WBO welterweight world champion Devin Haney is yet to fight this year and is now on the lookout for an opponent for a first defence of his 147lb crown, after negotiations for his touted unification fight have collapsed.

Haney dethroned Brian Norman Jr back in November to become a three-division world champion but ‘The Dream’ has not fought since, as fans continue to demand a rematch with bitter rival Ryan Garcia.

Yet, plans for that fierce grudge match look to have been put on ice in favour of Garcia’s mandatory defence against Conor Benn, with that fight expected to take place in August for what will be Garcia’s first defence of the WBC title.

Meanwhile, Haney had been in talks for a different title unification against WBA titleholder Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, with a mooted fight date of Saturday, May 30.

However, speaking to Fight Hub TV, Romero ruled that fight out, as he fumed at Team Haney for being ‘deceitful’ during negotiations.

“They were just lying the whole time. They said that I sent them a great offer, did they not? They said all of the stuff was right but they wanted a way out because Devin doesn’t have a chin. They like to waste people’s time.”

“Those guys are deceitful, they lie non-stop. Every thing that Devin and Bill touch gets shattered. Every promotional company, every thing, because they do not do anything. They cannot generate views, they cannot generate income for anybody and they know that.

“So, they didn’t want to bet on themselves because they know that they are not worth anything. I never want to hear them call me out again or bring me up or any of that stuff. It is dead. There is no if, and or buts about it, it is dead. It is done.”

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As a result, both Haney and Romero will now be pursuing alternative options, faced with defending their belts rather tha unifying.

Bayern Munich sealing a 13th out of the last 14 men’s Bundesliga titles was one of the least surprising storylines to come out of German football this weekend. Another was the misogynistic reaction online to Marie-Louise Eta becoming the first woman to coach a match in the top five European men’s leagues.

Eta’s Union Berlin side fell to an unfortunate 2-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Wolfsburg but the social media discourse was marred by the usual comments, with Union’s social media admins taking several users to task.

The German football association (DFB), in the form of vice-president Celia Sasic, said this style of community management was “absolutely the right thing”. In an interview with the t-online portal, Sasic added that: “The comments are unacceptable. They’re not directed solely at a single individual, but call into question values that are central to our sport: respect, fairness, and equality.”

Eta wants focus on football

As has been her way throughout the storm of the last week, Eta tried to keep the focus on the football but did acknowledge the abuse. “It says more about the people posting it online than about the people being talked about,” she said postmatch.

Helen Nkwocha is one of the few women who has had a similar direct experience. The Black British coach became the first woman to coach a men’s European top-division football team in 2021 when she took over as head coach of Tvoroyar Boltfelag of the Faroe Islands.

“As female coaches, especially if we are coaching at a competitive level, we  experience that sort of thing a lot,” she told DW. “In the Faroe Islands, I actually got a racially offensive message and lots about no one knowing where the Faroe Islands is.”

Nkwocha said it is important that Union continue to back Eta. “I’m sure it wouldn’t be the first time she would have been faced with adversity,” she said. “I think a club always needs to be smart when they recruit a new coach. I don’t think they should make too big deal out of it and stay focused on the football.”

Women’s football ‘done a disservice’

While Union have celebrated the appointment, both they and Eta have tried to normalize a story that has made headlines across the world.

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Another, more subtle, element of the sexism underpinning much of the reaction has been the suggestion that Eta  — hired on a temporary basis until the end of the season — will automatically choose a potential job offer for the men’s position above her planned move to Union’s women’s team.

“I’m not having a discussion that says if she does well she stays with the men, if she does badly she coaches the women. That does women’s football a disservice,” said Union president Dirk Zingler after the game.

While men’s coaches in women’s football are commonplace, a woman taking charge of a high level men’s team remains unusual, even if it has happened in lower European leagues. Professional footballer Robin Afamefuna, captain of fourth-division club Fortuna Köln and a cultural anthropologist whose research focuses on sexism and racism in football, said Eta’s example will be important.

Visibility of coaches important for the future

“When we talk about visibility and role models, about what young girls see now, then commitment is very important,” Afamefuna told DW. “Girls see that there is a possibility of doing this job someday. And that simply wasn’t available before.”

The DFB has about 4,000 female coaches who hold a C or Pro license and are authorized to coach professional teams. But despite recent progress, Afamefuna said society has some way to go before these women get the same chances as their male counterparts.

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“It’s a very deeply rooted, structural, systemic problem that affects women in football,” he added. “We have to talk about the fact that women are disadvantaged in football, and these structures need to be broken down.” 

