Finance

England captain Maro Itoje has condemned racist abuse directed at Ireland debutant Edwin Edogbo, highlighting growing concerns about social media's harmful impact on athletes. The Ireland player, born in County Cork to Nigerian parents, faced online abuse following his substitute appearance in Ireland's 20-13 Six Nations victory over Italy. Itoje drew parallels with similar treatment of Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr, emphasizing that while social media can serve positive purposes, it increasingly functions as a platform for negativity. The Ireland Rugby Football Union has launched an investigation into the incident as rugby authorities continue to grapple with online abuse targeting players.

Two critical meetings scheduled for Wednesday during Formula 1's final 2026 pre-season test in Bahrain could prove more influential than the on-track action taking place at the circuit. With the Australian season opener less than three weeks away, these gatherings will address controversial issues that have dominated pre-season conversations and threaten to reshape competitive balance before the campaign begins. The Power Unit Advisory Committee, featuring all five engine manufacturers alongside the FIA and Formula One Management, will meet to resolve the season's most contentious technical dispute regarding compression ratio limits on the sport's new power units. A second meeting will also take place to address additional matters affecting the grid as teams prepare for their final test session before heading to Melbourne.

Nicolas Jackson is set to rejoin Chelsea following his temporary stint at Bayern Munich, which will conclude at the end of the current season. The forward has failed to make enough appearances to trigger a mandatory purchase option in his loan agreement, and the Bundesliga side appears unwilling to negotiate a separate permanent deal. Meanwhile, Manchester United are exploring a surprising approach for Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister as they build their summer transfer shortlist for midfield reinforcements. In managerial developments, Tottenham have dismissed coach John Heitinga just over a month into his tenure after previously sacking Thomas Frank. On the injury front, Manchester United's Matthijs de Ligt is aiming for a March return to first-team football after spending three months on the sidelines.

The refereeing controversy during Newcastle's FA Cup fourth-round victory against Aston Villa has reignited discussions about the future of VAR technology in English football, leaving many questioning whether the system needs reform or removal. Referee Chris Kavanagh and his officiating team came under intense scrutiny for multiple errors during the match, which Newcastle won 3-1. The performance was deemed so poor that Kavanagh was subsequently not appointed to any Premier League fixtures the following weekend. Despite VAR not being in use for this particular FA Cup tie—the technology only becomes available from the next round onwards—the debate has paradoxically centered on the video assistance system itself.

Great Britain is enjoying unprecedented success at the 2026 Winter Olympics with multiple gold medal victories across several winter sports disciplines. Matt Weston and Tabby Stoecker claimed the top prize in mixed team skeleton, with Weston later admitting their victory celebrations extended into the early morning hours at 4am. The British success continued as Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale dominated the mixed team snowboard cross event to bring home another gold medal for Team GB. Weston had earlier secured Britain's first gold of the games in the men's skeleton event. Meanwhile, veteran alpine skier Dave Ryding, nicknamed The Rocket, has been challenging traditional winter sport nations and changing attitudes about British competitiveness on the slopes. The games have not been without controversy, as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced strong objections to the International Olympic Committee's decision to ban Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych from competing.