Harry Maguire 'refused chances to pay £43,500 bribe to Greek police t… — and more

The England and Man United defender was on Wednesday found guilty of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery six years after a brawl on a family holiday in August 2020.

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia remain on the F1 calendar for 2026, but the status of both events is still in question. With time running out, F1 needs to decide soon if those races will go ahead as planned.

This year’s season begins with the Australian Grand Prix returning as the opening race, followed by a trip to China before teams head to Suzuka. But before then, a decision is expected on whether Bahrain and Saudi Arabia will remain part of the schedule.

There has been talk about Japan potentially hosting back-to-back races, which would put extra pressure on Aston Martin and Honda if their underperforming power units have to go through two races in front of local fans.

What happens to F1 if Bahrain and Saudi Arabian grands prix don’t go ahead?

Adam Williams weighed in on the issue, saying: “F1 and the event organisers will be covered for this eventuality to an extent, I’d have thought. There was a lot of debate about what was and wasn’t covered in insurance agreements when the pandemic hit, so it’s a nuanced question.

“Many agreements have a ‘war exclusion’ clause, but I’d expect that, given their geography, the organisers of the Bahrain and Jeddah races would have seen this as a material risk, so would have paid for war cover. Without seeing the contracts, we can’t say for sure, however. Either way, even if they do have cover, you’re going to get back some of the money you’d have made in revenue if the race had gone ahead, but not all of it.

“And matters are complicated by the commercial structure of Formula 1 – there could be different layers of loss and insurance at the local level, for broadcasters and sponsors, and for F1 itself. Also, would F1 cancel the races altogether, replace them or suspend them? That’s another factor.

“There is something of a precedent in the 2011 Bahrain Grand Prix being cancelled because of the Arab Spring… but that was resolved commercially and politically rather than through insurers,” Williams continued.

“I appreciate there are a lot of ifs and buts there… Clearly though safety has to be first – not just fans or drivers either.”

Other venues in Europe like Imola and Portimao are also being discussed as alternatives.

Formula 1 nearing deadline for decision on Bahrain and Saudi Arabian races

With practice in Bahrain set to begin on 10 April, the clock is ticking. Teams face a tight timeline, not only to prepare for the event but also to manage the complex logistics that come with a global racing calendar.

Freight schedules and travel plans don’t leave much room for uncertainty. According to a report from BBC Sport, teams may have to start sending equipment immediately after the Chinese Grand Prix if no decision has been made by then.

Both circuits are believed to pay over £75 million each in hosting fees, which includes support races like Formula 2, Formula 3 and F1 Academy.

The chances of finding replacements on short notice seem slim. Organising a Grand Prix involves ticket sales, local planning and a massive logistical effort that can’t be arranged overnight.

Adding to that, the same report downplays the idea of back-to-back races at Suzuka, suggesting there’s ‘little benefit’ compared to the strain it would put on teams and staff.

Read more:

Matthieu Jalibert has been passed fit to steer France from fly half as they target the Six Nations title against Scotland.

A bonus-point victory in Edinburgh would be enough for Les Bleus to secure the defence of their title with a round to spare, with Jalibert’s return a significant boost.

The Bordeaux Begles playmaker had been a late withdrawal from the side that beat Italy in round three, suffering a minor injury that forced a backline reshuffle after Thomas Ramos stepped in at No 10.

With Jalibert back, Ramos returns to full-back and Theo Attissogbe to the right wing, while the fly half’s club colleagues Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere are reunited in the centres after injury.

Mickael Guillard and Charles Ollivon are preferred to Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament in the second row, and Anthony Jelonch overcomes an injury scare to continue at No 8.

On the bench, scrum half Baptiste Serin is poised to earn a 50th cap as cover to captain Antoine Dupont.

France XV to face Scotland in Edinburgh (Saturday 7 March, 2.10pm GMT): 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Dorian Aldegheri; 4 Charles Ollivon, 5 Mickael Guillard; 6 Francois Cros, 7 Oscar Jegou, 8 Anthony Jelonch; 9 Antoine Dupont (capt.), 10 Matthieu Jalibert; 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 12 Yoram Moefana, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 14 Theo Attissogbe; 15 Thomas Ramos.

Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi; 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Pierre-Louis Barassi.

The EuroLeague Women play-ins concluded this week with a pair of deciding games, officially setting the stage for next month’s Final Six.

With Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring and Umana Reyer Venezia winning their respective best-of-three play-in series, the bracket for the Final Six is complete, though we’ll have to wait until April 15 for the action to resume.

On Tuesday, we saw a dominant performance from Galatasaray, who crushed Basket Landes on the boards and in the paint in a convincing win. Meanwhile, Venezia defeated fellow Italian club Beretta Famila Schio, earning their first-ever Final Six appearance and eliminating Schio from the competition.

Now that the field for the Final Six is set, let’s recap what happened in the final play-in games and how Galatasaray and Venezia advanced.

Galatasaray Çağdaş Faktoring pounds Basket Landes on the boards to advance to the semifinals 

Landes has made a name for themselves this season by exceeding expectations and making some improbable comebacks, and there was no better example of that than in the first game of their play-in series against Galatasaray. Galatasaray led by 19 points in the fourth quarter, yet Landes stormed back, forcing overtime before eventually falling in the final period. They then handled Galatasaray somewhat easily in the second game, forcing this week’s decider in Istanbul.

