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DeutschElite clubs lobby Uefa for bigger Champions League squads but face opposition
Clubs in favour say squads of 28 would reduce injury risk
Critics fear move would deepen hoarding of top talent
Elite clubs are lobbying Uefa to expand the size of Champions League squads to 28, arguing it would reduce the risk of injuries. The calls have come at the highest level of the European game and prompted fears that it would deepen the hoarding of top talent.
At a meeting of Uefa’s club competitions committee (CCC) last month, clubs argued that the cap of 25 players should be increased. It is not a view shared by all 16 clubs represented on the CCC, with some strongly against expansion.
Continue reading...Barça: Double blow against Atlético
Barça: Double blow against Atlético
The scenario was already complicated. It turned downright cruel. Knocked out by Atlético Madrid in the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi-finals, FC Barcelona has also lost two key players to injury.
Everything changed very early in the match. In the 13th minute, Jules Koundé sat down on the pitch, unable to continue. The first major setback for Hansi Flick's men, who were already facing the daunting task of overturning a heavy 0-4 deficit from the first leg. To replace him, the staff brought on Alejandro Balde. But fate had more in store: in the second half, the left-back also had to leave his teammates, struck down in turn.
Meanwhile, hope briefly switched sides. Thanks to a brace from Marc Bernal and a goal by Raphinha, Barça long believed in a historic comeback. But it was not to be. Atlético held firm and booked their ticket to the final. Beyond the elimination, concern now reigns in Catalonia. Upcoming medical tests will determine the full extent of the damage.
Report: Barcelona pushing to sign Tottenham Hotspur star this summer - Yahoo Sports Canada
FIA eases Australia GP curfews as F1 teams reroute staff
Formula 1's season opening Australian Grand Prix looks set to go ahead without major disruptions after teams arrived in Melbourne despite the on-going conflict in the Middle East.
The joint US-Israel attack on Iran, which has led to retaliatory strikes on Middle Eastern nations including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain, has dominated world news in recent days.
As the official civilian death toll crossed 1,000 on Wednesday according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, widespread travel disruptions among the Middle East's key travel hubs of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are just a footnote that pales into insignificance.
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How latest Iran-US war is impacting F1 and WEC
But the region's shutdown still posed a few challenges for F1 personnel making the trip to Australia for this weekend's season opener in Melbourne.
As teams rerouted staff, Motorsport.com understands F1 also booked three alternative charter flights through Tanzania and Singapore to ensure personnel key to the running of the event would make it to Melbourne in time, with most arriving by Tuesday evening.
None of the teams contacted by Motorsport.com reported any operational issues as a result of the delayed arrivals, but they did collectively ask the FIA to relax the usual curfews in place during a grand prix weekend.
On Wednesday, the governing body announced that "due to force majeure" it would not enforce the standard curfews on Wednesday and Thursday night that keeps personnel involved in running the cars out of the paddock.
"We wish to inform you that, following consultation with the stewards of the meeting, due to force majeure and specifically ongoing travel and freight disruptions experienced in the preparation of the Australian Grand Prix, the provisions of Article B9.5.1a i.e. “Restricted Period 1” and Article B9.5.1b i.e. “Restricted Period 2” shall not apply at this Competition," the FIA communicated.
Per F1's sporting regulations, those periods correspond to Wednesday and Thursday night:
“Restricted Period One”: Commencing forty-two (42) hours prior to the scheduled start of FP1 and ending twenty-nine (29) hours prior to the scheduled start of FP1.
“Restricted Period Two”: Commencing eighteen (18) hours prior to the scheduled start of FP1 and ending four (4) hours prior to the scheduled start of FP1.
McLaren and Mercedes team members due to test in Bahrain for Pirelli have all left the country.
Mercedes and McLaren staff leave Bahrain after cancelled Pirelli test
Staff from Mercedes and McLaren who were temporarily stuck in Bahrain have all been able to leave the country. The two teams were scheduled to conduct a planned Pirelli tyre test at the Bahrain International Circuit, which was called off after the US Navy Fifth Fleet's headquarters in the capital Manama was struck by Iranian drones and missiles.
But it is understood the crew involved were all evacuated from the Gulf state safely earlier this week, with some travelling onwards to Melbourne.
What's next for F1's Bahrain and Saudi Arabian rounds
F1 said it would continue monitoring the developing Iran situation in the coming days and weeks as a decision will soon be due on whether or not the upcoming grands prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia can go ahead as planned.
Earlier this week, the FIA World Endurance championship decided to call off its pre-season test and season opener in Qatar, which was set to take place in two weeks from now. F1 has a bigger, five-week window until it sets up shop in Bahrain, but due to logistical requirements it won't be able to wait very long to make a final decision.
The most likely scenario appears to be that F1 uses the one-week window between the China and Japan rounds to make a final call on whether a visit to the Middle East is at all viable, or whether it drops the two rounds in Bahrain and Jeddah. But despite rampant speculation, it seems unfeasible for F1 to replace its Middle Eastern rounds with last-minute races elsewhere given the logistical and commercial realities involved.
Commenting on the situation, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said: "With the ongoing situation in the Middle East, it seems trivial to talk about sport. We watch the developing events in the region with concern and hope that the protection of civilian life remains paramount.
"With the planned tyre test in Bahrain, we have had several team members affected who thankfully have now been able to leave the country safely."With such a serious situation unfolding, it would be unhelpful to talk about the possible further impact on F1 over the coming weeks; we know that the FIA and F1 will continue to monitor events and make the necessary and correct decisions as and when they need to."
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WEC postpones 2026 opener due to Middle East conflict
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Australian F1 fans frustrated by Kayo Sports’ new broadcast deal
Formula 1 has extended its broadcasting agreement with Kayo Sports, and the decision isn’t going down well with Australian fans.
Foxtel first secured the F1 rights back in 2015, which brought an end to free-to-air coverage. The company later launched its streaming service, Kayo Sports, in 2018.
The initial deal was renewed in 2022 through to the end of 2026. Now, just before this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, both sides have announced that the partnership will be continuing into 2027 and beyond.
Kayo Sports deal extension disappoints Australian F1 fans
The official F1 Media account announced the news on X, but Australian fans didn’t hold back in the comments.
One person said: “Nooooooooo. We wanted Apple TV.”
Apple recently picked up the rights to show F1 in the United States, using F1TV coverage.
Others complained about the price, with one calling Kayo ‘prohibitively expensive’ and another saying the ‘exorbitant’ packages made it ‘impossible’ for younger fans to start watching the sport.
A basic Kayo plan is $29.99 a month, while premium is $45.99. Another person predicted: “Another price hike coming soon.”
Others chimed in with comments like ‘worst possible decision, should go to Apple TV or Stan’ and ‘well that’s ruined my day’. It’s worth noting that the Australian GP will continue to be shown for free by Network 10.
Fans’ claims of Sky Sports bias led Kayo Sports to add F1TV option
Kayo Sports added an F1TV commentary option for the last four races of the 2025 season. Up until then, they had only carried the Sky Sports UK feed, but the change gave viewers a new audio choice for Sunday’s coverage.
The move came after some fans accused David Croft and Martin Brundle, the main Sky commentary duo, of showing bias toward British driver Lando Norris over teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri.
Croft has maintained ties with Mark Webber, suggesting there was no real issue from Piastri’s side.
Brundle has been open about his view that Piastri needs to get better on low-grip circuits if he wants to win a title, calling his 2025 campaign “partly painful, partly brilliant.”
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