Team Canada got the job done on Monday afternoon in Boston, beating Finland 5-3 and booking their spot in the championship game of the 4 Nations on Thursday against Team USA. By no surprise, the legendary Sidney Crosby came through in the clutch when his country needed him most. The Pittsburgh Penguins star scored a […]
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As the NBA prepares to resume action out of the All-Star break, plenty of narratives will be created. Conversations about the NBA Finals will continue, as will the playoff picture as a whole. The discussion about the NBA MVP award will also gain traction with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic looking like the clear two […]
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DUNDEE UNITED claimed over a £1million through a tax relief scheme meant for ‘science and technology innovation’, according to a report.
The Scottish Premiership outfit are one of 28 top-flight sports teams from across the UK that have been paid out of the public purse by HMRC.
Premier League clubs Chelsea and Nottingham Forest were also named by The Times as having benefited from the payouts.
It’s believed the scheme has also been used by rugby and cricket teams.
Dundee United are reported to have earned £1.3m in research and development (R&D) tax relief payments from HMRC between 2021 and 2022.
Under the rules of the scheme, clubs should only apply if it has made a genuine advancement in science and technology that benefits the greater good, not just its own business.
SunSport has contacted Dundee United for comment on how they qualified for the funds.
The £1.3m figure equates to 15 per cent of the club’s turnover that year, though claims can be made for research activity across a number of years.
The Tannadice club made the claims with the help of ZLX, a Glasgow-based company that was criticised in a recent court case for what the sheriff found was a proposal to make an R&D claim on behalf of a fruit and vegetable company for installing a fridge.
ZLX describe themselves as ‘Research & Development tax credit experts’.
United launched ‘The United Lab‘ in April 2020 with the aim of “brokering new channels for ideas and innovation and ensuring we are aware of the latest scientific innovations, global trends and future talent” – the brainchild of chiefs at the club who have all since left (Tony Asghar, Sean McGee, Dr Ryland Morgans and Dr Dan Parnell).
Chelsea are reported to have been paid over £2m between 2020 and 2023 through the R&D scheme.
Nottingham Forest claimed a tax credit of £607,000 according to their last set of accounts.
Fulham claimed £86,000 in credits between 2019 and 2021.
In rugby, Premiership side Harlequins have received £1.3m of public money £1.3 million since 2020, including £795,000 in payments and £530,000 in tax credits.
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
SON HEUNG-MIN has told Roy Keane: You are wrong about James Maddison.
Midfielder Maddison made it clear Keane WAS the target of his ‘shush’ celebration after netting the winner against Manchester United on Sunday, with a TikTok video posted later that night.
It came after Red Devils icon Keane, 53, belittled the oche-obsessed star’s ability last week, saying: “Maddison isn’t bad, when he’s not at the darts.”
Now Tottenham skipper Son has leapt to his team-mate’s defence, revealing the pair discussed the stinging criticism and how to prove it to be wide of the mark.
South Korean international forward Son, 32, said: “Everybody has an opinion but I don’t care what they say.
“Madders is one of the best team-mates I’ve played with in my career.
“In big games, he steps up and scores goals, that’s why we’ve missed him.
“Me and Madders had a chat about this because he’s always had a good personality and been able to move on.
“He’s shown people that it’s wrong. He showed great character and put on a great performance.”
Keane’s comments about Maddison went viral — to the point where they even caught the Tottenham midfielder’s attention.
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United’s legendary Treble-winning captain Keane claimed: “If you think he’s going to come back and get Spurs into the top six, you’re in cuckoo land.
“He’s a talented player. But if you’re a player in Spurs’ dressing room and Maddison’s back in the squad, you wouldn’t be looking and going, ‘He’s back, we’re going to be fine’.”
Keane’s dig appeared to fire up Maddison against the Irishman’s old club, as he returned from three weeks out with a calf problem to net the game’s only goal after just 13 minutes.
England star Maddison then hit back with his celebration where he made a ‘talking’ gesture with his hand before his trademark darts-throwing routine and then shushed Keane with his finger.
He did not name who it was aimed at in his post-match interview.
But it became clear later that evening with a video posted on social media platform TikTok.
The footage started with Keane’s criticism, then fellow pundit Ian Wright urging Maddison to “silence” the former midfielder’s damning verdict, before a clip of Maddison’s goal and celebration to the backdrop of amusingly dramatic music.
Maddison, who attended the Bafta Awards after-party on Sunday night, was one of four Spurs players to return from injury against United along with goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and subs Brennan Johnson and Wilson Odobert.
After a long three months with so many absentees, Spurs’ problems look to be easing with Dominic Solanke, Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven hopefully back soon.
