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Canadian official backs up report that Iranian FA chief was denied entry for FIFA event Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday it was her “understanding” that Iranian football officials were denied entry into her country ahead of the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver just weeks before the start of the World Cup.Anand appeared to confirm a report from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but she said the denial was “unintentional.”Tasnim reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and two other Iranian officials were denied entry due to “inappropriate behaviour of immigration officials” at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.“It’s not my personal lead, but my understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave it to the Minister to indicate,” Anand said, apparently referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.The online news outlet Iran International first reported that Taj had been granted a visa Monday and had been removed from Canada late Tuesday evening due to his connections to the IRGC, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.An emailed response from Diab’s office said all visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by trained officials.“While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” said Taous Ait, Diab’s press secretary.The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Representatives from each of the 211 federations in football’s governing body were expected to attend the event that begins Thursday.FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Iran’s status for the event.Published on May 01, 2026 #Canadian #official #backs #report #Iranian #chief #denied #entry #FIFA #event

Canadian official backs up report that Iranian FA chief was denied entry for FIFA event

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday it was her “understanding” that Iranian football officials were denied entry into her country ahead of the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver just weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Anand appeared to confirm a report from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but she said the denial was “unintentional.”

Tasnim reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and two other Iranian officials were denied entry due to “inappropriate behaviour of immigration officials” at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

“It’s not my personal lead, but my understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave it to the Minister to indicate,” Anand said, apparently referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

The online news outlet Iran International first reported that Taj had been granted a visa Monday and had been removed from Canada late Tuesday evening due to his connections to the IRGC, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.

An emailed response from Diab’s office said all visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by trained officials.

“While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” said Taous Ait, Diab’s press secretary.

The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Representatives from each of the 211 federations in football’s governing body were expected to attend the event that begins Thursday.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Iran’s status for the event.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Canadian #official #backs #report #Iranian #chief #denied #entry #FIFA #event

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Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Wednesday it was her “understanding” that Iranian football officials were denied entry into her country ahead of the FIFA Congress meeting in Vancouver just weeks before the start of the World Cup.

Anand appeared to confirm a report from Tasnim, an Iranian news agency associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but she said the denial was “unintentional.”

Tasnim reported that Iranian Football Federation president Mehdi Taj and two other Iranian officials were denied entry due to “inappropriate behaviour of immigration officials” at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

“It’s not my personal lead, but my understanding is that there is a revocation of the permission. It was unintentional, but I’ll leave it to the Minister to indicate,” Anand said, apparently referring to Immigration Minister Lena Diab.

The online news outlet Iran International first reported that Taj had been granted a visa Monday and had been removed from Canada late Tuesday evening due to his connections to the IRGC, a listed terrorist entity in Canada.

An emailed response from Diab’s office said all visa applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by trained officials.

“While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country,” said Taous Ait, Diab’s press secretary.

The FIFA Congress gathering comes weeks before the start of a World Cup that is being co-hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Representatives from each of the 211 federations in football’s governing body were expected to attend the event that begins Thursday.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Iran’s status for the event.

Published on May 01, 2026

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Deadspin | Big first inning helps Astros salvage doubleheader split vs. Orioles Apr 30, 2026; Baltimore, MD, USA; Houston Astros outfield Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates his home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles with infielder Christian Walker (8) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images Cam Smith hit a three-run home run in Houston’s five-run first inning and the Astros salvaged a split of Thursday’s doubleheader by winning 11-5 in the second game against the host Baltimore Orioles. Yordan Alvarez drilled his 12th homer among his three hits and three runs scored, Dustin Harris drove in three runs and Yainer Diaz collected three hits as the Astros avoided being swept in the three-game series. Isaac Paredes had two hits and scored two runs, and Christian Walker tacked on two hits. Houston won for the first time in starter Lance McCullers Jr.’s five April starts. McCullers (2-2) held the Orioles to three runs on two hits with nine strikeouts and four walks across six innings before three relievers finished with one inning apiece. Baltimore won 10-3 in the first game with grand slams from Adley Rutschman and Jeremiah Jackson, but that production wasn’t repeated. They had six hits, including a two-run triple from Leody Taveras and RBI doubles from Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson, in Thursday’s second game. After winning his first two starts this season, Orioles right-hander Brandon Young (2-1) was dinged for 10 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in four innings. Every batter in Houston’s lineup had at least one hit by the fifth inning, finishing with 15 hits. The Astros, who won for only the fourth time in 16 road games, got off to a better start in the second game with Harris’ two-out, two-run single in the first inning followed two batters later by Smith’s three-run blast. It was Smith’s fourth homer of the season. Houston pushed its lead to 6-0 in the second inning on Alvarez’s solo homer with one out. The Orioles closed within 11-4 with a run in the seventh inning but they left the bases loaded on their way to falling to 9-9 in home games this year. They added a run in the ninth on Coby Mayo’s sacrifice fly. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Big #inning #helps #Astros #salvage #doubleheader #split #OriolesApr 30, 2026; Baltimore, MD, USA; Houston Astros outfield Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates his home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles with infielder Christian Walker (8) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images

