Everton and Nottingham Forest received points deductions for breaking Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) in recent years but despite making “obvious and deliberate breaches” which “involved deception and concealment in relation to financial matters”, Chelsea were spared a sporting sanction.

When the punishment was announced Chelsea said: “From the outset of this process, the club has treated these matters with the utmost seriousness, providing full cooperation to all relevant regulators.”

Because the breaches came during former owner Roman Abramovich’s time in charge, and new owners BlueCo made voluntary disclosures and showed “exceptional co-operation”, that was viewed as enough mitigation to avoid more severe punishment.

“This is essentially a litany of offences related to how you conduct transfer business, so a transfer ban makes sense,” Purslow said.

“But to see that ban suspended in full, again, seems extremely lenient.

“That must really rankle with clubs like Everton and Forest who I don’t think have had much credit in the past where they have co-operated.”

The Premier League has previously stated, when handing Everton a points deduction, that “a financial penalty for a club that enjoys the support of a wealthy owner is not a sufficient penalty”.

That verdict also stated “the requirements of deterrence, vindication of compliant clubs, and the protection of the integrity of the sport demand a sporting sanction in the form of a points deduction”.

Chelsea signed players such as Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, Willian, Ramires, David Luiz and Nemanja Matic as they won seven majors honours between 2011 and 2018, including two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

“Sporting sanctions first came into the frame as an acknowledgement that sometimes punishing with a fine just didn’t fit the crime,” Purslow added.

“In other words, when football clubs had gained meaningful football advantage, you needed to sanction with sporting penalty to compensate.

“It is blindingly obvious that sporting benefits were attained through this transfer activity.”

Also in this sports roundup:

In the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, PSG and Real Madrid saw the job through. Sporting Lisbon staged an incredible comeback.

In the EuroLeague, Paris Basketball lost.

In tennis, Elsa Jacquemot secured her first career victory in a WTA 1000 tournament.

Manchester City were beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night and now face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

Jeremy Doku has challenged Manchester City to respond to their Champions League heartache in perfect fashion by lifting the Carabao Cup this weekend.

City were beaten 2-1 by Real Madrid on Tuesday night having been reduced to 10 men midway through the first half when Bernardo Silva was sent off for handball on the line. Vinicius Jr converted the penalty and, after Erling Haaland levelled before the break, the Brazilian added a stoppage time second for the visitors to complete a 5-1 aggregate success.

It means City’s European campaign is over for another season, and, with their Premier League chances hanging by a thread given Arsenal’s nine-point lead at the top, the chance to beat the Gunners and lift the first silverware of the campaign at Wembley on Sunday is a huge opportunity.

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“That is a good cure to this game,” said Doku. “We will do everything to win that game.

“There is still a lot to play for, there is still three trophies to win. We do that, it is going to be a great season still. Of course we are disappointed with the Champions League, it is always a nice trophy to have but there are some lessons to take out of these two games. We recover well and look forward to the next games that we have.”

The message from the City camp after the midweek defeat to Real was one of pride, with the Blues producing a positive performance in the second leg despite the early red card. And Doku feels the tie will stand City in good stead for the future.

“We played well, 10 against 11, 11 against 11, we did well and created chances. I feel like if we play like that every game you will put many teams in trouble. There are some good things to take out of this game for the next one.

“We can be proud of our performance, playing against a big team like that 10 against 11 and still performing like we did, still putting them into trouble – not every team can do it.

“Unfortunately we didn’t win, but we can look each other in the eyes and be proud of each other. We will recover now, try and win the game on Sunday and be in the Champions League for next season.”

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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.

Argentina is pressing forward with a bid to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup, which would take the event to South America for the first time.

Argentina hopes to involve Brazil, Chile and Uruguay in the staging of the tournament.

World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin is visiting Argentina on a fact-finding mission before formal applications for the tournament are submitted in the latter half of 2026.

“We want a World Cup that reflects the passion and development that rugby has achieved in every corner of our territory,” said Gabriel Travaglini, president of the Argentine Rugby Union.

Japan and Spain have recently confirmed their intention of bidding for the tournament, while Italy have previously expressed an interest and a joint Middle East bid, incorporating Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, has also been rumoured.