While Eta’s debut has shown football’s patriarchal structure can be challenged, the reaction to it has highlighted the truth that there are plenty of hurdles still to jump.

Edited by: Jonathan Crane

Ben Shelton defeated Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 7-5 to win the Munich title.

Shelton took control early, winning the first set 6-2. The second set was tighter, with Cobolli pushing back, but Shelton held his nerve to close it out 7-5.

The win marks his fifth career title and his second on clay. It also makes him the first American man to win a clay title above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi in Rome in 2002.

After finishing runner-up in Munich last year, Shelton returned and went one step further this time.

After the match, he reflected on the moment and thanked those around him.

“Most important, I wanna thank God first of all. I feel blessed to be playing here, to have the people around me that I do. These experiences on tour are important and special. I don’t take it for granted. Like I said I’m grateful and very blessed.”

He also praised Cobolli and his team.

“I wanna congratulate Flavio. I know this was an emotional week for you. Some of the tennis you were coming up with was outstanding. Your match yesterday was a privilege to watch… The work you and your team do, always smiling, playing football… you’re a big personality. A big reason our game is growing.

“To your whole team, your family, your father who’s not here… you guys are the best. Keep it going. Top 10 soon. Just happy to see the progress both of us have made throughout the last few years.”

UEFA Champions League (UCL) 2026 is all set to enter its penultimate stage, with the semifinal matches set to commence on Wednesday, April 29, with the defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) taking on six-time champions Bayern Munich at Parc des Princes in Paris, France.

In the second semifinal, Premier League side Arsenal will take on high-flying Atletico Madrid from Spain. In the quarterfinals, Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid 6-4 on aggregate, while PSG beat Liverpool 4-0 on aggregate.

UCL 2026 semifinals: Qualified teams

• 
  Atletico Madrid
• 
  Paris Saint-Germain
• 
  Bayern Munich
• 
  Arsenal

UCL 2026 semifinals: Venues

• 
  Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid, Spain (Atletico Madrid home)
• 
  Parc des Princes, Paris, France (Paris Saint-Germain home)
• 
  Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany (Bayern Munich home)
• 
  Emirates Stadium, London, England (Arsenal home)

UCL 2026 semifinals: Full fixture

UCL 2026 semifinals: Format

The UCL 2026 semifinals will follow the same format as the round of 16 and quarterfinals, with all teams playing one home and one away match against their designated opponent in the final four. The winner will be decided on the basis of aggregate score over two legs.

If the scoreline remains tied after the end of regulation time in the second leg match, the match will go into extra time, and if neither side manages to find the winning goal in the next 30 minutes, the winner will then be decided through a penalty shoot-out. The first leg match can end in a draw.

UCL 2026 semifinals: Full squads of all qualified teams

Atletico Madrid squad: Juan Musso, Jan Oblak, Salvi Esquivel, Mario de Luis, Álvaro Moreno, José María Giménez, Matteo Ruggeri, Clément Lenglet, Nahuel Molina, Dávid Hancko, Marc Pubill, Robin Le Normand, Ilias Kostis, Daniel Martinez, Javier Boñar, Aleksa Puric, Rodrigo Mendoza, Johnny Cardoso, Koke, Pablo Barrios, Álex Baena, Thiago Almada, Marcos Llorente, Obed Vargas, Jano Monserrate, Taufik Seidu, Julio Díaz, Javier Serrano, Antoine Griezmann, Alexander Sørloth, Julián Álvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Ademola Lookman, Nicolás González, Rayane Belaid, Iker Luque, Sergio Esteban

Paris Saint-Germain squad: Achraf Hakimi, Beraldo, David Boly, Illia Zabarnyi, Lucas Hernandez, Marquinhos, Noham Kamara, Nuno Mendes, William Pacho, Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue, Goncalo Ramos, Ibrahim Mbaye, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Quentin Ndjantou, Arthur Vignaud, Lucas Chevalier, Martin James, Matvey Safonov, Renato Marin, Dro Fernandez, Fabian Ruiz, Joao Neves, Lee Kang-In, Mathis Jangeal, Noah Nsoki, Senny Mayulu, Vitor Ferreira, Warren Zaire-Emery, Wassim Slama, Yanis Khafi

Bayern Munich squad: Alphonso Davies, Cassiano Kiala, Dayotchanculle Upamecano, Deniz Ofli, Hiroki Ito, Jonathan Tah, Josip Stanisic, Kim Min-Jae, Raphael Guerreiro, Sacha Boey, Vincent Manuba, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, Harry Kane, Luis Diaz, Nicolas Jackson, Serge Gnabry, Wisdom Mike, Jannis Baertl, Jonas Urbig, Leon Klanac, Leonard Prescott, Manuel Neuer, Sven Ulreich, Aleksandar Pavlovic, David Daiber, Guido Della Rovere, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer, Lennart Karl, Leon Goretzka, Maycon Douglas Cardozo, Michael Olise, Tom Bischof

