Hearts say they will demand answers after a club logo in the dressing room at Tynecastle was “defaced” with a Rangers sticker during the Glasgow club’s victory in the Sky Sports Cup final.
Rangers’ women’s team were the designated home side for the game against Partick Thistle, which they won 4-1, but Hearts have become aware of images circulating on social media which show the club’s badge covered.
“Although the club hands over the running of the stadium on the day to the competition organisers – the SWPL – we were involved with pre-match planning,” said a statement.
“We would therefore like to assure our supporters that we did not approve any request for dressing room branding in either dressing room for either club involved.
“It is extremely disappointing to learn that our wishes were disregarded. How this came to be is a matter for the SWPL and Rangers to sort, but needless to say no explanation will be satisfactory in our eyes or the eyes of our fans.
“Nevertheless, we will demand answers to ensure that our club crest is never defaced again.
“It is also regrettable that this action has taken away the focus from what was a successful cup final and another opportunity to grow women’s football in Scotland.”
The SWPL and Rangers have been contacted for comment.
Havertz: Arsenal deserved more than finishing second
Kai Havertz believes Arsenal deserve more after they were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester City.
Arsenal knew they needed to beat Everton in the final game of the season and hope City slipped up at home to West Ham, but though Havertz netted an 89th-minute winner to see off the Toffees 2-1, Pep Guardiola's men ran out 3-1 victors over the Hammers.
City claim a fourth straight Premier League title, while Arsenal finish second again having also finished runners-up last season.
Havertz was left disappointed after the game, believing Arsenal's efforts throughout the campaign warranted a first Premier League crown in 20 years.
Havertz told TNT Sports "What can I say? I feel sorry for all the Arsenal fans. We gave our best but it wasn't enough.
"Maybe in two or three months we can say it was a good fight. Right now, I feel like we deserve more. It wasn't enough in the end but we go again next year."
Havertz's goal against Everton was his 13th of the league campaign, with no German scoring more in a 20-team Premier League season.
After a tough start to life in an Arsenal shirt since joining from Chelsea, Havertz has enjoyed a strong end to the campaign.
Havertz was proud of his and his team-mates' efforts, saying: "We showed great character again, they [Everton] didn't make it easy for us. They took time with every throw and every ball. In my opinion it's sometimes not fair in football but we have to accept that football is hard.
"Hopefully we can go again next year and give Arsenal fans what they need and what they're all here for."
When asked if he had a message for Gunners fans, Havertz stated: "Right now, I can't even think. It's just so frustrating. It's tough.
"I can tell them next year that we're going to be an even better team and we're going to give everything again. That's all I can say."
Inter 1-1 Lazio: Dumfries grabs late draw for champions
A late header from Denzel Dumfries earned Serie A champions Inter a 1-1 home draw against Lazio after Daichi Kamada gave the visitors a first-half lead.
Inter have 93 points, while Lazio are in seventh place on 60 with one match to play.
Lazio are level on points with sixth-placed rivals Roma, who are set to play against Genoa later on Sunday.
Kamada broke the deadlock for the visitors in the 32nd minute with a well-placed low shot into the corner from just outside the box, after each of the sides had several chances.
Both teams continued to attack after the break, with Dumfries beating his marker at the far post to head in the equaliser from a free kick in the 87th minute.
Data Debrief: Inter worthy of late leveller
A defeat would have been harsh on Inter, who generated a higher xG (1.58 vs 0.6) and had 19 shots compared to just eight from Lazio.
But Inter have now drawn three of their last five Serie A home games, which is as many draws as they had in their previous 49 home matches in the competition.
This game also saw Lazio's Felipe Anderson come off the bench to play his 250th match in Serie A.
De Bruyne ranks comeback title triumph among most special moments
Kevin De Bruyne ranks his sixth Premier League title triumph as one of his most special, having fought back from injury to help Manchester City make history.
City became the first team to win four English top-flight titles in a row on Sunday, with Phil Foden scoring twice and Rodri also on target in a 3-1 final-day win over West Ham.
That result ensured they edged out Arsenal by two points at the summit, despite the Gunners fighting back from 1-0 down to beat Everton 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
De Bruyne finished with four goals and 10 assists in just 18 Premier League appearances in 2023-24, having suffered a hamstring injury against Burnley on the opening matchday that kept him out until January.
Speaking to Sky Sports in the aftermath of City's trophy presentation, De Bruyne said: "It feels as special as the first one, to do something historic is amazing.
"For me this is one of my most special. I had a tough year, being out for six months, but then to come back in the way I could, to help the team win and be at a good level, it was a great achievement personally."
De Bruyne's comeback came in a 3-2 win at Newcastle United in January, when he came off the bench to score City's equaliser and supply a sensational pass for Oscar Bobb's last-gasp winner.
He believes that game was something of a turning point in the campaign, saying: "I can't speak for the team but for me it was like a perfect kickstart.
"I'm just happy that I came back in a run where I could help the team. They had done a great job in the first half of the season, and we're here again.
"The manager sets the tone but this team… we just enjoy playing with each other. It's not a team with big egos, we run like crazy, we want to perform well and we just enjoy it."
City have now gone unbeaten through their last 35 games in all competitions (29 wins, six draws), the longest run ever by a Premier League team, and they could yet secure a double as they face Manchester United in next week's FA Cup final.
Only Nottingham Forest, who went 40 without defeat between March and November 1978, have ever enjoyed a longer streak in English top-flight history.
Speaking alongside De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva was asked which of his six title triumphs meant the most to him.
"All of them, but the first one is always the most special," he said. "Obviously doing four in a row, something that was never done before, is unbelievable.
"The margins are so small. We beat Liverpool in two seasons by one point, then Arsenal this season by two points, we've been lucky enough to have these small margins.
"Four in a row is such a special achievement. We're so, so proud, and so happy."
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