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Haissem Hassan: World Cup pedigree & La Liga experience – who is reported Celtic target?

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Hassan was born in France and represented Les Bleus at Under-17 and Under-18 level before switching allegiances and making his senior international debut for Egypt, his father’s birthplace, earlier this year.

He started his club career in central France at Chateauroux, featuring initially for their B team and then the senior team in the lower leagues.

A move to Spain’s Villarreal followed in 2020 where he turned out for their B team, then went on loan to Mirandes before returning to the Yellow Submarine for his first taste of top-flight football in La Liga.

Another loan, to Sporting Gijon, followed and Hassan stayed in the second tier before a move to Oviedo in 2024.

He helped the club win promotion in his first season, scoring four goals and setting up three, but the going was far tougher in La Liga last term.

Hassan contributed three assists and couldn’t muster a goal in 37 appearances, 20 of those from the start, as Oviedo finished bottom to immediately drop back down.

His xG (expected goals) of 0.15 last season hints at a paucity of clear chances in a team that were the lowest scorers in the division by a distance.

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European Athletics Championships: Criticism as thousands of empty seats in Birmingham

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The Alexander Stadium was 55% full on Monday morning, 59% full by the evening and 56% full on Tuesday morning, according to figures from the organisers.

Jenny Meadows, Keely Hodgkinson’s co-coach, posted on social media to say: “Believe it’s full for some final evenings but a shame we couldn’t fill the stadium for the duration.”

British Olympian Sharron Davies also took to social media: “We must bid for more events but we must make it affordable, so we get to enjoy it first hand, fill stadiums, support our athletes, promote our country & inspire generations to come to love sport.”

Davies also criticised how official food vendors in the stadium were selling pork rolls for £18.50 and hot dogs for £15.

During coverage of the Women’s 100m final on Monday night, BBC commentator Steve Cram added: “Little disappointing in terms of spectators I have to say that, particularly down the back straight there.

“There’s not many people at all in those stands. I’m sure Birmingham is going to get to grips with these champs pretty quickly.”

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Michael Johnson: Grand Slam Track athletes deny they have been paid

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Athletes promised thousands of pounds in payments for participating in Grand Slam Track events are still waiting for their money, despite organisers saying they had all been paid.

Agents and sports-management companies told BBC Sport athletes are yet to receive money they are owed, despite GST founder Michael Johnson saying he had “got the athletes paid” after a “catastrophic capital issue” caused by investors pulling out.

Four-time former Olympic champion Johnson launched GST in 2025 with the promise of lucrative prize money and salaries.

Originally scheduled for four marquee meets, the final event in Los Angeles was cancelled and organisers voluntarily filed for bankruptcy in the US in December.

In an interview in the Telegraph, external on Saturday, Johnson admitted that as GST ran into financial trouble, he used his own credit card to purchase athlete flights and hotel rooms.

The 58-year-old said he was hurt by accusations he “secretly” paid himself $500,000 (£375,000) days before the season collapsed – a claim a GST representative said at the time was “unfounded and false”.

“I’m happy to clear it up, because it’s the most hurtful thing and the exact opposite of what was reported,” Johnson told The Telegraph.

“Our credit card was full at Grand Slam Track, because we were facing significant cash-flow issues.

“I instructed our travel team to put it on my credit card, and I would be reimbursed for it. So, what I received was reimbursement.”

But Johnson’s claim those who were owed money by GST had received it was premature.

A company acting on behalf of athletes said they had not received any payments, nor had they been contacted to be told when they were due.

Johnson’s representatives conceded the money had not yet reached the athletes and said the American had not intentionally set out to deceive people by saying it had.

It is understood the reported $11m (£8.1m) owed to creditors – including athletes – is being held by a third party.

BBC Sport has contacted the American firm believed to be holding the money but it is yet to respond. It is unclear how long it will take to pay the athletes.

Several high-profile athletes were owed payments of more than £100,000, including British former world 1500m champion Josh Kerr and Olympic 400m silver medallist Matthew Hudson-Smith.

Johnson has been a pundit and commentator for the BBC since 2001 but has not worked for the broadcaster since the 2024 Olympics as he focused his attention on GST.

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The Hundred Women: Manchester Super Giants vs Sunrisers Leeds Highlights

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In a must-win match, defending champions Sunrisers Leeds hold their nerve to thrash Manchester Super Giants, securing a 41-run win that sees them qualify for the Eliminator against Southern Brave, at the expense of their opponents at Old Trafford.

MATCH REPORT: Sunrisers hammer Super Giants to reach knockouts

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