Son paid tribute to youngsters like Archie Gray, 18, and 19-year-old Lucas Bergvall for stepping up over the winter in the absence of the injured senior pros.
The Tottenham captain added: “I don’t want to dwell on our dreams or blame anything on us missing our main players.
“In the period of time they have been out, everyone at the club should appreciate the job the young players have done and never forget all the tough moments they have faced in the last two-and-a-half months.
“They didn’t deserve it but they have handled it really well.
“Now it’s the turn of the senior players to step up.”
CAST your mind back 11 years to the last time David Moyes was in a Goodison Park dugout for an Everton v Manchester United match.
Then, we were treated to the ghoulish sight of a bookmaker’s stooge dressed as the Grim Reaper, seated yards away from Moyes, dangling his scythe at the soon-to-be-former United boss.
Everton won 2-0 and two days later, Moyes was sacked.
‘The Chosen One’ banner, displayed at Old Trafford since he had replaced Sir Alex Ferguson, was hauled down after eight months in situ.
And 11 years later, the Red Devils haven’t recovered from their spiral of chaos and doom.
On Saturday, Ruben Amorim takes what remains of his battered United squad to Goodison for his club’s final visit to Everton’s historic home.
And this time, Moyes himself can play the Reaper.
The Scot, 61, who returned to the Toffees last month, has amassed 13 points from his past five matches — four wins and a dramatic draw against runaway leaders Liverpool.
That points tally is only one fewer than Amorim has mustered in 14 league games as United boss.
One month ago, Everton were nine points adrift of the Red Devils and also West Ham.
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Already, Moyes’ side have leap-frogged both of the clubs who scorned him.
It would be too simplistic to claim that if United had stuck with Moyes back in 2014, rather than becoming just another hire-and-fire Premier League club, then everything would have turned out fine and dandy.
It is likely that no manager in world football could have successfully succeeded Ferguson.
United’s squad was ageing and Fergie was a genius who had run the whole Old Trafford empire, leaving behind no recognisable modern management infrastructure.
And perhaps Moyes’ skill-set has always been better suited to overachieving at clubs just outside the elite, rather than getting the best out of world-class players.
But still, the contrast in fortunes between Everton and United is glaring.
Amorim’s side plunged into the bottom six at an advanced stage of a Premier League season for the first time when they lost Sunday’s ‘Hell Clasico’ to fellow strugglers Spurs.
There, the Portuguese named eight teenaged substitutes who had never previously played for United’s first team, using only one of them — forward Chido Obi — as a 91st- minute replacement for a gone-at-all-levels Casemiro.
Perhaps Amorim should actually have named his 63-year-old goal-keeping coach Jorge Vital among his subs in North London having claimed last month he would rather select the old boy over Marcus Rashford.
Defeat by Tottenham was United’s sixth in nine league matches.
And looking at the table, it is easy to imagine United finishing in the bottom six.
Their position is not a false one, unless you want to argue that they should actually be even further down, among the dead men.
Three of the four league wins Amorim has mustered have been fortunate — they trailed 1-0 at home to Southampton after 80 minutes, they were 1-0 down to Manchester City before a miraculous late derby turnaround, and won 1-0 at Fulham with their only shot on target, which was massively deflected.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou offered no sympathy for Amorim’s current injury crisis — ‘welcome to my world, mate, try it for two months’ was his comment.
But United had left themselves wide open to this eventuality by loaning out Rashford and Antony in the winter window, without replacing either.
The subsequent season-ending injury to Amad Diallo — the one bright spark of Amorim’s reign — would not have felt quite so debilitating had United not left themselves so short of attacking numbers.
And the fact that Antony has now won three successive man-of-the-match awards for Real Betis, while Rashford is showing early promise at Aston Villa, only adds to questions over Amorim’s decision-making.
His insistence on refusing to compromise on a 3-4-3 formation, even when robbed of the services of 12 senior players, is beginning to look like severe bloody-mindedness. Beware of the dogma.
There’s much to like about Amorim, such as his unswerving, often damning, honesty about United and a charismatic strength of personality which makes it believable he could turn around the club’s fortunes in the long term.
But there comes a point at any major club — and we still have to regard United as one of those despite a dozen years of trauma — when things become so bad that you have to wonder whether the manager even has a long-term future.
Amorim’s appointment seemed like a massive coup.
He was the hottest young property in management after an excellent spell at Sporting Lisbon.
And yet it is increasingly intriguing to consider why Dan Ashworth — United’s hugely-respected, short-lived sporting director — should have left after just five months having disagreed over Amorim’s appointment.
Ashworth is believed to have favoured replacing Erik ten Hag with a manager experienced in the English game.
