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Bayern, Man City Win Again in Women's Champions League. Arsenal, Barcelona Rebound from Setbacks

Arsenal players celebrate the 3-1 goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Valerenga in London, Britain, 16 October 2024. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
Arsenal players celebrate the 3-1 goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Valerenga in London, Britain, 16 October 2024. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
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Bayern, Man City Win Again in Women's Champions League. Arsenal, Barcelona Rebound from Setbacks

Arsenal players celebrate the 3-1 goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Valerenga in London, Britain, 16 October 2024. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN
Arsenal players celebrate the 3-1 goal during the UEFA Women’s Champions League soccer match between Arsenal and Valerenga in London, Britain, 16 October 2024. EPA/TOLGA AKMEN

Bayern Munich and Manchester City extended their winning starts in the Women’s Champions League group stage on Wednesday, while Arsenal and Barcelona rebounded from early-season setbacks with big victories.
One day after Arsenal’s coach Jonas Eidevall resigned, the team took just one minute to score in a 4-1 win over Norwegian team Vålerenga. United States defender Emily Fox’s goal after exactly 60 seconds set Arsenal on its way for interim manager Renée Slegers.
Arsenal lost 5-2 in Munich one week ago and Bayern impressed again, winning a rain-soaked game 2-0 at Juventus.
The statement win last week was Man City beating Barcelona, but the two-time defending champion was back in dominant form in a 9-0 drubbing of Sweden's Hammarby.
Man City rallied from an uneasy spell either side of halftime at St. Pölten to win 3-2 in Austria, sealed by an 80th-minute header by Mary Fowler.
Arsenal revival Arsenal’s start to October had been about as bad as it gets. Winless in two home games in the English Women’s Super League, including a 2-1 loss to city rival Chelsea; a 5-2 beating by Bayern; then losing the coach who helped it reach the Champions League semifinals two seasons ago.
But after Fox’s quick finish, Arsenal added a second in the 29th by Caitlin Foord after Vålerenga goalkeeper Tove Enblom’s save diverted the ball to the Australia forward at the back post.
The Norwegians cut the lead in the 35th when Arsenal’s Spanish defender Laia Cadina was robbed of the ball and Olaug Tvedten finished with a well-placed shot.
Arsenal endured tense moments in the second half until Spain forward Mariona ensured the win in the 85th, taking an unselfish pass from Stina Blackstenius. Alessia Russo capped the scoring in stoppage time.
Harder makes it easy Bayern forward Pernille Harder again scored late to add to her 13-minute hat trick last week against Arsenal.
The Denmark veteran pounced on a loose ball in the goalmouth after a corner in the 73rd. It was a near-copy of how Bayern opened the scoring in the 17th when a scramble in the goalmouth led to Linda Dallman’s volleyed shot.
Bayern’s two wins in Group C have bookended its first loss in the German league in almost two years, 2-0 against two-time European champion Wolfsburg on Saturday.
City keeps momentum The most spectacular goal of the four games Wednesday came within five minutes of Man City’s game in Austria.
Australia defender Alanna Kennedy fired in a powerful 25-yard (meter) shot that went in off the inside of the post. Man City then struck the woodwork twice in a five-minute spell as it looked to take control.
Then St. Pölten leveled in the 40th, from another loose ball following a corner, that Melanie Brunnthaler reacted fastest to with a close-range shot.
St. Pölten relied on a series of saves by goalkeeper Carina Schlüter before taking the lead in the 53rd, when Czech midfielder Kamila Dubcová received the ball with her back to goal and spun to volley a rising left-foot shot.
Four minutes later Man City was level when Aoba Fujino met a looping cross toward the far post with a first-time shot.
Barcelona back to its best Barcelona was imperious one week after being caught cold in the first half in Manchester. Swedish champion Hammarby, which beat St. Pölten 2-0 last week, caught the backlash.
Caroline Graham Hansen started the flood of goals in the 10th, and the Norway forward was joined by Claudia Pina scoring twice among seven players on the scoresheet. Alexia Putellas got the third with a neatly guided header.
It was not even Barcelona’s biggest win this season at the Johan Cruyff Stadium. Granada was beaten 10-1 in a domestic league game last month.

