Dolphins take $99m hit on Tagovailoa and sign Willis; Tampa’s star WR Evans heads to 49ers

• QB agreed $212.4m extension with team in 2024

• Falcons reportedly signing QB on one-year deal

• Kansas City set to beef up running game

• Mike Evans joins 49ers after leaving Tampa Bay

The Miami Dolphins are moving on from Tua Tagovailoa, the quarterback they drafted with the fifth overall pick in 2020 in hopes of turning the franchise’s fortunes around.

“As we move forward, we will be focused on infusing competition across the roster and establishing a strong foundation for this team as we work towards building a sustained winner,” Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said in a statement on Monday.

Published: March 9, 2026, 7:25 pm

MLS gives Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah lifetime bans for betting on own games

• Pair also bet on Jones to receive yellow card

• Players overlapped for one season at Columbus Crew

Major League Soccer announced on Monday that it has given Derrick Jones and Yaw Yeboah lifetime bans for “extensive” gambling, including on games involving their own teams. In one instance, the pair won a bet that Jones would receive a yellow card.

MLS said it had received “suspicious betting alerts” and retained a law firm to investigate. The players were placed on administrative leave in late October 2025 as the review ran its course. Eventually, the investigation found that both players betted on soccer extensively throughout the 2024 and 2025 seasons, including on their own teams.

Published: March 9, 2026, 7:43 pm

NBA cancels Atlanta Hawks’ theme night with strip club Magic City after backlash

• Commissioner: League heard ‘significant concerns’

• Spurs’ Kornet had penned post against promotion

The NBA has called off the Atlanta Hawks’ plans for a night celebrating the city’s famed Magic City strip club, saying it did so because of “concerns” from many across the league.

The Hawks announced the plan last month, saying the team would pay tribute to an “iconic cultural institution” with food – including the club’s famous lemon pepper wings – along with a live music performance by Atlanta native TI and exclusive merchandise.

After the Hawks announced plans for the promotion, San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet spoke out about the idea and urged the parties involved to reconsider. And the league evidently heard the same messaging from others.

Published: March 9, 2026, 9:57 pm

Verdict on the start of F1’s new era: five talking points from the Australian GP

Mercedes’ flying start lives up to promise, but new regulations receive scathing reviews

The pre-season favourites had done their level best to play down their expected advantage in the buildup to the Australian Grand Prix, but it was impossible to hide. A dominant one-two by the best part of a second for George Russell and Kimi Antonelli in qualifying was followed by a similarly assured one-two finish in the race.

Published: March 9, 2026, 3:25 pm

Why do so many people want Arsenal to fail in the Premier League title race? | Jonathan Wilson

The leaders haven’t won the title in more than 20 years. Yet very few neutrals are excited about seeing them as new champions

• Sign up for Soccer with Jonathan Wilson here

What was striking after Arsenal’s grim 1-0 win at Brighton on Wednesday was less Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler’s attack on the Gunners’ style than the way his criticism seemed to resonate. In England, it feels as though almost nobody, other than Arsenal supporters or anyone-but-City fans, wants them to win the title.

“If I would ask everyone in the room: ‘Did you really enjoy this football game?’ I’m sure maybe one raises his arm because he’s a big Arsenal fan but, besides that, no chance,” Hürzeler said.

This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. Subscribe for free here. Have a question for Jonathan? Email soccerwithjw@theguardian.com, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition.

Published: March 9, 2026, 2:50 pm

‘They are safe here’: five Iranian women footballers granted humanitarian visas in Australia

Home affairs minister Tony Burke confirms US president Donald Trump’s overnight comments on social media that the players had been ‘taken care of’

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Five members of the Iranian women’s football team have been granted humanitarian visas in Australia, with the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, offering assistance to the other players and saying “help is here”.

The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed the humanitarian offer on Tuesday morning, hours after the US president, Donald Trump, posted about their plight on social media. Burke said the visas had been granted at about 1.30am on Tuesday morning, around the time of Trump’s social media posts, which first criticised, then praised, Australia.

Published: March 9, 2026, 9:31 pm

West Ham through to last eight but Brentford’s Andrews backs Ouattara after Panenka miss

Given their inability to win a ­knockout tie in normal time, there can be little doubt of the physical impediment that West Ham’s prolonged FA Cup endeavours must make to their efforts of remaining in the Premier League.

But, with an eminently winnable home ­quarter-final against Leeds United now upcoming, the chance of a rare trip to Wembley is the type of happy distraction any relegation-­threatened side can embrace. Momentum can provide a dangerous asset.

Published: March 9, 2026, 10:34 pm

‘He had to shoulder tragedy alone’: how Larry Bird’s rise almost ended before it began

A new book traces how the Hall of Famer overcame humble beginnings in Indiana to take his place among basketball’s greatest players

How otherworldly was Larry Bird during his memorable season for Indiana State in 1978-79? At one point he made an assist while sprawled on the floor: from his end of the court, he made a one-armed throw to a teammate, who streaked coast-to-coast for a quick bucket.

