A man who interrupted Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime performance by waving a flag reading “Sudan and Free Gaza” has been charged with two misdemeanors, Louisiana State Police announced Thursday.

Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, 41, of New Orleans, faces counts of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace by interrupting a lawful assembly. The charges stem from a Feb. 9 protest in which Nantambu ran across the field at the Caesars Superdome, momentarily halting one of the most-watched broadcasts in the world.

Nantambu had been hired as an extra performer in Lamar’s 400-person halftime cast but deviated from his assigned role when he grabbed the flag and dashed across the stage. Law enforcement said he refused to stop when ordered and was quickly tackled by security.

Though Nantambu had clearance to be on the field as part of the performance crew, authorities said the protest was unauthorized.

The NFL responded swiftly, banning him for life from all league stadiums and events.

The New Orleans Police Department initially did not press charges.

However, state troopers from Troop NOLA took over the investigation because of the protester’s access to a restricted area in a high-security environment.

An arrest warrant was issued through Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, and Nantambu turned himself in on June 26.

As of Thursday, no attorney was listed for him in court records. If convicted, each misdemeanor carries a sentence of up to six months in jail.

After his arrest, Nantambu posted a video outside the jail, calling the NFL’s response “excessive” and describing his act as a “liberation demonstration” to draw attention to ongoing humanitarian crises. In a February interview with Al Jazeera, he said: “I had to show Allah my faith is strong. I fear God more than man.”

Reactions on social media were divided. Supporters praised the message, while others criticized the disruption and defended the NFL’s crackdown.

The incident sparked a wider security review by the NFL and local authorities. Louisiana State Police Sgt. Kate Stegall said the agency is working with the league to reassess its protocols, particularly in high-risk, high-profile events.

The case has also drawn renewed focus due to Nantambu’s link to a separate attempted murder investigation involving former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown. Nantambu is listed as a victim in that unrelated case, according to The Athletic.

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With Wimbledon kicking off Monday, the sport’s freshest Grand Slam champions are Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spaniard, and Coco Gauff, the 21-year-old American.

Both sit at No. 2 in the rankings and are riding high after thrilling French Open victories over the world’s top-ranked players.

Young, charismatic and equally at ease under the spotlight both on and off the court, Alcaraz and Gauff are ushering in a new era of tennis.

Alongside No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and former No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the women’s game, plus men’s No. 1 Jannik Sinner, they represent a vibrant future for a sport that has recently bid farewell to legends like Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – and is watching closely to see how long Novak Djokovic will remain in the hunt for major titles.

“Tennis is just in such a great, great place right now. We are so fortunate to have not only Coco, not only Carlos, but a deep bench of young stars that are just propelling the growth of our sport,” U.S. Open tournament director Stacey Allaster said. “I’ve been around a long time, and when we have lost great, iconic champions in the past, there’s generally been a little bit of a dip. We have had the exact opposite during this transition. … I always like to say the champions of today are standing on the shoulders of the champions of the past. These champions have jumped off the shoulders of the past champions.”

One key for a sport, especially an individual one, to gain attention and grow popularity is to have rivalries that demand buy-in.

Alcaraz vs. Sinner clearly provides that, much in the way Federer vs. Nadal or Nadal vs. Djokovic did.

The five-set, 5.5-hour men’s final at Roland Garros was as full of momentum swings, terrific tennis and athleticism as anything those greats conjured.

“The level,” two-time reigning Wimbledon champion Alcaraz said, “was insane.”

The way he and Sinner, 23, are currently divvying up the biggest prizes – they’ve split the past six major trophies and eight of the past 11 – is certainly reminiscent of the Big Three’s dominance, albeit over a much smaller sample size so far.

“Having these two guys fighting for big trophies – I think we have to be very happy about it in the sport of tennis,” said Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz’s main coach. “For them, for sure it’s something that they raise their level every time that they go on the court. They know they have to play unbelievable tennis to beat the other guy, and it’s something that is going to help for sure each player to raise the level even more.”

It sure does seem as though Gauff vs. Sabalenka could provide that sort of dynamic and buzz, too.

Consider that, like Alcaraz and Sinner, they occupy the top two spots in the rankings. And consider that, like those other two, both own multiple major titles.

Gauff’s two Slam triumphs came via three-set victories over Sabalenka in the finals.

