The German national team’s sporting director, Rudi Völler, stressed in a weekly sports talk show recently, that while no gag order would be imposed on anyone, “it cannot be that it’s being talked about, practically on a matchday like with this disaster in Qatar.”
Germany were met with a lot of criticism for their gesture in Qatar, but Jürgen Mittag, a professor of sports politics at the German Sport University Cologne, believes had they made the quarterfinals things might have been different.
“But as it was, they were met with a great deal of ridicule because they were symbolically strong but sportingly weak,” Mittag told DW.
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Germany’s protest ahead of the Japan game in Qatar was met with a lot of criticismImage: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
EU weakens Germany’s stance
The hope is that in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico Germany will perform better on the field, but what does that mean for their stance off it?
Michael Mutz, a professor of social sciences in sports at the Justus-Liebig University Giessen, doubts that any political statement will be made.
“I can’t imagine that the DFB (German Football Association) will actively pursue a political agenda against the host country again after the negative experiences in Qatar,” Mutz told DW.
“The DFB is exposing itself to accusations of double standards because it criticized the situation in Qatar so harshly and will now presumably remain silent about the US, but the association will have to accept that.”
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Mittag believes Germany’s postion is weakened by the current state of the European Union. The bloc is now further challenged by Donald Trump’s new round of tariffs on six member states as well as the UK and Norway who sent troops or officials to Greenland — which Trump is intent on acquiring — for security purposes.
“European democracy is also suffering a little… it is becoming increasingly fragmented and is therefore somewhat less capable of acting in foreign policy. This applies to the big picture as a whole, as well as to the internal sphere of football and other sports-related matters,” Mittag explained before the tariffs, set to start on February 1, were announced.
“Germany has been very proactive in sports diplomacy in recent years, but has also found that although it plays a prominent role, it doesn’t receive much support,” Mittag added.
Mittag cites the example of Germany’s stance on Russia and Belarus’s return to the Olympics. Germany petitioned hard against this and tried to forge a strong alliance, but only received minimal support. Mittag believes this defeat has hurt them, and forced them to reconsider their approach.
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“That’s when Germany realized that it needs to pursue a different strategy. It doesn’t want to give up its position, but placing too much emphasis on moral, value-based issue is strategically clumsy. So, in the end, it does not lead to success and then you even have to put up with scorn or schadenfreude when you perform poorly in sporting terms,” Mittag explained.
Andreas Rettig (right) meets with DFB President Bernd Neuendorf (left) and Germany’s former Economic Affairs and Climate Action minister Robert HabeckImage: Dominik Butzmann/BMWK/picture alliance/dpa
Political shift in sports diplomacy
Andreas Rettig, an outspoken sports executive who used to work at St. Pauli, was appointed as the new DFB’s CEO in 2023 and may be the perfect person to forge new alliances and better position Germany in committees. Even he has come up against challenges though. Rettig’s attempt to initiate a dialogue on critical issues ahead of the 2024 Euros was not met with much enthusiasm by regional associations.
Others in Germany have been loud, though. St. Pauli President and DFB Vice President Oke Göttlich recently told Sportschau: “Personally, I would advise against traveling given the current situation in the country.”
After Bayern Munich’s Champions League win over Union Saint-Gilloise, Bayern and Germany captain Joshua Kimmich said he would “no longer be taking part in the political discussion.”
The DFB have yet to comment.
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“There has been a realpolitik shift in sports diplomacy, it’s somewhat less value-based, somewhat more realistic and acting pragmatically in order to perhaps achieve more success than in the past,” Mittag added.
Jürgen Mittag believes that Germany can have a more effective strategy by winning over associations and committeesImage: BEAUTIFUL SPORTS/Wunderl/picture alliance
Viewership might drop
The January protests against the Trump administration’s clampdown on illegal immigration – including a decision by the US justice department not to launch a criminal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer in Minneapolis on January 7 – have increased tensions in many places.
