A 65-year-old Celtic supporter has died in hospital after falling ill during the club’s Champions League qualifying victory against LASK at Celtic Park on Wednesday.
The Glasgow club confirmed the tragic news in a statement on Thursday evening, expressing their deep sadness over the incident.
Emergency services had rushed to attend to the man in the stands at around 21:05 BST.
He was immediately transported to Glasgow Royal Infirmary but sadly passed away a short time later.
Club and police confirm tragic details
Police Scotland have stated that there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
The Scottish Premiership side extended their deepest condolences to the family, promising to offer them full support during this extremely difficult time.
They also expressed immense gratitude to the medical staff, emergency responders, and fellow spectators for their rapid assistance.
We thank the emergency services and fellow supporters within the stadium for all their efforts in dealing with this tragic incident.
Victory overshadowed by off-field tragedy
The devastating news followed a match where the Parkhead outfit took a significant step toward the tournament’s league phase.
The hosts secured a commanding 3-0 first-leg advantage over their Austrian opponents.
Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring before Camilo Duran netted a crucial brace to put the tie firmly in the Scottish side’s control.
The decisive return leg of the qualifier will take place in Austria next Tuesday.
Strong start continues without manager
This European success maintained an impressive undefeated start to the campaign across all competitions.
The reigning domestic champions have won all four of their opening fixtures, including dominant victories over Kilmarnock and Dundee United.
However, Wednesday’s crucial European fixture was navigated without manager Martin O’Neill on the touchline.
The veteran boss was absent while recovering from a minor medical procedure that required hospitalisation earlier in the week.
Liverpool have had a £50m transfer bid for Gambian forward Yankuba Minteh rejected by Premier League rivals Brighton and Hove Albion.
The Merseysiders tabled the substantial offer several days ago as they desperately look to bolster their forward line.
Manager Andoni Iraola is seeking immediate attacking reinforcements following the departure of Mohamed Salah on a free transfer.
Search for attacking depth
The Anfield hierarchy initially identified Paris St-Germain attacker Bradley Barcola as their primary summer target.
However, they have now turned their attention to the Brighton winger as progress ahead of the 1 September transfer deadline becomes crucial.
The Gambian international registered three goals and four assists in 34 appearances for the Seagulls during the previous campaign.
That return followed a highly productive season in which he scored six times and provided four assists across 32 matches.
Iraola faces forward shortage
The former Bournemouth boss is facing a significant shortage of wide options on the eve of the new Premier League season.
Cody Gakpo, Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha are currently the only senior wingers available to the Spanish tactician.
Discussions also remain ongoing regarding a potential move for highly-rated Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye.
Opening weekend challenges
Liverpool have experienced a relatively slow summer market, with Munoz and Ronald Araujo representing their only recent additions.
A £60m deal for Jeremy Jacquet was formally completed this summer after an initial agreement was struck with Rennes back in January.
The Reds begin their domestic campaign against Newcastle United as Iraola takes charge of his first competitive game for the club.
Matthias Jaissle’s Magpies enter the fixture following a turbulent transfer window of their own, having lost key midfield and attacking trio Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon.
Brighton have rejected a £50m transfer bid from Liverpool for Yankuba Minteh as the Merseyside club seek a summer replacement for the departed Mohamed Salah.
The Reds are actively exploring the market to bolster their attacking options following the monumental exit of their talismanic forward.
According to reports from The Athletic, the South Coast club immediately turned down the initial approach for their highly-rated attacker.
However, the player himself is understood to be keen on a switch to Anfield if a fee can ultimately be agreed between the two Premier League sides.
Seagulls face summer exodus
The failed bid comes amid a period of significant squad upheaval at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton are bracing themselves for the departure of several key first-team regulars during the current transfer window.
Dutch defender Jan-Paul van Hecke has already secured a move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Meanwhile, Manchester United are reportedly closing in on a £60m deal for highly-coveted midfielder Carlos Baleba.
Injury setback no deterrent
Despite the ongoing transfer speculation, the young winger is currently sidelined following recent surgery.
The dynamic wide player sustained an injury during a fixture against Roma earlier this month and is expected to miss a further eight weeks of action.
That lengthy rehabilitation period has evidently not deterred Liverpool from formalising their interest in the promising forward.
It remains to be seen whether the Anfield hierarchy will return with an improved offer to test Brighton’s resolve before the deadline.