Plus, their latest meeting, at Roland Garros less than a month ago, came with some added spice because of Sabalenka’s post-match comments that were seen as less than fully gracious toward Gauff.

It became such a thing that Sabalenka felt the need to issue a pair of apologies – one privately via writing to Gauff, and one publicly in an interview at her next tournament.

Add that sort of off-court intrigue to the on-court interest, and if there are rematches at the All England Club a couple of weeks from now, no one who is invested in tennis will be displeased.

“There’s incredible momentum and wind in our sails as we think about the sport, in total,” said Lew Sherr, who is about to leave his role as CEO of the U.S. Tennis Association. “We’ve had five consecutive years of participation growth … and that certainly is being, in part, fueled by the great talent and inspiring players we have at the professional level, and also is feeding record attendance, record interest, record viewership. Those things go hand in hand. We have not missed a beat.”

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Fenerbahçe Beko sealed a dominant season with a championship flourish, overpowering Beşiktaş Fibabanka 84-68 in Game 5 of the Türkiye Sigorta Basketball Süper Lig Finals to win the series 4-1 and lift their 12th league title.

The sold-out Ülker Sports and Event Hall erupted as the yellow-navy juggernaut completed a season sweep – EuroLeague, Turkish Cup, and now, the domestic crown.

Night of dominance

After falling behind 13-0 early, Fenerbahçe responded with poise and purpose.

A late three by Nicolo Melli gave them a 21-18 edge to close the first quarter. From there, they never looked back.

With Errick McCollum leading the charge and Nigel Hayes-Davis stretching the margin, Fenerbahçe widened the gap to double digits by halftime (48-40).

In the third quarter, MVP Khem Birch flexed his strength inside, sparking a 7-2 run that forced Beşiktaş into timeout.

Marko Guduric’s poise, Melih Mahmutoğlu’s leadership, and relentless team defense crushed Beşiktaş’s comeback hopes.

By the final buzzer, the scoreboard and the celebration were all yellow and navy.

Unity and farewell

Following the win, silver medals were handed to Beşiktaş captain Yiğit Arslan by TBF Vice President Harun Erdenay.

Then, Youth and Sports Minister Osman Aşkın Bak and TBF President Hidayet Türkoğlu presented the championship trophy to Fenerbahçe’s long-time captain Melih Mahmutoğlu.

In a touching gesture, Mahmutoğlu called up teammate Marko Guduric, and the two raised the trophy together – a moment that ignited jubilant chants in the arena.

Fenerbahçe used the post-game stage to honor two key figures marking their exits: Serbian guard Marko Guduric, who had two memorable stints at the club, and Italian executive Maurizio Gherardini, a behind-the-scenes architect of Fener’s golden era since 2014.

Guduric, emotional with his wife and children by his side, saluted fans as they returned the favor with thunderous ovations. “We made history,” he said. “This will always be home.”

Fenerbahçe President Ali Koç and Beşiktaş President Serdal Adalı shared the sidelines, reflecting mutual respect between two storied clubs on Turkish basketball’s biggest stage.

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While Russia faced swift bans from international sport over its invasion of Ukraine, Israeli clubs continue to compete globally despite ongoing military operations in Gaza and Iran – a silence that Turkish sports lawyer Anıl Dinçer calls “a glaring double standard” and a troubling inconsistency at the heart of global sports governance.

Dinçer, an expert in sports law, compared the handling of Israel’s military actions with the rapid global sanctions imposed on Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. “Russia was hit with sweeping bans – teams expelled, federations blocked, players allowed to leave. With Israel, we get silence,” he told Anadolu Agency (AA).

“FIFA acted swiftly against Russia. Why not Israel?” Dinçer asked. “The sporting world is watching – and waiting.”

War unfolding on and off the field

Following Israeli strikes on Iranian soil – and its continuing assault on Gaza – Dinçer said global football has again been dragged into geopolitical tensions. He noted that while foreign players in both Israel and Iran face growing uncertainty, FIFA has yet to offer provisions like temporary transfers or contract protections.

“If the war escalates, FIFA may allow one-season loan transfers, as it did for players in Russia,” Dinçer said. “But right now, there’s no move – not even a discussion.”

Dinçer stressed that Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law have spanned years but have never triggered the kind of sporting penalties imposed on Russia.

