LIV Golf broadcasters and chief executive Scott O’Neil have strongly dismissed rumours that the Saudi Public Investment Fund is preparing to end its financial backing of the breakaway circuit.
Speculation emerged earlier this week suggesting the sovereign wealth fund was ready to withdraw its estimated £3.7bn investment.
Such a move would severely jeopardise the future of the 54-hole competition, which launched in 2021 as a direct rival to the PGA Tour.
However, key figures within the organisation used the start of their Mexico City event broadcast to mount a staunch defence of their long-term viability.
‘Imminent demise greatly exaggerated’
Lead commentator Arlo White directly addressed the situation before play commenced at Club de Golf Chapultepec.
“We’re delighted to report that the reports of the imminent demise of the LIV Golf league were, in fact, greatly exaggerated.”
The English broadcaster added that he had spoken with the chief executive, describing the leadership as extremely confident about the future.
Co-commentator David Feherty also hit back at the media, criticising journalists who propagated the shutdown narrative.
“This generation has spawned fast typists that consider themselves to be experts, and evidently, they’re not.”
Internal reassurances to staff
Beyond the public broadcast, internal communications have also sought to steady the ship and reassure employees.
O’Neil reportedly sent an email to all staff confirming that the season would proceed uninterrupted and at full throttle.
The memo stressed that the organisation is heading into the heart of its schedule with more energy and influence than ever before.
Ironically, shortly after the defiant on-air exchange, the live stream suffered a temporary blackout on both YouTube and the Fox Sports app.
Players remain focused on the course
This controversy arrives against the backdrop of ongoing framework agreement negotiations between the Saudi backers and the traditional golfing establishment.
Despite the off-course noise, prominent players insist their focus remains entirely on the fairways.
Spanish former Masters champion Sergio Garcia stated that the roster has received no indication of any impending closure.
“Honestly, we haven’t heard anything other than what Yasir told us at the beginning of the year, that he’s behind us.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has confirmed Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will leave Anfield at the end of the season, outlining the club’s strategy to replace the departing duo.
The pair will bid farewell to supporters following the final Premier League match of the campaign against Brentford.
Robertson has been strongly linked with a free transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.
Defensive reshuffle awaits
The Scotland captain’s potential move reportedly depends on the north London club avoiding relegation to the Championship.
Focus on Merseyside has already shifted towards mitigating the loss of two foundational pieces of their recent success.
The Dutch coach hinted that an internal solution may already exist for the left-back position.
“We know Robbo and Mo are going to leave, so that means changing two players,” Slot explained on Friday.
Search for a new attacker
“We also know that Kostas Tsimikas comes back.”
Replacing the Egyptian forward presents a more complex challenge for the Anfield hierarchy.
Reports suggest RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has emerged as a top target for the recruitment team.
The Liverpool boss remains unsure whether the club will pursue a direct stylistic match or alter their attacking profile entirely.
Focus on existing stars
“I think the first aim is to see how we are acting in the position of Mo,” he added.
“Do we want to replace with a similar player or are we going to do that differently?”
The manager emphasised the club’s healthy financial position, noting a net spend of £150m across his four transfer windows.
He also moved to quash rumours of a wider squad exodus, insisting no further imminent departures are expected.
Securing the backline
Attention will now turn to securing the future of French centre-back Ibrahima Konate.
“Of course there’s the Ibou contract situation,” Slot stated.
“There might not be such a big need of trading a lot if you don’t need to bring new players in.”
Iranian footballers Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh have thanked the Australian government for granting them asylum and vow to rebuild their sporting careers down under.
The pair were among an initial group of six players and one support staff member from the national squad offered humanitarian visas during their recent Asian Cup campaign.
While five members of the group subsequently chose to return to their homeland, Pasandideh and Ramezanisadeh decided to remain in Australia.
“We wish to express our deepest gratitude to the Australian government, and particularly Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, for granting us humanitarian protection and a safe haven in this beautiful country.”
Focus turns to A-League Women’s football
The athletes have already taken steps towards resuming their professional pathways by commencing training with A-League Women’s outfit Brisbane Roar last month.
“At this stage, our primary focus is on our safety, our health and beginning the process of rebuilding our lives.”
“We are elite athletes, and it remains our dream to continue our sporting careers here in Australia.”
Safety fears originally emerged for the touring squad after several individuals refused to sing the national anthem prior to an Asian Cup fixture.
Tensions follow anthem protest
Following the silent protest, Iranian state television heavily criticised the team, labelling the participants “wartime traitors”.
