Rangers on cusp of something special - if they can address critical issues
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The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Scotland's Robert MacIntyre moves into commanding halfway lead
Robert MacIntyre surged into a five-shot lead at the halfway stage of the BMW Championship as he added a second-round 64 to his opening 62 at Caves Valley Golf Club. Scotland's MacIntyre produced six birdies in his flawless second round to reach 14 under in the second FedEx Cup play-off event. That left him five clear of world number one Scottie Scheffler, who carded a 65 to sit one ahead of Sweden's Ludvig Aberg. MacIntyre birdied the first after a fine approach to inside five feet, before further gains from 14 feet at the fourth and seven feet at the seventh. He picked up another shot at the 11th after driving the green at the par four, holed from 30 feet at the 14th and completed his scoring by reaching the par-five 16th in two and two-putting for birdie as he chases a third PGA Tour title. 'I've always said when I'm comfortable with a putter in my hands, it's a dangerous thing,' MacIntyre said in quotes reported on the PGA Tour website. 'The priority is getting that putter face as square as I can at impact, which is not rocket science, but it's difficult to do. 'For me, that's the priority now, just to go and do that. Then when you get in a certain range, it's all pace putting and touch, and my touch is normally pretty good. 'I feel like this week I've really done a good job of getting it underneath the hole to be able to be aggressive with an uphill putt.' England's Tommy Fleetwood, who had been second overnight, slipped into a tie for fifth with a second-round 69 in Maryland. Fleetwood's compatriot Harry Hall put himself just inside the projected cut mark for the season-ending Tour Championship as a 67 left him in a share of eighth place. Only the top 30 in the FedEx Cup standings will proceed to East Lake in Atlanta with Hall currently projected to climb 15 places and take the final spot in the field.
Daily Mail
7 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Football condemns racist abuse aimed at Antoine Semenyo: Angry Bournemouth captain speaks out, manager reveals star was asked if he wanted to play on - and Reds release statement as player breaks silence
Bournemouth 's fuming captain has revealed how Antoine Semenyo was hurt by the alleged racist abuse made towards him by a Liverpool fan on Friday night. The football world has come out to condemn the incident, which saw a fan in a wheelchair thrown of Anfield by police after appearing to heckle him while he prepared to take a throw. Despite the first-half incident, Semenyo scored twice in a breathtaking encounter as Liverpool won 4-2 and paid tribute to their late forward Diogo Jota. Semenyo has since broken his silence on Instagram, asking 'when will it stop' after a fan posted monkey emojis under one of his photographs, and his captain Adam Smith has livid after the game. Smith told Sky Sports: 'Totally unacceptable, shocked that it happened in this day and age. 'It shouldn't be happening. I don't know how Ant has played on and come up with those goals. It's totally unacceptable. I just feel sorry for Ant. He's a little bit down and to carry on playing, something needs to be done. Taking a knee is having no effect. We'll support him and hopefully he'll be okay. 'I wanted him to react, because that's what I would have done. I would have gone straight over there, but it shows what type of man he is, to not react in the moment and to carry on. Coming up with those two goals shows the type of guy he is. 'I felt angry. Shocked. I said to the referee, I wanted him removed immediately, but they had to go through a process and the police will sort it. 'The Liverpool players were very supportive towards Antoine and the rest of the team. it was handled in the right way, but so angry. 'We've had discussions with the Premier League about it, so they are taking it seriously. I don't know what else we can do! We've been doing it for a long time now and no one is getting it. I don't know what to say anymore. 'I just feel sorry for Ant, that he's had to take that tonight. The whole country is watching and for that to happen is shocking.' The incident occurred just 28 minutes into the new season, when Semenyo was preparing to take a throw-in before he appeared to be heckled by a Liverpool fan. The 25-year-old forward brought the incident to the attention of referee Anthony Taylor, and the match was promptly paused temporarily. Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola was seen in discussion with officials and Liverpool manager Arne Slot, before play resumed in the 31st minute. Tonight's match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth was temporarily paused during the first half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo. This is in line with the Premier League's on-field… — Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) August 15, 2025 It has been alleged that the person who directed the abuse at Semenyo was a Liverpool fan sitting in a wheelchair in the bottom row of Anfield's Main Stand. At half-time, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher also expressed disdain towards the incident. Neville said: 'It overshadows what should be an amazing night, first game of the Premier League season. 'That boy [Semenyo] has basically been racially abused and had to complain about it. It's despicable. I can't even think what would be going through someone's mind [to say that]. Carragher added: 'The amount of campaign we have, kick racism out, all over the world, it's shocking to see an incident like that. 'A shocking incident and rightly reported to the referee.' After the final whistle, Neville said: 'There need to be strong consequences. It's what the game does. We see lots of statements, but there key thing is, what's changing?' Slot commended the attending fans for paying respects to the late Diogo Jota, and admitted that it was disappointing such an incident takes the shine off a memorable night. The Dutchman said: 'We don't want this in football, we don't want this in a stadium, but especially not in Anfield. 