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Over 75% of Fans Do Not Support VAR in Premier League, Says FSA Survey

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v West Ham United - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - March 22, 2026 Referee Paul Tierney checks the VAR before overturning an Aston Villa penalty. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v West Ham United - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - March 22, 2026 Referee Paul Tierney checks the VAR before overturning an Aston Villa penalty. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Over 75% of Fans Do Not Support VAR in Premier League, Says FSA Survey

Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v West Ham United - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - March 22, 2026 Referee Paul Tierney checks the VAR before overturning an Aston Villa penalty. (Action Images via Reuters)
Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v West Ham United - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - March 22, 2026 Referee Paul Tierney checks the VAR before overturning an Aston Villa penalty. (Action Images via Reuters)

More than ‌75% of Premier League fans do not support the continued use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR), a Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) survey showed.

The survey was conducted online between February 26 and March 23 and saw almost 8,000 fans of top-flight clubs participate, the FSA said.

The ‌results showed ‌that 75.7% did not ‌support ⁠the use of ⁠VAR in football, with 91.7% saying VAR had removed the spontaneous joy of goal celebrations.

“These findings back up the FSA’s previous survey in 2021, where fans ⁠expressed misgivings about the introduction ‌of VAR," ‌FSA’s Premier League network manager Thomas Concannon ‌said.

“We have shared the survey ‌results with the Premier League and PGMO (Professional Game Match Officials Limited), and look forward to discussing its findings ‌with them.”

Reuters has requested comment from the Premier League.

Premier League ⁠teams ⁠voted in favor of keeping VAR in June 2024 despite a considerable amount of criticism about the technology-aided officiating system.

"While VAR produces more accurate decision making, it was agreed that improvements should be made for the benefit of the game and supporters," the league said in a statement at the time.

Sports

King Kimi, Max Misery, Bearman Smash: Japan GP Talking Points

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands in action during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 29 March 2026. (EPA)
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands in action during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 29 March 2026. (EPA)
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King Kimi, Max Misery, Bearman Smash: Japan GP Talking Points

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands in action during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 29 March 2026. (EPA)
Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen of Netherlands in action during the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix at the Suzuka International Racing Course racetrack in Suzuka, Japan, 29 March 2026. (EPA)

Kimi Antonelli won the Japanese Grand Prix from pole ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri as Max Verstappen endured another miserable outing in his Red Bull.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points from the third race weekend on the 2026 Formula One calendar:

- Mercedes protect teen hero -

Antonelli is in only his second season, but already Mercedes are playing down expectations of the 19-year-old -- now the youngest title race leader in Formula One history.

"We need to protect him now from people talking about world championships," said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff after the race.

Antonelli admitted he had a stroke of fortune with a safety car that enabled him to dive in for fresh tires and emerge in the lead after his rivals had already pitted.

It was the second race in a row where a slow getaway saw him relegated from pole position and having to play catch-up.

"I had a terrible start. I need to check what happened. Then I was lucky with the safety car to be in the lead but then the pace was incredible," said Antonelli

"Luckily, I've got three weeks, so now I can practice some clutch drops just to get a better feel with it.

"It's been a weak point and I need to improve because you can easily win or lose races."

- Verstappen quit threat -

Red Bull's four-time world champion Verstappen openly questioned his future in Formula One after finishing eighth and lashing out again about the new cars and regulations.

"It's really anti-driving," he told the BBC.

"Then at one point, yeah, it's just not what I want to do."

Verstappen had won at Suzuka in each of the previous four years but was way off the pace and even waved goodbye to one car that overtook him, knowing that he did not have any capability to strike back.

The Dutchman said Formula One bosses "know what to do" to address his concerns and added: "You don't need to feel sorry for me, I'll be fine."

- Bearman sparks safety call -

Oliver Bearman escaped serious injury in a horror crash which prompted drivers to call for changes in the regulations.

The 20-year-old's Haas was closing rapidly at high speed on Franco Colapinto and smashed into the barriers after swerving to avoid the Argentine's Alpine.

Drivers and teams complained it had been an accident waiting to happen because of Formula One's new regulations that mean cars can be travelling at drastically different speeds on the track at the same time.

"These kind of closing speeds and these kind of accidents were always going to happen, and I'm not very happy with what we've had up until now," Grand Prix Drivers' Association chief Carlos Sainz told Sky Sports F1.