Arsenal squad: Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera, Gabriel, Jaden Dixon, Josh Nichols, Jurrien Timber, Marli Salmon, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, William Saliba, Andre Harriman-Annous, Brando Bailey-Joseph, Bukayo Saka, Ceadach O’Neill, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard, Noni Madueke, Viktor Gyokeres, Alexei Rojas Fedorushchenko, David Raya Martin, Jack Porter, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Khari Ranson, Tommy Setford, Christian Norgaard, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Ethan Nwaneri, Ife Ibrahim, Martin Odegaard, Martin Zubimendi, Max Dowman, Mikel Merino

UCL 2026 semifinals: Live telecast and streaming details

When will the semifinals of the UCL 2026 be played?

The first leg of the UCL 2026 quarter-final matches will be played on April 29 and 30, while the second-leg matches will take place on May 6 and 7.

Who will Paris Saint-Germain play in the semifinals of the UCL 2026?

Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain will take on six-time champions FC Bayern Munich in the semifinals of the UCL 2026.

Who will Arsenal play in the semifinals of the UCL 2026?

Premier League side Arsenal will face Atletico Madrid in the semifinals of UCL 2026.

Where to watch the live telecast of UCL 2026 semifinal matches in India?

The live telecast of all the UCL 2026 semifinal matches will be available on Sony Sports Network in India.

Where to watch the live streaming of UCL 2026 semifinal matches in India?

The live streaming of all the UCL 2026 semifinal matches will be available on the Sony LIV app and website in India.

Cleveland Guardians catcher Austin Hedges marked his team’s 8-4 Major League Baseball victory over the Baltimore Orioles with a memorable on-field proposal to his girlfriend, Lexi Dickinson, who happily accepted.

The romantic gesture followed a game where Hedges had opened the scoring for his side.

The 33-year-old, who has been carrying the engagement ring since early spring training, revealed his desire for the perfect moment.

“I’ve had the ring since early spring training, but was just trying to figure out when the right time was,” Hedges said. “I was going to do it regardless… but I really wanted to win that game to make it extra special.”

Hedges, a popular and respected figure within the Guardians’ clubhouse, saw many of his teammates remain on the field to witness the special occasion, observing from a respectful distance. The catcher admitted to heightened emotions throughout the day.

“I had a lot of nerves today,” he confessed. “I’m always nervous for baseball games, but just trying to stay present, knowing there were some activities after made it harder. It was a special day. A special day to be able to soak it all in.”

The couple began dating in November 2024. Hedges is currently in his 12th Major League Baseball season, with six of those spent with Cleveland.

He boasts a .250 batting average with two RBIs in nine games this season, and the Guardians have maintained an undefeated 8-0 record when he starts behind the plate.

A 2023 World Series champion with the Texas Rangers, Hedges reached 10 years of major league service time on 30 March, having made his debut with San Diego in 2015 and also playing for Pittsburgh in 2023.

Following the proposal, while Ms Dickinson received congratulations from friends and other Guardians spouses, Hedges quickly changed into a stylish maroon suit.

“Now, we’re going to go to dinner and then just have a night to ourselves and enjoy it,” he added, as he looked forward to celebrating their engagement.

The Indiana Fever are back on the hardwood, as the team reported to training camp ahead of the 2026 season, and all eyes are on superstar guard Caitlin Clark once again.

This time, it’s to make sure she’s healthy enough to get after it following a sophomore season in the WNBA riddled with injuries.

Clark told reporters at training camp she is “100% healthy” after dealing with quad, groin and ankle injuries in 2025, which led to just 13 games played for the 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year.

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Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) looks on against the Minnesota Lynx in the second half during the Commissioner’s Cup final at Target Center on July 1, 2025. (Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images)

But while Clark wasn’t allowed to be on the court, she learned, along with head coach Stephanie White, how to be a bit more cautious heading into year three.

“I’m a person that doesn’t want to sit out a single rep, like I want to be in there every single time,” Clark told reporters, per the Indianapolis Star. “But I think just being a little bit smarter with my body…whether that’s recovery, whether that’s pre-court treatment, whatever it is.”

White echoed Clark’s statement.