That season ended with an epic showdown in the NCAA championship game against Magic Johnson and Michigan State. Magic got the better of Bird in that game, but the contest had wider repercussions. Not only did it spark interest in the NCAA Tournament, but Bird and Magic would help revitalize the NBA, after Bird joined the Boston Celtics and Magic the Los Angeles Lakers. But none of this was preordained, especially Bird’s trajectory.

Published: March 9, 2026, 9:00 am

MLS weekend wrap: Orlando City lost a game, a goalie, and A Griezmann?

Cristian Espinoza is fitting right in at Nashville, RSL’s kids are alright, and more from the MLS weekend

• Pablo Iglesias Maurer: 72,000 fans watched DC United, but only Messi’s Inter Miami dazzled

Before we begin our tour through the weekend that was in MLS, a trivia question to ponder: which team was the last Supporters’ Shield winner to start the subsequent season with three straight losses? Read to the end for the answer.

Published: March 9, 2026, 11:00 am

Faltering Liverpool need a big night in Istanbul to revitalise their season

Loss against Galatasaray in September summed up Slot’s struggles, creating a template he is still working to remedy

It is not the first time Liverpool have come to Istanbul looking for unlikely salvation. There is not a final on the line as there was 21 years ago, but a last-16 tie against Galatasaray feels almost as decisive for their season and possibly for the long-term future of Arne Slot, even as he marks his 100th game as manager.

It’s not even the first time Liverpool have come to Istanbul this season: their 1-0 reverse against Galatasaray in September was their second loss in a run of nine defeats in 12 games from which their season has never recovered. They are in much better form now, but will be without Alisson after he suffered a minor problem in training.

Published: March 9, 2026, 8:06 pm

Howe calls Newcastle’s match with Barcelona ‘biggest game in club’s history’

• Newcastle host Barça in Champions League last-16 first leg

• Howe: ‘It’s an opportunity to grab a moment we never get again’

For Eddie Howe it was quite a statement. “Barcelona is the biggest game in this club’s history,” said Newcastle’s manager. “It’s massive.”

Given Howe usually seems allergic to exaggeration it was a surprising way to approach Tuesday night’s Champions League last 16 first leg with Hansi Flick’s side.

Published: March 9, 2026, 8:02 pm

Relegation fight is priority for Spurs, not Champions League, says Igor Tudor

• Romero, Spence and Dragusin will return to the squad

• Pedro Porro says interim coach is ‘100% on the right path’

Tottenham’s interim head coach, Igor Tudor, called tonight’s ­Champions League last-16 first leg at ­Atlético Madrid a “beautiful game”, but admitted it was not the priority as they battle against relegation from the ­Premier League.

Spurs finished fourth in the league phase, earning them direct qualification for the last 16 and a return to the stadium where they played in the final less than seven years ago. But a run of 11 matches without a win has left them one point above the Premier League relegation zone and Tudor under pressure just three weeks after taking over. He admitted: “Our first aim is the Premier League, this needs to be said publicly.”

Published: March 9, 2026, 8:26 pm

Hecking returns to try to halt Die Wölfe blowing their own house down | Andy Brassell

Bundesliga survival looks an uphill struggle for Wolfsburg as a lack of leadership off the pitch has led to drift on it

Edin Dzeko, understandably, erred on the side of caution. Dieter Hecking has not. Wolfsburg are indisputably in crisis and have gone back to the future to stop themselves teetering over the ledge into the abyss, with a coach who left – or was invited to leave – nearly 10 years ago returning to the club to prevent the worst coming to pass. It had felt for a while as if change was coming at the Volkswagen Arena. The question to which we will find out the answer in the coming weeks is have they already left it too late?

This was a weekend that was a very bad one for Die Wölfe; pivotally so, potentially. It was not just their own 2-1 tumble at home to Hamburg, who were also in serious need of points, which defined the moment. After all, Wolfsburg began the weekend second-bottom of the Bundesliga and ended it in the same place, but things are not the same. That is largely due to results elsewhere. Even outside Lower Saxony little went right for Wolfsburg, whether it was St Pauli and Mainz clawing points from superior opposition in Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart respectively, or Werder Bremen making the most of Union Berlin going down to 10 men seconds after they took the lead, paving the way to a second successive win of unexpectedly comfortable proportions (4-1, in the end, to Werder).

Published: March 9, 2026, 1:32 pm

The Pirate and the Swan: a salute to two of La Liga’s less-celebrated forwards | Sid Lowe

Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi and Osasuna’s Ante Budimir have 31 league goals between them this season, with three coming in a dramatic draw on Saturday

This is the story of the Pirate and the Swan. When Vedat Muriqi was little, which he never really was, he couldn’t always find boots to play in. An adult and a giant before his time, working and shaving at 14, a striker starting out for KF Liria in Prizren, Kosovo, he was 6ft 4in, his feet were size 15, and back home back then you couldn’t get anything that big. Fortunately, one day an aunt in Finland came across a pair of European 48.5s and, pleased as could be, sent them his way. As he opened the box, Vedat realised they were made for rugby but he didn’t have the heart to tell her and, anyway, at least they fit.