“We’re seeing systematic human rights violations. Yet no sports sanctions. Why the hesitation?” he asked.

In 2022, FIFA and UEFA swiftly suspended the Russian national teams and clubs. But today, despite similar – or worse – actions from Israel, no such steps have been taken.

“This is a textbook case of selective enforcement,” Dinçer said. “The message it sends is damaging – to athletes, to fans, and to the integrity of the game.”

FIFPro’s unanswered pleas

Dinçer also revealed that the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has made three formal requests – in 2013, 2024, and 2025 – asking FIFA to penalize Israel for its actions.

Yet FIFA has refused to convene its congress to discuss them.

“These aren’t just ignored – they’re buried,” Dinçer said. “FIFA acts like the requests don’t exist.”

Beyond football, Dinçer framed the issue as a broader ethical failure. FIFA’s core principles – fair play, equality, and justice – are undermined, he said, by selective inaction.

“As a lawyer and as a human being, I find this deeply troubling,” he said. “FIFA is failing not just legally, but morally.”

He warned that any further delay in addressing the situation, especially as the 2024–25 season approaches, will deepen public mistrust in global sports governance.

Dinçer concluded with a sharp caution: if governing bodies continue to ignore Israeli actions, they risk shattering their credibility.

“Every decision they fail to take chips away at their legitimacy,” he said. “Football can’t afford another scandal rooted in silence.”

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The racing sequences in Brad Pitt’s new Formula One film deliver striking realism, but the story leans heavily on Hollywood flair, blending motorsport history with creative license.

“We just drew from history – a little of this, a little of that – and had Lewis Hamilton keep us on track,” Pitt said at the film’s New York premiere ahead of its global release.

Apple’s senior vice president of services, Eddy Cue – a longtime Formula One enthusiast and Ferrari board member – added after a media screening, “There’s not a single event in the film that hasn’t happened in a real race.”

That doesn’t mean those moments could unfold today – or that they serve as anything more than dramatic inspiration.

The Apple Original Films blockbuster, with scenes shot during Grand Prix weekends, is a redemption story, with Pitt playing aging driver Sonny Hayes on an unlikely comeback alongside a young hotshot at a struggling team.

Seven-time world champion Hamilton provided advice and is credited as a co-producer on a movie scripted for audiences unfamiliar with the sport.

Pitt’s age – 61 in real life – has been called out as unrealistic for a modern driver. But as Hamilton, 40, said when filming started in 2023: “Brad looks like he’s aging backward.”

The oldest current F1 driver is Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who will turn 44 next month. But in the 1950s, when physical demands were lower but dangers greater, Philippe Etancelin and Louis Chiron raced at 55. Luigi Fagioli won at 53.

F1 comebacks today tend to follow short absences – one or two years at most – but that wasn’t always the case.

Dutch driver Jan Lammers raced from 1979 to 1982, then spent more than a decade away, during which he won Le Mans and raced at Daytona, before returning in 1992. Italian Luca Badoer also had a 10-year gap between starts before a short-lived comeback in 2009.

Last to First

Drivers have gone from last to first in barely believable circumstances, made bold strategy calls, and won with underdog teams rarely seen as contenders.

The 2011 Canadian Grand Prix lasted more than four hours, featured six safety car deployments, and was won by Jenson Button, who at one point was at the back of the field and had two collisions, including one with McLaren teammate Hamilton.

Button made five pit stops, plus a drive-through penalty, and picked up a puncture in a race halted for two hours.

Hayes’ backstory includes racing Ayrton Senna before a crash so violent he was flung from the car still strapped to his seat, modeled on Northern Ireland’s Martin Donnelly, who crashed at Jerez during practice for the 1990 Spanish Grand Prix and was left motionless on the track.

He survived, miraculously, but never returned to F1.

Drivers have escaped blazing crashes – Frenchman Romain Grosjean after his car erupted in a fireball at the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix, and Niki Lauda, who suffered serious burns in a 1976 Nurburgring crash.

Lauda returned to racing just six weeks later.

There are nods to the “Crashgate” scandal, when Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr. crashed deliberately at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, triggering a safety car that helped teammate Alonso win.

A female technical director? Not yet. But women have run teams and serve as strategists, race engineers and pit lane mechanics – although the movie takes considerable creative liberties on that front.