Argentina have played in all 10 previous editions of the Rugby World Cup, reaching the semi-finals in three of the past five stagings.

Los Pumas make use of various multi-purpose stadiums around the country for home matches.

In July, they will take on Scotland in the 57,000-capacity Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba, Wales in the 25-000-seater Estadio San Juan de Bicentenario in San Juan and England in Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades, which holds about 30,000 people, in Santiago del Estero.

Estadio Mas Monumental – the Buenos Aires’ home of football side River Plate – is the largest stadium in South America with a capacity in excess of 85,000.

World Rugby’s selection of hosts has balanced maximising commercial returns and expanding into new markets in recent years. Japan staged the tournament for the first time in 2019, hile the United States will do in 2031.

France and Australia, hosts for 2023 and 2027 respectively, have both put on the tournament on more than one occasion.

After site visits and assessments, World Rugby will identify a preferred host in May 2027, with their recommendation being voted on in November.

The Senegalese government has called for an “independent international investigation” into “suspected corruption” at African football’s governing body after it stripped Senegal of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title and awarded it to Morocco.

Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in January’s final but the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result on Tuesday because Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest when hosts Morocco were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.

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The players returned after a 17-minute delay, and Brahim Diaz’s ‘Panenka’ penalty for Morocco was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.

Following an appeal by the Moroccan FA (FRMF), Caf ruled that Senegal had forfeited the match, with the “result being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.

In a statement the Senegalese government said the “unprecedented and exceptionally serious decision” was based on “a manifestly erroneous interpretation of the regulations, leading to a grossly illegal and deeply unjust decision”.

It said: “Senegal unequivocally rejects this unjustified attempt at dispossession.”

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BBC Sport has contacted Caf for comment.

Fight is far from over – Senegal FA chief

Earlier on Wednesday, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) said it would appeal against Caf’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), calling it “an unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable decision which brings discredit to African football”.

“This decision is a breach of trust that is not based on any rule of law,” FSF secretary general Abdoulaye Seydou Sow told Senegalese TV channel RTS 1.

“We felt that the jury wasn’t there to uphold the law, but to carry out an order.

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“We will stop at nothing. The law is on our side. The fight is far from over. Senegal will defend its rights to the very end.”

Some Senegal players have suggested they will not relinquish their winners’ medals.

“We know what we experienced that evening in Rabat. And no-one can take that away from us,” Senegal and Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye said on social media.

The walk-off by Senegal prompted the International Football Association Board (Ifab), football’s lawmaking body, to open a consultation on how to deal with situations when “players unilaterally decide to leave the field of play, or team officials instigate such action, as a means of protest against a referee’s decision”.

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Senegal’s players, apart from Sadio Mane, left the pitch after the award of a penalty for Morocco by referee Jean Jacques Ndala shortly after he had disallowed a goal by Ismaila Sarr at the other end.

Ndala gave the penalty in the 98th minute after being advised by the video assistant referee (VAR) to consult the pitchside monitor and review defender El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Diaz.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino said it was “unacceptable to leave the field of play in this manner” and that the scenes “must be condemned and never repeated”.

During the tournament there was much debate about refereeing decisions and VAR, with accusations from some journalists that Morocco were treated favourably by some officials.

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Senegal complained before the final about how they had been treated and expressed “serious concerns” over security when they arrived in Rabat for the game.

‘Game should not be won in the boardroom’

In its ruling to award Morocco the title, Caf also “partially upheld” an appeal against an incident involving ball boys in the final, and reduced the Moroccan FA’s fine for the incident.

In torrential rain, Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy regularly dried his gloves, but the ball boys repeatedly tried to discard his towel.

At one point Senegal reserve goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf was tackled to the ground by three ball boys and dragged around on the floor when he tried to intervene.

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A fine for fans shining lasers at players on the pitch was also reduced by Caf.

Caf’s former head of disciplinary, Raymond Hack, questioned the decisions made by African football’s governing body and suggested there is a perception of “political interference” as “the president of the Moroccan Football Association [Fouzi Lekjaa] is the first vice-president of Caf”.

“The circus continues,” Hack told BBC World Service.

