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Charlton v Portsmouth Match Abandoned after Fan Dies

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 1, 2021 A match-ball is seen before the match Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 1, 2021 A match-ball is seen before the match Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan
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Charlton v Portsmouth Match Abandoned after Fan Dies

Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 1, 2021 A match-ball is seen before the match Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan
Soccer Football - Premier League - Everton v Aston Villa - Goodison Park, Liverpool, Britain - May 1, 2021 A match-ball is seen before the match Pool via REUTERS/Michael Regan

A soccer fan died following a medical emergency that forced the postponement of a second-division match between Charlton and Portsmouth on Saturday.

The game was halted after 12 minutes as the fan received treatment. Charlton said later the fan had died at a local hospital, The Associated Press reported.

“The club are devastated to report that a Charlton Athletic supporter has died following a medical emergency during today’s game at The Valley against Portsmouth,” the English club said in a statement. “Everyone at the club sends their heartfelt condolences to the supporter’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time."

The Championship game at Charlton's stadium was a 12.30 p.m. kickoff. It was halted when a home supporter in the lower tier of the Covered End stand required medical help.

Fans had signaled to referee Matthew Donohue that there was a serious problem.

The players initially waited on the field but after six minutes were instructed by the referee to leave.

Paramedics attended to the supporter, who left on a stretcher.

An announcement was made at 1.30 p.m. that the game would not continue.

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Alonso Fears More Pain in China with Struggling Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso expects a difficult weekend in his Aston Martin in China. Paul Crock / AFP
Fernando Alonso expects a difficult weekend in his Aston Martin in China. Paul Crock / AFP
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Alonso Fears More Pain in China with Struggling Aston Martin

Fernando Alonso expects a difficult weekend in his Aston Martin in China. Paul Crock / AFP
Fernando Alonso expects a difficult weekend in his Aston Martin in China. Paul Crock / AFP

Fernando Alonso said Thursday he expects another difficult weekend wrestling with his new Aston Martin at the Chinese Grand Prix after failing to finish the season-opener in Australia.

Silverstone-based Aston Martin endured a horror start after serious issues with their Honda power unit and a lack of spare parts, said AFP.

Two-time world champion Alonso and teammate Lance Stroll had to endure extreme vibration in the chassis caused by the power unit, which was feared could cause the drivers permanent nerve damage.

"The situation unfortunately didn't change within four or five days since Melbourne, so it will be a difficult weekend," Alonso told reporters at the Shanghai International Circuit.

"We'll limit the laps in one or two sessions as we are short on parts. We need laps, to find the window on the chassis side.

"I'll be happy if we leave China with a more or less normal practice, more or less normal qualifying."

The Spaniard could not put a timeframe on when improvements might come.

"What can I do within the team? Work harder, help Honda as much as I can," said Alonso.

"We can allocate resources to help Honda with the power unit. We are one team, it is a bumpy start that I hope won't last too long.

"We are pushing, we have very talented people in the team, so I hope within a couple of grands prix, we can have a normal weekend.

"To be competitive will take more time. Once we fix the reliability, we will be behind on power and things."

The 44-year-old veteran has been in Formula One for more than two decades and has driven vastly different iterations of cars from the old V10 petrol engines through to the current complex hybrid configuration.

Despite the issues, he said was embracing the challenge of the new cars enthusiastically in what could be his final season on the grid.

His Aston Martin contract expires at the end of 2026.

"Do we enjoy driving these cars? Yes, because we love racing," Alonso said.

"I do four or five 24-hour races because I love racing and I love driving. So if you jump into an F1 car, you enjoy going fast.

"But it is a challenge, a different challenge.

"I was super lucky to race in (the last) era and I feel lucky to race in both."

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Verstappen Jokes New F1 Cars 'More Like Mario Kart'

Max Verstappen arrives at the paddock ahead of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Jade GAO / AFP
Max Verstappen arrives at the paddock ahead of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Jade GAO / AFP
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Verstappen Jokes New F1 Cars 'More Like Mario Kart'

Max Verstappen arrives at the paddock ahead of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Jade GAO / AFP
Max Verstappen arrives at the paddock ahead of the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. Jade GAO / AFP

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said Thursday he was not having much fun driving the new era of Formula One cars, joking he was "practicing with Mario Kart" because it was more realistic than his simulator.

The Red Bull driver crashed in qualifying in the season-opener in Australia last weekend before having to carve his way from 20th on the grid to finish a creditable sixth.

The new cars require battery management and energy harvesting with a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power, AFP said.

They also have features such as straight-line mode, active aero, overtake and boost buttons, which Verstappen reckons are nearer to a video game.

"I swapped the simulator for my Nintendo Switch. I'm practicing with Mario Kart, actually. Finding the mushrooms is going quite well, the blue shells are a bit more difficult."

Verstappen announced this week that he would be driving in the Nurburgring 24-hour race this year.

"I wish I had a bit more fun for sure," he said of Formula One at the moment.

"I mean, I get to race the Nordschleife (Nurburgring) and I hope in the coming years I can do Spa and hopefully Le Mans.

"So I'm combining stuff and I'm also doing other stuff that is a lot of fun.

"It's a bit conflicted because I don't really enjoy to drive the car, but I do enjoy working with all the people in the team and from the engine department as well."

He did express optimism that things would improve as the new rules and regulations were adjusted and said drivers were already in discussions over changes.

"I hope, of course, that it gets better," said the Dutchman.

"I've had discussions with F1 and the FIA and I think we are working towards something that will improve everything."

Sports

Neto Apologizes for Pushing Ball Boy During Chelsea's 5-2 Loss

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Paris St Germain v Chelsea - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 11, 2026 Chelsea's Pedro Neto checks on ball boy after falling into him Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Paris St Germain v Chelsea - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 11, 2026 Chelsea's Pedro Neto checks on ball boy after falling into him Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
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Neto Apologizes for Pushing Ball Boy During Chelsea's 5-2 Loss

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Paris St Germain v Chelsea - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 11, 2026 Chelsea's Pedro Neto checks on ball boy after falling into him Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra
Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Paris St Germain v Chelsea - Parc des Princes, Paris, France - March 11, 2026 Chelsea's Pedro Neto checks on ball boy after falling into him Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Chelsea winger Pedro Neto apologized for pushing a ball boy during Wednesday's 5-2 Champions League defeat to Paris St Germain, an incident that added to a chaotic end to the visitors' late collapse.

The 26-year-old shoved the ball boy in stoppage time at the Parc des Princes, sending him into a chair and triggering a confrontation between players.

"I want to apologize to the ball boy," Neto told TNT Sports. "I have already spoken to him."

"We were losing and in the emotion of ⁠the game I ⁠wanted to get the ball fast and I gave him a little push.

"I'm not like this. It was in the heat of the moment and I want to apologize. I gave him my shirt. I'm really sorry about it - I feel ⁠I have to apologize to him ... He could see what had happened and was happy with the situation."

Head coach Liam Rosenior also apologized for the incident.

"If there was anything from our side that was wrong or out of order, I apologize on behalf of the club," Reuters quoted him as saying.

Luis Enrique's side twice went ahead through Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele but were pegged back each time by Malo Gusto ⁠and ⁠Enzo Fernandez, before Vitinha and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with a double, netted three late goals to put the hosts in control of the tie.

The visitors' disappointment was evident at full time, with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen attempting to head straight down the tunnel before Robert Sanchez urged him back to applaud the travelling supporters.

Chelsea will play Newcastle United on Saturday in the Premier League before hosting PSG on Tuesday in the second leg of the last-16 tie in the Champions League.