Former referees’ chief Keith Hackett says Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli should have been sent off for pushing match official Sam Barrott during Saturday’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Southampton.
The Brazilian international received only a yellow card after shoving the referee in an attempt to take a quick free-kick at St Mary’s Stadium.
The controversial incident occurred as Mikel Arteta’s side suffered a shock 2-1 loss on the south coast.
Hackett criticises lenient officiating
Hackett, a former head of the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, believes the leniency shown towards the winger could set a dangerous precedent.
The retired FIFA referee insists that dismissing the 23-year-old was the only correct course of action under the laws of the game.
“When Arsenal’s Martinelli pushed match referee Sam Barrott in a rather aggressive manner, there was no other outcome than Barrott showing a red card,” Hackett told Football Insider.
“In failing to do so, I was disappointed.”
“Sam Barrott is a top class official, but on this occasion, he’s let his colleagues down at all levels of the game.”
Arsenal suffer another cup exit
The north London outfit have endured a difficult period, having recently lost the League Cup final to Manchester City prior to the international break.
Saturday’s defeat completely ends their hopes of lifting domestic cup silverware this campaign.
Goals from Ross Stewart and Shea Charles secured a memorable victory for the Saints, rendering Viktor Gyokeres’ equaliser a mere consolation.
Southampton are now heading to Wembley, extending their impressive unbeaten run to 15 matches across all competitions.
Meanwhile, the out-of-form Gunners attacker is approaching a full month without finding the back of the net.
Mohamed Salah has decided to leave Liverpool this summer due to a fractured relationship with manager Arne Slot, according to his former international team-mate Mohamed Aboutrika.
The 33-year-old forward recently announced his intention to depart Anfield during the international break.
Speculation surrounding his exit has intensified following Liverpool’s heavy 4-0 defeat by Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Rift with management forces exit
It initially appeared the Egyptian was choosing to end his nine-year stay on Merseyside entirely on his own terms.
However, former Egypt international Aboutrika has revealed that friction with the current head coach is the primary catalyst for the move.
“One of the reasons behind Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool is the presence of Arne Slot, because we’ve seen issues in the recent period. You, Slot, pushed the man away.”
Mohamed Aboutrika
A breakdown in trust
Tensions between the prolific goalscorer and the Dutchman became highly public late last year.
The former Roma winger openly accused his manager of throwing him under the bus after being dropped for three consecutive matches in December.
With the relationship seemingly broken beyond repair, Saudi Pro League clubs are expected to heavily pursue the attacker’s signature.
“Salah wants to work with peace of mind and enjoy the next phase of his career. Salah doesn’t need any validation from Slot or anyone else.”
Mohamed Aboutrika
Anfield legacy secured
Regardless of the circumstances surrounding his departure, the legendary forward leaves behind an astonishing legacy.
He has amassed a remarkable 255 goals and 119 assists in 436 appearances across all competitions.
His historic tenure includes capturing the Champions League, two Premier League titles, and a record four Player of the Season awards.
Liverpool are preparing an ambitious £60m summer bid for Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Malik Tillman as they seek to replace the departing Mohamed Salah.
The Anfield club have identified the United States international as a versatile addition to their forward line for next season.
The 23-year-old only joined the Champions League side from PSV Eindhoven last summer but has quickly established himself in Germany.
He has scored eight goals in 35 appearances across all competitions during an impressive debut campaign.
Preparing for life after Salah
The Merseyside team are bracing for a period of significant transition following Salah’s decision to end his nine-year association with the club.
Despite having another year remaining on his contract, the Egyptian forward will walk away from his reported £400,000-a-week deal at the end of the season.
The prolific winger is currently attracting heavy interest from the Saudi Pro League.
Consequently, Liverpool are expected to be highly active in the upcoming market to secure at least one high-profile attacking replacement.
Revisiting a familiar market
A move for the American playmaker would see the Reds return to a club they successfully raided during the previous transfer window.
Bayer Leverkusen sold both Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool last summer and are anticipating further bids for their remaining stars.
The former PSV standout could operate in multiple roles across the final third to help fill the creative void at Anfield.
His tactical flexibility allows him to impact matches from several different areas of the pitch:
- Operating as a central attacking midfielder to link the midfield and forward line.
- Drifting wide to support the attack and combine with overlapping full-backs.
- Playing as an advanced box-to-box operator to carry the ball forward from deep.