CAITLIN CLARK EARNS DIANA TAURASI’S APPROVAL AFTER WEARING ICONIC NO 12 FOR TEAM USA DEBUT

“She doesn’t have to be out there every rep, just being mindful,” she said. “Every year that she gets older, she understands the cadence is a little bit different.”

Clark played just 13 games, but she made her second straight All-Star Game, averaging 16.5 points, five rebounds and 8.8 assists per game over that span.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) plays against the Atlanta Dream during the first half of Game 3 of the first round of the 2025 WNBA playoffs at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. Sept. 18, 2025. (Dale Zanine/Imagn Images)

Heading into this season, Clark is obviously looking to continue her hot start to her professional career, and working out with Team USA in March ahead of the FIBA Women’s World Cup was an experience she said helped her prepare for this season.

“You want to rise to the level of the people around you, and then you also want to beat them, get on the court and compete,” she said about that experience playing and training with the best of the best in women’s basketball.

So, Clark heads into training camp not pushing herself perhaps how she has in the past, including years at Iowa. The Fever can see what else they have at the guard position when she does sit out and rest, including first-round pick Raven Johnson out of South Carolina.

Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) drives the ball against Connecticut Sun guard Leila Lacan (47) in the second quarter at TD Garden on July 15, 2025. (David Butler II/Imagn Images)

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The Fever are hoping to continue its build to a WNBA contender, losing in the semfinals last season with an injury-riddled squad. They also made it a point to bring back core players from last year’s roster, including Sophie Cunningham, Kelsey Mitchell and Lexie Hull — all of whom dealt with injuries in 2025.

Indiana was also looking ahead to the future, inking Aliyah Boston to a four-year, $6.3 million contract extension that marked the highest-paid deal in WNBA history following a historic CBA agreement between the league and the players’ association.

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New details have emerged surrounding the arrest of former Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who is facing two misdemeanor charges following a run-in with law enforcement just days ahead of the NFL Draft. 

Branch, who is a projected second-round pick, was arrested early Sunday morning in Athens, Georgia, and charged with two counts of obstructing public sidewalks/streets – prowling and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. 

Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Zachariah Branch celebrates after a touchdown catch against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Nov. 28, 2025. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

He was released after more than two hours in jail after posting $39 in bonds. 

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The NFL Network obtained the police report from Branch’s arrest, which described an encounter over an alleged sidewalk incident with law enforcement, in which police alleged that the former Bulldogs star failed “to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands.”

“A male, later identified as Zacharia Branch, continued to stand on the sidewalk without making an attempt to move. I continued to give Zacharia Branch verbal commands to move from blocking the sidewalk and advised that if he did not, he would receive a citation for blocking the sidewalk,” the excerpt from the report read. 

Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch runs during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind., on Feb. 28, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

TOP NFL DRAFT PICK ZACHARIAH BRANCH ARRESTED IN GEORGIA ON TWO MISDEMEANOR CHARGES

“Zacharia Branch smirked, then stepped backwards and to the right, then remained standing upon the public sidewalk, so as to obstruct, hinder, and impede free passage upon the sidewalk as well as impede free ingress/egress to or from the adjacent places of business,” the report continued.

“Due to those actions and Zacharia Branch’s failure to comply with multiple verbal lawful commands, he was placed under arrest for misdemeanor Obstruction of LEO and received a citation for Obstructing Public Sidewalks.”

Georgia wide receiver Zachariah Branch celebrates with wide receiver Colbie Young after scoring a touchdown against Ole Miss during the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Jan. 1, 2026. (IMAGN)

Branch transferred after two seasons at Southern California and immediately became quarterback Gunner Stockton’s favorite target. He finished the season with a team-high 811 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns.

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His status as a projected second-round pick was bolstered after an impressive showing at the combine, where he clocked a 4.35-second 40-yard dash.

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Vikings running back Aaron Jones was an obvious cut candidate entering this year’s offseason, but the franchise and the player agreed on a revised deal to keep him around for a third season. That ruined another organization’s plans.

It turns out, the Washington Commanders were interested in his services for the upcoming season.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed in his pre-draft nuggets, “Even if Love does not wind up going No. 3, he will not slide far. The Commanders at No. 7 would seem to be his floor. Last spring, the Commanders planned to pursue Aaron Jones Sr. before he returned to the Vikings.”

Jones’ exit was a foregone conclusion at one point, and even reports about his release surfaced. Too tasty were the $7.75 million in cap space the club could have saved by releasing the ball-carrier.

Ultimately, Jones took a pay cut and avoided a move. The difference between a pay cut and potential savings ended up too insignificant for a divorce to make sense for Minnesota. Finding a replacement would’ve cost more and perhaps still be a downgrade.

