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Marcelo's Fluminense Contract Terminated after Clash with Coach

FILE PHOTO: Copa Libertadores - Quarter finals - Second Leg - Atletico Mineiro v Fluminense - Arena MRV, Belo Horizonte, Brazil - September 25, 2024 Fluminense's Marcelo during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Cris Mattos/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Copa Libertadores - Quarter finals - Second Leg - Atletico Mineiro v Fluminense - Arena MRV, Belo Horizonte, Brazil - September 25, 2024 Fluminense's Marcelo during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Cris Mattos/File Photo
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Marcelo's Fluminense Contract Terminated after Clash with Coach

FILE PHOTO: Copa Libertadores - Quarter finals - Second Leg - Atletico Mineiro v Fluminense - Arena MRV, Belo Horizonte, Brazil - September 25, 2024 Fluminense's Marcelo during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Cris Mattos/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Copa Libertadores - Quarter finals - Second Leg - Atletico Mineiro v Fluminense - Arena MRV, Belo Horizonte, Brazil - September 25, 2024 Fluminense's Marcelo during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Cris Mattos/File Photo

Former Real Madrid great Marcelo had his contract at boyhood club Fluminense terminated two months early on Saturday, one day after the defender's touchline spat with coach Mano Menezes.
The Brazilian club said in a statement that the decision was by mutual agreement, The Associated Press reported.
“The institutional and emotional bonds between Fluminense and Marcelo remain untouched,” Fluminense said.
Marcelo did not comment.
Last year, Marcelo won the Rio de Janeiro state championship and the Copa Libertadores titles with Fluminense, his first professional club before he joined Real Madrid at the end of 2006 at age 18. He won five Champions Leagues and six La Ligas at Madrid.
Menezes was going to use the 36-year-old Marcelo as a substitute in the final minutes of Fluminense's clash against Gremio in a Brazilian league match. The defender appeared to dispute the coach's instructions, who decided to field striker John Kennedy instead.
Fluminense led 2-1 at the time, but Gremio scored from the spot shortly before the final whistle to equalize at the Maracana Stadium.
“I was going to bring Marcelo in at that time, but I heard one thing that I did not like and I changed my mind,” Menezes said at a press conference. “He wasn't going in to solve any problem for us, he was stepping in to let us keep what we had (on the scoreboard). It was just two, three minutes to the end.”

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FIA to 'Strengthen' Software Testing after F1 Cars Stopped on Track in Malaysia

Air pollution is seen across the skyline as people prepare the street circuit before the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix night race in Singapore on October 8, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Air pollution is seen across the skyline as people prepare the street circuit before the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix night race in Singapore on October 8, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
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FIA to 'Strengthen' Software Testing after F1 Cars Stopped on Track in Malaysia

Air pollution is seen across the skyline as people prepare the street circuit before the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix night race in Singapore on October 8, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Air pollution is seen across the skyline as people prepare the street circuit before the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix night race in Singapore on October 8, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

The FIA has defended its handling of the Formula 1 car software bug which delayed the start of the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia last weekend and pledged it will “strengthen” how the code is tested in future.

Several drivers, including seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton, were left stuck on track when their cars lost power and had to be restarted on formation laps before Sunday's race.

The on-board software failed to cope with drivers taking a more cautious approach ahead of the first wet race for the 2026 cars, which have a near 50-50 split between engine and electrical power.

The FIA, the governing body for F1, on Thursday said its investigation found that cars “experienced a loss of power beyond the original intent and that could not be recovered.”

After the cars were stuck on track, the start was suspended as the FIA rushed out a software update. The race eventually started almost an hour later, with no obvious software-related incidents, though the track had dried much more by then.

The FIA says that update will be used again if it rains at this week's Singapore Grand Prix — the forecast says that's likely — with more changes at the following race on Oct. 25.

“As a result, the configuration established for the Sepang event will be reinstated for the Singapore Grand Prix should similar weather conditions be expected,” The Associated Press quoted the FIA as saying.