International pedigree
Beyond his club exploits, the versatile attacker is expected to play a starring role for his country on home soil at the upcoming World Cup.
He recently featured in every minute of the Gold Cup under national team manager Mauricio Pochettino.
The lightning-fast forward registered three goals and two assists across six international matches during the summer tournament.
Elsewhere in the market, Arsenal are reportedly monitoring Leverkusen’s 19-year-old prospect Christian Kofane as Premier League interest in the German club continues to mount.
Italy players asked the Italian Football Federation for a €300,000 qualification bonus before their shock World Cup play-off defeat by Bosnia.
The Azzurri failed to reach the global tournament for a third successive time after losing 4-1 on penalties following a dramatic 1-1 draw.
Manager Gennaro Gattuso reportedly had to intervene to stop the squad from continuing financial negotiations with the national governing body.
The former AC Milan midfielder insisted that any monetary rewards should only be discussed once their place at the tournament was officially secured.
Disappointment follows premature demands
Moise Kean had given the four-time world champions an early lead in the 15th minute of the crucial play-off tie.
However, a 41st-minute red card for defender Alessandro Bastoni proved costly as Bosnia and Herzegovina eventually forced the game into extra time.
The resulting shootout elimination means the European nation has not successfully qualified for a World Cup since the 2014 edition.
Furthermore, their last knockout victory on the global stage came when they lifted the prestigious trophy in 2006.
Backlash and faint qualification hopes
News of the £261,885 squad demand, which equates to roughly £8,700 per player, has sparked significant anger among supporters.
“Shameful. Nothing else to say about it.”
“Just goes to show where their hearts are.”
Despite the heartbreaking exit, unusual reports suggest the team could still feature at the upcoming tournament in North America.
As the highest-ranked unqualified nation, they remain first in line for a reprieve should geopolitical tensions force another competing country to withdraw.
Championship side Southampton stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal 2-1 at St Mary’s on Saturday to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
Ross Stewart initially put the home side ahead during an electric first half on the south coast.
Viktor Gyokeres eventually equalised for the Gunners, threatening to crush the hopes of the second-tier outfit.
However, substitute Shea Charles vindicated his manager’s pre-match prediction by sweeping home an 85th-minute winner.
Echoes of a historic triumph
The dramatic victory secures a 14th semi-final appearance in this prestigious competition for the Hampshire club.
It also perfectly mirrored their legendary 1976 FA Cup final upset against Manchester United.
Players donned commemorative yellow shirts to mark the fiftieth anniversary of that famous trophy win.
Former Saints striker Alan Shearer praised the performance on BBC One, insisting the giant-killing was thoroughly deserved.
“This is not a fluke.”
Attacking midfielder Leo Scienza echoed those sentiments after delivering a standout display against the top-flight heavyweights.
“There are no words to describe how much we fought today. It was not luck, we fought so hard and we deserved it. Amazing.”
Eckert completes remarkable revival
Reaching Wembley caps an astonishing mid-season turnaround orchestrated by German coach Tonda Eckert.
The former under-21s manager inherited a squad languishing 21st in the Championship following the November dismissal of Will Still.
The relegated side had previously endured a miserable 2024-25 campaign, dropping out of the Premier League with a historically low total of just 12 points.
They have since surged to seventh in the table, sitting just one point behind Wrexham in the race for a play-off spot.
The jubilant head coach praised his squad’s resilience against elite opposition.
“Over the 90 minutes it was very well deserved.”
Wembley treble remains possible
The revitalised squad now face a crucial Tuesday trip to the Stok Cae Ras to battle Wrexham for a top-six position.
That upcoming league encounter carries massive importance for their immediate promotion ambitions.
Remarkably, this resilient group could end up visiting Wembley three times this season.
They are guaranteed an FA Cup semi-final appearance, but could easily return for both the tournament’s showpiece match and the Championship play-off final.
Rory McIlroy returns to Augusta National to defend his Masters title this week, exactly a year after ending an 11-year major drought to complete the career Grand Slam.
The defending champion joined an illustrious group of golfing legends following last year’s historic play-off success.
His elusive fifth major title arrived 3,899 days after his 2014 PGA Championship triumph, requiring immense mental fortitude to navigate a tense final day.
Overcoming a slow start
The Northern Irishman admitted he did not make things easy for himself during a dramatic week at the famous Georgia venue.
He double-bogeyed three of his final four holes during the opening round to card a stuttering 72.
