Portugal Set to Take Vacant Slot on F1 Calendar in May

An August 2020 photo shows cars lined up on the grid ahead of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. (Reuters)
An August 2020 photo shows cars lined up on the grid ahead of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. (Reuters)
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Portugal Set to Take Vacant Slot on F1 Calendar in May

An August 2020 photo shows cars lined up on the grid ahead of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. (Reuters)
An August 2020 photo shows cars lined up on the grid ahead of the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix. (Reuters)

Portugal's Algarve circuit is set to return to the Formula One calendar this season, taking the vacant slot left by Vietnam on May 2.

The BBC and Sky Sports television said teams would be told officially at a meeting of the Formula One commission on Thursday that the third round of the season would be in Portugal.

Sources told Reuters the news, first reported by motorsport.com, was correct.

The Algarve circuit near Portimao hosted a grand prix for the first time last October on a heavily revised calendar due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The return would have been confirmed last month but that was thrown into doubt by the country seeing a spike in cases and imposing a nationwide lockdown.

Bahrain, which opens the season on March 28, could have hosted two successive races if the plans for Portugal had been cancelled.

The Portuguese Grand Prix will be on the weekend before the Spanish round at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya.

That would mean the mostly British-based teams would stay abroad, avoiding the need for a period of hotel quarantine that would arise under present rules if they returned directly from Portugal.

Portugal is on Britain's “red list” of countries with a heightened risk.

Formula One personnel have to undergo regular testing during the season, with teams operating in protective “bubbles” at racetracks.

New F1 chief executive Stefano Domenicali said last week that the sport still aimed for a record 23 races this year after holding just 17 last season.



Ukraine Skeleton Racer Disqualified from Olympics over Memorial Helmet

(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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Ukraine Skeleton Racer Disqualified from Olympics over Memorial Helmet

(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
(FILES) Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych wears a helmet which depicts Ukrainian sportsmen and women, victims of his country's war with Russia, as he takes part in the skeleton men's training session at Cortina Sliding Center during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d'Ampezzo on February 9, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)

Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from the Winter Olympics on Thursday after refusing to back down over his banned helmet, which depicts victims of his country's war with Russia.

The International Olympic Committee said he had been kicked out of the Milan-Cortina Games "after refusing to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines".

Heraskevych, 27, had insisted he would continue to wear the helmet, which carries pictures of Ukrainian sportsmen and women killed since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022, during the men's skeleton heats on Thursday.

After the decision, a defiant Heraskevych posted on X "this is price of our dignity", alongside a picture of his headwear, AFP reported.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky had defended the athlete's right to wear the helmet but he knew he was taking a risk as gestures of a political nature during competition are forbidden under the Olympic charter.

The IOC said in statement on Thursday that the skeleton racer's accreditation for the Games had been withdrawn.

"Having been given one final opportunity, skeleton pilot Vladylsav Heraskevych from Ukraine will not be able to start his race at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games this morning," the IOC statement said.

"The decision followed his refusal to comply with the IOC's Guidelines on Athlete Expression. It was taken by the jury of the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) based on the fact that the helmet he intended to wear was not compliant with the rules."

Athletes are permitted to express their views in press conferences and on social media, and on Tuesday the IOC said it would "make an exception" for Heraskevych, allowing him to wear a plain black armband during competition.

"Mr. Heraskevych was able to display his helmet in all training runs," the IOC said.

"The IOC also offered him the option of displaying it immediately after the competition when going through the mixed zone."

Olympic chiefs said that IOC president Kirsty Coventry had spoken with Heraskevych on Thursday morning in a vain bid to make him change his mind.


Premier League's Nottingham Forest Fires Head Coach Sean Dyche

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - February 11, 2026 Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - February 11, 2026 Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
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Premier League's Nottingham Forest Fires Head Coach Sean Dyche

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - February 11, 2026 Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The City Ground, Nottingham, Britain - February 11, 2026 Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche reacts Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

Nottingham Forest has fired Sean Dyche and the Premier League team is looking for its fourth head coach of the season.

Dyche was relieved of his duties late Wednesday following a goalless draw with the last-place Wolves, having been in charge for just 114 days. Forest’s failure to convert any of their numerous chances against Wolves left them three points clear of the relegation zone.

“Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach," the club said in a statement early Thursday. "We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the club and we wish them the best of luck for the future.

“We will be making no further comment at this time,” The Associated Press quoted the club as saying.

Forest finished seventh in the Premier League under Nuno Espirito Santo last season, missing out on a Champions League spot after a poor end to the campaign. Nuno signed a new three-year deal at the City Ground in June 2025, but was fired in September after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou was swiftly brought in as the Portuguese coach’s replacement, but lasted only 40 days in the job with Marinakis ending his tenure within minutes of a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea.

The draw Wednesday’ left Forest with just two wins from their last 10 matches in the Premier League — a run during which they also exited the FA Cup to Championship side Wrexham.


Messi Suffers Muscle Strain, Miami Reschedule Preseason Finale

Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi waves to supporters before a friendly soccer match between Inter Miami and Atlético Nacional at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Medellín, Colombia, 31 January 2026. EPA/Carlos Ortega
Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi waves to supporters before a friendly soccer match between Inter Miami and Atlético Nacional at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Medellín, Colombia, 31 January 2026. EPA/Carlos Ortega
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Messi Suffers Muscle Strain, Miami Reschedule Preseason Finale

Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi waves to supporters before a friendly soccer match between Inter Miami and Atlético Nacional at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Medellín, Colombia, 31 January 2026. EPA/Carlos Ortega
Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi waves to supporters before a friendly soccer match between Inter Miami and Atlético Nacional at the Atanasio Girardot Stadium in Medellín, Colombia, 31 January 2026. EPA/Carlos Ortega

Inter Miami’s ‌Lionel Messi did not participate in training on Wednesday due ​to a muscle strain in his left hamstring, with his injury leading to the postponement of what was supposed to be the reigning MLS Cup ‌champions' preseason ‌finale.

Inter Miami, ​who ‌are ⁠scheduled ​to open ⁠their MLS campaign on February 21, said the two-time reigning league MVP sustained the injury during a preseason game last weekend against ⁠Barcelona Sporting Club in ‌Ecuador, ‌where he scored but ​was substituted ‌in the second half.

Messi ‌underwent additional medical tests that confirmed the diagnosis.

"His gradual return to training will depend on ‌his clinical and functional progress in the coming days," Reuters quoted ⁠Inter ⁠Miami as saying.

As a result of the injury, the friendly between Inter Miami and Ecuadorian club Independiente del Valle, scheduled to be played on Friday at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Puerto Rico, has ​been postponed ​to February 26.