The Russian Premier League is investigating after a fan tragically died in the stands at the match between Krylia Sovetov and Rubin Kazan in the city of Samara on Saturday.
The supporter reportedly fell ill towards the end of the match and continued to receive treatment after the whistle but was unable to be revived.
“A 50-year-old spectator felt unwell at the end of the match,” read a statement from the RPL.
“Doctors arrived in time and carried out resuscitation for half an hour but could not save the victim’s life.”
The statement expressed condolences to the late fan’s loved ones and stated that preliminarily information was that the fan had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.
Krylia Sovetov also issued a message of condolence, while the RPL said it would undertake an investigation with the club into the tragedy.
Saturday’s match against Rubin was played in sub-zero temperatures at the Samara Arena and ended in a 2-0 victory for the hosts.
According to reports in the Russian media, doctors began their resuscitation efforts 10 minutes towards the end of the game and continued until around 30 minutes after the final whistle.
An ambulance was at the stadium but the fan was not moved from the stands for treatment, Sport24 reported.
Footage online showed part of the efforts from medical staff.
Saturday’s tragedy in Russia follows a spate of medical emergencies in the crowd in matches in the English Premier League.
The match between Newcastle and Tottenham was halted back in October after a supporter suffered a cardiac arrest.
Earlier in December, there were two incidents on the same night as fans required treatment at games featuring Watford and Chelsea and Southampton and Leicester.
Chelsea and Leeds United players were involved in a furious bust-up at full time after a controversial late penalty decided the result of their Premier League clash.
Thomas Tuchel’s men came out on top with a 3-2 win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, putting them two points adrift of league leaders Manchester City and just a point behind second-placed Liverpool.
The Blues suffered an early scare when Raphinha put away a 28th-minute penalty for the visitors, but Mason Mount scored on the stroke of half-time before Jorginho bagged a brace from the penalty spot.
Netted in the 94th minute, it was his second effort from 12 yards out that caused the most controversy after Joe Gelhardt’s equalizer had seemed set to earn Marcelo Bielsa’s side a hard-earned point.
In injury time, though, Antonio Rudiger went down after a soft challenge from Mateusz Klich, which saw the west Londoners awarded the chance to snatch victory, which Jorginho relished.
A scuffle then broke out past the full-time whistle which Rudiger was heavily involved in along with ex-Barcelona fullback Junior Firpo representing the Yorkshiremen.
It got HEATED after full-time at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea take all three points with a late penalty! pic.twitter.com/CPzrWY9lmE
The German was heavily criticized for “getting stuck in now after he’s thrown himself to the floor all game,” and “acting like a big, tough man” only when the match had finished.
But others approved of the confrontation in general saying that it was “exactly what you want to see”.
“All this hugging and laughing and joking with each other nonsense has to stop. Show a bit of heart and passion,” it was demanded.
“Proper football played in the right way with the right emotions. Love to see it.”
Supporters of the title challengers bickered among themselves on social media, but the irony in this had to be pointed out as all three of Chelsea, City and Liverpool had decisive penalties awarded to them on Saturday afternoon.
All of the top three winning with penalties today.
All of the final decisions, at the least, debatable.
In the early kick-off, Pep Guardiola’s charges struggled to dispatch a Wolves outfit reduced to 10 men thanks to Raul Jimenez’s bizarre 31-second double booking.
On 66 minutes, however, Raheem Sterling converted a dubious penalty given after the ball smashed Joao Moutinho in the armpit.
Over at Anfield, Steven Gerrard’s return should have been the main talking point in a meeting between the team now manages, Aston Villa, and boyhood club Liverpool.
And while Tyrone Mings was at fault for clipping Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian is not known for being the most honest player when it comes to winning penalties and did once more here before sealing another 1-0 win for the Liverpool from the spot. Additionally, Gerrard also felt that Salah fouled Mings first.
With Saturday’s developments it stayed tight at the top as a usually decisive packed Christmas and New Year calendar which separates the men from the boys approaches.
Julianna Pena pulled off one of the biggest upsets MMA has ever seen as she submitted Amanda Nunes in the second round of their bantamweight title fight at UFC 269 in Las Vegas.
Heading into the co-main event at the T-Mobile Arena, two-weight champion Nunes was the overwhelming favorite to steam through yet another helpless victim and retain the 135lbs title she has held for more than five years.
But Pena flipped the narrative on its head, weathering pressure from Nunes in the first round – during which the Brazilian was even caught smiling – before finding success on the feet with some heavy shots in the second.
Pena herself was forced to eat some big punches from Nunes but pressed forward as the defending champion visibly wilted.
The Venezuelan Vixen sensed her chance, securing a takedown before locking in a rear-naked choke to become the first woman in more than seven years to hand Nunes a defeat inside the Octagon.
“I’m not surprised motherf*ckers!” Pena shouted in her post-fight interview with Joe Rogan.
“I told you. Don’t ever doubt me again. Willpower, strength and determination. It will take you places. I definitely expected a win and the world is my oyster.”
The reaction at the T-Mobile Arena and online was one of astonishment, with many calling it one of the biggest – if not the biggest – shocks in UFC history.
Pena, 32, is a former champion on the Ultimate Fighter reality TV series but saw her career stall with injury problems.
She also took a break of almost two years to give birth to daughter Grace before returning in July of 2019 to pick up three wins in four outings to set up her long-awaited shot at Nunes.
