Scotland’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell has heavily criticised Celtic and Rangers for their silence following the violent scenes that marred Sunday’s Old Firm match at Ibrox.

Supporters and police officers sustained injuries after clashes erupted on the pitch following the away side’s penalty shootout victory.

Nine individuals have already been arrested in connection with the widespread disorder.

Clubs face criticism for remaining silent

Speaking at the Scottish Parliament, the nation’s top police officer expressed her dismay that neither Glasgow rival had publicly condemned the violence by Monday evening.

Farrell confirmed she had not held direct discussions with either team’s hierarchy since the weekend’s chaotic events.

The Scottish Football Association did issue a swift statement less than 40 minutes after the final whistle, promising an immediate investigation.

Meanwhile, both outfits have maintained an active presence on social media without addressing the severe crowd trouble.

The green-and-white half of Glasgow recently commemorated the appointment of legendary European Cup-winning manager Jock Stein.

Conversely, the Light Blues opted to post a birthday message dedicated to their goalkeeper Jack Butland.

Police demand improved stadium safety

Addressing Holyrood’s public audit committee, Farrell warned that simply deploying extra officers would not fix the deep-rooted cultural problems.

“We can put more and more resources into football, but that does not solve the underlying issue that people will be able to attend those events without fearing for their safety.”

She branded the shocking scenes as absolutely disgraceful while strongly condemning the perpetrators involved.

The violence included an alarming pitch invasion where a 47-year-old man allegedly assaulted both a coach and a player.

Ongoing criminal investigations

Authorities have also charged a 54-year-old individual with assaulting a female police officer during the post-match melee.

“We witnessed one of my officers being deliberately tripped on that pitch as she ran to offer assistance to people in the stadium.”

Three additional men are facing charges relating to a serious assault on Helen Street shortly after the fixture concluded.

A 10-year-old boy was tragically struck by a coin during the altercations, prompting further police inquiries into vandalism and graffiti at the venue.

Farrell reiterated that fans, club staff, and emergency workers should never be subjected to such hostility while simply attending a sporting event.

Liverpool and Manchester United have entered the race to sign Monaco forward Maghnes Akliouche after dispatching scouts to monitor the 22-year-old in France.

Representatives from both Premier League clubs were in attendance to witness the French youth international orchestrate a stunning 3-1 victory over Paris St-Germain last Friday.

The versatile attacker opened the scoring and provided an assist as the principality outfit dismantled Luis Enrique’s reigning Ligue 1 champions at the Parc des Princes.

Salah succession planning

Anfield recruitment chiefs have added the exciting prospect to their summer shortlist as they weigh up attacking reinforcements.

The Merseysiders are actively considering long-term successors for Mohamed Salah, whose future remains uncertain amid persistent interest from Saudi Arabia.

Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have also been tracking the highly-rated winger for over a year, but now face formidable competition from the English top flight’s traditional powerhouses.

Champions League qualification battle

The pursuit of fresh talent comes as both north-west giants aim to bolster their transfer budgets by securing elite European football next term.

Michael Carrick’s side currently sit third in the domestic standings, holding a narrow three-point advantage over sixth-placed Liverpool following a recent defeat to Newcastle.

That loss marked the first setback for the interim boss since he assumed caretaker duties at Old Trafford in January following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim.

The Anfield outfit will seek to apply pressure on the teams above them when they host Igor Tudor’s struggling, bottom-of-the-table Spurs this Sunday.

Alternative targets identified

The scouting missions in Paris indicate a clear intent from both historic rivals to inject youthful dynamism into their respective forward lines.

In addition to the Monaco standout, both clubs are reportedly monitoring RB Leipzig teenager Yan Diomande.

The 19-year-old has rapidly established himself as one of the most promising wide players operating in European football.

Kalyn Ponga has officially switched his international rugby league eligibility from Australia to New Zealand ahead of the 2026 World Cup following changes to State of Origin rules.

The International Rugby League Board unanimously approved the Newcastle Knights star’s application to change his Tier 1 national allegiance.

The 2023 Dally M Medallist was born in Australia to New Zealander parents but previously represented the Kangaroos at the 2019 World Cup 9s.

State of Origin rule changes

Recent alterations to State of Origin eligibility criteria now permit players to represent other Tier 1 nations while retaining their inter-state selection.

