Category Sports News

“This title run-in is going to be epic.”

That was the view of former Celtic striker Chris Sutton after he had just watched his former side stage a two-goal comeback in a seismic Old Firm derby.

However, even after that second-half fightback at the home of their city rivals, Hearts still ended the day as the big winners, watching the carnage unfold after grinding out another win 24 hours prior.

Following an enthralling 2-2 draw at Ibrox, Derek McInnes’ Scottish Premiership leaders are six points clear of Rangers and eight ahead of Celtic, who have a game in hand.

Motherwell also have a match to spare and sit fourth, 10 points adrift of the summit but within touching distance of the Glasgow pair.

When people expect Hearts to stall, they motor.

A 4-2 defeat to Rangers a fortnight ago seemed damaging at the time, but two weeks and two 1-0 wins later, it feels they are now in a stronger position than ever before with the finish line drawing closer.

Celtic face Aberdeen in their game in hand on Wednesday. If Martin O’Neill’s men win that, Hearts will still be five clear with nine to play.

Two of the Jambos’ next three fixtures are against the bottom two, with a visit from Dundee sandwiched in between.

Football is not played on paper, but McInnes’ side will be strong favourites to win each of their next three before Motherwell come to Tynecastle in their final pre-split encounter.

In the aftermath of Hearts’ narrow victory over Aberdeen on Saturday, former Hearts forward Ryan Stevenson said: “I think Hearts will win the league. I genuinely do.

“I cannot see them buckling. I cannot see them losing three or four games. I just can’t see Hearts losing the title now.”

Remaining opponents before split: Kilmarnock (A); Dundee (H); Livingston (A); Motherwell (H).

Some statement January business from Rangers was expected to propel them into being title favourites. Last month’s win over Hearts only added to that.

However, they are proving to become unpredictable under Danny Rohl and worries about the Ibrox side’s mentality are resurfacing.

Rangers have only lost once in the league under the German, who has done an impressive job to drag the team back into contention after Russell Martin’s dismal reign, but four draws in their past six league outings have prompted questions.

They lacked creativity in a goalless draw at Hibernian last month, surrendered leads to Motherwell and Celtic, and had to come from two down to rescue a point at bottom side Livingston.

Following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Celtic, former Rangers and Hearts midfielder Andy Halliday suggested Rohl might have regretted his second-half approach.

“Rangers completely dominated the first 45 minutes, played forward, played with loads of energy,” the Motherwell man said. “It was completely roles reversed in the second half.

“Is there an element of frustration from Rohl and his staff that it almost felt like Rangers tried to hold on to what they had instead of trying to continue what was working ever so successfully for them in the first half?”.

Remaining opponents before split: St Mirren (A); Aberdeen (H); Dundee Utd (H); Falkirk (A).

At half-time at Ibrox on Sunday, most had started to write off Celtic’s title hopes.

O’Neill’s side were heading for a second straight league defeat that would have left them nine points adrift off Hearts and five off Rangers.

Even with a game in hand, their chances felt slim. However, a rousing response from the reigning champions underlined their credentials.

As far as mentality goes, they have the manager and players most equipped at dealing with the psychological aspect of a title fight.

However, concerns about the team’s performance level will remain, even after an impressive fightback in Govan.

O’Neill’s side have now conceded the opening goal in five of their past seven games across all competitions, securing victories in three of those five matches.

“Celtic were so far second best in that first half,” former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said. “Rangers played so superbly well. They had so many opportunities to make it three, which almost certainly would’ve killed it off.

“O’Neill made a couple of changes and those changes made a massive difference. The one thing you will say about this Celtic team, it doesn’t matter where they are, they don’t give up.”

Remaining opponents before split: Aberdeen (A); Motherwell (H); Dundee Utd (A); Dundee (A); St Mirren (H).

The fact Motherwell are even in the title conversation in March highlights just how unbelievable this season has been.

The numbers Jens Berthel Askou’s men are posting are equally as mind-boggling following their comfortable 2-0 victory at home to Dundee United.

The Fir Park side have lost just once in their past 20 league matches. They have kept 14 clean sheets in that run, all while playing the most expansive football in the country.

They have already set a new club milestone for clean sheets in a single season and are on track to smash their record for goals conceded in a 38-game top-flight campaign.

A few too many draws at the start of the season is the reason they are not closer to summit, and that may mean they need to be faultless in their final fixtures to have a chance of winning their first top-tier title in almost 100 years.

They will play Hearts twice in their last six games, though, which forms part of a challenging finale to their season.

A win in their game in hand at Dundee next Saturday will move them to within seven points of the leaders, but they will then face top-six opposition in their final nine matches.