Cam Smith hit a three-run home run in Houston’s five-run first inning and the Astros salvaged a split of Thursday’s doubleheader by winning 11-5 in the second game against the host Baltimore Orioles.

Yordan Alvarez drilled his 12th homer among his three hits and three runs scored, Dustin Harris drove in three runs and Yainer Diaz collected three hits as the Astros avoided being swept in the three-game series. Isaac Paredes had two hits and scored two runs, and Christian Walker tacked on two hits.

Houston won for the first time in starter Lance McCullers Jr.’s five April starts. McCullers (2-2) held the Orioles to three runs on two hits with nine strikeouts and four walks across six innings before three relievers finished with one inning apiece.

Baltimore won 10-3 in the first game with grand slams from Adley Rutschman and Jeremiah Jackson, but that production wasn’t repeated. They had six hits, including a two-run triple from Leody Taveras and RBI doubles from Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson, in Thursday’s second game.


After winning his first two starts this season, Orioles right-hander Brandon Young (2-1) was dinged for 10 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in four innings.

Every batter in Houston’s lineup had at least one hit by the fifth inning, finishing with 15 hits.

The Astros, who won for only the fourth time in 16 road games, got off to a better start in the second game with Harris’ two-out, two-run single in the first inning followed two batters later by Smith’s three-run blast. It was Smith’s fourth homer of the season.

Houston pushed its lead to 6-0 in the second inning on Alvarez’s solo homer with one out.

The Orioles closed within 11-4 with a run in the seventh inning but they left the bases loaded on their way to falling to 9-9 in home games this year. They added a run in the ninth on Coby Mayo’s sacrifice fly.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Big #inning #helps #Astros #salvage #doubleheader #split #Orioles">Deadspin | Big first inning helps Astros salvage doubleheader split vs. Orioles Apr 30, 2026; Baltimore, MD, USA; Houston Astros outfield Yordan Alvarez (44) celebrates his home run in the second inning against the Baltimore Orioles with infielder Christian Walker (8) at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-Imagn Images Cam Smith hit a three-run home run in Houston’s five-run first inning and the Astros salvaged a split of Thursday’s doubleheader by winning 11-5 in the second game against the host Baltimore Orioles. Yordan Alvarez drilled his 12th homer among his three hits and three runs scored, Dustin Harris drove in three runs and Yainer Diaz collected three hits as the Astros avoided being swept in the three-game series. Isaac Paredes had two hits and scored two runs, and Christian Walker tacked on two hits. Houston won for the first time in starter Lance McCullers Jr.’s five April starts. McCullers (2-2) held the Orioles to three runs on two hits with nine strikeouts and four walks across six innings before three relievers finished with one inning apiece. Baltimore won 10-3 in the first game with grand slams from Adley Rutschman and Jeremiah Jackson, but that production wasn’t repeated. They had six hits, including a two-run triple from Leody Taveras and RBI doubles from Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson, in Thursday’s second game. After winning his first two starts this season, Orioles right-hander Brandon Young (2-1) was dinged for 10 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in four innings. Every batter in Houston’s lineup had at least one hit by the fifth inning, finishing with 15 hits. The Astros, who won for only the fourth time in 16 road games, got off to a better start in the second game with Harris’ two-out, two-run single in the first inning followed two batters later by Smith’s three-run blast. It was Smith’s fourth homer of the season. Houston pushed its lead to 6-0 in the second inning on Alvarez’s solo homer with one out. The Orioles closed within 11-4 with a run in the seventh inning but they left the bases loaded on their way to falling to 9-9 in home games this year. They added a run in the ninth on Coby Mayo’s sacrifice fly. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Big #inning #helps #Astros #salvage #doubleheader #split #Orioles