Given that Germany’s viewership dipped for the World Cup in Qatar, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see another drop this summer, particularly given the difficult kickoff times for European viewers.
“I believe that we will not see the same viewing figures as in previous World Cups,” Mittag said.
“I would actually assume that broadcasting and media behavior will also reflect the fact that a lot of people in the summer of 2026 will say, ‘I’m aware of this World Cup, but I’m not going to watch it all. I’m not as enthusiastic as in previous years, and in a small way, I’m expressing my criticism.’”
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What is clear is that the moment Germany touch down in the United States, players and staff will have to answer questions about playing a tournament in the current political and social climate. The strength of their answers will depend on many factors, but perhaps most of all on how well they play on the field.
“The decisive factor for identification with the national team is not so much the political situation as the fact that the DFB team is perceived as a likeable, approachable, and successful team,” Mutz explained.
“Certainly, there is also a growing awareness in society that we are living in times of crisis and that political opinions are highly polarized. Especially in these times, the national football team could be an important anchor point for identification and the experience of belonging and community—across all social groups and political camps. However, football’s ability to bring different people together is weakened when the national team is perceived as too political.”
Edited by: Chuck Penfold
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This article was updated on January 26, 2026 to include the statement from the St. Pauli President.
Barcelona’s new Marcus Rashford transfer attempt after Man United loanee’s ‘sacrifice’ – Manchester Evening News
Need to know
Marcus Rashford is spending the 2025/26 season on loan at Barcelona and they have the option to sign the England international permanently for £26m
21:51, 24 Feb 2026Updated 21:52, 24 Feb 2026
Marcus Rashford is spending the season on loan with Barcelona from Manchester United(Image: AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Here, the Manchester Evening News takes a look at the latest on Marcus Rashford’s future and the possibility of a permanent move to Barcelona…
Barcelona are reportedly attempting to negotiate down the £26million purchase option for Marcus Rashford ahead of a potential permanent move this summer.
The 28-year-old Manchester United academy graduate has enjoyed a stellar loan spell in Spain, netting ten goals and providing 13 assists across all competitions. His impressive form has included nine goal contributions in just eight Champions League matches.
Rashford’s resurgence at the Camp Nou has earned him a recall to the England squad, with Thomas Tuchel expected to include him in the World Cup squad.
Spanish outlet Sport reports that Barcelona sporting director Deco met with Rashford’s agent Arturo Canales on Monday to begin negotiations with United. However, Barca are hoping to reduce the agreed €30million (£26m) fee despite their intention to sign the forward permanently.
United are reported to be regretting the original deal with Barcelona, with club bosses now valuing Rashford closer to £50 million given his form and interest from other clubs.
Rashford himself appears settled in Spain, telling BBC Sport in December: “I don’t see anything here as like a pressure. It’s just, I’m here to play football. It’s been amazing. I feel welcome, I feel at home. I’ve just been enjoying every step of the way.”
Any hopes Barcelona have of reducing the transfer fee are considered incredibly low, with United holding firm on the agreed purchase option.
Another report in Sport recently claimed that Barcelona have decided to sign Rashford permanently, with the United loanee reported to be willing to “adjust his salary” as a lower amount in order to help get the deal over the line.
Two players with direct ties to Africa represented the continent in the 75th NBA All-Star Game last Sunday – Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers, Cameroon) and Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs, ties to Democratic Republic of the Congo) – which introduced a USA vs. World format.
USA Stars dominated the championship game with a 47–21 win over USA Stripes, led by a standout performance from Anthony Edwards, who was named the 2026 Kia All-Star MVP. It was the most-watched NBA All-Star Game in the U.S. in 15 years.
The weekend tipped off with the Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and Castrol Rising Stars showcase on Friday night, where Team Vince clinched a narrow 25–24 victory over Team Melo in a competitive finale.
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Keshad Johnson (Miami Heat) won the AT&T Slam Dunk, Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers) edged Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns) to take the State Farm 3‑Point Contest, and Team Knicks triumphed in the Kia Shooting Stars competition on Saturday night.