The international tournament coincided with escalating geopolitical tensions, beginning just as airstrikes were launched on Iran by the United States and Israel.
The remainder of the squad arrived back in Iran last month after completing a tense journey via the Turkish border.
Australia’s decision to offer sanctuary came after significant pressure from Iranian advocacy groups and international political figures.
Conflicting claims over asylum offers
Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed he had paperwork ready to immediately execute humanitarian visas featuring a pathway to permanent residency.
However, Iranian officials have presented a drastically different account of the events that unfolded in Australia.
Mehdi Taj, the president of Iran’s football federation, alleged that Australian police intervened on prime ministerial orders to pressure the squad into seeking asylum.
Furthermore, Iran’s head coach Marziyeh Jafari previously maintained that the travelling party wanted to return to the Middle East as quickly as possible.
Harry Kane has dismissed Real Madrid’s fury following Eduardo Camavinga’s controversial red card as Bayern Munich secured a dramatic Champions League quarter-final victory.
The German side progressed to the semi-finals after scoring twice in the dying moments at the Allianz Arena.
Their late surge followed Camavinga’s dismissal for a second bookable offence, which occurred with the aggregate score locked at 4-4.
The French midfielder was penalised by referee Slavko Vincic for throwing the ball away after a foul was awarded to Bayern.
Madrid fury boils over
The sending-off sparked outrage among the visitors, who crowded the match official after the final whistle.
England international Jude Bellingham branded the decision a joke, while veteran defender Dani Carvajal was seen screaming at the referee.
Tensions continued to escalate long after the match concluded, culminating in a post-match red card for substitute Arda Guler.
Kane shrugs off complaints
When informed of the intense anger in the opposition camp, the England captain offered little sympathy.
“I’m sure they are, but they’ve had many things go their way over the years.”
The former Tottenham striker noted that throwing the ball away while already on a booking is always a substantial risk.
“The ref made a decision, and it’s nice to get one in our favour.”
Kane, who registered his 50th goal of the campaign during the chaotic encounter, described the second leg as a uniquely special night.
Semi-final showdown awaits
Bayern will now prepare to face Paris Saint-Germain in a highly anticipated semi-final clash.
The first leg is scheduled to take place at the Parc des Princes on Tuesday, 28 April.
Expecting a demanding tactical battle, the prolific forward praised Luis Enrique’s team for their intense man-for-man pressure and individual quality.
“One of the best in Europe for sure, reigning European champions for a reason. Hopefully, we can come out on top.”
Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali has pledged to sign experienced players and admitted Enzo Maresca’s mid-season departure disrupted their campaign during a rare conference address in Los Angeles.
The Blues are currently struggling for form under new head coach Liam Rosenior.
They sit four points adrift of fifth-placed Liverpool and are in serious danger of missing out on Champions League qualification.
A dismal run of just one victory in seven league matches has severely derailed their domestic progress.
Targeting immediate quality
Speaking at the CAA World Congress of Sports, the Clearlake Capital co-founder addressed the club’s youth-focused recruitment model.
He insisted the overarching project remains in its early stages but acknowledged a pressing need for immediate quality in the transfer market.
“We’ve got to be better on a few things, to add more ready-made players at this part of the project, to take it to the next level, to be consistent over time,” Eghbali stated.
“The view is to keep, sign and retain and compensate and extend some of the world’s best players, and ultimately the view was you need eight, 10, 12, 15 elite players to win and win sustainably.”
The managerial transition
The Stamford Bridge hierarchy have faced heavy scrutiny since Maresca unexpectedly left his post on New Year’s Day.
Rosenior was brought in to stabilise the squad, but the mid-season transition has proven incredibly challenging.
“It’s not a change we wanted to make,” Eghbali admitted regarding the Italian’s exit.
“It’s a change that had a bit of a negative impact in the season, when you’re changing systems and personnel, and it’s one we’ve got to fight our way out of.”
Salvaging the campaign
Despite their recent league struggles, the west London side still have an opportunity to secure silverware.
An upcoming FA Cup semi-final offers a crucial lifeline in an otherwise turbulent calendar year.
“We still have six matches in the Premier League, and an FA Cup semi-final coming up,” Eghbali added.
“In my perspective, when you get punched in the face, you’ve got to fight back, you’ve got to stand up and fight, and it’s going to hopefully show a lot about the character of this squad.”