For longtime fans, there’s an Easter egg: a glimpse of the Monza banking in homage to the 1966 film Grand Prix. F1 director Joseph Kosinski said that classic, along with Steve McQueen’s 1971 film Le Mans, served as inspiration.

“Those movies are now almost 60 years old, but you can still watch them and marvel at the cinematography and the feeling of being there,” he said.

“The whole practical nature of this film was inspired by those classics.”

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Substitutes retreat to locker rooms, practices canceled, jerseys drenched – the relentless heat wave sweeping across much of the United States is pushing players at the FIFA Club World Cup to their physical limits.

The punishing conditions offer a scorching preview of what players and fans might face next summer during the 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

“It’s impossible – brutally hot,” Atletico Madrid’s Marcos Llorente said after facing Paris Saint-Germain. “My toes were sore, even my toenails hurt. I couldn’t stop or start. But since it’s the same for everyone, there are no excuses.”

A stagnant “heat dome” of high pressure has gripped the central and eastern U.S., sending temperatures soaring above 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit), with heat indexes climbing even higher.

It’s a dangerous mix for both players and fans, heightening the risk of dehydration, muscle cramps and potentially life-threatening conditions such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

“In Europe it’s more of a dry heat, and this is more of a humid heat. I think it’s going to hit them twice as hard,” fan Tyler Fernando said before Bayern Munich’s match against Benfica on Tuesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, where the temperature was 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) at game time.

Spectators at the Auckland City match against Boca Juniors in Nashville on Tuesday also endured temperatures in the mid-30s degrees Celsius (mid-90s degrees Fahrenheit). Male fans went shirtless, and many sought out shaded sections.

Heat is a particular concern during tournaments like the Club World Cup because players don’t have much time to recover between games. In the group stage, matches are usually staggered daily, meaning some teams play under the midday sun.

Chelsea cut short a practice session in Philadelphia, where temperatures reached above 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

“I always try to avoid excuses; I always try to be honest. It’s not about excuses, it’s about reality. It’s an excuse when it’s not hot and we say it’s hot – that’s an excuse. But if it’s hot, it’s hot. We’re here, and we’re trying to do our best,” Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca said.

During a match between Borussia Dortmund and Mamelodi Sundowns, Dortmund posted on social media: “Our subs watched the first half from inside the locker room to avoid the blazing sun at TQL Stadium – never seen that before, but in this heat, it absolutely makes sense.”

“We always think about how we can help the team, how we can minimize a negative influence. And it was just very, very hot. We had cooling sticks to help the players. We had them waiting in the dressing room with air conditioning,” Dortmund coach Niko Kovac said through an interpreter. “This was very important for all of us. It’s not only about tactics, but also about minimizing the load and the stress. The stress is already high enough.”

FIFA guidelines mandate cooling breaks when the wet-bulb globe temperature – a composite of factors including temperature and humidity – reaches 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The breaks usually occur around the 30th and 75th minutes.

Cooling breaks were first used at the 2008 Olympic final between Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Nigeria at Beijing’s National Stadium, where the on-field temperature reached 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit).

At the time, such breaks were rare. They became more common after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where a Brazilian labor court ordered hydration breaks when the wet-bulb globe temperature reached 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue took to social media to urge Club World Cup fans to exercise caution in the heat before Inter Miami’s match against Palmeiras on Monday night. Chelsea also posted “heat mitigation” guidelines on its official website before its match against Esperance on Tuesday.

It’s not just high temperatures that impact summer tournaments – five Club World Cup matches have been delayed by thunderstorms.

Climate will be an increasing concern for FIFA as global temperatures rise. Sixteen cities will host World Cup games next year. Five of the stadiums have roofs to provide some sun protection.

In Mexico, venues in Mexico City and Guadalajara could be impacted by hurricane season, while Monterrey regularly sees summer temperatures above 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit).

Following the 2026 World Cup, the 2030 edition will be held in Morocco, Spain and Portugal. And the issue isn’t limited to the men’s game: The 2027 Women’s World Cup is set to be played in Brazil.

Peter Crisp of Fossil Free Football said, “Scheduling matches in no-shade stadiums in the middle of the day and promoting oil-dependent sponsors shows FIFA is dangerously out of touch with the threat extreme heat poses to its major summer tournaments.”

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