US President Donald Trump has offered asylum to the Iranian women’s football team following their refusal to sing the national anthem before a match in Australia.
The players sparked international concern after remaining silent during their country’s anthem ahead of a fixture against South Korea on 2 March.
State television in the Middle Eastern nation condemned the initial act of defiance as a “pinnacle of dishonour”, despite the squad observing the anthem in two subsequent games.
Expatriate crowds in the host nation are now urging the Australian government to protect the athletes from potential retaliation.
Presidential intervention
Taking to his Truth Social platform, the American president warned that the players face grave danger if forced to return home.
“Australia is making a terrible humanitarian mistake by allowing the Iran National Woman’s Soccer team to be forced back to Iran, where they will most likely be killed.”
He directly appealed to the Australian Prime Minister to grant the squad immediate sanctuary.
“Don’t do it, Mr. Prime Minister, give ASYLUM. The U.S. will take them if you won’t.”
Geopolitical tensions escalate
This dramatic sporting intervention arrives during a period of extreme military volatility between Washington and Tehran.
The United States recently authorised military strikes against the Islamic Republic, resulting in the death of the country’s supreme leader.
That unprecedented military action has already plunged the wider region into deep political chaos.
Meanwhile, crowds of Iranian expats have been demonstrating outside stadiums during the ongoing tournament.
Fans were seen waving the pre-1979 Imperial Iranian flag while chanting for the safe harbour of the protesting squad.
Liverpool aim to avenge their earlier defeat to Galatasaray, while relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur visit Atletico Madrid as the Champions League last-16 gets under way on Tuesday.
The Merseyside club travel to Istanbul at 17:45 GMT hoping to demonstrate their recent domestic resurgence on the European stage.
They suffered a miserable league-phase defeat against the Turkish side in September, sparked by a Victor Osimhen penalty.
That disappointing result compounded early-season struggles which ultimately derailed their Premier League title defence.
However, Friday’s FA Cup victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers suggests the English heavyweights are finally rebuilding their momentum.
Reds boosted by returning stars
Goalkeeper Alisson remains sidelined for the crucial away leg, joining forward Hugo Ekitike on the treatment table.
Yet, the timely return of playmaker Florian Wirtz provides a significant creative boost for the visitors.
They will be desperate to avoid a repeat of Juventus’ fate, after the Italian giants crumbled to a 5-2 defeat at Rams Park in the play-off round.
Securing a positive result in Turkey is vital ahead of the decisive return leg at Anfield.
Tudor faces European dilemma
Later on Tuesday, Tottenham resume their continental campaign against Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid at 20:00 GMT.
The high-profile fixture presents a bizarre paradox for the North London side, who originally qualified by winning last season’s Europa League.
While former manager Thomas Frank comfortably navigated the group stage, his successor Igor Tudor is now battling a severe domestic crisis.
Spurs are currently engulfed in a fierce Premier League relegation fight and suffer from a severely depleted squad.
“The situation is not ideal.”
The Croatian head coach admitted his team are short on confidence following Thursday’s humbling home defeat by Crystal Palace.
This prestigious knockout tie may be viewed by many supporters as an unwelcome distraction from their primary goal of top-flight survival.
Newcastle prepare for historic night
Elsewhere, Newcastle United are preparing for what has been billed as the biggest game in the club’s modern history.
Eddie Howe’s men will look to make a lasting impact in Europe as the knockout stages intensify across the continent.
Bayer Leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand faces an uncertain future at the club ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Arsenal.
The Bundesliga side plan to conduct a thorough review of the managerial position at the end of the current campaign.
Reports from Germany indicate that a change in the dugout cannot be ruled out from the summer onwards.
The 58-year-old was initially appointed to stabilise the BayArena outfit following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag.
Promising start fades into recent wobble
The former Denmark boss has successfully steered his squad into the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition.
They also remain firmly within reach of the European qualification places domestically and have reached a DFB-Pokal semi-final.
However, an initially promising tenure has given way to a difficult run of form since the end of February.
The German outfit have secured victory in just one of their past five matches across all competitions.
Defensive turmoil precedes Gunners visit
Speculation surrounding the manager’s position arrives directly after a frustrating 3-3 league draw away to Freiburg on Saturday.
The visitors fought back from behind twice to take the lead before Matthias Ginter struck an equaliser four minutes from time.
