Football/Soccer 24-Hour Briefing
×Premier League Discipline
Chelsea and West Ham bbc.com have been fined £325,000 and £300,000 respectively for a "mass confrontation" between players in their match in January. The Football Association took action following the heated encounter that saw multiple players involved in the altercation.
Managerial Changes
West Brom skysports.com have sacked Eric Ramsay just 44 days after appointing him as head coach. The club made the decision following a poor run of results that left them struggling in the Championship table.
Champions League Drama
Bodø/Glimt espn.com pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history, knocking out last year's finalists Inter Milan 5-2 on aggregate. The Norwegian side's 2-1 victory in Milan was described as "one of the biggest shocks" in the competition's history. Alexander Sørloth espn.com scored a hat trick as Atlético Madrid secured their place in the last 16 with a 4-1 second-leg playoff win against Club Brugge.
Player Contracts & Transfers
Weston Mc Kennie espn.com is on the verge of signing a new contract with Juventus, sources have told ESPN. Meanwhile, Manchester United and Manchester City bbc.com are interested in signing Nottingham Forest players Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson, according to reports.
International Football
FIFA espn.com are monitoring the situation in Mexico but have "full confidence" the country can host World Cup games amid recent unrest and violence. Scotland fans bbc.com have secured FIFA approval to wear sporrans at the World Cup, with thousands expected to travel to the US for Scotland's first appearance in the tournament since 1998.
Scottish Premiership
Hearts bbc.com will be without defender Stuart Findlay for six weeks while record signing Eduardo Ageu will miss the rest of the season due to injuries. Celtic bbc.com were unsuccessful in their appeal against Auston Trusty's red card, though St Mirren's Richard King had his weekend dismissal overturned. Dundee United and Aberdeen skysports.com played out a goalless draw in a grim Scottish Premiership encounter.
Women's Football
England bbc.com will host Ukraine in their Women's World Cup qualifier at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in June. Caroline Weir bbc.com is "more determined than ever" to reach a World Cup after being installed as Melissa Andreatta's captain. Leah Williamson skysports.com suggested players would be willing to go on strike if their concerns over player welfare and playing schedules aren't addressed.
Club Ownership & Management
Multi-club ownership group bbc.com co-founder Victoire Cogevina Reynal has left Mercury13 five months after taking over Bristol City Women. John Terry bbc.com says he is "frustrated" at being overlooked for a caretaker role following Enzo Maresca's departure as head coach at Chelsea in January.
Security Concerns
US government officials bbc.com warned that there could be "catastrophic" security consequences if cities hosting World Cup matches do not receive funding that has been frozen. Portugal espn.com said Tuesday it was monitoring the situation in Mexico amid a surge in violence ahead of its friendly against the Mexican national team in March.
Player Performances
Johnny Cardoso espn.com said he had a "perfect" night on Tuesday after scoring in Atlético Madrid's 4-1 Champions League playoff second leg win over Club Brugge. Tristan Blackmon espn.com has signed a contract extension with Vancouver Whitecaps through the 2029-30 season.
League Analysis
Jamie O'Hara skysports.com has slammed the attitude and mentality of the Spurs squad and believes they "haven't got the stomach for a relegation fight." Ex-Tottenham midfielder skysports.com O'Hara broke down where Spurs went wrong in the North London Derby and why he fears for his former side's chances in the race for Premier League survival.
Other Football News
Shakhtar Donetsk chief executive espn.com Sergei Palkin has called on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to visit Ukraine and witness the destruction caused by war. Paris Saint-Germain defender espn.com Achraf Hakimi insists he will "allow the truth to come out publicly" after learning he is to face trial for an alleged rape.