That said, Askou’s fearless side should embrace what could be a truly special conclusion to the season for a club who have not been Scottish champions since 1932.

Remaining opponents before split: Dundee (A); Celtic (A); Hibernian (H); Falkirk (H); Hearts (A).

In little over 100 days, the United States will co-host a football World Cup that Iran have qualified for.

On Saturday, the US attacked Iran as part of a joint operation with Israel, sparking retaliatory strikes across the Middle East.

So what could the conflict mean for Iran, for the US, and for what was already set to be a highly politicised World Cup?

Iran’s group matches in what would be their fourth consecutive World Cup are against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, then Egypt in Seattle.

The team were not withdrawn from the competition last summer when the US bombed three nuclear facilities in the country, but the head of its football federation has now reportedly cast doubt on their participation.

“With what happened… and with that attack by the United States, it is unlikely that we can look forward to the World Cup, but the sports chiefs are the ones who must decide on that,” Mehdi Taj is reported to have told Iranian television.

But in the aftermath of the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and amid huge uncertainty over the future political landscape in the country, predicting such a decision – or even who would make it – is impossible.

“For Tehran, this is not a short 12-day war or a contained round of escalation that can be paused and reset,” said Dr Sanam Vakil – director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at international affairs think-tank Chatham House.

“This new stage of conflict is existential and clearly about regime survival. It is also unlikely to end quickly.”

Fifa – football’s world governing body – has said it is monitoring developments but, at this stage, officials are privately saying they expect Iran to be at the World Cup. On Saturday, Fifa’s general secretary Mattias Grafstrom said “our focus is to have a safe World Cup with everybody participating.”

If Iran were to boycott the tournament, Fifa rules dictate they could be replaced with an alternative team from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Iraq, who could qualify anyway via a continental play-off at the end of the month, or the UAE, who missed out on qualification, would be favourites to step in.

Iran’s women’s team, meanwhile, are preparing for their first match of the Asia Cup in Australia. The squad trained as planned on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

The AFC said in a statement it continued to “closely monitor the recent developments in the Middle East during this challenging period”.

It added: “The AFC’s foremost priority remains the welfare, safety and security of all players, coaches, officials, and fans. In this regard, we are in close and regular contact with the Iran women’s national team and officials on the Gold Coast and are offering our full support and assistance.”

US President Donald Trump last year signed an executive order banning nationals from 12 countries – including Iran – from entering the US, citing an effort to manage security threats. World Cup players and coaching staff are exempt.

But if Iran do play, there is now likely to be even more scrutiny on safety around the team’s matches, and the squad’s planned training base in Arizona.

Security had to be increased at the 2022 World Cup when the country’s matches in Qatar – including against the US – took place against a backdrop of mass anti-government protests in Iran.

During their second match against Wales, there were even confrontations between fans with opposing views about Iran’s government, and given Trump’s hopes for regime change there, it is possible a similar scenario could play out this summer.

“We are in uncharted territory in that we are just over three months away from the start of the World Cup and the hosts have just launched a war of aggression against a participating country,” says Nick McGeehan of human rights advocacy group FairSquare.

“If Iran withdraws its team – an outcome that seems entirely plausible – Fifa is likely to breathe a sigh of relief given the scope for protest and unrest.”

But even if Iran are absent, security will be even more of a focus, especially given the event will also be used to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, and Trump is expected to be a highly visible presence, as he was at the Club World Cup and Ryder Cup last year.

The conflict began just days after US government officials were warned there could be “catastrophic” security consequences if the 11 US cities hosting matches do not receive funding that has been frozen amid a partial government shutdown, with preparations said to be behind schedule.

There has also been mounting concern over the use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency at the tournament, and an outbreak of cartel violence in neighbours and co-hosts Mexico.

Over the weekend, Andrew Giuliani – head of the White House’s World Cup taskforce – praised Trump’s strikes on Iran, posting on social media it would “make the world a safe place”.

“We’ll deal with soccer games tomorrow,” he added. “Tonight we celebrate [the Iranian people’s] opportunity for freedom.”

In December, Fifa awarded Trump its inaugural ‘Peace Prize’ at the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony, saying he had “played a pivotal role” in establishing a ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinians, and that he had sought to end other conflicts.

In the few weeks since, the US has taken military action in Venezuela, Nigeria and Iran, and has hinted at possible further operations in Greenland, fellow World Cup co-host Mexico, and Colombia – another participant in the tournament. In January, Trump also told Cuba to “make a deal” or face consequences.

Trump has fiercely defended his foreign policy, insisting he is acting in the United States’ interests.

Last month, Infantino defended the awarding of the ‘Peace Prize’, even appearing at the first meeting of the US President’s Board of Peace while wearing a Trump-themed ‘USA’ cap branded with ’45-47′ in reference to his terms of office.