Lewis Hamilton has challenged his Ferrari team to relentlessly pressure Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli as the 2026 Formula 1 championship resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix.
The seven-time world champion currently trails the 19-year-old Italian by 50 points in the drivers’ standings following the sport’s summer break.
With Hamilton chasing a record-breaking eighth world title, his young rival is seeking a maiden championship in only his second top-flight campaign.
Capitalising on a gap in experience
Antonelli will celebrate his 20th birthday just two days after Sunday’s race at Zandvoort.
Despite the vast difference in age and experience, the former Mercedes driver was quick to praise his replacement’s formidable form this season.
“There are pros and cons to it. He’s obviously very fast. He’s doing an amazing job,” Hamilton explained.
The 41-year-old veteran acknowledged that youth can sometimes be an advantage in a high-stakes championship battle.
“When you are 19 you don’t really have much else going on in your life really, so you don’t have many other pressures. I remember when I was that age and things are relatively easier in life.”
Upgrades offer hope for the Scuderia
The British driver insists that the championship leader still faces a difficult task ahead, but admits his rival has shown no signs of weakness thus far.
Over the opening 11 rounds of the 2026 season, the Silver Arrows have generally boasted a pace advantage over the Italian marque.
However, Hamilton is banking on new upgrades arriving in the Netherlands to help close the performance deficit.
“The team are working really hard. We’ve got our first little step this weekend which I’m really grateful for,” stated the Ferrari driver.
Chasing a first win at Zandvoort
The current grid remains fiercely competitive, with McLaren and Red Bull also heavily involved in a tight four-way battle at the front of the pack.
Hamilton believes his team can perform better in the second half of the season as they focus on maximising their own potential.
The Dutch Grand Prix remains one of only four venues on the current calendar where the motorsport legend has yet to claim victory.
He will be massively driven to conquer the coastal circuit this weekend as he looks to significantly cut into that 50-point gap.
The US Open has announced a record total prize pool of $108m for this year’s tournament, with the singles champions set to earn a historic $5.5m each.
Overall compensation for the final major of the calendar year has risen by 20% compared to the previous edition.
Play is scheduled to begin in New York next week following Thursday’s financial announcements by the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
Competitors who simply make the 128-player singles main draw will take home $140,000, which represents the largest baseline payout in the sport’s history.
Lucrative payouts across all rounds
A quarter-final appearance guarantees players $780,000, while reaching the semi-finals secures a guaranteed $1.45m.
The runner-up in both the men’s and women’s singles events will collect a substantial consolation prize of $2.8m.
Last year, defending champions Aryna Sabalenka and Carlos Alcaraz each received $5m from a total player compensation pot of $90m.
In the doubles competitions, the victorious men’s, women’s, and mixed teams will split $1m, whilst wheelchair singles champions will earn $104,000.
New initiatives for player welfare
Alongside the immediate prize money increases, organisers are establishing a dedicated player support programme backed by an initial $2m commitment.
These funds will be divided equally between the men’s and women’s tours to provide ongoing benefits and complement existing pension structures.
This initiative was designed alongside the newly created Grand Slam Player Council, following demands from professionals for a larger share of tournament revenues.
“A significant first step in a multi-year investment in athletes as the US Open continues to be the best economic opportunity for players and the most valuable platform in tennis for players, fans and partners.”
USTA chief executive Craig Tiley stated that this financial commitment to competitors at all levels represents a vital progression for the sport.
Supporters’ groups across the world have launched a petition demanding the immediate resignation of Fifa president Gianni Infantino alongside a comprehensive overhaul of the governing body.
The move follows mounting pressure on the global football chief over his controversial decision to seek private backing for a company designed to run major international competitions.
This abandoned proposal, which included ceding control over the men’s and women’s World Cups, has triggered widespread outrage across the sport.
Accusations of deception and lost confidence
Three continental confederations recently published an open letter accusing the Swiss official of deception regarding how the private investment scheme was developed.
European football’s governing body, Uefa, has gone as far as threatening to boycott future tournaments after stating they have completely lost confidence in his leadership.
Despite retaining backing from regions such as Africa and South America, representative fan organisations are now leveraging an online petition to force his departure.
‘A betrayal football will never forget’
A coordinated statement released on behalf of the supporter groups condemned the private investment proposal as the final straw.
The shameful attempt by one individual to sell off the World Cup to private investors exposed a betrayal football will never forget.
Infantino’s plan was stitched together in secret, negotiated behind closed doors, and hidden from Fifa’s own members and from the millions of people whose passion makes football what it is.