“A lot will depend on the referee’s written report, but the fact that the referee allowed the game to continue and they went into extra time gives the impression that he was satisfied that the game will continue.

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“He is the only person who can call an end to the game. Not the authorities, not the governing bodies, only the referee.

“Otherwise you’re going to have situation worldwide where every time someone disagrees with a decision, they’re going to go on appeal or take it to court or something ridiculous like that.

“The game should be won on the field of play not in a boardroom.”

Hack, a lawyer and a member of Fifa’s disciplinary committee, said the Morocco players should have informed the referee they were playing under protest if they intended to challenge the result.

He also said it could take six months for Cas to rule on Senegal’s appeal.

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Moroccan journalist Jalal Bounar told Newsday that Caf’s decision had been welcomed “with great excitement and joy across the country”.

“Morocco appealed the decision to the confederation of African football because they believed that Senegal had broken the rules during the match, and that’s why Moroccans went out to celebrate,” he said.

“If they give it to Senegal, it won’t be the end of the world. We will accept because we are satisfied that we reached the final.”

However, north African journalist Maher Mezahi said such a sentiment is not matched across the continent.

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“It does seem like the rest of Africa feels outraged by this because it seems like, once again, the Confederation of African Football has almost disgraced the sport,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

Mezahi cited Caf’s decision to ban Togo from two Africa Cup of Nations for quitting the 2010 competition following a gun attack on their team bus in Angola two days before the tournament.

Referring back to Caf’s decision on the 2025 final, he said: “They have, unfortunately, come up with a habit of releasing decisions like this – whether it’s the disciplinary committee or the appeals board – that eventually do get shot down at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but it makes the entire thing look very amateurish.”

Previous walk-offs in football

While the sanction issued for the Senegal players leaving the pitch was unprecedented in global football, it was not the first time players had walked off the field in protest.

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Czechoslovakia v Belgium (1920)

Czechoslovakia’s players abandoned their shot at gold at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics when they left the field 40 minutes into the final against Belgium in protest against English referee John Lewis, who had awarded the hosts a penalty and sent off Czechoslovakia left-back Karel Steiner.

Belgium were awarded the gold medal with Czechoslovakia disqualified from the competition entirely.

Lille v Manchester Utd (2007)

Ryan Giggs’ late free-kick for Manchester United, scored while Lille were still arranging their wall, led the Lille players to walk off in a Champions League last-16 tie.

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Having gathered by the touchline, they eventually returned to complete the match.

Uefa fined Lille £42,000, which included a sanction for poor security and organisation at the stadium.

AC Milan v Pro Patria (2013)

AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng led his team-mates off the pitch after being racially abused by sections of the crowd during a friendly against Pro Patria.

Fifa applauded Boateng’s principles and made him the first member of its anti-discrimination taskforce, but said it did not condone his decision to walk off.

Paris St-Germain v Istanbul Basaksehir (2020)

Players from both sides left the field during a Champions League match after fourth official Sebastian Coltescu was alleged to have used a racist term towards Istanbul Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo.

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When Basaksehir refused to return, the match was abandoned and replayed the following day. Coltescu was suspended until the end of the season and ordered to attend an educational programme.

Fenerbahce v Galatasaray (2024)

Fenerbahce started an under-19 side and then walked off after one minute in the Turkish Super Cup against rivals Galatasaray after their request for the game to be postponed – because they had a Europa League quarter-final against Olympiacos four days later – was rejected.

Fenerbahce were fined 115,000 euros (£98,000) and Galatasaray awarded a 3-0 win.

Colombe Sportive du Sud v Panthere du Nde (2026)

In February champions Colombe Sportive du Sud walked off during the Cameroonian Super Cup against Panthere du Nde after the award of a controversial penalty and a red card for captain Randy Ntume in the 69th minute.

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The match was abandoned and the final outcome is still to be determined by the Cameroonian football authorities.

The Africa Cup of Nations has taken another mind-boggling turn. It’s “the joke of the century”, according to the Senegalese daily Le Soleil. Le Dakarois reports that the Confederation of African Football’s appeal board decided that Senegal were “declared to have forfeited the final” by walking off, and therefore automatically lose 3-0. The Guinean website Le Djely calls it a disproportionate decision. The mood in Morocco is quite different. Moroccan news site 360 says that CAF has “saved African football from the grip of unsportsmanlike conduct”. 