As part of this year’s All-Star, seven top African prospects from or with direct ties to Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Nigeria, and Senegal participated in the 10th annual Basketball Without Borders (BWB) All-Star Camp.
Obinna Ekezie Jr., son of former NBA player Obinna Ekezie (Nigeria), was awarded the Defensive MVP and formed part of the camp’s All-Star Team alongside Cheickh Niang (Italy; ties to Senegal) and Caleb Ourigou (Côte d’Ivoire).
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Photo: Obinna Ekezie Jr. at 10th BWB All-Star Camp in Los Angeles, California
Photo: Pascal Siakam at 10th BWB All-Star Camp in Los Angeles, California
In the lead up to its sixth season which will tip off in South Africa on March 27, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) celebrated the continent’s culture and impact on the sidelines of the global showcase. The BAL Business Cocktail gathered more than 300 cultural taste makers, global entertainers, NBA legends and industry leaders, including representatives of BAL Foundational Partner Rwanda Development Board, highlighting the continent’s rising influence in sports, culture and creative industries, while emphasizing ongoing conversations around African investment, ownership, and the future of basketball.
Notable attendees included Rwanda Convention Bureau CEO Janet Kamerera, 2015 NBA champion Festus Ezeli, NBA legend Charles Smith, Somali-American basketball influencer Jamad Fiin and Kenyan singer and songwriter Bien.
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Photos: 2015 NBA champion Festus Ezeli and BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall at the BAL Business Cocktail in Los Angeles, California (left) and Bien and Jamad at Intuit Dome (right) on Feb. 13, 2026
Among global icons attending this year’s All-Star were also South African rugby champion Siya Kolisi and Grammy Award winner Tyla.
Team Canada men’s hockey coach Jon Cooper may not like the Olympics’ three-on-three overtime format, but it doesn’t matter at all.
It’s staying in place.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) president Luc Tardif told The Athletic that, despite Cooper’s complaints following his team’s gold-medal loss to Team USA on Sunday, they will continue using the format in future tournaments.
Canada coach Jon Cooper answers to the media during a press conference following the Ice Hockey Men Final between United States and Canada on day sixteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
“It’s the best rules to fit in a tight schedule,” Tardif told the outlet. “We have to figure out 30 games in 11 days for men and for the women 28 games in 13 days – 58 all together in 16 days.
“Huge challenge.”
The IIHF wanted to introduce the three-on-three format the NHL uses during its regular season to prevent the use of the shootout. However, the NHL does make the change to five-on-five hockey during the playoffs with no shootouts – only the game-winning goal.
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Cooper, though, couldn’t help himself when he ripped into the overtime format after watching Jack Hughes snipe the gold-medal goal past his goalie, Jordan Binnington.
“You take four players off the ice, now hockey’s not hockey anymore,” Cooper said, per the New York Post. “There’s a reason overtime and shootouts are in play – it’s all TV-driven to end games, so it’s not a long time. There’s a reason why it’s not in the Stanley Cup Final or playoffs.”
Head coach Jon Cooper of Team Canada speaks to his players after the team’s 3-2 victory in the Men’s Semifinals Playoff match between Canada and Finland on day fourteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Overtime in the preliminary rounds of the Olympics lasted five minutes, with a five-round shootout transpiring if a game-winning goal wasn’t scored in that time. For the quarterfinals and semifinals, the overtime was boosted to 10 minutes, followed by 20 minutes in the gold-medal games.
Canada didn’t get as clean a look at the net as Hughes did on his game-winning shot, but they did have tons of chances during the three periods. In the end, the U.S. was able to keep the game notched at one apiece through 60 minutes, with tremendous saves by goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who was dubbed the “Secretary of Defense” by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for his performance.
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After the game, Cooper wasn’t the only Canadian showing some bitterness about the result. Assistant captain Nathan MacKinnon, who missed a wide-open net in the third period that could’ve been the game-winner for Team Canada, made an interesting comment to the press.
