he returns from his loan spell, even though it has been suggested in the past.
Instead, MARCA is reporting that Marins future at Real Madrid could be linked with that of first-team captain Nacho Fernandez.
As things stand, Los Blancos have four senior centre-backs in Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba, and Nacho.
Of the four, Rudiger, Militao, and Alaba are certain of being at the club next season, with the latter two set to return from their ACL injuries.
As for Nacho, his contract stands to expire at the end of the season and he is yet to sign a renewal, even though an offer is on the table.
If he opts to sign and stay put, Marin might not have a spot in the team and as such could be loaned out again or even sold permanently.
In the scenario that Nacho decides to move on, Real Madrid would have a direct replacement in the form of Marin, who would then become the fourth-choice centre-back.
Either way, Nachos decision on his contract might have implications for Marin and his continuity at Real Madrid.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has stated that he hopes Manchester United loanee Mason Greenwood stays in Spain beyond this season.
Greenwood, 22, moved to Getafe in the summer after it was confirmed that he would not return to United’s first-team squad.
In February 2023, the UKs Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) discontinued its case against the United player for attempted rape, assault, and coercive control. Greenwood denied all the alleged offences.
Originally, the plan was to reintroduce the academy graduate into Erik ten Hag’s side, but the club would undergo a U-turn following public backlash to the initial decision.
The winger has now played 25 games for Getafe since signing on loan until the end of the season. He has scored seven goals and registered five assists.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has recently explained that INEOS will be taking a fresh look at Greenwood’s situation, with the new co-owner not ruling out a return for the 22-year-old.
Since then, Javier Tebas has urged Greenwood to continue his career in La Liga after a positive start in Madrid.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, the La Liga president said: “Maybe the circumstances have made it easier for him to come, but hes a great player, and I have got no other comments to make.
“Hes doing really well at Getafe as a player and I hope he continues to be successful and he continues to stay in Spanish football because thats always good for us.
He added: When someone isnt condemned, what should we have done? This is what courts exist for. It is not up to me to know his case in detail. He is just another player.”

Ben Stokes’ England side will hope to salvage some pride in the fifth and final Test of the bilateral series against hosts India in Dharamsala. Youngsters Shubman Gill and Dhruv Jurel guided India to a series-winning triumph over England in the 4th Test at Ranchi on Monday. India outplayed England in a match where Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir made headlines with their stupendous performances for the visitors.
India’s Ravichandran Ashwin, center, celebrates with captain Rohit Sharma, left, the wicket of England’s James Anderson (AP)
Former England skipper Root ended his low-scoring run with an unbeaten century against Rohit Sharma’s Team India in Ranchi. Root’s teammate Bashir bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in the 1st innings of the 4th Test. Predicting a bright future for young Bashir, former England skipper Michael Vaughan claimed that the visitors have found their Ravichandran Ashwin in the longest format. Branding Bashir as England’s new superstar, Vaughan issued the noteworthy statement following the conclusion of the Ranchi Test.
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ALSO READ: Kohli, Rohit’s Ranji absence raised by World Cup winner as Kishan, Iyer punished: ‘Just to penalise the two not correct’
‘He’s the new Ravi Ashwin’
“It’s been a fantastic week for English cricket. One of the great weeks, celebrating another world-class superstar that we’ve unearthed, Shoaib Bashir. That’s what we’re celebrating. Second Test match, eight wickets, he’s the new Ravi Ashwin, and we’ve unearthed him. So, we’re celebrating a new superstar in English cricket,” Vaughan said on Club Prairie Fire’s YouTube channel.
Tourist-unfriendly: 17th consecutive series win for India
The tourist-unfriendly Indian side handed Stokes’ England its first series defeat under head coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum. The Test series win is also India’s 17th consecutive triumph at home. India last lost a home Test series back in 2012. After taking an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, Rohit and Co. will meet England in the 5th Test at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on March 7.
Vaughan expects England to win in Dharamsala
“I think it’s going to be a fresh one in Dharamsala, so I expect England to win. They’ve been the better team in the series, as they were in the Ashes. If you go session by session, England have looked a better team. I’m saying looked a better team, but we don’t play series now to win them. I think people have got to understand that the game of cricket has changed in the UK. We don’t play to win them, we play to just bring entertainment, bring joy, and unearth new talent,” Vaughan added.

Hansi Flick appears to be the current favourite to replace Xavi at Barcelona when the coach steps down at the end of the season.
However, Barcelona are said to be having a few doubts about whether the former Bayern and Germany boss is the right man for the job, according to Marca.
Barcelona want their next manager to have experience of working in various different countries, something that Flick can not offer.
The report even point out some recent comments from Deco which seems to suggest experience of other leagues is vital.
Regardless of style, Barça has its football and a way of playing that the coaches know. I didnt have any German coaches, I had Dutch, Italian, Brazilian coaches, he told Catalyuna Radio.
Nationality doesnt matter. It does matter that they know the football of other countries and have trained in other places. Quality, ambition also matters… There is no robot portrait.
Flick has only worked in Germany so far, aside from a brief spell in Austria as an assistant at Red Bull Salzburg, and it seems this may be an issue for Barcelona.