Chelsea supporters will stage an unprecedented protest march against the club’s BlueCo ownership ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
The supporter group ‘Not A Project CFC’ intends to hold a peaceful demonstration down Wembley Way before the showpiece event.
Organisers anticipate thousands of attendees will participate in the march to express their profound disillusionment with the current hierarchy.
Fans also plan to turn their backs on the pitch during the 22nd minute of the match.
This specific timing is a symbolic gesture marking the year the American consortium took control of the West London side.
Unrest amid Wembley showcase
Protesting at a major domestic cup final highlights the severe fracture between the Stamford Bridge faithful and their corporate leadership.
The primary grievances centre around Behdad Eghbali and Todd Boehly, who are accused of running the institution purely as an investment vehicle.
David Cook, a lifelong fan and key organiser of the demonstration, acknowledged the unusual nature of protesting during a cup final.
“I know it will look strange to some supporters. You reach the FA Cup final and it’s a sign of success, but this is about how the club is being run,” Cook stated.
“This is our club, we are passionate and we support our team. We want it back.”
Cook also noted that the visual nature of the protest aims to serve as a stark warning to any potential future investors.
Managerial instability and academy concerns
The Blues are currently searching for their fifth permanent manager of the BlueCo era following a turbulent period in the dugout.
Despite securing the Club World Cup and Europa Conference League recently, the current domestic campaign has largely been mired in mid-table mediocrity.
Supporters have grown increasingly frustrated by the boardroom’s treatment of homegrown academy graduates, who are frequently sold to balance financial ledgers.
Cook emphasised that the constant churn of both playing staff and head coaches has completely eroded trust in the overarching project.
“From managerial appointments, treating academy graduates badly and trading them as assets while selling bits of the club to themselves, this is all wrong,” added the 34-year-old.
“Mauricio Pochettino did quite well and then Enzo Maresca did very well, but they reached a point where they questioned the ownership, and they were gone.”
The capital club will face a formidable challenge on the pitch this weekend, entering the clash against Pep Guardiola’s dominant side as heavy underdogs.
Manchester United are exploring a summer transfer for Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde following his reported training ground altercation with team-mate Aurelien Tchouameni.
The 27-year-old Uruguay international has been sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a concussion during the incident in the Spanish capital.
He was forced to issue a public apology, but club officials reportedly remain frustrated and could sanction a sale ahead of the new campaign.
Dressing room divide at the Bernabeu
Senior figures within the squad have allegedly sided with Tchouameni over the dispute and are open to Valverde departing.
United had previously shown interest in the French World Cup winner as they look to bolster their midfield options.
However, the former Monaco man is reluctant to leave after receiving the unwavering backing of his current employers.
Consequently, the English side are now monitoring Valverde’s increasingly uncertain situation closely.
Midfield rebuild at Old Trafford
Securing two high-calibre midfielders has become a priority for the Premier League outfit this summer.
Veteran Brazilian Casemiro is set to depart at the end of the season, while Manuel Ugarte is also expected to be sold to the highest bidder.
The Uruguayan vice-captain is contracted to Los Blancos until 2029 and would likely command a substantial transfer fee.
Other targets on the Old Trafford shortlist reportedly include Elliot Anderson, Carlos Baleba and Adam Wharton.
Despite his recent domestic troubles, the midfielder has won 73 international caps and remains a key figure for his national side.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has agreed a contract extension until 2028 after leading the Catalan club to their 29th La Liga title.
The 61-year-old German was already committed for next season but has now added a further year to his deal, which includes an option for an additional 12 months.
Sunday’s decisive victory over rivals Real Madrid secured the domestic league crown with three games to spare.
Historic points tally in sight
The triumph marks the former Bayern Munich boss’s second consecutive league championship since replacing Xavi in the summer of 2024.
The reigning Spanish champions now have the opportunity to end a dominant campaign on a remarkable 100 points.
“I’m really happy about this,” Flick said.
“They have given me and my team the confidence to work one or two years more.”
Shorter terms preferred
The seasoned tactician expressed his preference for shorter-term commitments despite the security that longer deals provide.
“A lot of coaches would be happy if they get a contract of three, four or five years, but in Barca’s case it’s good to limit it. I really appreciate it a lot.”
“We go to 2028 and then we’ll see if everything is right, and, if so, we can decide on one more year,” he added.
“The club has the right, and I have the right – I think it’s a good deal.”
Emotional weekend for the manager
The recent title celebrations followed a difficult weekend for the head coach, whose father passed away shortly before the decisive fixture.
A poignant minute’s silence was observed prior to kick-off on Sunday in a show of respect.
Since arriving at the Nou Camp, the serial winner has enjoyed immense success, having also lifted the Copa del Rey during his debut campaign.