Simply put, Galatasaray was not about to suffer another letdown. The Turkish club got out to an early lead and extended it to as many as 25 points in the second half, and this time, Landes had no hope of coming back. Galatasaray took full advantage of its size in the frontcourt, pulling down a whopping 59 rebounds (21 offensive) and outscoring Landes in the paint 36-18. As usual, the play of Awak Kuier (17 points) and Dorka Juhász (nine rebounds and three blocks) stood out, though it was veteran guard Teja Oblak who stood out the most, recording an efficient 16 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Galatasaray’s 67-51 victory will send them to the Final Six semifinals, where they’ll face the winner of Landes and Casademont Zaragoza. While it’s entirely possible Landes comes out on top in that game and we get a rematch of this series, they’ll have to be more consistent offensively; shooting 28.1 percent from the field as they did in this game will obviously not get it done, especially against the tournament hosts.

Umana Reyer Venezia clinches Final Six berth with win over Beretta Famila Schio

Tuesday’s other game between Venezia and Schio was played under a bit more pressure. Being the deciding game of a quarterfinal play-in series, it was quite literally win-or-go-home. Whereas Landes can take solace in the fact that they’ll still be participating in the Final Six, the loser of this game would be eliminated from the competition entirely.

As it turned out, Venezia was the club that met the moment—again. After a strong performance last week to even the series at a game apiece, Venezia once again outplayed their Italian rivals. It was far from an offensive showcase, with both teams shooting under 34 percent from the field, but Venezia won on several margins, making eight 3-pointers to Schio’s four and taking significantly better care of the basketball (13 turnovers) than their opponents (20 turnovers).

No, it wasn’t the prettiest game ever played, but in a do-or-die matchup, only the final result matters. As tepid as the 62-51 final score may seem, Venezia was clearly the better team, leading Schio for over 31 minutes. And while Schio held a slight edge in rebounding (40-36), only Jessica Shepard reached double-figure scoring; the selfless, efficient offense that had made Schio a sleeper pick for a Final Six run went cold at the worst possible time, and it cost them a trip to the playoffs.

Venezia, meanwhile, will advance to the first round (quarterfinals) of the Final Six, where they’ll face Spar Girona. Girona lost their play-in series to Fenerbahçe Opet two games to none, though they’re still a dangerous team, as evidenced by their 8-4 record in group play.

Liverpool and Man Utd Track Juventus Midfield Star Ahead of Summer Window

Interest in Juventus midfielder Khéphren Thuram is gathering pace ahead of the summer transfer window, with Liverpool and Manchester United among the Premier League clubs monitoring his progress. According to Caught Offside, the France international has emerged as one of the most intriguing midfield options available, even though Juventus maintain that he remains central to their long term plans.

Transfer speculation often develops gradually before accelerating suddenly. Thuram’s situation feels like one of those stories quietly building momentum behind the scenes.

Juventus Growth Elevates Midfield Reputation

Thuram’s development since arriving in Turin has been steady and impressive. Once viewed primarily as an energetic presence, he has matured into a well rounded midfielder capable of influencing games in several ways.

Standing 6ft 4in and blessed with natural athleticism, he combines physical authority with a willingness to carry the ball through midfield. Juventus have increasingly relied on him to provide balance between defensive responsibility and attacking transitions.

Photo IMAGO

His versatility also appeals to prospective buyers. Thuram can operate as a traditional box to box midfielder, sit deeper to protect the back line, or surge forward to support attacks when opportunities arise.

The numbers underline his importance. The 24 year old has made 35 appearances across all competitions this season, a reflection of his growing role within Juventus’ structure.

Premier League Recruitment Focus Intensifies

Sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside that both Liverpool and Manchester United are interested in signing the French midfielder to strengthen their squad and add depth in their midfield.

For Liverpool, the appeal is obvious. Adding physical presence and ball winning ability in midfield remains a priority as the club refine the balance of their squad. Reports suggest a package worth around €45 million plus bonuses could be explored.

Manchester United’s thinking is slightly different but equally clear. The club are beginning to plan for life beyond Casemiro and Thuram fits the profile of a younger, high energy midfielder capable of anchoring the next phase of their rebuild.

Photo IMAGO

Arsenal are also monitoring the situation, though their interest appears more cautious at this stage.

Juventus Hold Strong Negotiating Position

Juventus are not under immediate pressure to sell. Thuram is under contract until 2029, giving the Italian club considerable leverage if negotiations develop.

The expected valuation between €65 million and €75 million reflects his growing importance. While Juventus insist he remains integral to their project, the financial realities of elite football mean that few players are entirely beyond reach.

If the coming months bring formal offers, this could become one of the more intriguing midfield transfer stories of the summer.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Liverpool supporters, the idea of signing Thuram makes considerable sense. Liverpool’s midfield rebuild has already begun in recent seasons, yet supporters still debate whether the squad possesses enough physical authority and ball recovery in central areas. Thuram’s athletic profile would address exactly that concern.

Fans often appreciate midfielders who can dominate duels and carry the ball through pressure. Thuram appears capable of doing both. The question for Liverpool supporters is whether the club are prepared to meet Juventus’ valuation if it climbs towards €70 million.

Manchester United supporters will view the situation through a different lens. For many at Old Trafford, the coming years feel like a transition period in midfield. Casemiro remains influential, but will be leaving at the end of the season. Thuram fits the age profile and playing style United supporters often call for, energetic, durable and capable of covering large areas of the pitch.

There is also the Premier League factor. Players with Thuram’s blend of power and technical control often adapt well to the pace of English football.

Supporters of both clubs would likely agree on one thing. If this move becomes realistic, it will not stay quiet for long. Midfielders with this profile rarely remain available without attracting serious attention.