O’Neill has three wins and a draw in seven matches as Rovers manager and they sit three points outside of the relegation zone with eight games remaining.

Just four points separate Rovers in 19th and Leicester City in 23rd. Tight is an understatement as five teams look to avoid the two remaining relegation spots.

“My objective is to go in and try and take Blackburn to a safer position in the Championship,” he told BBC Sport.

“We’ve managed to do that so far, but it’s very, very tight at that end.”

When asked how preparations would work if Northern Ireland qualified for the World Cup and his final game with Blackburn Rovers was on 2 May, O’Neill said his focus was on the immediate future.

He said he can “assure” Northern Ireland fans that “preparations will be as good as they have always been” for the play-offs.

“If we can get through the two games and we’re going to the World Cup then, trust me, we will be ready to go to the World Cup,” he said.

“Let’s deal with what’s at hand, which is definitely important.

“I’ll talk about the reality, which is we come into a World Cup play-off, as tough as we could have got, and we’ve got to do everything to try and win that game.”

England head coach Brendon McCullum (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Liam Livingstone has strongly criticised England’s team management, saying he felt a lack of respect and communication after being dropped from the national side in 2025. The England all-rounder revealed that he has not been part of the setup since March last year and now doubts whether he will return to the team under the current leadership.

Frustration with England management

Livingstone said he only received a brief call from head coach Brendon McCullum informing him that he had been left out of the squad for the West Indies series. The conversation, according to him, lasted barely a minute.“I asked why [I was dropped]. They said they wanted to try someone else. That was off Baz. Wrighty [outgoing selector Luke Wright] didn’t reach out, and Brooky [captain Harry Brook] sent me a text,” Livingstone told ESPNCricinfo.He also expressed disappointment with England’s managing director Rob Key for not communicating with him after the decision.“That probably sums that group up as a collective. Keysy [Rob Key] said nothing . [He] said I’ll speak to you in the summer. I actually rang him one day, and he said he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough. And then I didn’t hear from him until the end of September,” he added.“That was a bit of an eye-opening experience about the group and the regime: if you’re in, you’re in, and if you’re not in, no one cares about you. That put my mind at ease that my cricket was going to be more enjoyable going forward.”

Struggles with role in the team

Livingstone also recalled asking McCullum for help during the 2025 tour of India when he was struggling with form. However, he felt the advice he received was not helpful.“I was asking for help, and pretty much all I got was that I care too much and I need to chill out a little bit, and everything will take care of itself,” Livingstone said.“When things don’t go right, of course, you’re going to care; if I didn’t care, then I probably wouldn’t want to play the sport.”Another issue for him was constantly being moved around the batting order.“One of my frustrations with playing for England was that whenever I went up the order, I did really well. And then the big boys would come back, and I was always back down at No. 7,” he added.“At the end of the day, I don’t want to be someone that’s a sixth bowler and batting at No. 7. I feel like it’s a waste of my talent, but that’s only my opinion.”

Looking ahead to the IPL

Livingstone, who will play for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2026, was not selected for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. However, he said he did not feel disappointed about missing the tournament.“I didn’t miss it one bit,” he said. “There wasn’t any part of me that was wishing I was playing in that team, to be honest.”The all-rounder now hopes a strong IPL season can help him revive his career and possibly earn another chance with England.“Hopefully, I can have a season like the season I had in my first year at Punjab [Kings, in 2022] where I felt like I was playing really well and won loads of games from No. 4,” he said. “[IPL] is a very different experience to anything else throughout the year; it’s a long time away from home – but if you give it everything you’ve got, it can repay you very nicely.”

After Birdman’s effortless victory at Caulfield, jockey Ben Melham targets another Australian Cup conquest.

Melham will join forces with Chris Waller’s Irish import for the March 28 Flemington spectacle, having ridden the horse to the top in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) on Saturday.

Birdman ($3.30) notched a 1-¾ length win in the established Australian Cup pathfinder, beating Apulia ($11) with Bankers Choice ($41) half a head adrift in third.