His glittering managerial resume also includes a historic sextuple with the Bavarian giants in 2020, featuring both the Champions League and Club World Cup trophies.
Jon Rahm insists he has no regrets over joining LIV Golf, despite Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund withdrawing financial support for the breakaway circuit at the end of the year.
The long-term survival of the Saudi-backed venture remains in serious doubt after its primary benefactors announced plans to end their massive financial backing.
However, the Spaniard says he will not rewrite history regarding his controversial choice to leave the traditional establishment.
“I would say I’ve made a lot of decisions in my life and I’ve never gone back thinking ‘Oh, had I known this again, I would do X and Y different’,” said Rahm.
“If I lived my life like that as a golfer, I would be a very pessimistic person.”
Speculating on what could have been different makes little sense to the 31-year-old, who remains firmly focused on what he can control.
Securing his Ryder Cup future
While five-time major winner Brooks Koepka successfully negotiated a return to the PGA Tour following a December rule change, his fellow rebel opted to remain under his lucrative long-term contract.
Instead, the two-time major champion recently secured an agreement with the DP World Tour.
This crucial deal ensures he retains his European membership and vital eligibility for next year’s Ryder Cup.
With his immediate team future secured, the former world number one is eager to concentrate on claiming a third major title at this week’s US PGA Championship.
“It is something we’ve had to deal with but it’s just some things that are out of my control,” he added regarding the boardroom uncertainty.
He admits that fixing a struggling business is not among his talents, leaving that responsibility entirely to the executives in charge.
“I have faith in the work that they’re doing. I have faith that they’re going to come up with a good plan.”
Jon Rahm
McIlroy welcomes changing landscape
The sudden withdrawal of Saudi funding, which has exceeded £4bn since 2022, has drawn varying reactions from the sport’s biggest names.
Rory McIlroy, a staunch traditionalist and outspoken critic of the rebel league, expressed relief at the dramatic shift in professional golf.
The Northern Irishman openly admitted he was glad to be wrong about his previous calls for the PGA Tour to strike a compromise deal with their rivals.
“I think everyone knows, like with everything that’s happening in the Middle East, that had a lot to do with it,” McIlroy noted.
He added that tying the sport’s financial future to a volatile geopolitical landscape was always going to be a risky endeavour.
“Whenever you have funding tied so much to the geopolitical landscape in the world, that’s a tricky road.”
Hearts hold a slender one-point advantage over defending champions Celtic as the Scottish Premiership title race enters its dramatic final week.
The Jambos are seeking to secure their first top-flight crown since 1960.
A triumph for Derek McInnes’ side would also end the long-standing Old Firm dominance.
Midweek fixtures could prove decisive
The Edinburgh club host Falkirk at a sold-out Tynecastle Park on Wednesday night.
Simultaneously, Martin O’Neill’s Celtic will travel to Fir Park to face Motherwell.
A victory for the league leaders combined with a defeat for the Hoops would secure the championship with a game to spare.
Otherwise, the campaign will be decided in a massive weekend showdown between the two challengers at Parkhead.
Unshakeable belief at Tynecastle
Aberdeen were the last team outside of Glasgow’s big two to win the division back in 1985.
Despite the historical odds, the 54-year-old Hearts boss remains fully convinced his squad can make history.
I have believed for a while that we’ve got a team that’s capable of winning the league.
Derek McInnes
People talk about mentality and how they cope, but I think the facts show we’re coping brilliantly.
Derek McInnes
The former Aberdeen manager stressed that his players must treat their clash with Falkirk as a final rather than a stepping stone.
Cruel injury blows strike leaders
The title charge has been hit by severe injury setbacks for two key squad members.
Marc Leonard and Craig Halkett have both undergone surgery after rupturing their Achilles tendons against Motherwell.
The stricken pair are now expected to be sidelined until 2027.
However, McInnes hopes the loss of the duo in such cruel fashion can provide an extra source of motivation for the rest of the dressing room.
Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy has admitted he was wrong to push for a merger between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund following the sudden withdrawal of LIV Golf’s financial backing.
The Northern Irishman previously urged golf’s rival factions to strike a definitive agreement and reunify the men’s professional game.
However, the sporting landscape dramatically shifted on 30 April when the PIF announced it would cease funding the breakaway circuit beyond the current season.
Middle East conflicts force PIF withdrawal
The sovereign wealth fund has reportedly spent more than $5bn on the rival league since its controversial inception in June 2022.
Ongoing geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East have now prompted the Saudi organisation to refocus its vast investments on domestic programmes.
Speaking ahead of the US PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club, the four-time major winner candidly addressed his change of heart.
“I’m glad I was wrong. I can admit when I’m wrong, and that was one that I did get wrong.”
LIV Golf left in a precarious spot
The 35-year-old revealed he had suspected the PIF might alter its ambitious sporting strategy due to the unstable global situation.