The core eligibility rules for the domestic showcase remain unchanged, requiring athletes to meet one of the following conditions:

The dynamic fullback fits these core requirements, ensuring he can continue representing the Maroons while pulling on the Kiwi jersey.

Deep connection to heritage

The Queensland representative released a heartfelt statement explaining his profound familial ties to the nation.

“While I was born in Australia, my connection to New Zealand runs deep through every generation of my family,” Ponga explained.

Both of his parents and all four grandparents were born across the Tasman Sea, cementing his strong cultural roots.

“I am immensely proud of my Māori heritage, and that pride has only grown stronger with each passing year,” the former Junior Kangaroo added.

Focus shifts to the World Cup

Addressing his past appearances for Australia, he admitted those brief stints no longer reflect his true sense of belonging.

IRL Chair Troy Grant confirmed the board was honoured to approve the application, praising the passion of athletes representing their families.

This monumental allegiance switch provides a significant boost to the New Zealand squad as they prepare for the upcoming global tournament.

The Carolina Panthers have secured defensive standout Jaelan Phillips on a massive four-year, $120m (£89m) deal as edge rushers dominate the opening days of NFL free agency.

The highly sought-after pass rusher receives $80m in guaranteed money, making him the eighth-highest-paid player at his position.

His lucrative contract significantly exceeded industry projections and immediately triggered a wave of high-value defensive signings across the league.

Commanders and Bengals make major moves

Following the benchmark set in Carolina, Odafe Oweh agreed to a four-year, $100m contract with the Washington Commanders.

The former Baltimore representative will earn $25m annually, an amount far surpassing initial market forecasts.

Boye Mafe subsequently departed the Seattle Seahawks to join the Cincinnati Bengals on a three-year, $60m agreement.

Premium prices for defensive pressure

The 27-year-old recorded nine sacks as a starter in 2023 but recently found himself operating as a rotational player in the Pacific Northwest.

Despite his reduced role, Cincinnati have matched the annual salaries recently awarded to younger counterparts Greg Rousseau and George Karlaftis.

The Bengals are wagering that consistent pressure metrics will translate into higher sack totals within an expanded defensive scheme.

These staggering financial commitments highlight a clear trend where franchises are willing to pay premium prices to acquire established disruption.

German cross-country skiers Linn Kazmaier and Florian Baumann turned their backs on the Russian gold medallists during a Winter Paralympics podium ceremony on Tuesday to protest the nation’s readmission to the Games.

The gesture occurred during the women’s sprint classic vision impaired event after Anastasiia Bagiian and her guide Sergei Siniakin secured victory.

As the Russian national anthem played across the venue, the German silver medallists deliberately faced away from the flag.

Solidarity drives podium demonstration

Speaking to the German press, the visually impaired athlete revealed that the medal ceremony felt completely strange.

“That it is so totally overshadowed by politics is simply a complete shame,” Kazmaier said.

She explained the decision to leave their hats on and turn away was a deliberate choice to withhold support for the competing nation.

Baumann added that the silent demonstration was intended to show solidarity with Ukrainians, echoing similar interactions they shared during the Beijing Games four years ago.

“It’s not about the Russian athletes themselves, but the IPC’s decision to have Russia here under their flag, with their anthem and their full contingent in attendance, while the Ukrainians are also here, I find simply not correct,” stated the German guide.

The pair also reportedly refused to participate in the traditional medallists’ selfie following the ceremony.

Background to Paralympic reinstatement

Russian competitors are participating under their own flag at a Paralympics for the first time since 2014.

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) officially lifted its suspension of the country in September.

The nation had previously faced extensive bans due to a state-sponsored doping scandal, which were subsequently extended following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

A total of six Russian athletes and four from allied Belarus are currently competing at the Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics.

This controversial reinstatement previously prompted teams from seven countries, including Ukraine, to boycott Friday’s opening ceremony in Verona.

The IPC has confirmed to BBC Sport that it is aware of Tuesday’s podium protest and is currently gathering evidence on the matter.

Angel City defender Savy King is set to make her National Women’s Soccer League return this season, just 10 months after suffering a life-threatening cardiac arrest on the pitch.

The 20-year-old collapsed and lost consciousness during a home fixture against the Utah Royals on 9 May last year.

Medical staff immediately rushed to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation as the player’s heart had stopped beating.

