The NFL has authorised the hiring and training of replacement referees starting in May amid stalled contract negotiations with the NFL Referees Association.

The current collective bargaining agreement between the league and the officials’ union is set to expire on 31 May.

With vast differences remaining in economic and structural proposals, league executives are actively preparing for a lockout.

Training for the new recruits, largely drawn from the collegiate ranks, is scheduled to commence on 1 May.

Avoiding past mistakes

During the previous referee lockout in 2012, the league was widely criticised for waiting until July to secure contingency officials.

To avoid a similar drop in officiating standards, franchise owners have opted for early intervention to ensure adequate preparation time.

“To expect people to jump from college to the pros and change in speed in that short of time is destined to be a challenge to succeed.”

A league source added that failing to prepare for the looming expiration would amount to gross negligence.

Financial disputes and structural changes

The gridiron organisation has reportedly offered the union a six-year deal featuring average annual salary increases of 6.45%.

In 2025, the average salary for a top-flight official sat at $385,000 (£305,000).

However, the primary sticking points revolve around performance and accountability measures that the union has largely resisted.

These proposed changes include:

Scott Green, executive director of the NFLRA, has not yet publicly commented on the ongoing negotiations.

Amnesty International has warned the United States is facing a “human rights emergency” ahead of the 2026 World Cup due to severe anti-immigration policies and protest restrictions.

A new report by the campaign group highlights the perceived threat posed by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to travelling fans, local communities, and even the players themselves.

The upcoming tournament, expanded to 48 teams for the first time, will be jointly hosted across North America by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

However, the latest findings suggest that restrictions on freedom of expression across all three host nations could severely undermine the safe and inclusive event promised by world football’s governing body, Fifa.

Immigration policies spark safety fears

The comprehensive document focuses heavily on the United States and the potential impact of discriminatory immigration policies implemented under Donald Trump’s administration.

Researchers point to the significant risks immigrant communities may face when gathering for matches or travelling to the stadiums.

Currently, only four of the 16 host cities have published formal human rights plans ahead of the summer competition.

None of these existing municipal frameworks include explicit protections against immigration enforcement, while cities such as Dallas, Houston, and Miami have established controversial agreements to collaborate with ICE.

Travel bans and surveillance concerns

International supporters from nations including Ivory Coast, Haiti, Iran, and Senegal will be barred from entering the host country without a valid visa secured before 1 January 2026.

The charity also highlighted the prospect of intrusive surveillance, detailing proposals that would force foreign visitors to submit their social media accounts to authorities for screening.

Steve Cockburn, head of economic and social justice at the organisation, stressed the lack of reassurance from governing bodies regarding racial profiling and indiscriminate raids.

“Despite the astounding numbers of arrests and deportations, neither FIFA nor the US authorities have provided any guarantees that fans and local communities will be safe from ethnic and racial profiling, indiscriminate raids, or unlawful detention and deportation.”

Cockburn added that the US government deported more than half a million people in 2025.

The official noted that this staggering deportation figure was more than six times the expected attendance for the tournament finale at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Three-quarters of Premier League fans oppose the use of the Video Assistant Referee and believe it is ruining goal celebrations, according to a comprehensive new survey by the Football Supporters’ Association.

Just under 8,000 supporters from the top flight’s 20 clubs responded to the consultation regarding the divisive officiating technology.

The published results present a damning verdict on the system, with 90% of respondents disagreeing that its introduction has improved the matchday experience.

Furthermore, a staggering 91% feel the review process has irreparably harmed the spontaneous joy of celebrating a goal.

The negative sentiment extends far beyond the stadiums, as 94% reject the notion that the technology makes watching televised matches more enjoyable.

Fans demand removal of controversial technology

Thomas Concannon, the FSA’s network manager for the English top tier, told BBC Sport that the data clearly demonstrates a desire for complete abolition.

“We’ve all lived with VAR for so long now that we’ve seen the negative impact it’s had on the game.”
“People are annoyed about the time that it takes, annoyed about the accuracy, and annoyed about the reduced spontaneity.”
“It does take away from what football is meant to be and what those special moments are about.”

Premier League defends system amid growing errors

The English game’s governing body responded to the findings by emphasising its commitment to minimising disruptions to the match-going crowd.