Trump’s decision to attack Iran has received both support and condemnation, but what is certain is it will lead to more scrutiny of Fifa’s decision to align itself with him, with critics arguing it undermined the governing body’s political neutrality.

In January, 27 politicians from Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and Plaid Cymru signed a motion in parliament calling on international sporting bodies to consider expelling the US from major international competitions, including the World Cup. The motion said such events “should not be used to legitimise or normalise violations of international law by powerful states”.

The same month, an official from the German Football Association said it was time to consider a boycott of the 2026 World Cup in the wake of Trump’s actions.

Such demands could now be repeated, and there could also be calls by Gulf states for Iran to be punished for its retaliatory attacks on their territory.

Fifa insists as an organiser of football events it has a statutory duty to remain neutral, and this is not the first time it has come under pressure over the political actions of a World Cup host.

In 2018, the tournament went ahead in Russia despite the country annexing Crimea four years earlier. Russia also stood accused of cyber attacks, meddling in western elections and carrying out the Novichok nerve-agent attack in Salisbury.

Russia was eventually banned by Fifa in 2022 over its invasion of Ukraine, after a number of European countries refused to compete against it.

But Infantino has recently said the punishment has not worked, and that he wants it lifted. There is no sign he has any appetite to sanction the US, regardless of how controversial its foreign policy is.

Matthew Brennan became the first Briton since cycling great Sir Mark Cavendish to win the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne one-day race in Belgium.

The 20-year-old’s sprint finish was too much for his rivals as he surged to victory in the 195km race and followed Cavendish’s success in 2012 and 2015.

“I’ve ridden this race twice as a junior,” said Visma-Lease a Bike rider Brennan, who was able to ride despite a heavy fall on Saturday in Omloop Nieuwsblad.

“We’ve always stood at the finish line and watched all the pros at the time come through and do their race.

“To be in that situation now where I can put my hands up in the air and I’ve actually won the pro race is fantastic.

“Hopefully, more to come – that’s the ambition.”

Betfred Super League

Bradford Bulls (10) 18

Tries: Blake, Ryan 3 Goals: Milnes

Toulouse (6) 6

Ethan Ryan’s first Super League hat-trick helped Bradford Bulls register consecutive wins as they ended Toulouse’s 100% start.

The 29-year-old came up with three excellent finishes in the corner to take the game away from the French side, who had previously seen off Wakefield Trinity and Castleford Tigers to begin their first season in the competition in style.

The wind played havoc with the kicking of both sides, but Waqa Blake and Ryan’s first of the day, replying to Anthony Marion’s opening try, had Bulls’ noses in front at half-time.

The clash of two competition newcomers at Odsal was a tight and often scrappy affair, with the stiff wind playing a big part, but Ryan’s finishing proved decisive.

Toulouse had begun their first season in Super League with those two big wins and they went close to building a decent lead here too but Cesar Rouge’s early penalty in front of the posts was blown away by the breeze, then Lambert Belmas collided with a post and lost control as he looked certain to score the first try.

Rowan Milnes edged Bulls ahead with a penalty, his only success from five kicks, but Toulouse captain Marion went over to put his side in front, with Rouge converting.

A step, acceleration and determined finish from Blake levelled the scores and Bulls took the lead with the best move of the match. Connor Wynne’s rampaging run dragged in defenders, the ball was quickly switched left and Luke Hooley beautifully touched the ball on for Ryan to finish in the corner.

With the wind such a factor, Bulls played percentage rugby in the second half and it paid off as they drove the ball up under the posts and Ryan jumped to collect Milnes’ chip and then spin away from a poor tackle attempt by Paul Ulberg.

Bradford Bulls coach Kurt Haggerty told BBC Radio Leeds:

“It was long, scrappy and messy but it’s good to come out of the other side and win those games. We showed we can win ugly.

“You have to pay respect to Toulouse, they’re a really dogged and gritty team. So we had to be patient and probably didn’t move the ball as much as we have done, or planned to, but ultimately the work we did and our yardage laid a platform.

“We have a big two weeks coming up, which we just spoke about as a team so we have to keep doing that all season.

Bradford Bulls: Aekins; Wynne, Marsters, Blake, Ryan; Hooley, Milnes; Sutton, Ackers, Lewis, Chamberlain, Fulton, Mellor.

Replacements: Souter, Douglas, Doro, Peposhi.

Toulouse: Ashall-Bott; Laguerre, Jussaume, Rennie, Ulberg; Lacans, Rouge; Belmas, Hands, Dupree, Bretherton, Lima, Marion

Replacements: Cator, Butler, Roumanos, Wallace.