Ukraine international Mykhailo Mudryk, one of the most expensive players in world soccer, risks missing the next European Championship if he loses his appeal against a four-year ban in a doping case.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed the Chelsea winger, who was signed by the Premier League club for $108 million in 2023, was in the process of appealing against the four-year ban imposed by the English Football Association.

The sides are exchanging written submissions and a hearing has not yet been scheduled, the court said.

There had been no update on the case since the FA said last June that Mudryk had been formally charged with “Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance.” The exact substance involved has not been confirmed officially.

Mudryk said in December 2024 that he had “ not done anything wrong ” after it was confirmed he had given a drug-test sample that contained a banned substance. He has not played since then.

Mudryk has not commented on the case since. He has posted footage of him training in private on social media in recent months and was seen with Chelsea fans last year when Chelsea won the Conference League final in Poland.

A four-year ban is the starting point for sanctions in a typical first-time doping case under the World Anti-Doping Agency rules used across multiple Olympic sports.

The period is often shortened for mitigating circumstances, such as if an athlete consumed a contaminated supplement or made a mistake with medication, or if the athlete admits an offense at an earlier stage.

Doping sanctions are typically backdated to start from the date an athlete was first provisionally suspended pending a full hearing. The next European Championship will be in the summer of 2028, co-hosted by Britain and Ireland.

Mudryk sat out Ukraine’s recent World Cup qualifying campaign. Ukraine fell short of qualification by losing to Sweden in a playoff in March.

Mudryk was one of the most sought-after players in Europe when he was signed from Shakhtar Donetsk after competing interest from Chelsea’s London rival Arsenal.

The 25-year-old from Ukraine has scored 10 goals in 73 games for Chelsea since then but many of those appearances have been from the bench and his time at the club was widely regarded as underwhelming even before the doping case emerged.

Chelsea gave Mudryk an eight-and-a-half-year contract, an unusually long deal in modern soccer. It is due to run through 2031.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Chelsea #winger #Mykhailo #Mudryk #fighting #fouryear #ban #doping #case #CAS">Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk fighting four-year ban in doping case: CAS Ukraine international Mykhailo Mudryk, one of the most expensive players in world soccer, risks missing the next European Championship if he loses his appeal against a four-year ban in a doping case.The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed the Chelsea winger, who was signed by the Premier League club for 8 million in 2023, was in the process of appealing against the four-year ban imposed by the English Football Association.The sides are exchanging written submissions and a hearing has not yet been scheduled, the court said.There had been no update on the case since the FA said last June that Mudryk had been formally charged with “Anti-Doping Rule Violations alleging the presence and/or use of a prohibited substance.” The exact substance involved has not been confirmed officially.Mudryk said in December 2024 that he had “ not done anything wrong ” after it was confirmed he had given a drug-test sample that contained a banned substance. He has not played since then.Mudryk has not commented on the case since. He has posted footage of him training in private on social media in recent months and was seen with Chelsea fans last year when Chelsea won the Conference League final in Poland.A four-year ban is the starting point for sanctions in a typical first-time doping case under the World Anti-Doping Agency rules used across multiple Olympic sports.The period is often shortened for mitigating circumstances, such as if an athlete consumed a contaminated supplement or made a mistake with medication, or if the athlete admits an offense at an earlier stage.Doping sanctions are typically backdated to start from the date an athlete was first provisionally suspended pending a full hearing. The next European Championship will be in the summer of 2028, co-hosted by Britain and Ireland.Mudryk sat out Ukraine’s recent World Cup qualifying campaign. Ukraine fell short of qualification by losing to Sweden in a playoff in March.Mudryk was one of the most sought-after players in Europe when he was signed from Shakhtar Donetsk after competing interest from Chelsea’s London rival Arsenal.The 25-year-old from Ukraine has scored 10 goals in 73 games for Chelsea since then but many of those appearances have been from the bench and his time at the club was widely regarded as underwhelming even before the doping case emerged.Chelsea gave Mudryk an eight-and-a-half-year contract, an unusually long deal in modern soccer. It is due to run through 2031.Published on May 01, 2026 #Chelsea #winger #Mykhailo #Mudryk #fighting #fouryear #ban #doping #case #CAS