“As part of ongoing dialogue with supporters, Premier League research indicates fans are largely in favour of keeping VAR, but improving the way it is used,” a league statement read.

Recent data contradicts this optimistic outlook, however, revealing that refereeing and review errors are actually increasing across the division.

The technology is also set to expand its remit at the upcoming global tournament to check corner kicks and second yellow cards, a move strongly opposed by 72% and 52% of surveyed fans respectively.

Deep-rooted concerns over accuracy and communication

The FSA’s consultation, which primarily polled regular matchgoers attending at least 15 games a season, highlighted systemic mistrust among die-hard supporters.

Other significant findings from the extensive supporter consultation include:

Concannon highlighted that the intense financial stakes in modern football drive the pursuit of perfection, but it leaves supporters frustrated over marginal offside calls.

Attempts to improve transparency, such as referees announcing decisions over in-stadium speakers, have also failed to win over the vast majority of match-going crowds.

Italy’s Marco Bezzecchi claimed a dominant victory at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, to secure his third consecutive win of the MotoGP season.

The Aprilia rider seized the lead on the opening lap at the Circuit of the Americas and never relinquished his position.

Adding to his recent triumphs in Thailand and Brazil, the 27-year-old has now topped the podium in five successive races dating back to last year.

Record-breaking dominance in Texas

This flawless performance allowed the Italian to set a new MotoGP record for consecutive laps led, taking his remarkable tally to 121.

He easily surpassed the previous benchmark of 103 consecutive laps, which was established by Jorge Lorenzo during the 2015 campaign.

The commanding ride provided perfect redemption for the championship leader after he crashed out of Saturday’s sprint race.

“I’m happy. I’m very happy. Yesterday I made a mistake so it was very important to make a good race today.”

Martin and Acosta complete the podium

Jorge Martin, who secured victory in the weekend’s earlier sprint event, followed his stablemate home to finish second.

Pedro Acosta crossed the line in third position, while defending world champion Marc Marquez was forced to settle for fifth.

These latest results leave the soaring race winner at the summit of the MotoGP standings with 81 points.

He currently holds a narrow four-point advantage over second-placed Martin ahead of the upcoming round in Jerez, Spain.

Top seeds UCLA overcame a rare halftime deficit to defeat the Duke Blue Devils 85-70 in Sacramento on Sunday, securing their place in the Women’s Final Four.

The Californian side trailed for the vast majority of the opening stages before Gianna Kneepkens sank a crucial three-pointer to snatch a 47-45 lead in the third quarter.

That decisive shot sparked a dominant period where the Bruins outscored their opponents 20-8 to take control of the Elite Eight tie.

A significant factor in the comeback was the awakening of star center Lauren Betts.

Betts dominates the paint

The 6ft 7in senior struggled initially with just eight first-half points but finished the contest with a commanding 23 points and 10 rebounds.

In doing so, she recorded her sixth career double-double in the NCAA tournament.

The dominant post player also joined Brittney Griner as the only competitor since 2012 to register 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks in a game at this late stage of the tournament.

Duke had initially frustrated the number one overall seeds by employing an aggressive defensive strategy.

Blue Devils’ early promise fades

The Atlantic Coast Conference outfit capitalised on early nerves, scoring 16 points off 12 turnovers while applying constant pressure inside the paint.

Taina Mair was the standout performer for the defeated side, finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds.

The talented guard also matched the school’s single-season record by registering her 201st assist of the campaign.

However, the Blue Devils could not sustain their first-half momentum against a team determined to avenge last year’s semi-final heartbreak.

Chasing a maiden national title

Trailing by eight points at the interval was an unusual position for the Bruins, who had only been behind at halftime once before this season.

That previous occasion resulted in their solitary defeat of the 2025-26 campaign at the hands of Texas.

The Los Angeles-based program is now one step closer to claiming its first-ever women’s national championship.

They will travel to Phoenix on Friday to face either Michigan or the very Texas side that handed them their only loss.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed that Hugo Ekitike and Ibrahima Konate are fully fit ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures against Manchester City and Paris St-Germain.

The Reds face a season-defining double-header following the conclusion of the international break.