“Additionally, a further update to the wet weather software will be released for the United States Grand Prix.”

The FIA added that it, the teams and engine manufacturers “will continue to strengthen power unit software testing and verification capabilities, enhancing the overall validation process through independent assessment and collaborative feedback.”

Drivers were scathing of the software bugs last week in Malaysia. Hamilton likened driving the sluggish cars to gimmicky pre-race exhibitions the drivers have done previously and four-time champion Max Verstappen called for a “lesson learned.”

The FIA said it had conducted testing on the software which failed last week, but that took place in two practice sessions which were largely dry ahead of races in Belgium and the Netherlands.

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On Your bike! Bottas Opts for 2 Wheels to Reach Singapore GP

Cadillac's Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas arrives ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang on October 4, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Cadillac's Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas arrives ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang on October 4, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
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On Your bike! Bottas Opts for 2 Wheels to Reach Singapore GP

Cadillac's Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas arrives ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang on October 4, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)
Cadillac's Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas arrives ahead of the Formula One Bahrain Grand Prix in Sepang on October 4, 2026. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

Valtteri Bottas swapped his Formula One car for a bicycle as he pedaled the 420 kilometers from Sepang in Malaysia to this week's Singapore Grand Prix.

Other drivers on the grid enjoyed luxury private planes for the short flight between Sunday's Bahrain GP at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur to the Marina Bay Circuit in Singapore, which borders Malaysia.

But Bottas, a keen cyclist, instead got on his bike in the tropical heat.

"Yeah, I'm riding to Singapore on the gravel roads less travelled," Bottas posted on X on Monday.

Late on Wednesday night he reported he had made it to Singapore safely on his saddle after a "419.67km commute" (around 260 miles).

"Well arrived in Singapore this arvo," added the Finnish driver.

"What an epic adventure more to come eventually!"

His Cadillac team told AFP that his epic bike ride, which began hours after spinning out of Sunday's Bahrain GP in Malaysia, had been a "private activity.”

Cycling has become one of Bottas's main activities when he is away from F1.

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Alcaraz, Sinner, Osaka Commit to Australian Open '1 Point Slam'

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic during his final match of the Japan Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 06 October 2026. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic during his final match of the Japan Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 06 October 2026. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
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Alcaraz, Sinner, Osaka Commit to Australian Open '1 Point Slam'

Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic during his final match of the Japan Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 06 October 2026. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON
Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in action against Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic during his final match of the Japan Open tennis tournament at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo, Japan, 06 October 2026. EPA/FRANCK ROBICHON

The Australian Open will revive its innovative "1 Point Slam" in 2027 with Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and Jannik Sinner among those agreeing to take part Thursday.

The sudden-death contest was played for the first time at Melbourne Park this year ahead of the opening Grand Slam of the year, pitting 24 professionals alongside 24 amateurs and celebrity wildcards.

Each match consisted of just one point -- win and you advanced, lose and you were out.

(FILES) Italy's Jannik Sinner celebrates winning against Germany's Alexander Zverev during their men's singles final tennis match on the fourteenth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 12, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP)

Against the odds, amateur Jordan Smith sensationally upset the star-studded field at a packed Rod Laver Arena to collect a Aus$1 million (US$670,000) prize.

"It creates an opportunity for grassroots tennis players to share the spotlight with some of the biggest names in the game," AFP quoted Tennis Australia's Tom Larner as saying.

"Having stars like Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka and Jannik Sinner locked in to play, alongside everyday Australians ... captures exactly what this event is about, bringing people together through tennis."

Japan's Naomi Osaka hits a return to Czech Republic's Karolina Muchova during their women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing on October 6, 2026. (Photo by ADEK BERRY / AFP)

The amateur field will again comprise winners of eight state championship rounds played across Australia, along with eight others who come through qualifying.

More than 1.3 million fans attended the 2026 Australian Open, and organizers are planning to increase viewing capacity and seating even further for the 2027 tournament which runs from January 17-31.