Roma Announces Mourinho Is Leaving Club ‘with Immediate Effect’ 

Roma's Romelu Lukaku, right and Rick Karsdorp walks by head coach José Mourinho during the warm up ahead of the quarterfinal Italian Cup soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (AP)
Roma's Romelu Lukaku, right and Rick Karsdorp walks by head coach José Mourinho during the warm up ahead of the quarterfinal Italian Cup soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (AP)
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Roma Announces Mourinho Is Leaving Club ‘with Immediate Effect’ 

Roma's Romelu Lukaku, right and Rick Karsdorp walks by head coach José Mourinho during the warm up ahead of the quarterfinal Italian Cup soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (AP)
Roma's Romelu Lukaku, right and Rick Karsdorp walks by head coach José Mourinho during the warm up ahead of the quarterfinal Italian Cup soccer match between Lazio and Roma at Rome's Olympic Stadium, Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (AP)

José Mourinho is leaving Roma “with immediate effect,” the club announced Tuesday — ending an at times successful but also turbulent time in the Italian capital for the veteran coach.

The move came two days after a 3-1 loss at AC Milan left Roma in ninth place in Serie A and at risk of missing the Champions League for a sixth straight season.

Mourinho was in his third season at Roma and his contract was due to expire in June. He led the Giallorossi to the UEFA Conference League title in his first season and Roma was a Europa League finalist last season.

But Mourinho was also given a series of bans for his protests and tirades against referees — which was clearly not appreciated by Roma’s American owners.

“AS Roma can confirm that José Mourinho and his coaching staff will leave the club with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.

“We would like to thank José on behalf of all of us at AS Roma for his passion and efforts since his arrival at the club,” said Dan and Ryan Friedkin. “We will always have great memories of his tenure at Roma, but we believe that an immediate change is in the best interests of the club.”

Roma added that updates on the coaching staff “will follow imminently.”



Cyclone Disrupts Several Australian Sporting Events 

A boat is seen beached after it was blown from its mooring on Bribie Island, Brisbane, Australia, 04 March 2025. (EPA)
A boat is seen beached after it was blown from its mooring on Bribie Island, Brisbane, Australia, 04 March 2025. (EPA)
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Cyclone Disrupts Several Australian Sporting Events 

A boat is seen beached after it was blown from its mooring on Bribie Island, Brisbane, Australia, 04 March 2025. (EPA)
A boat is seen beached after it was blown from its mooring on Bribie Island, Brisbane, Australia, 04 March 2025. (EPA)

A cyclone expected to hit the east coast of Australia this week has scrapped a golf event and prompted the Australian Football League (AFL) to postpone season-opening matches.

Golf officials called off the Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned WPGA Championship event on the Gold Coast amid forecasts for extreme wind and flooding.

"The decision has been made to ensure the safety of players, staff, fans and all stakeholders, which remains the priority," organizers said in a statement on Tuesday.

Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall late on Thursday or early on Friday.

It could bring intense rainfall and life-threatening flash-flooding to the southeast of Queensland state and the northeast of New South Wales state, the Bureau of Meteorology said in its latest update.

The AFL, the top flight of Australian Rules football, has postponed two matches in southern Queensland, including Thursday's season-opener in Brisbane between the reigning champion Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats.

"Out of an abundance of caution ... the AFL made the decision now to ensure the health and safety of clubs, players, officials and – importantly - the wider southeastern Queensland and northern NSW community remains the priority," the AFL said in a statement.

The decision came after coaches urged the AFL to make an early call on the games.

"It sort of reminds me of the COVID situation," Geelong coach Chris Scott told Australian media.

"It's a bit unpalatable talking about when you prefer to play a game of footy when people are sandbagging their houses."

The cyclone also impacted the National Rugby League, with Friday's match between the Dolphins and South Sydney Rabbitohs moved from Brisbane to Sydney, officials said.

Soccer governing body Football Queensland suspended all training and games in the state's southeast on Wednesday.

Other sporting events were called off, including national championships of touch football in New South Wales.