They take on Pep Guardiola’s side in the FA Cup quarter-finals on 4 April, before travelling to France for a Champions League first-leg tie four days later.

Ekitike overcomes dead leg

There were major concerns when Ekitike limped off in tears after just nine minutes of a 2-1 defeat by Brighton last weekend.

However, the Dutch coach moved quickly to allay fears of a lengthy lay-off for the French forward.

“A dead leg, as you call it here I think,” Slot explained during his post-match press conference.

“Hugo, I think he could play tomorrow if he needed to.”

The attacker subsequently joined the France squad, scoring against Brazil before making a substitute appearance against Colombia.

Emerging unscathed from international duty, the former Parisian is now primed to face his old employers in Europe.

Konate returns to full fitness

In a further boost for the Merseyside club, Konate has also completely recovered from a recent hamstring issue.

The central defender missed a 1-1 home draw against Tottenham Hotspur due to muscular discomfort.

He was initially declared fit ahead of a 4-0 Champions League victory over Galatasaray.

“If you play so many games with only two days of rest in between you cannot do a lot, but he is declared completely fit,” Slot confirmed.

“He doesn’t feel the discomfort anymore.”

The powerful centre-back played a full 90 minutes for France against Brazil during the international break.

He was then granted a complete rest during a 3-1 victory over Colombia in the United States, ensuring he returns to Anfield fully refreshed.

The Vegas Golden Knights have sacked head coach Bruce Cassidy and appointed John Tortorella following a run of six defeats in seven games.

The change in leadership comes with the Nevada-based franchise sitting third in the Pacific Division after a 5-4 shootout loss to the Washington Capitals on Saturday.

With just eight regular-season games remaining, management has opted for an immediate change to secure their spot in the Western Conference playoffs.

Stanley Cup winner departs amid late-season slump

The departing coach previously led the organisation to their ultimate goal by securing a maiden Stanley Cup victory in 2023.

“Under Bruce’s leadership, we reached our ultimate goal in 2023 by bringing a Stanley Cup to Vegas,” said Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon.
“With the stretch run of the 2025-26 regular season upon us, we believe that a change is necessary for us to return to the level of play that is expected of our club.”

Experienced Tortorella returns to the bench

Tortorella arrives in Nevada boasting a wealth of NHL experience and his own championship pedigree.

The veteran tactician has been out of work since being dismissed by the Philadelphia Flyers last March during his third campaign with the team.

“With John Tortorella, we bring in a Stanley Cup Champion as well as one of the most experienced and respected coaches in the NHL,” added McCrimmon.
“His guidance will be a great asset to our team at the pivotal point in the season we currently face.”

Michigan have routed Tennessee 95-62 at Chicago’s United Center to reach the NCAA Final Four for the first time since 2018.

The top-seeded Wolverines dominated the Midwest regional final on Sunday to secure their 35th victory of a record-breaking season.

Second-year head coach Dusty May has masterminded a remarkable turnaround for a programme that won just eight games only two years ago.

They will now face West Region champions Arizona in Saturday’s national semi-final in Indianapolis.

Lendeborg leads the charge

Forward Yaxel Lendeborg spearheaded the emphatic win with a flawless display, registering 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists without a single turnover.

The recently crowned Big Ten Player of the Year has now recorded 20 or more points in three consecutive tournament appearances.

He becomes the first player from the Ann Arbor school to achieve that scoring feat since Juwan Howard in 1994.

Transfers fuel dominant run

The maize and blue roster has been heavily bolstered by high-profile transfers who proved decisive against the sixth-seeded Volunteers.

Former North Carolina guard Elliot Cadeau dictated the tempo with a game-high 10 assists, while UCLA arrival Aday Mara contributed 11 points and two blocks.

An explosive 21-0 scoring streak midway through the first half effectively ended the contest before the interval.

The rampant victors then opened the second period with a 21-12 run to extinguish any fading hopes of a miraculous comeback.

Volunteers suffer Elite Eight heartbreak

Tennessee’s defeat marks their third consecutive Elite Eight exit under veteran coach Rick Barnes.

Senior guard Ja’Kobi Gillespie fought valiantly to lead his team with 21 points, but the opposition’s blistering pace proved overwhelming.

Michigan are now firmly setting their sights on ending a 35-year wait for a national championship title.