The groups argue that his reported involvement in earlier discussions surrounding the European Super League and exorbitant ticket pricing structures have stripped him of his mandate to lead.
Calls to start from scratch
Beyond seeking a new figurehead, the petition explicitly calls for deep structural reform that formalises the involvement of fans and key stakeholders in major decisions.
The departure of Gianni Infantino is a first and a must, but that can only have a positive impact if it’s followed by some reform of the office and of governance.
Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe
Evain stressed that the current framework is simply not fit for purpose if one individual can concentrate so much unchecked power.
Fifa needs to start from scratch. All the reforms from 2016 have been erased or made irrelevant by Infantino.
The campaign continues to gather momentum, having already secured signatures from national supporter groups across all six global confederations.
Portugal defender Joao Cancelo has rejoined Barcelona on a permanent three-year contract following the mutual termination of his deal with Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal.
The 32-year-old became a free agent this summer after agreeing his departure from the Middle East.
He previously ended last season on loan at the Camp Nou, where he played a pivotal role in helping the Catalan club secure the La Liga title.
A dream return to Catalonia
“It’s my dream,” said Cancelo.
“I’m where I want to be and I am very happy.”
“I like the club, I identify with it. I feel loved here and I promise to give everything for this club.”
This latest move marks the third stint in Spain for the well-travelled full-back.
The Portuguese international first arrived in La Liga back in 2014 with Valencia, before embarking on spells with Inter Milan, Juventus, Manchester City, and Bayern Munich.
Flick’s squad takes shape
The arrival of the experienced defender caps a busy week for Barcelona manager Hansi Flick.
The Spanish giants have also completed a £65m move for Cancelo’s former Manchester City team-mate Rodri.
Wingers Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi have bolstered the attacking ranks during this transfer window.
However, the club has seen significant departures, with Ferran Torres sold to Paris St-Germain and veteran Polish striker Robert Lewandowski moving to MLS franchise Chicago Fire.
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios faces a suspension ranging from one month to four years after testing positive for cocaine during June’s Mallorca Championships.
The severity of the punishment depends entirely on whether the former world number 13 can prove he ingested the substance out of competition.
He is currently serving a mandatory provisional suspension after his sample returned positive for benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine.
While a doping violation carries a maximum four-year ban, the sanction could be reduced to just three months if investigators are satisfied the drug was taken outside tournament parameters.
Crucial timeline dictates ban length
Under anti-doping regulations, a player is officially deemed in competition from the day their tournament draw begins until they depart following their final match.
The 2022 Wimbledon finalist provided his sample on 22 June, the same day he exited the Mallorca event in the opening round.
Prior to the grass-court season, the Australian had not competed since January’s Australian Open and had spent very few days on site.
He was officially in competition at the Stuttgart Open between 8 and 12 June, and again in Mallorca on 21 and 22 June.
Avoiding an independent tribunal
If he successfully convinces the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) that the substance was taken before his tournament began, an independent tribunal would not be required.
Bypassing a tribunal would significantly accelerate the entire disciplinary process.
Furthermore, if the outspoken star agreed to enter an approved treatment programme, his suspension could be reduced to a single month.
Because his provisional suspension commenced on 4 August, a one-month ban would theoretically make him eligible to return to the court immediately.
Comparisons to recent doping cases
The World Anti-Doping Agency updated its code in 2021 to allow more lenient penalties for recreational drug use outside of competition.
Under previous rules in 2017, British player Dan Evans received a one-year ban for a positive cocaine test despite investigators accepting he consumed it several days prior to competing.
More recently, Moroccan player Imran Sibille benefited from the 2021 rule changes after returning a positive in-competition test at a World Tennis Tour event.
After submitting a detailed psychologist report proving he took the drug days beforehand without intent to enhance performance, the ITIA handed Sibille a mere one-month ban.
Stark contrast to prior comments
A similarly lenient outcome for the Canberra native would draw inevitable comparisons to recent controversies surrounding Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek.
Sinner recently accepted a three-month ban for clostebol, while Swiatek served a one-month suspension for the heart medication trimetazidine.
Ironically, Kyrgios was previously highly critical of their respective sanctions and deemed them overly lenient.
He did not hold back in his assessment of the sport’s disciplinary frameworks at the time.
“Awful.”
That was how the polarizing athlete publicly described the tennis integrity system just weeks before his own provisional suspension began.