That domestic stumble occurred on the same weekend the Premier League leaders secured a dramatic late victory over Mansfield Town courtesy of an Eberechi Eze strike.
Reflecting on the weekend’s defensive collapse, the Leverkusen boss expressed clear frustration with his team’s lack of control.
“It was a good game for the fans, but for me as a coach there was too much turmoil,” he admitted.
“We started very well and then showed a strong mental reaction after going behind twice.”
“We had to defend hard in the final phase. We’re disappointed with the result, but Freiburg also did very well.”
Maro Itoje was seen shouting at team-mate Fin Smith during England’s historic 23-18 Six Nations defeat against Italy in Rome as mounting pressure within Steve Borthwick’s squad was laid bare.
The Azzurri claimed their first-ever victory over the visitors at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, overturning an eight-point deficit to plunge their opponents into a state of crisis.
Tension within the touring camp was highlighted when the captain was captured aggressively ordering his fly-half to kick a penalty for three points.
Footage from the tight contest shows the experienced lock shouting “don’t argue with me, take the three” after the playmaker appeared to suggest kicking for the corner.
Pundits question indecision in England camp
Former Wasps winger Ugo Monye questioned whether the visible disagreement on the pitch highlights deeper, fundamental issues within the national setup.
“That level of indecision, is it indicative of where England are?” asked the former international on BBC’s Rugby Special.
Former Scotland forward John Barclay echoed those sentiments, noting that the sudden eruption of frustration illustrates the intense scrutiny currently surrounding the squad.
“There’s so much pressure, and there’s a bit of an explosion there,” Barclay stated.
Six Nations campaign on brink of collapse
Ex-Wales captain Sam Warburton defended the tactical decision to take the points but admitted the heated exchange revealed a group feeling the strain.
“Maro knew it was going to be three, but I think pressure does funny things to you,” Warburton explained.
The shock weekend result leaves Borthwick’s side languishing in fifth place in the tournament standings with just one victory and six points from four matches.
The struggling squad must now travel to Paris for a daunting finale against France, where another defeat would condemn them to their first four-loss campaign since 1976.
Duke, Michigan, Arizona and Florida lead the pursuit of the national title as 68 teams prepare to discover their NCAA Tournament fate this Sunday.
A thrilling five-month regular season has set the stage for one of the most highly anticipated bracket selections in recent memory.
While teams like Nebraska have enjoyed remarkable turnarounds, former heavyweights such as Auburn now face an anxious wait for a potential tournament lifeline.
Blue Devils dominate the elite tier
The undisputed number one team in America currently sits at the apex of the collegiate game.
Led by national player of the year favourite Cameron Boozer and coach Jon Scheyer, the Durham-based outfit boasts an extraordinary statistical profile.
The top-ranked side remains on pace to record the highest NET rating in nearly three decades.
However, recent injuries to Caleb Foster and Patrick Ngongba II could complicate their path to the championship.
Wolverines and Wildcats boast formidable records
Michigan remain a severe obstacle, having suffered defeats only against the tournament favourites and a rampant Wisconsin side.
The Ann Arbor programme occupies a stratosphere few rivals have managed to breach this campaign.
Meanwhile, Arizona bring unmatched depth to the postseason competition.
The Tucson-based roster joins the top two as the only programmes ranked in the top eight for both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Florida surge as UConn stumble
Reigning powerhouses UConn appeared secure among the top seeds before a regular-season finale defeat against Marquette.
That untimely loss has cast doubt over the Huskies’ ability to secure a third national crown in four years.
Florida have ruthlessly seized that vacated top-seed position on the back of a ten-game winning streak.
The surging Gators are mirroring the late momentum that propelled last year’s squad to ultimate glory.
Beyond these elite outfits, a phenomenal freshman class continues to headline the sport, featuring teenage prodigies expected to dominate the upcoming professional ranks.
AC Milan have blown the Serie A title race wide open by defeating rivals Inter Milan to close the gap at the top to seven points.
The Rossoneri secured their second derby victory of the campaign thanks to a decisive strike from Pervis Estupiñán.
Inter dominated portions of the match but were left frustrated as Federico Dimarco and Henrikh Mkhitaryan squandered clear scoring opportunities.
With just 10 matches remaining, the result breathes unexpected life into a Scudetto battle that previously looked certain to end at San Siro’s blue-and-black divide.