“You be the judge of who was the better team today,” he said.
Head coach Jon Cooper of Team Canada takes part during training on day two of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 8, 2026 in Milan, Italy.(Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
While Cooper, MacKinnon, and the rest of Team Canada think about the what-ifs, Team USA took Air Force One to visit President Donald Trump on Tuesday prior to his State of the Union Address. The team was spotted in the Oval Office, where Trump congratulated every player in person on their tremendous accomplishment.
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The United States won its most golds in a single Winter Olympics (12), which included the women’s ice hockey team also beating Team Canada in overtime thanks to the heroics of Megan Keller.
Lionel Messi discussed his regret of not having learnt English when he was in school in a recent interview. The legendary Argentine is known to communicate in Spanish, having spoken English only on rare occasions.
In an appearance on the Miro De Atras podcast, Lionel Messi shared that he regrets not having learnt English in school. He said (via All About Argentina):
Thanks for the submission!
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“Not having learned English as a kid. I had the time to study at least English and I didn’t do it, and I regret it a lot. Later I found myself in situations where I was with incredible, amazing personalities, and I could have had a conversation with them but instead you feel kind of ignorant…”
Lionel Messi usually communicated in Spanish. He is also fluent in Catalan, having spent 17 years playing for Barcelona. However, he has been spotted speaking English a few times for advertisements. Some examples include a commercial for the movie Bad Boys starring Will Smith, a moment speaking to a referee during a recent MLS clash, and an eFootball commercial.
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The current MLS year did not begin well for Lionel Messi, as Inter Miami suffered a 3-0 loss to Los Angeles FC in their opening MLS game on Sunday, February 2022. The Argentine led the Herons to their first MLS Cup last year and was also the winner of the MLS Golden Boot with 29 goals to his name. He was also named the MLS MVP (Most Valuable Player) for the second consecutive time.
After a rough start, all eyes will be on Messi to replicate the previous year’s success with Inter Miami.
“We should never stop enjoying life”- Lionel Messi shares valuable advice for his fans
In his aforementioned interview on the MDA podcast, Lionel Messi discussed multiple facets of his life, including sharing his message for his fans and followers. The legend of the game believed one should always enjoy the present, and said (via All About Argentina):
“Today is a good day to enjoy. Sometimes it’s hard. Not all of us go through the same things, and there are people dealing with different and difficult situations too. But we should never stop enjoying life. Like I said before, today I enjoy much more what happens to me, what I do, my family, my children, the day-to-day life, the small things. And well, it’s always a good day to enjoy, because we don’t know what might happen tomorrow.”
Apart from the new MLS season, fans are also eagerly looking forward to Lionel Messi leading Argentina once again in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after his triumph in 2022. However, the Argentine has yet to confirm his decision to play or not. He is also expected to feature in the 2026 Finalissima, where Argentina will face Spain in Qatar on March 27.
Floyd Mayweather is set to return to professional boxing this year and pound-for-pound superstar Shakur Stevenson has revealed whether he would be willing to take on the 49-year-old, five division champion.
‘TBE’ hung up the gloves with a perfect 50-0 record back in 2017 after a knockout victory in a lucrative showdown with Conor McGregor, but Mayweather has continued to box in exhibition bouts ever since and has repeatedly warned that he may return to the professional scene.
His return will indeed come against former foe Pacquiao, after it was announced on Monday that the pair are set to meet in a rematch at the Sphere in Las Vegas in September, with the event broadcast live on Netflix.
After hearing the news of Mayweather’s return, Stevenson shot down any chances of him fighting the boxing legend down the line, admitting in an interview with DAZN that he doesn’t want to face somebody that ‘he looks up to’.
“Hell no, [I wouldn’t fight Floyd]. Understand this, I would not fight Floyd because I have watched him for years and years and years, and I look up to him.