His three previous appointments — Eddie Howe at Newcastle, Gareth Southgate at England and Graham Potter at Brighton — were all great successes and all three were linked with United.
By the time Ten Hag was sacked, Brentford’s Thomas Frank was Ashworth’s pick, with Amorim the choice of chief executive Omar Berrada — the finance man, rather than their football man.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has spent £25million in hiring and firing Ashworth, sacking Ten Hag and poaching Amorim with some of this cost being recouped in demoralising mass redundancies among the club’s staff.
United must sell before they buy this summer, reviving the prospect of stars Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho being flogged off to keep the club in line with Profit and Sustainability Rules.
With a dysfunctional current squad and no quick fixes in sight, Amorim, 40, must be wondering whether he made a serious mistake in taking on the biggest basket case in world football.
So perhaps, at Goodison Park on Saturday, Moyes should bring along a Scary Movie mask and scythe.
MANCHESTER UNITED slipped to a 12th defeat in the Premier League with Rasmus Hojlund coming under fire again.
Here’s how SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rated the Manchester United players against an underachieving Spurs side – who are now three places above them in 12th – in North London.
Andre Onana – 3
United can’t do anything with him between the sticks. Can’t be trusted to collect anything.
His opposite number Vicario showed him a thing or two after returning for the first time since Spurs thrashed Man City in November.
At fault for the first goal when he palmed out a relatively weak bouncing shot into Maddison’s path in the 13th minute.
Noussair Mazraoui – 5
An OK performance. Clever link-up play with Zirkzee but couldn’t get hold of Spence down the left-hand side.
Pulled out an excellent cross for the Dutchman’s headed chance late-on.
Matthijs de Ligt – 6
His clearance stopped an obvious 2-0 before the half-an-hour mark.
Harry Maguire – 5
A mixed bag. Long ball over the top for Hojlund’s chance in opening 10 minutes and went on a few attacking runs himself in the first half.
Did well to stop Dejan Kulusevski from having a go at the edge of the box. But bizarrely stopped in his tracks when a cross came flying into Son later on.
Diogo Dalot – 6
A difficult afternoon for the Portugal international as Son and Djed Spence left him for dead a few times.
Hesitated when asked to shoot from five yards to make it 1-0 but helped Onana out with some clearances too.
Patrick Dorgu – 4
A Prem debut to forget. He was almost invisible from the left-hand side. And lacked quality when asked to get involved more in the second half.
Was stupidly caught offside with Bruno Fernandes offloading a stunning cross pitch pass and booked late-on.
Casemiro – 5
Looked every bit a player that hasn’t played Premier League football for two months. Unsurprisingly booked for a late one on Son.
Bizarrely dropped to the turf asking for a free-kick when nobody touched him. Was forced to play 89 minutes with eight teenagers on the bench. A difficult afternoon, indeed.
Bruno Fernandes – 5
Interceptions and breaking up play is not a part of the captain’s game. An uncharacteristically poor cross left United open on the counter.
Did get back to stop Son from having a shot at Onana on the hour mark and started ticking in attack in the final 20 minutes.
Alejandro Garnacho – 4
Looked shaky and cut a frustrated figure after blazing over an absolute SITTER from 10 yards to level the scores.
A bit of a shocker and looked a completely different player to the one who got United into the fifth-round of the FA Cup last week.
Woke up a bit in the second half as Vicario kept him at bay with several superb stops. But the 20-year-old is clearly better off the bench.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6
The best of a desperately poor front three. There’s a street player in there and he’s great with his touches at times.
But curled wide from 23 yards, stuck a header wide in the 70th minute and kicked an air shot in the final five minutes.
Rasmus Hojlund – 3
Is Hojlund the worst No 9 in United’s recent history?
The young Dane, who was unlucky to have a chance saved by Vicario, was second best in every loose ball and kept losing possession.
He was even caught offside after a pass from an Onana goal-kick in the first half – how often do you see that happen?
THE Love Island All Stars winners have finally been revealed – scooping the £50,000 prize in a dramatic live final.
It’s been a season packed with drama, bombshells, and second chances.
In the end, Gabby and Casey stole the crown.
The couple beat fan-favourite pairs including Curtis Pritchard and Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu who came in third place, and Catherine Agbaje and Omar Nyame who were revealed in fourth place.
Also in the running were Elma Pazar and Sammy Root who came in fifth place.
Host Maya Jama made a jaw-dropping entrance into the villa, looking sensational in a daring cut-out dress as she announced the results to the final five couples.
Gabby and Casey looked stunned as their names were called, sharing a celebratory kiss as confetti rained down around them.
The couple, who found love in the South African villa, have gone from strength to strength – and now they leave with both each other and the cash prize.