The rider claimed successive Australian Cups (2000m) on Cascadian for Godolphin in 2023 and 2024, viewing Birdman as equipped for another Flemington 2000m success.

“I’ve had a bit to do with him early doors this preparation and the way he was going he was heading in the right direction to be competitive in an Australian Cup,” Melham said.

“And the more I have to do with him the more I think he can win it.

“He’s been a bit of a revelation the horse.

“He’s in the right stable and might have taken a bit of time to acclimatise, but he’s a very relaxed customer.

“He takes a bit of waking up but the ability is certainly there.”

Birdman, who tackled 2400m and longer in Ireland upon arrival, has been sharpened up by Waller over this preparation.

Melham suggested the gelding’s increased speed could make him ideal fresh for the mile-and-a-half.

“I don’t think the run will have hurt him at all,” Melham said.

“He just got into a lovely position, didn’t sort of spend any pennies until the last 250 metres and I felt he had the race at his mercy a long way out.

“He seems to be going really well at these shorter trips. He’ll be no worries at 2000 (metres), but maybe that’s the way to go with him, a bit of freshness in his legs, but I’ll leave that to the expert.”

Discover racing betting markets at the betting sites offering odds for Birdman ahead of the Australian Cup.

If you think ex-Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Laquon Treadwell is a bust, that’s a fair assessment — but the man sure has staying power in the NFL. Treadwell signed yet another contract last week, returning to the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year deal.

Treadwell’s unlikely NFL staying power rolled on again Friday.

As always, Treadwell will battle for a roster spot this summer at training camp and in the preseason.

Treadwell Is Back in Indianapolis

Ten years later, the Treadwell show continues.

Treadwell Back in IND

The former Vikings 1st-Rounder who just entered his 30s remains relevant in the big leagues.

Colts.com’s JJ Stankevitz announced Friday, “The Colts on Friday re-signed wide receiver and special teams ace Laquon Treadwell. The 30-year-old Treadwell has appeared in 12 games over the past two seasons with the Colts. He initially joined the Colts in training camp prior to the 2024 season, and was brought back on the practice squad in 2024 and then 2025 before he was signed to the 53-man roster in November.”

“Treadwell in 2025 played 36 snaps on offense and 141 snaps on special teams. While he didn’t record a reception, he did total eight special teams stops, contributing heavily on the Colts’ kickoff coverage (25.6 yards/return allowed, 13th in NFL) and punt coverage (6.3 yards/return allowed, 2nd) units.”

Minnesota picked Treadwell with the 23rd overall pick in 2016.

Stankevitz added, “Within the Colts’ locker room, Treadwell is a highly respected player. A 2016 first-round pick who played for five other franchises (Vikings, Falcons, Jaguars, Seahawks, Ravens), Treadwell has committed to making an impact on special teams while playing into his 30s.”

The Colts’ WR Corps

Indianapolis made two sizable splashes last week at wide receiver, signing Alec Pierce to an unholy huge contract, at least compared to his career production, and trading Michael Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With Treadwell back in the mix, this is the WR room for Shane Steichen’s team:

• Alec Pierce
• Josh Downs
• Ashton Dulin
• Eli Pancol
• Anthony Gould
• Coleman Owen
• Laquon Treadwell

By the looks of it, the Colts may use a draft pick before the end of Round 3 on a wideout.

Resume and Incredible Longevity

Treadwell arrived in Minnesota in 2016 with high expectations, with many believing he would be the next in a lineage of successful wide receivers drafted and developed by the Vikings. The franchise has a rich history at the position, boasting names like Randy Moss, Justin Jefferson, Percy Harvin, Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and Jake Reed.

Ultimately, Treadwell did not follow in their footsteps, and his Vikings career proved uneventful. He never developed into the star many envisioned.

Despite his lack of production, the Vikings remained patient. Treadwell spent all four years of his rookie contract in Minnesota, playing in 53 games from 2016 to 2019. Each season, he made the team out of training camp and remained a part of the receiving corps. However, his production remained limited, totaling just 701 receiving yards and two touchdowns during that time.

While the former Ole Miss star never lived up to his first-round billing, he has carved out a different kind of career. Treadwell has managed to find roster spots across the league, quietly extending his professional career to nearly a decade.