Oklahoma senior Faith Torrez has claimed the NCAA gymnastics all-around title on Thursday in her season debut across all four events following an injury-plagued year.
The 2026 championship victory in Fort Worth, Texas, saw the collegiate athlete defy the odds with a stunning total score of 39.7875.
Torrez defeated a stacked field of Olympic and world champions to secure the highest individual honour in American collegiate gymnastics.
Miraculous recovery stuns gymnastics world
Prior to the dramatic semi-final, the Sooners star was not considered a front-runner for the coveted crown.
She had been restricted to the uneven bars and balance beam since February and had not competed in all four disciplines at any point this season.
“If you would have told me probably two and a half weeks ago that I would be in this position right now doing four events, like living out my dream right now, I’d probably laugh at you.”
“I had no intentions of doing this at the beginning of the season, middle of the season, but to be here and have everything kind of just play out as it did was really amazing.”
Oklahoma advance as rivals falter
Head coach K.J. Kindler revealed her star pupil only requested to resume floor training following the SEC championships in late March.
Remarkably, the newly-crowned champion had not completed a full floor routine until earlier this week.
Kindler praised her athlete’s incredible air awareness and physical resolve after such a prolonged absence from full-intensity competition.
The historic individual victory helped propel the defending champion Sooners into Saturday’s national team final.
LSU and Florida progress to national final
LSU gymnast Kailin Chio, who held the top national ranking for the majority of the campaign, finished as the overall runner-up.
Florida standout eMjae Frazier secured third place as the Gators comfortably won the afternoon session.
LSU were forced to battle until the final rotation to edge out a resurgent Georgia side to keep their title hopes alive.
Meanwhile, highly-fancied UCLA struggled following an uncharacteristic fall from Olympic gold medallist Jordan Chiles on the bars.
Liverpool are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Archie Gray this summer as the north London club faces a severe threat of Premier League relegation.
The Anfield side are closely monitoring the 20-year-old following an impressive individual campaign.
A formal approach is highly likely if Spurs drop into the Championship at the end of the season.
The capital club currently sit 18th in the top-flight standings with just six matches remaining to save their status.
Spurs’ relegation fears mount
Tottenham suffered a damaging 1-0 defeat to Sunderland on Sunday during Roberto De Zerbi’s first match in charge.
The Italian manager recently replaced interim boss Igor Tudor but was unable to spark an immediate revival.
Despite the team’s collective struggles, the former Leeds United prospect has remained a standout performer, making 79 appearances since his arrival.
The highly rated youngster has contributed five goal involvements, including a strike during a narrow defeat to Newcastle United in February.
Potential exodus in north London
Bayern Munich are also reportedly tracking the English talent, who has previously been described as a ‘future £100m’ asset.
Losing top-flight status would almost certainly trigger a mass departure of first-team regulars from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Club captain Cristian Romero is expected to leave after being ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Inter Milan have also expressed confidence in securing a deal for Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
Loan stars set for departure
Key defensive figures including Micky van de Ven and Lucas Bergvall could evaluate their options if the worst happens.
Furthermore, the club will not pursue permanent deals for loan signings Randal Kolo Muani and Joao Palhinha.
The French forward will return to his parent club, while the Portuguese midfielder will head back to Bayern Munich despite an active purchase option.
Reigning world champion Lando Norris insists McLaren will not give up on their 2026 title defence despite falling 47 points behind Mercedes.
The British driver has failed to record a podium finish in the opening three races of the sport’s new era.
However, team-mate Oscar Piastri secured a promising second-place finish at the recent Japanese Grand Prix to boost morale within the camp.
Turning the tide in Miami
Formula 1 returns from an enforced five-week break with a Sprint weekend at the Miami Grand Prix in early May.
The Woking-based outfit have utilised this extended gap to address early reliability issues affecting their chassis and power unit.
“I think we can have a good season, even if we’re not where we want to be right now,” said Norris.
“This isn’t a case of giving up and focusing on next year – I’m not sure if that approach ever really works.”
Overcoming the Mercedes deficit
The 26-year-old currently trails championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who has spearheaded a dominant start for the Silver Arrows alongside a resurgent Ferrari.
McLaren possess a proven track record of mid-season recoveries, having successfully overhauled significant performance deficits during the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
“We’ve been there, done it, learned from it and I trust that this team knows how to do it again,” he added.
Securing valuable track time remains the primary objective as the reigning constructors’ champions attempt to unlock the ultimate pace of their new machinery.
“Tiny, tiny margins make significant differences,” the championship hopeful explained.