“I don’t want to be in the ring with somebody that I look up to and no disrespect but he is older now, so I’m not trying to punch on my GOAT.”
Jan 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) audibles during the second half of an AFC Wild Card Round game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
If the Steelers know the options on the table for 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh general manager Omar Khan wasn’t ready to reveal any of the cards in play for either side.
Khan wouldn’t say whether Rodgers is considering retirement or other offers as an unrestricted free agent when the new league year begins March 11.
“That’s a question for Aaron. He knows how we feel. I think we know how he feels about us,” Khan said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. “It was a good experience for both sides. Unfortunately we didn’t reach our goals on winning the games we wanted to at the end. But there’s a mutual respect there.”
Pittsburgh hosts the 2026 NFL Draft in April and Khan said he’s been working at warp speed to get on the same page with new head coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy returned to the NFL sideline after one season away.
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Khan said McCarthy, who last coached with the Cowboys, was a fan of quarterback Will Howard coming out of Ohio State and is excited to work with him. Howard was Pittsburgh’s sixth-round pick in 2025 but landed on injured reserve in August because of a fractured hand. He returned to practice in November.
“We mentioned Aaron, but we all agree that we’re looking for that next franchise guy,” Khan said. “We’re not there yet, and we may have the guy on the roster, we don’t know, in Will, and we’re excited to work with Will. We all know that has to be addressed, and we’re all looking for the same thing, we’re just not there yet.”
Rodgers came to Pittsburgh to play for Mike Tomlin, who resigned after the Steelers’ loss to the Houston Texans in the playoffs. But he won a Super Bowl with McCarthy during his prodigious run as quarterback of the Packers.
Khan said he spoke to Rodgers last week and the Steelers made it clear “the door is open to have Aaron back.”
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Last offseason, Tomlin and the Steelers kept the door open for Rodgers until he finally made his signing official on June 6. Khan said neither side wants to delay a deal or “see it drag on like it did last year.”
Norway’s Bodo/Glimt’s fairytale run in the Champions League continued as they knocked out last year’s finalists Inter Milan in one of the tournament’s biggest ever shocks.
A season on from becoming the first Norwegian side to reach the semi-finals of a European competition, following their impressive run in the Europa League, head coach Kjetil Knutsen’s minnows have continued their remarkable rise by qualifying for the Champions League last-16, and as tournament debutants. Bodo/Glimt also operate on a budget that is a fraction of the size of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Bodo/Glimt, who were in Norway’s second-tier as recently as 2017, are the northernmost team to ever play in the Champions League. Based in the small town of Bodo, a 16-hour drive north of Oslo and inside the edge of the Arctic Circle, its whole population of 55,000 could have travelled to Inter’s iconic San Siro and there still would have been plenty of empty seats.
Bodo/Glimt have now beaten Man City, Atletico and Inter to reach the last-16 of the Champions League (Getty Images)
Remarkably, Knutsen’s team are also in their off-season; the Norwegian top-flight ended on 30 November 2025 due to the winter and will only resume when spring arrives in April. But, in that time, Bodo/Glimt have beaten Manchester City, Atletico Madrid and knocked out Italian giants Inter, the runaway Serie A leaders, by beating them home and away
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Bodo/Glimt took a two-goal lead to the San Siro after a stunning 3-1 victory in Norway, where they have developed an outstanding record on the artificial surface at their 9,000-capacity Aspmyra Stadion. Then, on Tuesday night, they survived long spells of pressure before Jens Petter Hauge punished Manuel Akanji’s error to silence the San Siro.
As Bodo/Glimt started to play with confidence, Hakon Evjen added an excellent second on the counter-attack, leaving Inter with a mountain to climb even as Alessandro Bastoni pulled one back. A 5-2 victory on aggregate will not only signal a crisis at Inter, the three-time European champions, and in Italian football as a whole, but it will also send shockwaves around European football.
