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Vancouver mayor: ‘Losing the Whitecaps is not an option’

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The mayor of Vancouver also wants to #SAVETHECAPS.

In a long message he posted to social media Tuesday, Vancouver mayor Ken Sim called on the Vancouver Whitecaps ownership and the British Columbia provincial government to lay out the steps that will be required for the team to remain in Vancouver.

“We are calling on the team’s ownership to publicly and clearly articulate what they need to stay here in Vancouver, and we are calling on the provincial government to come to the table and make that a reality,” Sim wrote.

He later added: “To all Vancouver Whitecaps fans, to the Southsiders, and to all of the supporter groups, we need you to keep the fight going. We need you to stay strong, and we need you to stay loud.

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“Losing the Whitecaps is not an option.”

This statement from Kim comes on the heels of a Major League Soccer spokesman saying on Monday that the league “will evaluate all options” when it comes to the future of the Whitecaps — including keeping the team in Vancouver or moving it to another market.

Those comments came after The Athletic published a story earlier on Monday saying the league has told its 29 other owners it is exploring relocating the team, with Las Vegas being the top candidate for the new market.

–with files from the Canadian Press

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NCAA to expand March Madness men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments to 76 teams in 2027

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Both the men’s and women’s NCAA basketball tournaments are expected to expand to 76 teams, effective next year, a source confirmed to CBS Sports on Tuesday.

A formal announcement by the NCAA is expected in May. 

Expansion of the NCAA Tournament has been discussed and debated for years. Proponents celebrated the idea of more access while adversaries insisted it would lessen the regular season and be a net-negative for the sport. In the end, the argument for a bigger tournament that will generate additional revenue won out.

How a 76-team bracket would work

This will be the first expansion of the NCAA Tournament since it went from 64 to 68 teams in 2011. The move will create eight additional at-large bids. What’s been known as the First Four — eight teams playing four games in Dayton, Ohio, on Tuesday and Wednesday of the first week of the NCAA Tournament — will now include 12 games played by 24 teams at two different locations, one of which will remain Dayton. The second opening round site is not known but will be in the Pacific, Mountain or Central time zones. 

The move to 76 would mean 52 teams would auto-slot into the main bracket and 12 games for 24 teams Tuesday and Wednesday for a rebuilt opening round.   

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Farewell to First Four

The 12 games for the 24 teams in the expanded NCAA Tournament will be labeled “the opening round” when the tournament expands in 2027. The “First Four” is dead, a source told CBS Sports.   

The expanded opening round will be split between at-large teams and teams who have won automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. All No. 16 seeds and half the No. 15 seeds will play games Tuesday and Wednesday of the opening round. The other half of the games will be a mix depending on team quality comprised of No. 11, No. 12 and maybe a No. 13 seed.  

This breaking news story will be updated shortly.

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New Fifa ‘Vinicius Law’ will see players sent off at World Cup if they cover their mouths during confrontations

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Players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent will be immediately sent off at this summer’s World Cup, under new, tougher sanctions.

This significant rule change comes after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior reported racial abuse from Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who covered his mouth during a Champions League match in February.

Vinicius was visibly upset by the comment and promptly informed the referee, prompting a 10-minute halt in play in line with UEFA regulations.

Any similar incident at the upcoming tournament will now result in a red card, following a unanimous agreement by football’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), in Vancouver on Tuesday.

An IFAB statement outlining the law change read: “At the discretion of the competition organiser, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card.”

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UEFA announced last Friday that Prestianni had been given a six-match ban in relation to the incident for discriminatory conduct that was homophobic in nature, with three of the games suspended for two years and one already served on a provisional basis.

UEFA announced last Friday that Prestianni had been given a six-match ban in relation to the incident for discriminatory conduct that was homophobic in nature
UEFA announced last Friday that Prestianni had been given a six-match ban in relation to the incident for discriminatory conduct that was homophobic in nature (AFP/Getty)

It is understood Vinicius’ allegation of racism was found not proven by UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB) and that Prestianni admitted using a homophobic slur towards the Brazilian. The sanction imposed is still subject to appeal.

FIFA brought the idea of bringing in sanctions for players covering their mouths to the IFAB’s annual general meeting in Wales in February, shortly after the incident occurred.

The day after the meeting, FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Sky News he thought red cards should be issued when a player confronts an opponent and covers their mouth.

Players who walk off the pitch in protest at refereeing decisions – and officials who incite players to do so – will also face instant dismissal at this summer’s finals, again following a recommendation from FIFA to the IFAB.

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A team that causes a match to be abandoned will, in principle, forfeit the match.

The change follows the chaotic scenes witnessed during the Africa Cup of Nations final in January, when Senegal’s players left the field after the award of a penalty to hosts Morocco deep into injury time.

Their actions delayed the match by 17 minutes, and Senegal went on to win after Brahim Diaz missed the spot-kick and the game went to extra time.

Senegal were stripped of the title by an appeal board of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which last month overturned the result and awarded the trophy to Morocco.

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Senegal is appealing against that decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

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WWE: Stephanie Vaquer legitimately injured

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There has been an unfortunate update about WWE RAW star Stephanie Vaquer. La Primera competed in a title match at WrestleMania 42 last weekend but came up short.

The Judgment Day’s Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez jumped Vaquer backstage during last night’s edition of the red brand and unleashed a brutal attack as a way to write the former champion off WWE TV. Michael Cole later announced that Vaquer suffered a second-degree AC joint sprain and would be out of action for a while.

According to Bryan Alvarez of The Wrestling Observer, Vaquer’s injury is legitimate. However, it remains unknown when the popular star’s injury took place.

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Stephanie Vaquer captured the Women’s World Championship at Wrestlepalooza 2025 and held the title until WrestleMania 42. Liv Morgan defeated Vaquer at The Show of Shows to become the new Women’s World Champion. The match only lasted seven minutes at the biggest show of the year earlier this month in Las Vegas.

Stephanie Vaquer calls out WWE fan who made her uncomfortable

Stephanie Vaquer recently called out a wrestling fan who made her feel uncomfortable.

A wrestling fan suggested that Vaquer was rude, and the former champion responded on social media. The WWE RAW star stated that she politely asked the fan for space, but the fan continued to follow and harass her. She added that it made her sad to see people like that refer to themselves as fans.

“I always stop and I’m very kind to my fans. Yesterday was my birthday and I was honestly having a really bad day. Even so, I politely asked for understanding, and many people respected that. But you followed me for a long time, saying hurtful things and making me feel uncomfortable. I told you no multiple times, and you kept following me and recording. And now you’re posting this on social media. It’s sad to see people like you call themselves fans….,” she wrote.

I always stop and I’m very kind to my fans. Yesterday was my birthday and I was honestly having a really bad day. Even so, I politely asked for understanding, and many people respected that. But you followed me for a long time, saying hurtful things and making me feel

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Stephanie Vaquer spent years on the independent wrestling scene before signing with WWE in 2024. Only time will tell when the 33-year-old will be cleared to return to the ring.