Deadspin | Phillies beat Giants in 10 to sweep doubleheader and 3-game set Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm (28) hits a sacrifice fly against the San Francisco Giants in the tenth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Alec Bohm’s sacrifice fly plated automatic runner Adolis Garcia in the 10th inning Thursday night, giving the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 victory over the visiting San Francisco Giants and their second walk-off win of a day-night doubleheader that ended about nine hours after it started. The Phillies scored twice in the ninth inning to pull out a 3-2 win in the opener. The doubleheader was necessitated by a rainout Wednesday night. The clubs also sat out a brief storm that prompted a 24-minute delay in the top of the sixth of the Thursday nightcap. After the Giants stranded runners at first and third in the top of the 10th inning, the Phillies went the fundamental route to give new manager Don Mattingly his third straight win. Bryson Stott sacrificed Garcia to third, setting up Bohm’s fly to medium-deep center field. Chase Shugart (2-0), who escaped the jam in the top of the 10th, was credited with the win — his second of the day. He is the first major league pitcher to win both games of a doubleheader since 2013 and the first Philadelphia pitcher to do so since Terry Adams in 2002. Matt Gage (2-1), who entered the game to start the last of the 10th, took the loss. Each team scored a two-out run in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Jung Hoo Lee’s RBI single gave the Giants a 5-4 lead in the top of the inning before the Phillies got even on a Kyle Schwarber run-scoring double. Down to his final strike, Schwarber capped a 4-for-4 game with the clutch hit. In the doubleheader, he went 5-for-6, drove in three runs, scored three times and collected two home runs, two doubles and three walks. After blowing a lead in the opener, the Giants rallied from behind in the second game, twice erasing two-run deficits. A two-out, two-run single by Luis Arraez in the sixth created the 4-4 tie that stood until the ninth. Philadelphia’s first two-run lead was the product of back-to-back solo home runs by Trea Turner, his fourth, and Schwarber, his 11th, to begin the bottom of the first. Turner connected on Adrian Houser’s first pitch, Schwarber on his fifth. Houser was pulled after 5 2/3 innings, charged with three runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked two. The Phillies used Tim Mayza as an opener. He threw two shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk. He struck out two. Turner, who had two hits, and Schwarber scored twice apiece, while Garcia had a two-RBI single. Drew Gilbert piled up three hits while Lee, Arraez and Casey Schmitt had two apiece for the Giants, who were swept in the three-game series despite out-hitting the hosts 13-9 in the finale. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Phillies #beat #Giants #sweep #doubleheader #3game #setApr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm (28) hits a sacrifice fly against the San Francisco Giants in the tenth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Alec Bohm’s sacrifice fly plated automatic runner Adolis Garcia in the 10th inning Thursday night, giving the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 victory over the visiting San Francisco Giants and their second walk-off win of a day-night doubleheader that ended about nine hours after it started.

The Phillies scored twice in the ninth inning to pull out a 3-2 win in the opener.

The doubleheader was necessitated by a rainout Wednesday night. The clubs also sat out a brief storm that prompted a 24-minute delay in the top of the sixth of the Thursday nightcap.

After the Giants stranded runners at first and third in the top of the 10th inning, the Phillies went the fundamental route to give new manager Don Mattingly his third straight win. Bryson Stott sacrificed Garcia to third, setting up Bohm’s fly to medium-deep center field.