That frustrating opening day left him facing a massive seven-shot deficit heading into Friday.
To eventually claim the Green Jacket, he had to match the historic first-round comebacks achieved by Sir Nick Faldo in 1990 and Tiger Woods in 2005.
Building weekend momentum
The Grand Slam winner surged up the leaderboard with a remarkable round-of-the-day 66 on Friday.
He maintained that momentum on Saturday by opening his third round with six consecutive threes.
Two bogeys around the turn were swiftly undone by a brilliant eagle at the par-five 15th, allowing the four-time major winner to sign for another 66.
Taking a two-shot lead into Sunday marked the first time he had held the 54-hole advantage at the tournament since his infamous collapse in 2011.
Bouncing back from a final-round wobble
The final day began in disastrous fashion as his overnight advantage vanished on the very first hole.
A forced lay-up from a fairway bunker was compounded by a three-putt from under 20 feet, resulting in an opening double-bogey.
However, the world-class ball-striker demonstrated remarkable resilience to fend off challengers like Bryson DeChambeau and finally conquer his golfing Everest.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell robbed three home runs, including a spectacular ninth-inning grab over the wall, to secure a 1-0 victory against the Seattle Mariners on Saturday night.
Adell leaped above the right-field boundary in the first inning to deny Cal Raleigh a solo shot.
The dynamic outfielder produced a nearly identical catch in the eighth to rob Josh Naylor of a potential game-tying strike.
However, his crowning moment arrived in the dramatic final frame against J.P. Crawford.
The defensive standout flipped entirely over the outfield wall and into the first row of seats before emerging with the baseball.
Historic defensive performance
Replay review confirmed the out, sealing an unprecedented defensive masterclass.
According to sports data experts, only one player in Major League Baseball recorded more than three home run robberies across the entire 2025 season.
San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr managed four over the complete campaign, a tally the American League right fielder nearly matched in a single evening.
His heroics preserved a slender lead initially established by Zach Neto in the opening inning.
The Angels shortstop crushed Emerson Hancock’s fourth pitch of the game for a massive 443-foot solo blast.
Pitching staff hold firm
Starting pitcher Jack Kochanowicz earned the win by allowing just four hits and striking out seven over five and two-thirds innings.
The right-hander expertly navigated a two-on, two-out jam in the third inning by forcing Randy Arozarena into a ground out.
Reliever Chase Silseth also delivered under immense pressure, escaping a precarious situation with two runners on base in the seventh.
Jordan Romano then closed the door in the ninth to register his third save of the campaign.
Seattle starter Hancock ultimately took the loss despite a commendable effort, striking out five across six and two-thirds innings.
Michigan have advanced to the NCAA men’s championship game for the first time since 1989 after a dominant 91-73 victory over fellow top seeds Arizona in Indianapolis.
The Wolverines will now face reigning champions UConn in Monday night’s showpiece event as they seek to end a 35-year national title drought.
Head coach Dusty May exuded extreme pre-match confidence by scouting the Huskies in person just hours before his own team’s monumental semi-final tip-off.
Mara masterclass drives historic rout
Aday Mara delivered a virtuoso two-way performance to dismantle the highly-rated Wildcats.
The standout centre recorded 26 points, nine rebounds and two blocks while shooting a highly efficient 11-for-16 from the field.
Supported by frontcourt partner Morez Johnson, the towering interior presence helped establish an early physical dominance that the opposition simply could not handle.
The 18-point winning margin ties the record for the largest NCAA tournament victory between two number-one seeds since 1979.
Sweating on Lendeborg fitness
Despite the comprehensive victory, severe concerns linger regarding the fitness of talisman Yaxel Lendeborg ahead of Monday’s final.
The Big Ten Player of the Year suffered a reported ankle injury and MCL sprain during the first half following a heavy foul on a drive to the basket.
Although the All-American guard briefly returned to hit two three-pointers in the second period, he was noticeably restricted in his movement.
Setting the physical tone
Michigan established absolute control with a blistering 10-1 run straight from the opening tip.
They consistently punished their rivals on the offensive glass and effectively bypassed the Arizona defence by throwing passes directly over their big men.
The usually resilient Wildcats looked thoroughly overwhelmed by the relentless pace and physicality of May’s rampant squad.
Bookmakers have already installed the resurgent Wolverines as clear favourites to defeat UConn and claim college basketball’s ultimate prize.