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Euro 2024 qualifying: VAR confusion reigns as Scotland lose in Seville

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Euro 2024 qualifying: VAR confusion reigns as Scotland lose in Seville

THE two giant screens inside Seville’s Estadio de La Cartuja, a pair of roja harbingers of doom, flashed up ‘VAR check in progress’.

Beneath one of them, a navy blue sea of bobbing arms and swinging legs shuddered to a bone-trembling halt as they gazed upwards. First to the screen, then to the heavens.

Seconds earlier, Scott McTominay’s sensational whipped free-kick looked to have the Scots 1-0 up with half an hour to play in Spain. Half an hour from the European Championships. Half an hour from history.

Yet, referee Serdar Gozubuyuk and his VAR team had other ideas. As soon as the Dutch official trotted to the pitchside monitor, Scotland’s luck, which had been wielded with some sorcery all evening, eventually deserted them.

Confusion reigned in the immediate melee, and even in the aftermath there appeared to be little clarity as to why the goal, which was then followed by two at the other end to delay the visitors’ qualification, was ruled out.

“That changes the whole night,” manager Steve Clarke told BBC Scotland.

Clarke’s side, who just needed a point to reach Germany next year, had more than a bit of luck during a dogged defensive display in a first half during which captain Andy Robertson departed through injury.

But the complexion of this game changed when McTominay lashed into the top corner only for it to not count. Was Jack Hendry offside? Did he interfere with play? Did he foul the Spain goalkeeper?

“McTominay’s fine free-kick is so close to being a super goal,” said Clarke.

“Initially, Jack is a centimetre offside. Then when he steps towards the keeper they’ve asked the referee to look at it. They’ve interpreted Jack as interfering with the keeper. I’m not sure the goalie is saving that shot anyway.”

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Scotland midfielder John McGinn claimed the referee changed his mind, adding: “Every Scottish person would be frustrated watching that. The goal, you think you’ve got a goal to qualify. Unbelievable strike from Scotty. No keeper in the world is saving that.

“The referee decides it’s a foul. During the game he changes his mind to say it’s an offside. Not sure how clear that is. That’s the thing that stings really. We get the big moment, we score. Jack’s right leg is offside, but it’s very, very harsh.”

Watching from his lofty perch in the press box, BBC Sport Scotland pundit Steven Thompson said: “You’re kidding me. You are kidding me. From such a high to a low in seconds.”

Former Scotland talisman James McFadden added on Sportscene: “The referee points for a foul. It’s not a foul, for a start.

“And then it seems to be disallowed for interfering from an offside position. Jack Hendry is in an offside position, and he does make contact with the goalkeeper so technically he is interfering.

“But does the goalkeeper have any intent to come and get it? I don’t think he does.”

Sadly for the Scots, it triggered a downward spiral of disappointment that grew as the game went on.

Alvaro Morata steered in the opener with his head, Ryan Porteous slid a clearance into his own net as he scrambled to clear, while Che Adams failed to take a glorious chance which would have levelled the game.

Now it’s all eyes on Norway against Spain on Sunday, with anything but a Norwegian winning sending Clarke’s team, who themselves have two games left, to Germany.

“Scotland will feel fed up tonight, that’s two losses in a row but it’s Spain and England,” said former Scotland winger Pat Nevin.

“You could see what Scotland were trying to do. It was a grown-up plan which didn’t quite come off.

“Steve Clarke can say to the players: ‘If we beat Georgia, we’re through.’ You’d have taken that at the start of the campaign.”

BBC

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BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025

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Super Eagles players

BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have secured their qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, following Libya’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali.

This result leaves Rwanda with five points from five matches, rendering them unable to surpass Nigeria in the standings, even if they win their upcoming match against the Super Eagles in Uyo.

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Currently, Nigeria leads Group D with 10 points, followed by Benin with six points, Rwanda with five, and Libya at the bottom with four points.

Benin remains in contention for the second qualification spot and will face Nigeria in a crucial match tonight.

Libya is set to host Benin in the final Group D game on Monday.

 

BREAKING: Super Eagles qualify for AFCON 2025

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Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul

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Mike Tyson and Jake Paul

Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul

Nearly 40 years after making his professional debut, and 19 years after being battered into retirement, a 58-year-old Mike Tyson will climb back into the ring on Friday for a Netflix-backed bout that has drawn widespread condemnation across the boxing world.

Tyson, who terrorised the heavyweight division during an imperious reign in the late 1980s, is lacing up the gloves once more to take on Youtuber Jake Paul, 27, in an officially sanctioned fight at AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas.

The fight, which will be comprised of eight two-minute rounds, was initially due to take place in July but was postponed in May after Tyson required medical treatment on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles after vomiting blood due to a bleeding ulcer.

That gory mid-air emergency has provided another piece of ammunition for the numerous critics who have condemned Friday’s contest as a macabre circus act that poses an unacceptable level of risk for Tyson, who last graced a professional ring in 2005, when he was beaten via a technical knockout after quitting on his stool against Irish journeyman Kevin McBride.

– ‘It shouldn’t be happening’ –

“Twenty years ago, Mike Tyson retired from boxing, and was shot to pieces, right? I mean, completely shot,” the prominent British fight promoter Eddie Hearn said this week.

“If anyone thinks that Mike Tyson should be in a ring at this age, you either have absolutely no emotional feelings toward the man, or you’re an idiot. It shouldn’t be happening.”

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Hearn’s rival promoter Frank Warren echoed those sentiments.

“Mike Tyson is 58 years of age and he shouldn’t be fighting,” Warren said after the bout was announced. “It’s as simple as that.

“Anyone with an ounce of brains knows that it is ridiculous. You can be on a motorway stuck in a traffic jam and you get to the end of it and all it is is people who have stopped to look at a crash — and that’s what this is.”

Tyson, who US reports say is being paid around $20 million for Friday’s contest, has brushed off the concerns for his wellbeing, insisting when critics from the boxing world are motivated by jealousy.

“I’m beautiful, that’s all I can say,” he said earlier this year. “The people who said that wish they were up here. No-one else can do this.”

Mike Tyson back in ring to face Youtuber Paul

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Alleged fraud: South Africa FA President, Danny Jordaan, arrested

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South African Football Association (SAFA) President Danny Jordaan

Alleged fraud: South Africa FA President, Danny Jordaan, arrested

South African Football Association (SAFA) President Danny Jordaan was arrested on Wednesday amid allegations that he misused the organization’s funds for personal purposes, as reported by local media.

Jordaan, renowned for his pivotal role in securing South Africa as the host for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, sought to block his arrest on Tuesday by filing an urgent application.

However, the Johannesburg High Court is scheduled to hear his case only on Thursday, leaving him vulnerable to arrest.

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The arrest stems from a raid by police on the SAFA offices in March, after which police spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the allegations are that “between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain, including hiring a private security company for his personal protection and a public relations company, without authorisation from the SAFA board.”

Jordaan, 73, and his reported co-accused, SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, are due to appear in court later on Wednesday.

Neither Jordaan nor SAFA responded to a request for comment from Reuters, but in his affidavit to court seeking to block his arrest, he denies any wrongdoing.

Alleged fraud: South Africa FA President, Danny Jordaan, arrested

(Reuters)

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