Meanwhile, an exclusive report in the Guardian reveals that the UK‘s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, attended the US-Iran talks in Geneva in late February, after which he judged that Tehran’s offer had been significant enough to prevent a war in the Middle East. This in part explains the UK government’s reluctance to back the US attack on Iran. 

A long read in The New York Times looks into the American weapons being smuggled into Mexico and used by violent drug cartels. Firearms are sold in American gun shops and on websites and phone apps and are then funnelled to Mexican cartel members. The paper says as many as 1 million weapons could be being smuggled into Mexico every year.  

Finally, in the UK, one of art’s worst kept secrets has just been solved. Reuters has uncovered Banksy‘s identity. The Times, though, says that the street artist’s identity has been known since the early 2000s: “he’s a shortsighted bloke from Bristol called Robin”. The Wall Street Journal explains that although anonymity helped Banksy move undetected, it did make art collectors uneasy and his art is now going to sell for a lot more. For Sky News, the revelation of Banksy’s identity will only add to his legacy as an artist of the people.  

You can catch our press review every morning on France 24 at 7:20am and 9:20am (Paris time), from Monday to Friday. 

The Miami (OH) RedHawks battle the SMU Mustangs in a First Four matchup on Wednesday night. The winner will be the 11th seed and will face the sixth-seeded Tennessee Volunteers on Friday. The RedHawks (31-1) suffered their one and only defeat this season in an 87-83 loss to UMass in the first round of the MAC Tournament. SMU was able to get into the tournament thanks largely to a grueling nonconference schedule. The RedHawks have won four of five games, while the Mustangs have lost four of five games. 

Tipoff from UD Arena in Dayton, Ohio, is set for 9:15 p.m. ET. Miami (OH) holds a 2-0 all-time series lead over SMU. The RedHawks should have a clear home-crowd advantage with the University of Dayton Arena being only one hour from Miami’s campus in Oxford, Ohio. SMU is a 6.5-point favorite in the latest Miami (OH) vs SMU odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 163.5. Before making any SMU vs. Miami (OH) picks, check out the men’s college basketball predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered the tournament on a sizzling 11-1 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-22 run on top-rated CBB side picks. Anyone following its college basketball betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.

Now, the model has simulated Miami (OH) vs SMU 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted men’s college basketball picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several men’s college basketball odds and men’s college basketball betting lines for Miami (OH) vs SMU:

Top Miami (OH) vs SMU predictions

After 10,000 simulations of Miami (OH) vs SMU, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (163.5 points). The total has gone over in nine of SMU’s last 13 games. Both teams have a 62% Over rate this season, so the trends clearly point in this direction. 

The model projects the RedHawks to have four players score 10.3 points or more, including Peter Suder, who is projected to score 14.8 points. The Mustangs are projected to have five players score 11.9 points or more, led by Boopie Miller, who is projected to score 22.3 points. The model is projecting 167 combined points as the Over clears in 61% of simulations. 

How to make Miami (OH) vs SMU picks

The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can only see that pick at SportsLine.

So who wins Miami (OH) vs SMU, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the advanced model that has simulated this game 10,000 times, and find out.

Finding success in the 2026 March Madness bracket often means going on a roll at just the right time. Which teams can do that will go a long way in determining who comes home with this year’s title at the end of the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket. The obvious favorites are the top seeds like Duke in the East, Arizona in the West, Florida in the South and Michigan in the Midwest. However, due to the amount of talent throughout the 2026 NCAA bracket, nothing seems impossible for a good portion of the 2026 March Madness field.

In 2014, seventh-seeded UConn cut down the nets after defeating eighth-seeded Kentucky in the championship game. Nine years later, the Huskies won another championship when they downed fifth-seeded San Diego State. Who will be the 2026 March Madness Cinderella team? Before you make your 2026 NCAA Tournament predictions, see the 2026 March Madness bracket picks from the proven computer model at SportsLine.