His most productive season came in 2021 with the Jaguars, when he recorded 434 receiving yards.

Throughout his career, Treadwell has averaged approximately 15 receiving yards per game. Yet teams continue to sign him. He plays special teams here and there, but he’s not overly known for that expertise either.

And against the odds, Treadwell continues to stick around. Here’s Treadwell’s journeyman resume:

• Minnesota Vikings (2016–2019)
• Atlanta Falcons (2020)
• Jacksonville Jaguars (2021)
• New England Patriots (2022)
• Arizona Cardinals (2022)
• Seattle Seahawks (2022)
• Baltimore Ravens (2023)
• Indianapolis Colts (2024-now)

All the Colts’ FA Moves

The Colts have been a bit busier than the Vikings in free agency, authoring a list of these signings:

• Mo Alie-Cox (TE) IND → IND
• Michael Clemons (ED) NYJ → IND
• Arden Key (ED) TEN → IND
• Derrick Nnadi (DT) KC → IND
• Andrew Ogletree (TE) IND → IND
• Jonathan Owens (S) CHI → IND
• Alec Pierce (WR) IND → IND
• Juanyeh Thomas (S) DAL → IND
• Laquon Treadwell (WR) IND → IND

Meanwhile, these 2025 Colts players have landed with new clubs:

• Samson Ebukam (EDGE) IND → ATL
• Neville Gallimore (DT) IND → CHI
• Nick Cross (S) IND → WAS
• Kwity Paye (EDGE) IND → LV
• Braden Smith (T/G) IND → HOU
• Rodney Thomas (S) IND → SEA

The Colts employ three more former Vikings: Mekhi Blackmon (CB), Camryn Bynum (S), and Daniel Jones (QB).

Treadwell will turn 31 this summer.

English football is under the microscope this week as all six Premier League clubs attempt to avoid a wipeout in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16. Last week’s first legs were grim for England’s representatives, none of them managed a win, leaving only Arsenal clearly favored to advance.

Arsenal leads the pack

Arsenal hosts Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday with the tie locked at 1-1. The Gunners, currently topping the Premier League, look best placed to represent England in the quarterfinals. Their depth and attacking quality give them a real chance to progress, unlike their compatriots facing heavy deficits.

Premier League clubs in survival mode

Manchester City faces a daunting task on Tuesday as they start 3-0 down against Real Madrid at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s men will need Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku to deliver exceptional performances to reverse the deficit. Chelsea, meanwhile, travels to Paris carrying a 5-2 loss against PSG and will have to overcome both the scoreline and the aura of Luis Enrique’s revitalized side.

Non-English teams setting the bar

Bodo/Glimt, the Norwegian underdog sensation, holds a commanding 3-0 advantage over Sporting CP and will visit Lisbon confident after previous wins at Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano and Inter Milan’s San Siro. Bayern Munich, meanwhile, demolished Atalanta 6-1 at home and look on track to reach the quarterfinals with ease.

Real Madrid’s Zidane-like surge

A decade on from Zinedine Zidane’s rise as an unexpected Real Madrid coach, Alvaro Arbeloa has found himself in a similar role. Just two months into his tenure replacing Xabi Alonso, Arbeloa led Madrid to a stunning 3-0 first-leg victory over City, powered by Federico Valverde’s first-half hat-trick, even without stars Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham. Mbappe is set to return for the second leg, adding another layer of threat for City.

Champions League quarterfinal outlook

If Bodo/Glimt advance, they could host Arsenal or Leverkusen at their 8,000-seat Aspmyra Stadium in the Arctic Circle, a stark contrast to most European venues. Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are on course to meet in the knockout stage, rekindling one of Europe’s great historical rivalries. Meanwhile, PSG, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Galatasaray are positioned to clash in one quarterfinal, while Atletico Madrid may meet either Barcelona or Newcastle in the other.