Schefter added about Washington’s possible draft plans: “This offseason, Washington added Rachaad White and Jerome Ford to join Jacory Croskey-Merritt, but the team still does not have much money invested in the position. If the opportunity presents itself, some expect the Commanders would rush to turn in the card for Love, giving Washington a great offensive tandem with him and Jayden Daniels.”

Jeremiyah Love, the crown jewel of this year’s running back class, might be off the board before the Commanders are on the clock, but if he’s there, the prospects of pairing the dynamic runner with quarterback Jayden Daniels are intriguing.

The Vikings were considered a potential destination for Love throughout the 2025 season, but the strong finish with a five-game winning streak ended that speculation.

Instead, it’ll continue to be a timeshare between last year’s trade acquisition, Jordan Mason, and 2024 free-agent addition Jones. The reality that both enter the season with free agency looming next March could put running back on this year’s draft menu.

In addition to the short-term contract, his age rules out any long-term plans. At 31, a significant decline could happen at any point, especially for a player who has dealt with injuries for years. A hamstring injury cost him five games last year.

Still, he was solid in 2025, ranking in the middle of the pack in EPA/rush (23rd/49 eligible RBs), success rate (16th/49), and TFL percentage (19th/49). The counting numbers showed 548 rushing yards and two touchdowns, with a receiving output of 199 yards and one score.

Jones is one of the premier third-down backs in the league, as he brings a rare combination of sure hands and blocking talent to the table. Most receiving backs are smaller and lack the oomph in pass protection.

He’s also a key component in the leadership structure. When the club and the runner agreed on a new deal, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero noted, “The Vikings never wanted to let go of Aaron Jones, who is a strong locker room presence and still effective when healthy at age 31. The sides worked towards a new deal and found common ground to keep in purple for another season.”

The pairing between Mason and Jones is a good fit on paper, as Jones is the more shifty technician, while Mason brings the size and power to run over defenders. Adding a rookie in the draft could complete the running back room for the upcoming season. Depth rusher Zavier Scott remains from last year, while 2022 draftee Ty Chandler was not retained in free agency.

Jones will wear the purple colors in the 2026 season and it’s good to know that at least one other team was interested in his services. The veteran is just one year removed from a season with over 1,500 scrimmage yards.

Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.

Janik Eckardt is a German sports nerd, who likes numbers and stats. He chose the Vikings to be his … More about Janik Eckardt

England great Gary Lineker has backed Arsenal to notch their first Premier League title in 22 years despite recently crashing to a 2-1 league loss at Manchester City.

Earlier this Sunday (April 19), the Gunners tasted their fourth defeat in six matches across all competitions at Etihad Stadium. Rayan Cherki opened the scoring in the 16th minute before Kai Havertz’s equaliser two minutes later. Erling Haaland’s goal in the 65th minute ultimately prove to be the difference between the two footballing giants.

After losing to Pep Guardiola’s side, Arsenal are still atop the Premier League table with 70 points from 33 matches. On the other hand, Manchester City are in second place with 67 points from 32 games, and could dethrone the Gunners after beating Burnley on Wednesday (April 22).

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker provided his two cents on Mikel Arteta’s side and their ongoing quest to end their Premier League title drought. The ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker said (h/t Mirror):

“It’s not impossible that it’ll be down to goal difference and it is very, very close. It’s great for the neutrals because you want it to go as close as you can right at the death, so in that sense it was good. I feel a little bit for Arsenal, they’re going through it a little bit but they’re still in the semi-final of the Champions League, they’ve got plenty to play for, they can still win the Premier League title.”

The 1986 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner added:

“A lot of people will go, ‘Arsenal have choked’, it could still be a memorable season for them, I’m not going to jump on that bandwagon that they’re going to throw it away, it’s too soon to say that. They did show something, even though it didn’t go their way, it could have been different.”

Arteta’s club will face Newcastle United in the league on Saturday before taking on Atletico Madrid in a UEFA Champions League tie on April 29.

Arsenal star targeted by European giants

According to French outlet L’Equipe, Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli’s entourage has met with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) sporting director Luis Campos of late. He is believed to be a summer target for the Parisians.

Martinelli, 24, could be sold by the north London outfit this summer as his contract will expire in June 2027. He has also struggled to start Premier League games this season, scoring one goal in just 10 starts so far.

Overall, the Brazilian attacker has bagged 62 goals and provided 35 assists in 272 overall appearances for the Emirates Stadium outfit so far.