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‘It Hurts the Soul', Says Brazil’s Luighi after Facing Racial Abuse in Paraguay

Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Flamengo v Palmeiras - Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - August 11, 2024 Palmeiras' Luighi Hanri celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Sergio Moraes
Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Flamengo v Palmeiras - Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - August 11, 2024 Palmeiras' Luighi Hanri celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Sergio Moraes
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‘It Hurts the Soul', Says Brazil’s Luighi after Facing Racial Abuse in Paraguay

Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Flamengo v Palmeiras - Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - August 11, 2024 Palmeiras' Luighi Hanri celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Sergio Moraes
Soccer Football - Brasileiro Championship - Flamengo v Palmeiras - Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - August 11, 2024 Palmeiras' Luighi Hanri celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Sergio Moraes

The Brazilian soccer federation (CBF) said they will file a complaint with South America's soccer governing body CONMEBOL after Palmeiras U20 player Luighi faced racial abuse while playing against Cerro Porteno U20 in Paraguay on Thursday.
Luighi complained to the referee shortly after cameras showed a man in the stands making monkey gestures towards the visiting players at the CONMEBOL Libertadores U20 match, which Palmeiras won 3-0, Reuters reported.
The 18-year-old striker was substituted soon after and was seen in tears at the bench.
"It hurts the soul. And it is the same pain that all black people have felt throughout history, because things evolve, but they are never 100% resolved," Luighi later wrote on Instagram.
"Today's episode leaves scars and needs to be seen for what it really is: a crime. Until when? That is the question I hope we won't have to ask at some point. For now, we keep fighting."
The CBF posted on X saying they had called in their legal department to make a representation to CONMEBOL demanding strict punishment for the offence.
"It is shocking to see scenes like these. Racism is a criminal offence and must be combated by everyone. I know how much pain Luighi has suffered. Enough of racists in football," CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a statement.

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‘Timid’ Keys Makes Shaky Start to Australian Open Title Defense

Madison Keys of USA celebrates winning her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in their Women's Singles first round match on day 3 of the Australian Open tennis tournament at KIA Arena in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2026. (EPA)
Madison Keys of USA celebrates winning her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in their Women's Singles first round match on day 3 of the Australian Open tennis tournament at KIA Arena in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2026. (EPA)
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‘Timid’ Keys Makes Shaky Start to Australian Open Title Defense

Madison Keys of USA celebrates winning her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in their Women's Singles first round match on day 3 of the Australian Open tennis tournament at KIA Arena in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2026. (EPA)
Madison Keys of USA celebrates winning her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova of Ukraine in their Women's Singles first round match on day 3 of the Australian Open tennis tournament at KIA Arena in Melbourne, Australia, 20 January 2026. (EPA)

A jittery Madison Keys said Tuesday she was "too timid" after getting the defense of her Australian Open crown off to a stuttering start, losing the first four games before rallying to stay in the title hunt.

The American ninth seed was a bundle of nerves on Rod Laver Arena, but calmed down to clinch a 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 win over Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova.

Keys stunned Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago in a three-set epic to win her first major crown at the age of 29, but she failed to push on in 2025, winning no more titles.

She started her season with quarter-final exits at Brisbane and Adelaide, admitting before the Grand Slam to being nervous as defending champion.

"I think at the start I just felt like I was playing just a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct," she said.

"I kind of kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do.

"That was really slowing down my footwork as well. I was reacting instead of having a plan of what I wanted to do."

Playing at her 50th Grand Slam, in contrast to Oliynykova who was at her first, Keys sent down three double faults and was broken on her first service game.

The Ukrainian, ranked 92 and facing a player inside the top 50 for the first time, consolidated with a hold after six deuces in the second game to take charge.

Showing no nerves, she stunned the American by breaking again and raced 4-0 clear before Keys finally woke up and battled back.

She cut down on the errors and found her range on serve to win the next five games.

But Keys was broken again and it went to a tiebreak, where she slumped 4-0 behind and had to save two set points before converting for the set with a blistering crosscourt winner.

The gritty comeback was the catalyst for a far more convincing second set, breaking straight away and racing into a 4-0 lead before sealing the match with ease after 1hr 40min.

Despite the shaky start, Keys said it was a privilege to be back as defending champion.

"I have been thinking of that moment for basically a year," she said of returning to the scene of her greatest triumph.

"I was talking to (multiple Grand Slam winner) Lindsay Davenport yesterday.

"She reminded me that not many people get to be a defending champion at a Grand Slam, so just trying to embrace it and enjoy it.

"And, as nervous as I was at the start, I'm really glad to be back and to win that match."

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Morocco Refer AFCON Champions Senegal to CAF and FIFA

Senegal's Idrissa Gueye calls players to walk off the ptich during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Senegal's Idrissa Gueye calls players to walk off the ptich during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
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Morocco Refer AFCON Champions Senegal to CAF and FIFA

Senegal's Idrissa Gueye calls players to walk off the ptich during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)
Senegal's Idrissa Gueye calls players to walk off the ptich during the Africa Cup of Nations final soccer match between Senegal and Morocco, in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP)

The Moroccan Football Federation said Monday it has formally referred to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA incidents involving Senegalese players and supporters protesting a penalty to Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

Senegal's protest in added time of normal play during Sunday night's clash in Rabat led to the match being paused for nearly 20 minutes as the players walked off the pitch in anger.

Some Senegalese fans at the opposite end of the stadium threw chairs and other objects and attempted to get onto the field of play.

The AFCON hosts' football federation said these acts "had a significant impact on the normal course of the match and on the players' performance", with Morocco then missing the penalty that could have granted them their first African title in 50 years.

The federation said "it will resort to legal procedures" with CAF, the tournament's organizing body, and FIFA "in order to rule on the withdrawal of the Senegalese national team from the field"... "as well as on the events that accompanied this decision".

It said the referee's decision to grant the Atlas Lions a penalty was "deemed correct by unanimous opinion of specialists".

FIFA president Gianni Infantino condemned "some Senegal players" for the "unacceptable scenes".

Senegal scored the game's only goal just four minutes into extra time after the players returned to the pitch following an appeal from star forward Sadio Mane.

Several Moroccan media outlets on Monday criticized Senegal for a lack of fair play and unsporting behavior.

Sports

Man City Announce Signing of Defender Marc Guehi

Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Sunderland - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - September 13, 2025 Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Sunderland - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - September 13, 2025 Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
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Man City Announce Signing of Defender Marc Guehi

Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Sunderland - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - September 13, 2025 Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
Soccer Football - Premier League - Crystal Palace v Sunderland - Selhurst Park, London, Britain - September 13, 2025 Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi applauds fans after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

England defender Marc Guehi has signed for Manchester City from Crystal Palace on a five-and-a-half year contract, the Premier League club announced on Monday, AFP reported.

City stepped up their pursuit of Guehi in a deal reportedly worth £20 million ($27 million) after suffering an acute injury crisis at centre-half and confirmation of the move had been widely expected.