English teams need a turnaround

With heavy deficits and intimidating opponents, Premier League clubs face the toughest week of the season. As Michel Platini once famously said, English football can be “lions in the winter, lambs by the spring,” and this week may well test that maxim to the limit. The second legs promise drama, tension, and perhaps heartbreak as England’s finest attempt to claw back respect and secure a place in the Champions League quarterfinals.

While the days of soccer being a go-to conservative punching bag for being “socialist” or a “sign of the nation’s moral decay” have largely subsided, right-leaning publications still regularly trot out arguments for why the “US doesn’t care about soccer” or the sport is “unjust and un-American“.

In recent years, the sport has also served as a lighting rod in American culture wars, with the US women’s national team in particular landing in the crosshairs of Donald Trump and the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement for its outspoken progressive players.

With the men’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico rapidly approaching and Donald Trump aggressively promoting the tournament and deepening his relationship with FIFA, the American president is facing one of his toughest sells yet: soccer to his supporters.

Trump’s World Cup?

Despite weighing in on America’s eternal ‘soccer’ vs. ‘football’ debate, most of Trump’s soccer push is not directly related to the sport itself.

“While compared to other countries around the world, soccer is less political here,” Jeffrey Kraus, political scientist at Wagner College, New York, told DW. “This upcoming World Cup has in many ways taken a political tone.”

“There’s a sense that FIFA has embraced President Trump, which certainly associates the tournament with the president,” he continued.

Trump’s ever-intensifying relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and FIFA’s partnership with the president’s new Board of Peace have helped make Trump the face of a continent-spanning World Cup.

For some conservatives, Trump’s enthusiasm for soccer doesn’t feel out of place given his approach to popular sports generally.

“He’s always been a sports guy – just look at his connection to UFC and wrestling,” Chris Vance, President of the UCLA Young Republicans, told DW. “He’s always been about entertainment, he was in that business a long time, so it makes sense.”

Evolving soccer culture

While American soccer isn’t generally as overtly politicized as in many parts of Europe, its comparably young and immigrant-heavy fanbase tends to be more progressive.

Anti-ICE protests have been a major point of contention among Major League Soccer (MLS) fans and league officials since Trump’s reelection.

Ryan Shirah, a member of the ‘American Outlaws’ US National Team supporters group who’s attended over 120 men’s and women’s US matches, argues that though most fans avoid politics in the stands, they broadly lean in one direction.

“I won’t shy away from the fact that there’s a humanistic element there — I think most soccer fans in America tend to lean on the more progressive, human rights-focused side of things,” Shirah told DW.

Shirah said political tensions in the supporters section were highest in the immediate wake of Trump’s first election, where there was concern Trump’s anti-Mexican campaign rhetoric would spill into the stands at a USA vs Mexico World Cup qualifier in Columbus, Ohio.

“We didn’t know what was going to happen, if people would be trying to chant, ‘build that wall’,” Sirah explained. “It’s something we didn’t want to bring into our atmosphere and we kept out. Generally, we haven’t really had an issue.”

Soccer’s continued growth means the political makeup of its American fans is likely to shift.

“Since the US hosted the 1994 World Cup, soccer has become a bigger part of American life,” said political scientist Kraus. “Much of the population growth since the 90s has been through immigration, and many of the folks who come here brought their love of the ‘beautiful game’.”

Growing Republican support among Latinos in the 2024 election demonstrates that the political views of immigrants, many of whom are driving the sport’s growth in the US, can evolve and potentially change US soccer culture in turn.

And while the arrival of Lionel Messi in Miami has brought wider attention to the sport, organizers are hoping the 2026 World Cup can further propel soccer into the American mainstream. As it gets bigger, soccer will increasingly appeal to conservative fans.

“I live on Staten Island, one of the most suburban and conservative boroughs in New York City. When I was younger, on Saturdays you’d drive around and the athletic fields would be filled with kids playing baseball. Now it’s soccer,” said Kraus. It is perhaps of note that Staten Island is the only NYC borough won by Donald Trump in 2024.

The next MAGA sporting sensation?

Vance, who notes he’s a bit of an outlier among his peers due to his interest in soccer, is excited for the US to play World Cup matches in Los Angeles.