Two years ago, SportsLine’s computer simulation nailed massive upsets, including huge wins by No. 11 Oregon over No. 6 South Carolina, No. 11 NC State over No. 6 Texas Tech, No. 10 Colorado over No. 7 Florida. Last year, SportsLine’s computer simulation nailed massive upsets, including calling both 9-seeds that advanced in the first round, No. 12 Colorado State over No. 5 Memphis, and No. 6 BYU advancing to the Sweet 16. The model has beaten over 91 percent of all CBS Sports bracket players in four of the past seven tournaments.

This model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds since its inception in 2016 and nailed UConn’s championship run in 2024. It nailed 12 teams in the Sweet 16 and correctly predicted all four Final Four teams a year ago.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every college basketball game 10,000 times. It entered conference tournament week on a sizzling 14-2 run on its top-rated over/under college basketball picks dating back to last season, and is on a 28-21 run on top-rated CBB side picks. You shouldn’t even think about making a pick without seeing what their model has to say.

Top 2026 March Madness bracket upset picks

One South Region surprise the model has identified: No. 9 Iowa defeats No. 8 Clemson in the first round. Iowa has completely changed its style under first-year head coach Ben McCollum, who led Drake to the Round of 32 in last year’s Big Dance. He brought six players with him to Iowa, including Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year Bennett Stirtz. That move has paid dividends, with Stirtz averaging 20.0 points and 4.5 assists per game this season.

The Hawkeyes play at the eighth-slowest adjusted tempo in college basketball, according to KenPom. They are facing a Clemson team that does not have anyone scoring 12 points per game, and second-leading scorer Carter Welling tore his ACL in the ACC Tournament. The Tigers lost to No. 12 seed McNeese State in the Round of 64 last season, and they are in line for another first-round exit this year.  

Another South Region surprise the model has identified: No. 5 Vanderbilt over No. 4 Nebraska to advance to the Sweet 16. The Huskers are having one of their best seasons ever, going 26-6 overall and finishing tied for second in the Big Ten at 15-5. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, is 26-8 overall and tied for fourth in the SEC at 11-7. The Commodores made it to the SEC Tournament championship game, where they lost 86-75 to Arkansas.

Nebraska appears to be trending in the wrong direction. After starting the season 20-0, the Cornhuskers have gone just 6-6 since, including a 20-point loss at UCLA on March 3. They fell 74-58 to eventual champion Purdue in the Big Ten Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, appears to be on a roll, having won four of its last five games, including three of those games coming against ranked opponents. See which other 2026 March Madness upsets and matchups to target here.

How to make 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket predictions

Who wins every tournament-defining matchup? And which teams will make surprising runs through the 2026 NCAA Tournament bracket? With the model’s track record of calling bracket-busting upsets, you’ll want to see which stunners it’s calling this year before locking in any 2026 NCAA bracket picks.

So what’s the optimal NCAA Tournament 2026 bracket? And which NCAA Tournament Cinderella teams will shock college basketball? Visit SportsLine now to see which region features two mammoth upsets in the first round, including one by a No. 14 seed, and see which 6-seed makes the Sweet 16, all from the model that’s nailed 25 first-round upsets by double-digit seeds.

Sporting Club Delhi players celebrate during the match against East Bengal in the Indian Super League. (Image: AIFF)

New Delhi: It was Tuesday morning, and the sun was beating down. The facilities of Northern United Football Club in Delhi-NCR were busy. On one side, a group of players were going through warm-up drills. On another, the goalkeepers were being tested with walloping drives. In the middle of the pitch, the coaching staff kept a watchful eye over the proceedings.It was followed by the field being divided into two halves as two different sets of strategies were employed. As the sun grew sharper, the approach shifted to set pieces with the coaches dictating matters.