In Norway, they will celebrate a first Norwegian side to win a knockout tie in the Champions League since 1987-88. While Bodo/Glimt are also the first team outside of Europe’s big five leagues to win four consecutive games against teams from England, Spain, Italy and France since Johan Cruff’s Ajax in 1971-72. They went on to win the European Cup that season, too.
This stuff isn’t suppose to happen in Europe these days.
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Trust the process
Bodo/Glimt’s close-knit, team-first environment is often hailed as the key ingredient behind their remarkable journey. Head coach Knutsen, who has been in charge since 2018 has been linked with several major jobs and bigger leagues during the club’s rise, but has turned down offers to remain with Bodo/Glimt, where he recently signed a contract until 2029.
“For me, the people are the most important thing,” he told TV 2 in January. “That means more than all the trophies. You always work to win something, and that’s great. But the joy of winning it together with someone means the most. There has to be an environment where people care about each other – and I feel we have created that in Bodo/Glimt.”
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Kjetil Knutsen has helped Bodo/Glimt from the second division of Norwegian football to the last-16 of the Champions League (Getty Images)
Hauge, Bodo/Glimt’s top goalscorer in the Champions League this season, now with six goals in nine games, is an example of that spirit. The 26-year-old was signed by AC Milan in 2020 after helping his hometown club’s early rise, before playing for Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany and Gent in Belgium as he attempted to make it at a higher level of European football.
But Hauge, upon returning to Bodo, had the same realisation as some of his team-mates that home was the best place for him after all. It has helped fuel the sense of togetherness at a club that feels as if it has created something special.
Jens Hauge, who moved to AC Milan earlier in this career, celebrates his goal in the San Siro (AFP via Getty Images)
Then there is the impact of Bjørn Mannsverk, a former fighter pilot turned mental coach whose unconventional methods are also part of the club’s story. Mannsverk walked into the club when they were in the second division of Norwegian football in 2017 but revolutionised the team’s behaviour through meditation and embracing the process, rather than results on the pitch.
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“It is a fairy tale, almost a miracle,” Mannsverk told The Associated Press last season. “How can you actually come from the second division in 2017 to playing Champions League… But I think it’s possible … if you have the right mentality and you work hard over time.”
The European journey
Bodo/Glimt won the Norwegian top flight for the first time in 2020, repeating that success in 2021, 2023 and 2024, but it is on the European stage where their story has gone mainstream.
They produced their first major shock in 2021 by beating Jose Mourinho’s Roma 6-1 in the group stage of the Europa Conference League, becoming the first team to put six past a Mourinho defence. They also defeated Celtic in the knockout rounds, before falling to a defeat to Roma in an ill-tempered quarter-final.
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On their plastic pitch, Bodo/Glimt formed a formidable home record in last season’s Europa League run, beating Twente, Olympiacos and Lazio before defeat to eventual winners Tottenham in the semi-finals.
Bodo/Glimt are from a population of 55,000 based inside the Arctic Circle (Getty Images)
A first appearance in the Champions League was not entirely going to plan after the first six matches. Ahead of hosting Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in January, Bodo/Glimt were winless and their hopes of reaching the knockout play-offs were hanging by a thread.
But Erling Haaland’s homecoming to Norway was overshadowed by a dominant performance from Bodo/Glimt, who added their biggest scalp yet. Then, two weeks later, they went to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid and came from behind to win 2-1 and squeeze through from the league phase.
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The play-off draw handed Bodo/Glimt with a daunting tie against Inter, the Italian leaders and last year’s Champions League finalists. Sensationally, their story is not done there and they will face either a rematch with City or Sporting in the last-16.
Virginia quarterback Chandler Morris filed a lawsuit against the NCAA in search of a seventh year of eligibility, his agent tells CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer. Morris filed the suit in a Virginia state court after the NCAA denied in January his request for an eligibility waiver.