Chase Shugart (2-0), who escaped the jam in the top of the 10th, was credited with the win — his second of the day. He is the first major league pitcher to win both games of a doubleheader since 2013 and the first Philadelphia pitcher to do so since Terry Adams in 2002.

Matt Gage (2-1), who entered the game to start the last of the 10th, took the loss.

Each team scored a two-out run in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Jung Hoo Lee’s RBI single gave the Giants a 5-4 lead in the top of the inning before the Phillies got even on a Kyle Schwarber run-scoring double.


Down to his final strike, Schwarber capped a 4-for-4 game with the clutch hit. In the doubleheader, he went 5-for-6, drove in three runs, scored three times and collected two home runs, two doubles and three walks.

After blowing a lead in the opener, the Giants rallied from behind in the second game, twice erasing two-run deficits. A two-out, two-run single by Luis Arraez in the sixth created the 4-4 tie that stood until the ninth.

Philadelphia’s first two-run lead was the product of back-to-back solo home runs by Trea Turner, his fourth, and Schwarber, his 11th, to begin the bottom of the first. Turner connected on Adrian Houser’s first pitch, Schwarber on his fifth.

Houser was pulled after 5 2/3 innings, charged with three runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked two.

The Phillies used Tim Mayza as an opener. He threw two shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk. He struck out two.

Turner, who had two hits, and Schwarber scored twice apiece, while Garcia had a two-RBI single.

Drew Gilbert piled up three hits while Lee, Arraez and Casey Schmitt had two apiece for the Giants, who were swept in the three-game series despite out-hitting the hosts 13-9 in the finale.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Phillies #beat #Giants #sweep #doubleheader #3game #set">Deadspin | Phillies beat Giants in 10 to sweep doubleheader and 3-game set Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm (28) hits a sacrifice fly against the San Francisco Giants in the tenth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Alec Bohm’s sacrifice fly plated automatic runner Adolis Garcia in the 10th inning Thursday night, giving the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 victory over the visiting San Francisco Giants and their second walk-off win of a day-night doubleheader that ended about nine hours after it started. The Phillies scored twice in the ninth inning to pull out a 3-2 win in the opener. The doubleheader was necessitated by a rainout Wednesday night. The clubs also sat out a brief storm that prompted a 24-minute delay in the top of the sixth of the Thursday nightcap. After the Giants stranded runners at first and third in the top of the 10th inning, the Phillies went the fundamental route to give new manager Don Mattingly his third straight win. Bryson Stott sacrificed Garcia to third, setting up Bohm’s fly to medium-deep center field. Chase Shugart (2-0), who escaped the jam in the top of the 10th, was credited with the win — his second of the day. He is the first major league pitcher to win both games of a doubleheader since 2013 and the first Philadelphia pitcher to do so since Terry Adams in 2002. Matt Gage (2-1), who entered the game to start the last of the 10th, took the loss. Each team scored a two-out run in the ninth to send the game into extra innings. Jung Hoo Lee’s RBI single gave the Giants a 5-4 lead in the top of the inning before the Phillies got even on a Kyle Schwarber run-scoring double. Down to his final strike, Schwarber capped a 4-for-4 game with the clutch hit. In the doubleheader, he went 5-for-6, drove in three runs, scored three times and collected two home runs, two doubles and three walks. After blowing a lead in the opener, the Giants rallied from behind in the second game, twice erasing two-run deficits. A two-out, two-run single by Luis Arraez in the sixth created the 4-4 tie that stood until the ninth. Philadelphia’s first two-run lead was the product of back-to-back solo home runs by Trea Turner, his fourth, and Schwarber, his 11th, to begin the bottom of the first. Turner connected on Adrian Houser’s first pitch, Schwarber on his fifth. Houser was pulled after 5 2/3 innings, charged with three runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked two. The Phillies used Tim Mayza as an opener. He threw two shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk. He struck out two. Turner, who had two hits, and Schwarber scored twice apiece, while Garcia had a two-RBI single. Drew Gilbert piled up three hits while Lee, Arraez and Casey Schmitt had two apiece for the Giants, who were swept in the three-game series despite out-hitting the hosts 13-9 in the finale. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Phillies #beat #Giants #sweep #doubleheader #3game #set

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