She was transported to hospital after 11 minutes of on-field treatment, where surgeons corrected a rare and previously undetected congenital defect known as an anomalous left coronary artery.

A new perspective on life

The young defender spent the summer undergoing intensive rehabilitation, which included six weeks of physical therapy and a rigorous cardiac programme.

She progressed to exercising under close medical supervision before rejoining limited team training in September.

“I for sure have gone through ups and downs, but for the most part, I just am grateful that I’m able to play again.”

King explained that her ordeal has entirely shifted her outlook on her professional career.

“I feel like sometimes when you do something over and over again, you get comfortable and not necessarily complacent, but you take things for granted of being able to just go out there and do what you love every day.”

Catalyst for league-wide change

The initial incident prompted significant controversy after the match was allowed to continue, playing out 12 minutes of stoppage time despite the medical emergency.

The NWSL Players Association argued the game should have been suspended immediately, a stance the league later conceded was correct.

NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman confirmed new emergency procedures were implemented following a subsequent collapse involving Racing Louisville midfielder Savannah DeMelo.

Driven by her own experience, the returning Angel City star has since spearheaded a new health initiative across the sport.

All 16 NWSL teams have now received mandatory training in hands-only CPR and the use of automatic external defibrillators.

This comprehensive rollout makes the NWSL the only professional sports league in the United States to implement such widespread emergency medical training.

The escalating conflict in the Middle East has caused widespread disruption to the global sporting calendar, leading to tournament cancellations, flight delays, and stranded athletes across multiple disciplines.

Thousands of flights have been grounded at major transit hubs due to heightened security concerns involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

This sudden airspace closure has left numerous international competitors in limbo as they attempt to reach their respective tournaments.

Paralympic and tennis travel chaos

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is currently assisting winter athletes who are struggling to reach the upcoming Milano Cortina Games.

The closure of airspace in the Middle East is impacting the arrival of some stakeholders… we are working diligently with Milano Cortina 2026 to find solutions for those affected.

In the world of tennis, Russian stars Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev faced severe logistical hurdles travelling from Dubai to California for the Indian Wells tournament.

Meanwhile, an ATP Challenger event in Fujairah was cancelled entirely following regional security alerts.

The men’s professional tennis governing body subsequently funded a private charter flight to safely evacuate competitors from the region.

Two-time Olympic badminton medallist PV Sindhu was also forced to withdraw from the All England Open after being stranded at a Dubai airport for several days.

Widespread tournament postponements

The disruption extends far beyond individual travel issues, with several major team events being postponed or completely abandoned.

The United States men’s hockey team withdrew from a World Cup 2026 qualifier in Egypt after receiving a government advisory to leave conflict zones.

Across Asia, multiple continental football fixtures in the Asian Champions League Elite and Asian Champions League Two have been heavily deferred.

Motorsport and cricket have also been affected, with the World Endurance Championship delaying its season-opening race in Qatar and a UAE-based series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka being halted.

Iranian footballers seek asylum

In a significant related development, the Australian government has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women’s football players.

The squad members sought asylum over fears of persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem during an Asian Cup match.

Iranian state television recently labelled the athletes “wartime traitors”, significantly intensifying international concerns for their safety.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the players have now been relocated to a secure location after their whereabouts were inadvertently compromised.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander converted a dramatic three-pointer in the dying seconds to secure a thrilling victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Denver Nuggets.

The Canadian point guard delivered when it mattered most to cap off a tense battle between two Western Conference heavyweights.

With the game hanging in the balance, the MVP candidate isolated his defender before stepping back to drain the decisive shot.

Clutch moment defines Western Conference clash

This latest game-winner further cements the Thunder talisman’s reputation as one of the most reliable clutch performers in the league this season.

Oklahoma City have established themselves as formidable contenders in the West, largely driven by the consistent brilliance of their star playmaker.

Denver had fought hard to stay within striking distance throughout a contest that showcased the elite quality of both rosters.

Thunder build momentum for playoff push

Defeating the reigning NBA champions on their own terms serves as a significant statement of intent for this youthful Oklahoma City squad.

The Nuggets will undoubtedly rue the defensive lapses on the final possession that allowed such a dangerous shooter the necessary space to operate.

Both franchises are currently jockeying for optimal playoff seeding as the regular season reaches its critical final stages.