The basis of Morris’ waiver request was that he sustained injuries at TCU in 2022 and 2023, and he argued that he should have qualified for medical redshirts in both campaigns. Morris played four games in 2022 and seven games in 2023 after utilizing a redshirt in 2021. His 2020 season at Oklahoma did not count toward his eligibility clock due to the one-time waiver granted to all athletes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Morris stayed healthy each of the last two seasons and played full campaigns at North Texas and Virginia. He led the American conference in passing yards (3,774) and touchdowns (31) in 2024 and transitioned nicely to the ACC, where he guided Virginia to the first 11-win season in program history and a berth in the conference championship game.
If the court grants Morris relief against the NCAA’s eligibility rules, he could return to Virginia in search of College Football Playoff contention. The Cavaliers climbed as high as No. 14 in last season’s CFP Top 25 rankings and would have secured an automatic berth into the bracket had they defeated Duke in the ACC title game.
Morris’ suit against the NCAA is the latest example of an athlete attempting to use the court system to gain additional eligibility. These cases have largely defined the early portion of the college football offseason, and athletes found mixed results.
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A Missississippi judge grantedOle Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss a temporary injunction that will allow him to spend another season with the Rebels on the heels of a stellar debut campaign as one of the SEC’s top signal-callers. Chambliss made a similar petition to Morris, stating that he was physically unable to compete in 2022 due to a respiratory condition.
Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, meanwhile, was denied injunctive relief in a ruling that served as a major victory for the NCAA. Aguilar’s case was different from the others, as he argued that his years spent in junior college should not count against his NCAA eligibility clock. That was the argument former Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia used to gain an additional year in a landmark case last offseason.
The Minnesota Vikings have two running backs under contract for 2026: Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason. And if they’re in the mood late in the 2026 NFL Draft or in undrafted free agency, they could parley a pre-draft visit with North Carolina Central’s Chris Mosley into a roster spot.
Mosley profiles as a later-round or UDFA option as Minnesota maps life beyond Aaron Jones.
Mosley met with the Vikings and a handful of other NFL teams this week, as the NFL Combine is underway in Indianapolis.
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What Mosley Could Offer a Crowded Vikings Backfield Picture
Here’s one for your UDFA scorecard.
North Carolina Central running back Chris Mosley carries the ball during a Week 7 matchup against Florida A&M on Oct. 11, 2025, at Ken Riley Field at Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida. Mosley worked between the tackles as North Carolina Central tested the Rattlers defense during conference play. Mandatory Credit: Gerald Thomas-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Vikings Meet with Mosley
Minnesota is evidently in on the Mosley sweepstakes. SI.com‘s Justin Melo tweeted Monday:
Nice HBCU Legacy Bowl for North Carolina Central football RB Chris Mosley, who rushed for 1,017 yards + 8 TDs this past season.
Mosley met with the following teams, per source:
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Giants
Ravens
Buccaneers
Lions
Titans
Jets
Commanders
Vikings
Jaguars
Until the Melo tweet, most Vikings fans had never heard of Mosley. Now is as good a time as any to remember the name, especially for a franchise that loves unearthing undrafted free-agent playmakers after the draft.
Who is Chris Mosley?
Mosley is 5’10 and 180 pounds, profiling as more of a scatback, perhaps akin to Jerick McKinnon of Vikings yesteryear. Regarding Minnesota’s 2026 offseason plan, he probably shouldn’t be considered the RB1 solution in a room that already features Jones and Mason.
The rookie logged 1,020 rushing yards last season, with 8 rushing touchdowns, in addition to 30 catches for 324 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He’s versatile.
SI.com‘s Gerald Huggins II on Mosley: “Chris Mosley is a running back with above-average linear speed, combined with toughness and quickness as a runner, despite his below-average size for the position. His frame is lean, with limited bulk, and he shows good change of direction in congestion. He does a good job of fitting through congestion, with an early burst and acceleration.”
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“He shows patience to allow his pullers to set up blocks for him. Mosley welcomes contact, runs behind his pads, and shows adequate forward lean with a pinball-like running style. His contact balance is good, and he sinks into his frame to make timely jump cuts, with good vision to process openings in congestion. He requires refinement as a route-runner, but works best on screens, swings, and check-downs, showing urgency to gain yards after the catch.”