Leaving together, Casey also gushed over Gabby and revealed he had already won.
He told Maya after finding out they had made the final two: “I absolutely adore her.
“She has just blown me off my socks since I got here. As soon as that first conversation I had with her it was game over for me.”
A dozen axed stars returned to South Africa and in a chaotic live final, islanders were seen and heard taking swipes at each other throughout the show.
Tonight, the finalists were also involved in some of the drama after Grace was accused of fakery.
Olivia Hawkins claimed she’d seen explosive text messages, allegedly from Grace, stating she had a game plan before entering the villa – and host Maya didn’t shy away from the conversation.
Before bringing it up with the warring pair, Maya told viewers: “It’s only our second year of All Stars and what a series it has been … it’s ended in complete chaos, just how we like it.”
The presenter said to Olivia: “Absolute scenes when you came into the villa the other day.
“The question we all want to know, do you have the receipts?”
The axed Islander doubled down on her comments and insisted she “had the reciepts.”
Olivia replied: “I’ve seen them, I’ve said what I’ve said. You know me, I’m very straight talking. I’m straight to the point. I honestly wish them the best.”
Grace retorted “I’m straight talking” adding “there were no receipts” and said she looked forward to “apparently seeing them”.
Elsewhere, viewers at home thought Sammy Root looked fuming that he came in fifth place after winning Love Island first time around.
One tweeted: “Sammy’s disappointed he didn’t win again! He thought Elma being favourite girl would get him the 50k.”
LOVE Island All Stars fans have left fuming after Maya Jama announced the final two couples of the series.
Viewers slammed the show when it was revealed Catherine Agbaje and Omar Nyame had finished in fourth place, with Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu and Curtis Pritchard landing in third.
Their exists left Luca Bish and Grace Jackson, and Casey O’Gorman and Gabby Allen in the top two spots – and fans were not happy.
Taking to social media, disgruntled viewers were quick to share their thoughts on the way the public vote had gone.
Some even called for a “recount”, with many be shocked at Gabby and Casey’s presence in the final two.
One fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “The worst potential top 2 has become reality.”
Another added: “CASEY AND GABBY ARE IN TOP 2 INSTEAD OF COMAR????”
A third said: “I’m not even joking if Casey and Gabby win i won’t be watching love island.”
And someone else simply wrote: “WE DEMAND A RECOUNT.”
Five couples went head-to-head in Monday night’s Love Island All Stars Live Final.
The first couple to be shown the door were Elma Pazar and Sammy Root, which finished in fourth place.
They were followed close behind by Catherine and Omar.
When asked by Maya what they had planned for when they get back to the UK, Catherine gushed: “Everything happens next!”
Omar added: ‘We’ve spoken about meeting family and private dates. A little holiday maybe.”
Catherine also told Maya how she was really looking forward to swapping bikinis for hoodies and “chilling out” together.
A FAN says he bought two tickets for an Arsenal match — and found they were given free to Gunners star Gabriel Martinelli.
Nathan Shaw, 51, paid £350 for the pair of tickets clearly marked “Player Complimentary”.
They were for seats in the away end for his team’s 2-0 win at Leicester on Saturday.
He said that after buying them, he was called by a club official saying they were originally allocated to injured £180,000-per-week Brazilian striker Martinelli, 23.
But last night, Arsenal insiders said Martinelli had not applied to use the tickets.
They were put in a central pot and redistributed to a contractor who asked for some. Sales manager Nathan, from Hawkhurst, Kent, snapped the tickets up from website Livefootballtickets for £175 each.
He had failed to get two of the 3,200 seats in the away end for himself and pal Cillian Oliver when Arsenal sold out their allocation of the £30 tickets.
Nathan, who has a season ticket for home games, got a message from the site telling him to pick up the tickets at a collection point at Leicester’s ground before the match, and to bring ID.
The message named a club worker.
Our source said the contractor had given the tickets to a pal who sold them to the site.
Nathan said: “I was delighted to get tickets but stunned when I picked them up and they were clearly complimentary ones given to a player.
“I got a call as well before the game, and the guy told me they were Martinelli’s.
“I don’t blame Martinelli and suspect he might have just not used them and someone else has sold them on. I doubt he needs the money.”
There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by Martinelli, who did not travel to the Midlands.
Arsenal and the site were approached for comment.
A BODY of a man in his 20s was found on Blackpool beach during the weekend.
Emergency services were called alongside the Lancashire Police Department to North Promenade on Saturday morning.
There cops found the lifeless body of a man, said to be in his 20s, at the beach.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is understood that the police are not treating the death as suspicious – and the case will shortly be sent to a coroner.
A statement from the police states: “Our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.”
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