Author: Rowan Clarke

Somalia’s Omar Artan has been barred from entering the United States, just weeks before the start of the 2026 World Cup finals. Artan was set to make history as the first Somali referee ever to officiate at a World Cup finals tournament. He was turned away at Miami International Airport and is currently in Turkey following his repatriation by US immigration authorities. No official reason has been given by US immigration authorities for the decision to deny Artan entry into the country. Somalia is among several nations included on a travel ban list introduced by President Donald Trump’s administration, which…

Seven women have accused West Ham co-owner David Sullivan of abusing his power to pressure young models into sex, in a joint BBC Panorama and Times investigation. The allegations span several decades, beginning in the 1980s, and involve women who were in their late teens or early twenties seeking modelling work at Sullivan’s Daily and Sunday Sport newspapers. The women accuse Sullivan, 77, of sexually exploitative and predatory behaviour, including pressuring them for sex during business meetings in exchange for career advancement. Sullivan said he “categorically” denies the claims, which cover the period during which he built a fortune from…

When Christian Eriksen collapsed during Denmark’s 2-1 friendly victory over Ukraine, his implantable cardioverter defibrillator activated to support his heart as medical staff attended to him. The ICD, which is roughly half the size of a mobile phone, sits inside Eriksen’s chest with wires connecting directly to his heart to monitor and correct dangerous rhythms. The device can deliver a shock to either restart the heart if it stops beating entirely, or to restore a regular rhythm when abnormalities are detected. Denmark’s national team doctor Morten Boesen confirmed after Sunday’s incident that “the pacemaker responded as it should,” offering some…

England manager Thomas Tuchel has declared that Jude Bellingham faces genuine competition for a starting place at the World Cup this summer. Tuchel revealed he currently has “14 or 15 potential starters” in his squad, meaning no player’s place in the XI is guaranteed regardless of reputation. The Real Madrid midfielder has started only four times since Tuchel took charge as England boss in January 2025, with three further appearances from the bench. When asked directly whether Bellingham has a fight on his hands to start, Tuchel told reporters: “Yes, he has.” “He is one of the starters, he knows…

Scotland captain Andy Robertson organised a week-long Traitors game for his squad during their November training camp in Turkey ahead of World Cup qualifiers. Robertson devised the game himself, complete with blackboards and mini shields, with chosen players reporting to his room each night to vote someone out. The exercise was his way of keeping spirits high and building team unity ahead of crucial games against Greece and Denmark. It is a small but telling example of how the 32-year-old shapes the environment around him, both on and off the pitch. His journey from earning £18 a week at Queen’s…

Celtic legend Paul Lambert has declared Martin O’Neill’s permanent appointment as manager a “no-brainer” as the club prepares for a demanding summer overhaul. O’Neill is set to remain at Parkhead on a one-year contract after two interim spells produced a league and cup double last season. Celtic have not yet made the appointment official, but the club has opted for continuity as they look to avoid repeating the difficulties that blighted large portions of last campaign. “It’s a no-brainer,” Lambert told BBC Scotland. “He knows the club, he knows what it is to win there.” “Celtic is not a development…

Van Persie has been sacked as Feyenoord manager after just 16 months in charge of the Eredivisie club. The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker guided Feyenoord to a second-place finish and Champions League qualification in his only full season as manager. Despite securing European football, the club finished 19 points behind Eredivisie winners PSV Eindhoven, raising serious questions about the team’s overall performance level. Van Persie’s departure comes just two weeks after Devy Rigaux was appointed as technical director and Robert Eenhoorn took over as general manager. The new leadership conducted a full internal review of the season before…

Declan Rice has been named England’s vice-captain for the World Cup, with manager Thomas Tuchel confirming the Arsenal midfielder’s role after Saturday’s friendly win over New Zealand. Rice, 27, has earned 72 caps for the Three Lions and is set to be one of the most experienced players in Tuchel’s starting line-up throughout the tournament. The midfielder arrives at the training camp in fine form, having just helped Arsenal win the Premier League for the first time since the 2003-04 season. Rice also featured in Arsenal’s Champions League final last weekend, which the north London club ultimately lost on penalties…

Denmark’s Football Association has confirmed Christian Eriksen is conscious after collapsing during the national side’s friendly match against Ukraine. The incident brought play to a halt in the 65th minute, with the game subsequently abandoned following the alarming scenes on the pitch. Eriksen, aged 34, was able to walk from the field under his own power, offering an immediate source of relief to players, staff, and spectators present at the match. The former Manchester United and Tottenham midfielder had been fitted with an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator following a cardiac arrest he suffered at Euro 2020 in 2021. That earlier episode…

Iran’s 2026 Fifa World Cup squad has landed in Mexico as a deepening dispute over visas and stadium access continues to overshadow the tournament’s build-up. The team touched down in Tijuana early on Sunday morning local time, having relocated their training base from the American city of Tucson, Arizona, in late May. All three of Iran’s group stage fixtures are scheduled to take place on US soil, but players and support staff have been restricted to flying in and out of the country on match days only. Iran has confirmed that 15 officials and support staff have been denied US…