Mosley must have some pizazz, evidenced by the number of NFL teams meeting with a relative unknown before the draft.
Huggins II added, “In pass protection, he lacks stoutness, struggles against blitzers, and does not consistently hold up. Mosley projects as an NFL camp/2nd-tier league starter who will be most impactful in a power-heavy running scheme that allows him to utilize his vision, patience, and toughness.”
“His toughness as a runner and ability to consistently gain positive yardage give him upside to be an RB3 or 4 at the NFL level. He will need to refine his receiving ability and pass protection to be a more serviceable option.”
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Probably Not an Emphatic Solution
From free agency, a few headliners will seek new teams, including running backs Travis Etienne, Kenneth Walker III, Breece Hall, JK Dobbins, and Rachaad White. Most Vikings fans have assumed that if Minnesota wants to improve the rushing offense, they’ll swing for somebody younger than Jones, who will turn 32 during the 2026 regular season.
A North Carolina Central Eagles helmet rests on the sideline before kickoff against Grambling State on Dec. 17, 2016, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. Team equipment sat ready before players took the field for the postseason matchup between the two historically successful programs. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports.
In the draft, notable running backs like Jeremyiah Love, Jadarian Price, Jonah Coleman, Emmett Johnson, and Nick Singleton are expected to fly off the board by the end of Round 4.
Conversely, Mosley isn’t quite like all these men. He’s closer to another version of Vikings running back Zavier Scott, who held the RB3 role in 2025.
Aaron Jones’s Future Looms
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Jones logged just 548 rushing yards in 2025, his lowest total since his rookie season in 2017, when he battled injuries and a crowded Green Bay Packers’ depth chart. He still logged 4.2 yards per carry, but his teammate, Mason, took a more prominent role, probably because of his youth and production.
The veteran tailback is paid handsomely, extended last year by former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah for $10 million per season, a contract that caught some off guard due to Jones’s age. Well, he showed up to 2025, battled injuries, and experienced a dip in efficiency. That’s how it goes for aging halfbacks.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 24, 2024, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Jones celebrated the scoring play as Minnesota built momentum in a divisional road matchup. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images.
Minnesota could release Jones in the next couple of weeks while saving up to $7.75 million. He’s a frequent cut candidate among Vikings fans and analysts. The Vikings could also restructure his contract.
Mosley is nowhere to be found on the Consensus Draft Big Board, and that is over 700 players deep. He’s a sleeper’s sleeper.
Ryan Garcia’s world title win has the boxing world talking about a potential grudge rematch with Devin Haney, but reigning WBA welterweight champion Rolando Romero does not believe it would be competitive.
That moment came almost two years after his first scheduled world title challenge, when ‘King Ry’ was supposed to fight for the WBC super-lightweight title against Haney, but missed the weight beforehand and thus lost the opportunity to win the belt.
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Garcia pulled off the upset to hand Haney a first career defeat, but the result was then overturned to a no-contest when it was revealed Garcia had tested positive for performance enhancing drug Ostarine.
After serving a one-year ban, Garcia would then lose to Romero in a second bid for a belt. Speaking to K.O. Artist Sports following Garcia’s win, ‘Rolly’ said that Garcia is ‘scared’ to rematch him, after witnessing the Californian call out Shakur Stevenson in his post-fight interview.
“That dude is scared of me, you can’t tell?”
Despite the Stevenson call-out, anticipation is beginning to build for a fierce rematch with Haney, now a unification since the latter beat Brian Norman Jr for the WBO welterweight title. If it happens, Romero predicts that Garcia will get the job done inside of the distance this time around.
“Bro, come on, don’t talk to me about that kind of stuff. Devin sucks.
“Of course [I want to see the Haney-Garcia rematch], I want to see Devin get knocked out.”