"Hopefully we come up with a better solution that doesn't create these massive closing speeds and a safer way of going racing," added the Williams driver.

Bearman said: "I think we've, as a group, warned the FIA what can happen, and this has been a really unfortunate result."

Sports

Premier League Fans Feel the Pinch from Ticket Price Hikes

Manchester United fans, many wearing black as a protest, display a banner in the crowd against seat prices and the current ownership of Manchester United ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England, on March 9, 2025. (AFP)
Manchester United fans, many wearing black as a protest, display a banner in the crowd against seat prices and the current ownership of Manchester United ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England, on March 9, 2025. (AFP)
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Premier League Fans Feel the Pinch from Ticket Price Hikes

Manchester United fans, many wearing black as a protest, display a banner in the crowd against seat prices and the current ownership of Manchester United ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England, on March 9, 2025. (AFP)
Manchester United fans, many wearing black as a protest, display a banner in the crowd against seat prices and the current ownership of Manchester United ahead of the English Premier League football match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England, on March 9, 2025. (AFP)

The Premier League's global appeal is built on packed stadiums and electric atmospheres but as the arms race for talent intensifies, fans are feeling the pinch.

A recent UEFA report found English football's "Big Six" -- Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham -- earned nearly 20 percent more from selling tickets for home matches in the 2024/25 season than 12 months before.

Revenue from bumper broadcasting deals and commercial sponsorship still provides the vast majority of income for Premier League teams.

But as the growth in TV money has slowed, clubs have focused on increasing matchday revenue, with many investing in stadium renovations and expansions, promising improved facilities and better experiences.

Fans pay the price, particularly local supporters, as clubs target tourists from far and wide who are willing to pay a premium.

In wealthy west London, Fulham boast a rooftop pool and top-grade catering in the hospitality section, but season tickets are among the most expensive in the league, priced at up to £3,000 ($4,000).

"The Riverside stand is a great asset, glad it's at our football club, but it's expensive for your average match-going fan," Simon Duke of the Fulham Supporters' Trust told AFP.

"In having this fantastic asset, thank you owners, but can you please use that to keep football affordable in the other three sides of the ground?"

- Tourist market -

Liverpool sparked outrage last week by announcing that prices will rise in line with inflation for the next three seasons.

Fans group Spirit of Shankly said the club "choose to disregard those who make LFC what it is".

Major expansions of Anfield have increased capacity to 61,000, but there are just 34,000 season tickets available.

That allows the Premier League champions to sell nearly 50 percent of tickets on a match-by-match basis, often targeting day trippers willing to spend more on merchandise, food and drink.

"You look at the yield per fan, per match," said football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

"You're going to get more from a person that's coming for an experience as opposed to some grumpy old bloke who's been doing it for 50 years because the alternative is having to go to IKEA on a Saturday afternoon."

Hospitality packages can cost several thousand pounds per game, with the most expensive option for Manchester City's upcoming clash with Arsenal available for £5,500.

A report by campaign group Fair Game highlighted the long-term risk clubs are taking.

"Some clubs are looking at their stadium and seeing each seat as an individual opportunity to raise money," said CEO Niall Couper.

"If the club wants to be there for the long haul, and to be financially sustainable, then actually keeping ticket prices at an affordable level and allowing access to your local community is a safer way to go."

- 'National religion' -

Supporters, young and old, have also been squeezed by a loss of concessions.

Manchester United are increasing season ticket prices by five percent for the third consecutive year and halving a senior citizens' discount for some fans.

Supporters of United and Liverpool, England's two most successful clubs, joined forces to back the "Stop Exploiting Loyalty" campaign at a match at Anfield last year.

Despite the unrest, Premier League clubs boasted average attendances of just over 40,000 last season, with stadiums nearly 99 percent full.

However, cracks have appeared in recent months.

Tottenham, struggling at the bottom of the table, have failed to sell out their 63,000-capacity stadium on Champions League nights.

"Too many empty seats and too many supporters, particularly young supporters, priced out of attending. Thin the crowd and you thin the noise," the Tottenham Supporters' Trust said in a statement.

But the enduring popularity of football in England during a cost-of-living crisis is testament to its unique place in the national consciousness.

"When I'm making those budgetary decisions -- do we go on holiday this year? Are we going out for more meals? And am I going to renew my season ticket? Season tickets will take priority," said Maguire.