It was no ordinary morning, and it is no ordinary week. Finishing touches were being applied to what is a monumental occasion – a Delhi-based top-level club returning home after a seven-year gap.Delhi once boasted of three clubs in the top two divisions: Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League (ISL) and Sudeva Delhi and Delhi FC in the I-League (now called the Indian Football League). Dynamos witnessed an average attendance of over 15,000 in the first ISL season (2014) and had legends such as Alessandro Del Piero and Roberto Carlos in their ranks.Delhi’s tryst with ISL and top-tier football lasted until February 2019 as ahead of 2019-20 season, the club rebranded itself as Odisha FC and shifted its base to Bhubaneswar. The presence of I-League clubs has persisted.The capital city’s seven-year void of first-division football ends on Thursday (March 19) as Sporting Club Delhi, earlier called Hyderabad FC, host Jamshedpur FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. It is an emotional moment for defender Akshat Mehra, who was part of the Dynamos youth setup and is now one of two Delhites in the SC Delhi squad.

SC Delhi picked up their first points of the season against Mumbai City FC in a come-from-behind draw. (Image: AIFF)

“I’m very happy that football is finally back in Delhi after a very long time. Last time it was Delhi Dynamos and thankfully I was a part of it also and now being a part of SC Delhi it’s a great feeling because it’s my home club and I get to represent my city and I’m very happy about it,” said the 19-year-old after the team’s training session in Noida.The magnitude of the occasion is not lost on Akshat, who was part of Delhi’s U-20 national championship-winning side recently. The stage and level of expectation are bigger now. “It’s a great feeling, but also it’s a bigger responsibility, and I feel it’s not going to be easy, but we are prepared for it as a team. If you talk about Delhi, now it’s time for Delhi to step up… there’s no going back from here, and hopefully we do great for the city, and we make all our fans proud,” continued Akshat.The Phoenix, as the club is nicknamed, are hoping that this home stretch proves to be a turnaround in their fortunes. After four matches played in the truncated season, SC Delhi are second from bottom with one draw and three losses — doing only marginally better than Mohammedan Sporting, who are yet to open their account.

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SC Delhi players in action against East Bengal in the Indian Super League. (Image: AIFF)

The season began with a 0-2 loss in Bengaluru, followed by a 1-4 thrashing at the hands of East Bengal, a slender 0-1 defeat against FC Goa before staging a comeback from 0-2 down to force a 2-2 draw against Mumbai City FC for their first points of the season.Having zig-zagged across the country, taking multiple flights — sometimes more than one — this home game comes as a respite after a 10-day gap. It helps that it comes at a time when the team is struggling, and the threat of relegation is ever-so-real.“There is always the additional support, so we are counting on them to come in big numbers. They will be loud in the stadium and they will motivate our players. We say that fans are like the 12th player and we are expecting that, waiting for that,” said coach Tomasz Tchorz.

We are counting on them to come in big numbers. They will be loud in the stadium and they will motivate our players. We say that fans are like the 12th player and we are expecting that

Coach Tomasz Tchorz on fans

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Tchorz has been in India for a while now: with ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters – both with strong home connections and a loyal fan base. He hopes Delhi adds to the list for him and JLN Stadium continues to be a venue of miracles.“I think this is challenging but also very interesting especially in a city like Delhi which is (the) capital, which is big and versatile because you have a lot of communities in Delhi. Also, you have foreign people, and our team can represent different communities and unite them,” said the Polish manager.“This is something I would like to do as a coach of the team. Even in our team you can see people from different parts of India. You can also see people from different parts of the world.“With our team, we can unite communities, and we can make a big family which is very rich in different cultures, languages, and religions. We can be as one by football,” he continued.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host the SC Delhi home games in the ISL. (File photo)

To draw fans for this momentous occasion, SC Delhi have invited school kids, made tickets free and are collaborating with social media influencers to spread the message. The response has been “overwhelming”, says club CEO Dhruv Sood.“We launched (tickets) Friday night, and we’ve had an overwhelming response so far, above our expectations. The first game is an inaugural offer. The ownership wanted people to see and feel the pulse of ISL and football in Delhi. So, it’s been free of charge for all people who want to attend.“Tickets are still available. We are still trying to put out more because we want young people, we want Delhi people to come and see football.“So, we are trying to get out there, even in this current situation in Indian football, as much as possible. My hope is that we have 10-11,000 people which would be a good number. Hopefully, a lot of them (will be) wearing red and supporting us and hopefully, the team will respond by giving them the first win of the season,” said Sood with a lot of optimism.