SOCCER
Real Madrid boycott
Real Madrid lashed out at the Copa del Rey final referees on the eve of yesterday’s match, labeling complaints about pressure from the club’s television channel “unacceptable” and boycotting all planned prematch activities in protest. Real Madrid refused to take part in the usual press conference, the open training in front of media, the traditional presidents’ dinner and a pre-match photo-call. This week, the club’s television channel aired a video attacking the referee for the final at La Cartuja in Seville. Madrid took particular issue with the final’s VAR referee Pablo Gonzalez Fuertes suggesting referees were “united” and looking to take collective action against the pressure they had received from Real Madrid TV. Madrid said his words had “a threatening tone” and suggested action would be taken that was “far removed from the principles of fairness, objectivity and impartiality” necessary for the final. Los Blancos published an open letter in February claiming Spanish refereeing was “rigged” and “completely discredited.”
SOCCER
Chelsea’s high hopes
Chelsea have a mountain to climb as they seek to overturn a 4-1 deficit against Barcelona today to reach the Women’s Champions League final. The two clubs are meeting at the semi-final stage of the competition for the third straight year. Barcelona have come out on top both times, going on to lift the trophy on both occasions. Last week’s painful defeat was just the second under Bompastor, who took over from Emma Hayes at the end of last season. Chelsea bounced back on Wednesday, beating Crystal Palace 4-0 to move within touching distance of a sixth successive Women’s Super League title. However, they have never won the Women’s Champions League — they finished as runners-up to Barcelona in 2021 and have lost four times at the semi-final stage. Chelsea have won only two of their previous 11 semi-final matches, while Barcelona have never lost a Women’s Champions League tie after winning the first leg. The winners would meet Arsenal or Lyon in the final in Lisbon on May 24.
RALLY
Drivers agree on swearing
World Championship Rally drivers have resolved a dispute with the sport’s governing body over when they can swear during a competition. The World Rally Drivers Alliance (WoRDA) had protested after Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux was fined 10,000 euros (US$11,364), with a further 20,000 euros suspended, for swearing in a television interview during Rally Sweden in February. They stayed silent, or spoke only in their own languages, in stage-end interviews at last month’s Kenya Safari Rally. Retired eight-time world champion codriver Julien Ingrassia, representing WoRDA, told DirtFish that a compromise had been reached ahead of this weekend’s round in the Canary Islands. “The rally will now be divided into two zones: one is a controlled zone, one is an uncontrolled zone,” he said. “The latter is based around heat-of-the-moment areas such as stage ends, onboard cars during the stages or on road sections. Controlled sections are, for example, the media zones and the post-event FIA press conferences.” The drivers had argued that the fines were vastly disproportionate to average incomes and budgets in rallying compared with Formula One, with some drivers not full-time professionals.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at
Logan O’Hoppe, Taylor Ward and Matthew Lugo homered, and the Los Angeles Angels spoiled Clayton Kershaw’s season debut, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-9 on Saturday night to take the first two games of the three-game series. Kershaw allowed three runs and threw 38 pitches in the first inning. The three-time National League Cy Young Award winner lasted four innings, giving up five runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Shoulder, toe and knee injuries limited Kershaw to seven games last season, and his 2025 debut was delayed as he recovered from multiple offseason surgeries. O’Hoppe had two hits with
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