'It's unacceptable that something like this happens in a stadium, especially at Anfield. It takes the shine off - our fans were unbelievable with their tributes for Diogo. 'I didn't hear it but it should definitely not happen in a stadium.' In the other dugout, Iraola said: 'Antoine, the referee, everyone explained the situation. The person has been identified. 'It was a great game of football, everyone watching, and now we have to be talking about these things. We should have been past this stage but people don't behave correctly. Every step that you collectively do forward, with this it loses a lot of power. 'He did what he had to do. He said straight away, the referee explained the situation, I don't think he lost his mind, but in the next minutes he was probably thinking. It was a big shame we have to be talking about these things. 'The Liverpool managers, the players, they feel it. Even if it's a Liverpool supporter, they don't want them with them. Everyone understands these things have to be out from everywhere, especially from football.' During the game, Daily Mail Sport's Football Editor, Ian Ladyman, reported from the crowd: 'Two or three minutes before the stoppage I did see Semenyo turn to look at a guy seated in a wheelchair at the front of the Main Stand who was saying something to him quite forcibly. Football fans quickly took to social media to share their contempt towards the incident 'The look on the Bournemouth player's face said all you needed to know.' The Premier League released on official statement during the game, taking to their Match Centre account on X. It read: 'Tonight's match between Liverpool Football Club and AFC Bournemouth was temporarily paused during the first half after a report of discriminatory abuse from the crowd, directed at Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo. This is in line with the Premier League's on-field anti-discrimination protocol. 'The incident at Anfield will now be fully investigated. We offer our full support to the player and both clubs. Racism has no place in our game, or anywhere in society. 'We will continue to work with stakeholders and authorities to ensure our stadiums are an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.' Liverpool also released a club statement during the game to condemn the moment, and revealed a police investigation is ongoing.
The Independent
37 minutes ago
- The Independent
Diogo Jota tribute ‘powerful' as Liverpool players deal with emotion
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot was pleased with how his players dealt with an emotional night as Anfield remembered Diogo Jota in a 4-2 Premier League opening win over Bournemouth. The Portugal striker died in a car crash with his brother Andre Silva six weeks ago and his family were back at Anfield to see the outpouring of emotion which left Mohamed Salah, scorer of the fourth goal, in tears at the final whistle. 'The main emotion I think should be how impressive and how powerful the tribute for Diogo was,' said Slot. 'The banner that the Kop showed, the way 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was sung, the way they sung the song for Diogo before the game, in the first minute, after 20 minutes, after the game. It was all so, so impressive and so powerful. 'And then there was even a game that ended in 4-2 where a lot of things happened. 'I actually didn't want to go in after the game because I found it so special, how our fans reacted today. 'I think Mo felt, after the game, how special that was. He probably also felt the emotion because we all knew his (Jota's) family is here, his wife is here, his children are here. 'For them, it might be special to hear how much he is loved over here. What the fans did. But we also feel the emotions of how much grief they still have. 'That mixed emotions maybe led to Mo being emotional. I think I felt the same without being in tears, but I definitely felt the same emotions.' On the football front Slot believes Federico Chiesa has a future at the club after the almost-forgotten Italy international came off the bench to score their decisive third goal. The forward, who barely played in his first season after struggling with fitness, volleyed home in the 88th-minute after seeing his team-mates concede a 2-0 lead given to them by new signing Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo. But after Antoine Semenyo, the subject of an isolated incident of alleged racist abuse in the first half, scored twice, fan-favourite Chiesa registered his first Premier League goal, which was followed by a customary opening-day goal for Salah. 'The fans sung for him so many times last season and it is very nice for him to give them something in return. Unbelievable atmosphere in the final minutes,' added Slot on the Italy international, who looked destined for a move this summer. 'He is here at Liverpool and I have no reason to believe it is going to change. He had a hard time last season getting his fitness ready and unfortunately for him, he then missed the Asian tour. 'At 2-2 you need a number nine: I brought him in and he delivered and that is always positive for your future at the club.' Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola praised Semenyo for his reaction to the first-half incident, which saw play halted so referee Anthony Taylor could speak to both managers. 'I didn't notice live but straight away Anthony explained the situation,' he said. 'It is a shame that in the first game of the Premier League, playing a really good game, we have to start talking about these things. 'It is a shame because the news will be about this thing. It is something that is still a big problem and we should be talking about what a good game it has been. 'In the heat of the moment I think Antoine understood the situation. He was calm. We asked him if he is OK to continue. 'The head always goes in these things and for sure he is asking why this is happening today. 'Antoine started the season the same way he finished the last one. Different goals, the first more a combination to the left and he arrives well, the second one more he takes it by himself and a good finish.'