Allegri relieves pressure
Manager Max Allegri has consistently downplayed championship expectations this season by insisting Champions League qualification remains the primary objective.
That pragmatic narrative has shielded the squad from intense scrutiny, despite the club adding high-profile veterans like Adrien Rabiot and Luka Modric to their ranks.
This statement victory will undoubtedly satisfy the demanding fanbase and temporarily silence rumours linking the Italian tactician with the Real Madrid job.
Arsenal survive FA Cup scare
Elsewhere in Europe, Arsenal narrowly avoided a humiliating FA Cup exit after heavily rotating their starting XI against Mansfield Town.
With a crucial Champions League round-of-16 tie looming, the Gunners required a late goal and the emergency introduction of several first-team regulars to secure progression.
Premier League rivals Chelsea enjoyed a far more comfortable weekend, abruptly ending Wrexham’s cup fairytale with a commanding performance.
Yamal extends Barcelona advantage
In Spain, Lamine Yamal continued his extraordinary rise by guiding Barcelona to a crucial La Liga victory over Athletic Club.
The teenage sensation was instrumental throughout the contest, demonstrating exactly why he is considered the most promising young talent in world football.
That triumph extends the Catalan giants’ lead at the league summit to four points ahead of defending champions Real Madrid.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side remain in close pursuit despite continuing a recent trend of unconvincing domestic victories.
Charles Oliveira secured the BMF title by smothering Max Holloway in a grappling-heavy main event that ultimately disappointed fans at UFC 326 in Las Vegas.
The highly anticipated matchup was widely expected to be a breathless contender for fight of the year.
Instead, the Brazilian submission specialist utilised his superior ground game to constantly stifle the Hawaiian striker.
Spectators were treated to a methodical wrestling clinic rather than the chaotic entertainment usually associated with the symbolic championship.
Undercard provides explosive finishes
Fortunately, the supporting bouts delivered several moments of genuine excitement to salvage an otherwise frustrating evening.
Drew Dober extended his own remarkable record for the most knockouts in lightweight division history.
The veteran southpaw crushed Michael Johnson with a devastating straight left hand in the second round to register his 11th career stoppage.
Earlier in the night, Gregory Rodrigues secured spectacular revenge against Brunno Ferreira.
Debutants make an immediate impact
Rodrigues needed only a single thunderous right hand to knock out his middleweight rival in the opening round.
The brutal finish perfectly avenged a previous knockout defeat the imposing fighter suffered against his compatriot in 2023.
In the featherweight division, highly touted prospect Alberto Montes made a flawless introduction to the premier mixed martial arts promotion.
The newcomer battered Ricky Turcios aggressively before securing a brilliant second-round victory via his signature anaconda choke.
Light heavyweight Rodolfo Bellato also added to the evening’s highlight reel by securing a rapid first-round technical knockout over Luke Fernandez.
Former England striker Gary Lineker has urged struggling Tottenham Hotspur to replace caretaker manager Igor Tudor with former boss Harry Redknapp to avoid Premier League relegation.
Spurs are currently just one point above the drop zone following a disastrous run of domestic form.
The north London club have lost three consecutive matches since the Croatian coach replaced Thomas Frank last month.
Their latest defeat came at home to Crystal Palace on Thursday, where a dramatic late collapse saw them concede three goals in 10 minutes.
A crisis of confidence
The capitulation against the Eagles was compounded by a red card for stand-in captain Micky van de Ven.
Reports suggest the dressing room is fractured, with Sky Sports claiming players are seething about the current situation behind the scenes.
Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Lineker insisted a radical change is necessary before a daunting trip to Liverpool this weekend.
‘A big personality’
The Match of the Day presenter believes bringing back a familiar face could provide the psychological boost required to secure top-flight survival.
Lineker stated that a bold appointment is needed to immediately lift the toxic atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“Honestly, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to bring someone like Harry Redknapp in,” said Lineker.
“I know it sounds a bit mad and he’s been out of the game for a while, but you know what he’s like, that big personality, lifting everybody in a moment of crisis.”
The case for a veteran return
The 77-year-old has been absent from professional management since leaving Birmingham City in 2017.
However, his reputation as an elite man-manager makes him an intriguing short-term option for a squad severely lacking belief.
With only nine games remaining to preserve their Premier League status, the Spurs hierarchy faces a defining decision.