“Whenever you have funding tied so much to the geopolitical landscape in the world, that’s a tricky road to navigate. The PIF’s priorities shifted, and that leaves LIV in a pretty precarious spot.”
Just months earlier, the European Ryder Cup star had actively encouraged executives to finalise a proposed deal that would have injected $1.5bn into PGA Tour Enterprises.
Former tour commissioner Jay Monahan even met with US President Donald Trump in February to accelerate federal approval for the now-abandoned reunification.
Search for new investors begins
LIV Golf chief executive Scott O’Neil is now finalising a revised business model as he desperately seeks alternative investors to keep the franchise-based league afloat.
The former world number one noted that he first heard murmurs of the impending financial collapse as early as March.
He was alerted to the shifting tides by his close friend Ricky McCormick, who caddies for LIV golfer Tom McKibbin on the rival circuit.
Rory McIlroy has explained his decision to skip the Cadillac Championship in order to attend a White House state dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump.
The Northern Irishman is currently preparing for this week’s PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
He is aiming to secure his seventh major title, which would establish him as the outright most successful European golfer of the modern era.
The 37-year-old enters the prestigious tournament in remarkable form after clinching back-to-back Masters titles at Augusta last month.
Embracing the perks of success
The reigning Masters champion chose to miss the tour event at Trump Doral following an exclusive diplomatic invitation.
He joined dignitaries at the White House for a state dinner marking the official visit of King Charles to the United States.
“I know how fortunate I am and so lucky to be in this position in life and sometimes you have to enjoy the perks because I know that this isn’t going to last forever,” he explained.
“There’s going to be a day where I’m not sitting up here and I’m not competing for major championships and I’m not doing what I’m doing. So I guess while I’m doing it, I have to enjoy it.”
Chasing European golfing history
A victory in south-west Philadelphia would see the world-class golfer permanently surpass Sir Nick Faldo’s modern major record.
He currently shares the milestone with the English great, sitting just behind Jersey-born Harry Vardon who claimed seven titles before the Masters or PGA Championship existed.
The Aronimink contender holds a formidable record at this specific major after triumphing in both the 2012 and 2014 editions.
He also retains the record for the largest winning margin in PGA Championship history following an eight-shot demolition of the field.
Renewed motivation for major glory
After conquering Augusta National once again, the European star admitted to briefly struggling with his competitive drive.
“I need to take the time after the Masters to reset and decompress and get myself in the right mental space again to get myself up for this tournament,” he noted.
The history-chasing athlete recently made a cameo appearance in the Devil Wears Prada 2 movie, demonstrating his desire to embrace unique lifestyle opportunities outside the sport.
“I was tentatively planning to play Doral and then I got invited to that White House state dinner the night before on a Tuesday night, which I thought was a wonderful opportunity,” he revealed.
By taking the week away from competition to practice, the defending Masters champion believes he is perfectly prepared to tackle the Aronimink course.
MMA pioneer Gina Carano will return to the sport after a 17-year absence to face fellow trailblazer Ronda Rousey in a 2026 event broadcast live on Netflix.
The highly anticipated bout will headline the first mixed martial arts card promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
It marks a generational clash between two of the most significant figures in the history of women’s combat sports.
A return to combat roots
The 44-year-old has spent the last two decades building a successful acting career, most notably starring in the Star Wars television series ‘The Mandalorian’.
However, the former Strikeforce title challenger is eager to remind a modern audience of her extensive combat sports pedigree.
Carano made history in 2009 when she and Cris Cyborg became the first women to headline a major televised event on Showtime.
“I get to revive and reveal the fighting side of me because a lot of people either forgot or weren’t around the last time I fought,” Carano said.
“I’ve heard people say Ronda Rousey is fighting the girl from ‘The Mandalorian’.”
“No, I had a whole life that opened the doors to those movie opportunities, and it was me being a fighter, a genuine fighter who broke a lot of barriers.”
Overcoming past adversity
To secure a victory, the American athlete must rediscover the fierce competitive edge that defined her early career in underground gym bouts.
Her longtime coach John Wood insists that the Hollywood star is returning to the cage for the right reasons.
“She does not need to fight for money or fame,” Wood explained.
“She does it because she is a natural-born fighter.”
Rewriting history
The veteran’s final MMA appearance ended in a devastating defeat to Cyborg in August 2009, resulting in the only blemish on her professional record.
Despite that setback, the fighter views her previous struggles as essential stepping stones to this monumental comeback.
“It’s so interesting when some of the worst moments of my life have opened up the best opportunities,” she added.
“Everything I’ve gone through leading to this point already feels like a victory, but I’m not fighting Ronda just to say I fought Ronda Rousey. I’m fighting to win.”