They also fit. The man whose former coach had described him as “a strange, ugly beast” you would “cross the street to avoid” and who couldn’t help but agree, admitting: “If I saw me I’d cross over too,” wasn’t much good, or so he said. For a time they called him the Cannibal – a name he identified with, albeit “one that doesn’t eat children” – and soon they called him the Pirate, which he liked more, placing a patch over his left eye when he scored, but a player? That was something else. Someone else too: “I look at Sergi Darder and Dani Rodríguez: if they’re footballers … what am I?” he asked. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t play football; I play a different sport.”

Published: March 9, 2026, 6:15 pm

Iran women’s football team heads to airport as clock ticks on Australia’s offer of asylum

• Protesters try to block bus carrying Iran women players at hotel

• Advocates working to inform players of their rights

The Iranian women’s football team left their hotel and arrived at Gold Coast airport on Tuesday afternoon, appearing to have just hours left to take up Australia’s offer of asylum before they depart the country.

Five players, led by captain Zahra Ghanbari, were formally granted protection in Australia by home affairs minister Tony Burke early on Tuesday morning. The group has already been given an offer to train with A-League Women club Brisbane Roar.

Published: March 10, 2026, 4:22 am

Jack Draper sets up Djokovic clash after beating Cerundolo at Indian Wells

• Draper defeats Argentine 6-1, 7-5 in third round

• Cameron Norrie sees off Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4

Jack Draper continued his impressive comeback from an arm injury by beating Francisco Cerundolo to set up a last-16 clash with Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells.

Draper rode his luck at the end of the second set to clinch a 6-1, 7-5 win and set up his first meeting with Djokovic since he took the first set off the defending champion on his Wimbledon debut in 2021.

Published: March 9, 2026, 11:53 pm

West Ham 2-2 Brentford (aet, 5-3 on pens): FA Cup fifth round – as it happened

Dango Ouattara’s Panenka attempt cost Brentford as West Ham set up a quarter-final with Leeds

1 min Brentford set us away. Given the side Nuno’s sent out, they’ll surely fancy themselves.

Our teams come out, Brentford wearing their away pyjamas.

Published: March 9, 2026, 10:40 pm

‘I was absolutely gobsmacked’: Port Vale fans react to unexpected win against Sunderland

Team set to face Chelsea next after win even club’s manager says left him ‘a little bit in shock’

When the referee blew the final whistle at Vale Park in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, on Sunday, Paul Dixon, a 56-year-old painter and decorator, was in disbelief.

Port Vale, which sits at the bottom of League One, had defeated the Premier League side Sunderland to secure a place in the FA Cup quarter-final – the first time in 72 years.

Published: March 9, 2026, 8:08 pm

FA Cup quarter-final draw: Chelsea v Port Vale, Manchester City v Liverpool – as it happened

League One side Port Vale will head to Stamford Bridge while Manchester City host Liverpool in last eight

In such situation I didn’t expect even Marco Silva to blame someone other than him, and yet:

A very bad day for us,” Silva said. “It is probably not the moment to be emotional. It is a moment for us to look deeper.

It is not just another defeat. We lost a big chance. If you want to be in a club that wants to get better your ambition has to always be there. If you are pushing to win a game there are certain standards you cannot drop. Some things are about mentality.”

Published: March 9, 2026, 7:42 pm

‘We believe in the plan’: England vow to double down on kick-heavy style against France

• Ben Spencer defends tactic despite three straight losses

• Minimal changes expected for final Six Nations game

England have vowed to double down on their kick-heavy gameplan against France on Saturday despite their drastic decline in recent weeks. It is a move that risks further provoking the anger of their supporters.

Steve Borthwick and his side have come under intense scrutiny after last week’s first defeat by Italy and the manner in which they stuck rigidly to their kicking strategy left fans irate. England have kicked the most times and for the most metres of all the Six Nations teams and while it was a tactic that paid dividends last autumn when they were on a 12-match winning run, it is no longer having the desired effect.

Published: March 9, 2026, 7:34 pm

Police chief says big Old Firm away presence ‘not sustainable’ after Cup clashes

• First minister decries ‘severe danger’ after quarter-final

• Ban on away fans for Glasgow clashes to be revisited

Large numbers of away supporters in games between Rangers and Celtic have been called unsafe by the police officer in charge of investigating Sunday’s Ibrox trouble, incidents described by Scotland’s first minister, John Swinney, as “completely and utterly unacceptable”.

On-field clashes after Celtic’s Scottish Cup quarter-final triumph on penalties appear to have ended any hopes of traditional allocations returning to the Glasgow derby fixture on a regular basis for the foreseeable future. Celtic had about 7,500 fans inside Ibrox for the first time since 2018 and dozens spilled on to the pitch to celebrate their shootout triumph. More than 100 Rangers fans also invaded the pitch and charged towards the Broomloan Stand. Several police officers, stewards and members of the public were injured and nine arrests had been made inside 24 hours, with “significantly” more expected.

Published: March 9, 2026, 7:00 pm