“It’s cool to host it here. I think of it almost as a conservative sport because it’s so community based, or at the very least not really as a politically-leaning sport,” he said.

Organized supporters like Shirah tend not to dwell too much on potential political differences with fellow fans as long as they can maintain a welcoming atmosphere in the stadium.

“We haven’t had a major tournament since the election, but why have that (offensive) nonsense into the stadium if we don’t have to? So far, so good,” he said.

“We don’t care what you do or what podcasts you listen to after the 90 minutes. If you’re passionate about the team and not using slurs or anything, that’s fine. We all have walks of life, and I think that’s what makes America great.”

First, the US will have to have a successful run at the World Cup to make the most of a generational opportunity. If they can do that, existing supporters may well have to worry about the politics of new fans — a problem many of them likely wouldn’t mind.

Edited by: Jonathan Harding

India is set to host the Global Esports Games (GEG) World Finals between March 19 and 22 this year in Mumbai, bringing together over 70 athletes from 23 countries and territories, organisers said on Monday.

Following previous editions in Singapore, Istanbul and Riyadh, the international national-team esports championship will make its South Asia debut with India hosting the World Finals in Mumbai.

The tournament will see national teams compete in DOTA 2 and Clash Royale.

Countries including Argentina, Australia, the United States, Great Britain, Indonesia and Turkey will participate, alongside India and teams from 16 other countries and territories. The event is projected to reach over 40 million viewers globally through broadcast and digital platforms.

The event is being organised by Eflag Corp and the Global Esports Federation, with support from Maharashtra Tourism. Alongside the tournament, the programme will feature GEFcon and GEFestival.

The event will conclude with a ceremonial handover to Los Angeles for the Global Esports Games scheduled there in December 2026.

“The future will be shaped by technology, innovation and digital ecosystems. We are proud that India will host the Global Esports Games, welcoming athletes from around the world to Mumbai. By bringing together sport, technology and youth talent, this event further strengthens our position as an emerging global hub for digital innovation,” said Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister, Maharashtra.

“India represents one of the most dynamic growth stories in global esports, and there is no city better suited to host our flagship event than Mumbai. This is a city powered by youth, creativity and innovation — the same forces shaping the future of esports worldwide. Hosting the Global Esports Games here is about more than competition; it’s about opportunity, connection and reinforcing our belief that esports is for all,” Sir Paul J. Foster, KStJH, president and chief executive officer, Global Esports Federation, said.

“We are committed to strengthening India’s esports ecosystem and are glad to bring the GEG World Finals to Mumbai, India. This move marks a significant milestone as it will foster talent development, innovation and global competitiveness while accelerating the rise of homegrown talent, showcasing India’s capabilities on the global esports stage,” Shripad Ashtekar, founder, Eflag Corp, added.

While it would take a remarkable turn of events over the coming months, it is not impossible.

The 12-strong WRU board voted “unanimously” to cut the number of professional teams.

Of the four professional regions, Swansea-based Ospreys are perceived to be the team under greatest threat of being cut.

That is because owners Y11 are now in talks with the WRU to buy Cardiff and only one of the three future clubs is to be based in west Wales.

WRU director of rugby Dave Reddin repeated on Saturday, following Wales’ victory over Italy, the governing body was pushing ahead with its proposals and there was “no plan b”.

But could the rebel clubs – led by the CGRU district within the Ospreys region – stop those proposals?

They want to change the selection process for council members who sit on the WRU board and have new elections within the next 14 days.

This could see all four places taken by district members – and potentially from the same district – rather than the current two district and two national.

If that resolution passed and with the selection of new independent chairs of both the WRU and PRB to be decided, that could potentially change half – six – of the WRU board and, with it, enough influence to scupper any proposals.

Unsurprisingly, the WRU board rejects those recommendations, saying: “It is essential that we press ahead with the decision that we have made which is:

“To reduce the number of professional clubs to three which will enable improved sustainability of funding to these clubs; and that we invest £28m over the next five years in our SRC (second-tier Super Rygbi Cymru) teams, our pathways up from the community game, player development centres, improved coaching and developing our domestic and international women’s game.”