The jubilant Spokane-born fighter was joined by her daughter for the celebrations inside the cage.
Nunes, 33, was gracious in defeat as both she and Pena appeared to put aside the animosity that had characterized much of the build-up to their fight.
Nunes slipped to 21-5 overall in her career but still has the featherweight title to her name.
She may target a rematch with Pena – something UFC boss Dana White said was an option if Nunes wanted it – but the aura of invincibility that once followed the Lioness has now been stripped.
From a promotional perspective, the much-touted showdown between undefeated PFL champion Kayla Harrison – who was cageside in Las Vegas and is now a free agent – and Nunes may also seem less alluring than it once did.
Charles Oliveira survived an onslaught before defending his UFC lightweight title with a third-round submission win over Dustin Poirier in their main event at UFC 269, earning praise from former champion Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The early stages at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas were frantic as Poirier – who was contesting a second undisputed title fight at 155lbs – dropped his opponent inside the opening round while Oliveira hurt his rival with kicks and knees to the body.
Round two saw Oliveira utilize his ground game more as he landed some heavy ground-and-pound shots to close out a dominant stanza.
Into the third round, the defending champion took Poirier’s back and worked in a standing rear-naked choke which forced the American to tap at the 1:02 mark.
“I’m a world champion. I’m the man,” said a defiant Oliveira after seeing off Poirier.
“They talk, I do it. They can hit me a lot but I’m going to walk forward.”
‘Do Bronx’ defended the title he first won with victory over Michael Chandler back in May, when he was forced to come through similar adversity on the way to a gritty victory.
The champ is here. Love y'all! Thanks for the support.
Campeão aqui. Amo vcs. Obrigado pela torcida#UFC269
Poirier had set up another shot at gold by putting together a three-fight win streak following his defeat to Khabib Nurmagomedov in their 2019 title contest.
Two of those wins came against Irish nemesis Conor McGregor, and many will now tip Poirier to be his opponent when the Irishman makes an expected comeback from his broken leg next year.
For Oliveira, 32, perhaps the most obvious candidate for his next defense is Justin Gaethje, who was among those in attendance in Las Vegas.
Online, fellow fighters, pundits and fans were full of praise for the Brazilian’s heart as he extended his winning streak to 10 fights and joined a select band of fighters to earn 20 victories under the UFC banner.
Charles Oliveira subs Dustin Poirier in the third. After nearly getting KO'd in the first. And still. AND, the narrative that somehow was still lingering this dude is a quitter, that dies tonight.
Among them was Khabib, who called Oliveira’s victory “deserved” – prompting the Brazilian to respond “thank you very much” in a message in Russian to the retired Dagestani star.
Elsewhere, rising lightweight contender Islam Makhachev – on a nine-fight winning streak – told Oliveira to hold the belt for him as the Russian first contemplates a meeting with BJJ specialist Beneil Dariush in February.
Julianna Pena says she should be considered the UFC’s first ‘mom champ’ after her victory over Amanda Nunes in a stunning bantamweight title upset in Las Vegas.
Pena submitted Nunes in the second round of their UFC 269 co-main event at the T-Mobile Arena, pulling off a shock that many claim to be the biggest in the history of MMA’s elite promotion.
Pena gave birth to daughter Grace in 2018, and was joined in the Octagon by her daughter after her remarkable victory.
Beaten rival Nunes is mom to daughter Raegan Ann – who was born to partner and fellow UFC fighter Nina Nunes in September of last year.
When asked whether she would like the UFC to create a ‘Baddest Mom on the Planet’ belt, Pena backed the idea while proclaiming that she, rather than Nunes, was the worthy recipient.
“The UFC absolutely needs to create a new belt for me, and it needs to be the ‘Baddest Mom on the Planet’,” said Pena at her post-fight press conference.
“I’m not trying to take away anything from Amanda. She’s a wonderful mother, but I gave birth to my daughter, and I feel like for giving birth, I am the first mom champ.
“That to me is also a little feather in the cap.”
Some online appeared to take exception to the quote, with MMA pundit Luke Thomas calling it “an unforced error.”
Popular MMA journalist Ariel Helwani also raised the point in a tweet of his own – leading to a mixed reaction.
FTR, I’m not trying to diminish anyone. Cmon. Just noting, given my immense respect for what women go through during and post-pregnancy, that this is a first and very much worth commending. That’s it. I know there are many ways to be a mom and they all deserve love + respect.
Nah nah, we’re not gonna do this. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. Stop it. No one ever said Amanda ain’t a mother. She’s every bit of a mother peña is, but giving birth is incredibly strenuous on the body and her being able to return and do this – amazing
The defeat was a first for Nunes inside the Octagon in seven years, after ‘the Lioness’ had previously rampaged through the bantamweight and featherweight ranks on the way to becoming a two-weight champion.
She has now relinquished one of those two titles to Pena, who was winner of ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ reality TV show in 2013 but saw her rise in the UFC stall due to injury and her maternity break.
The Spokane-born star, who is based in Chicago, had earned back-to-back wins to set up her shot at Nunes, although few had given her much of a chance against the all-conquering Brazilian.
UFC boss Dana White suggested that Nunes would have the option of an immediate rematch with Pena – and the American herself was open to the idea.
“We can do it next, I’m free next month, two months from now – whenever they want to do it I’m ready,” Pena, 32, said jokingly.
She added that she would first need some time with her daughter but vowed that “if [Nunes] wants to do a rematch, we can do a rematch.”
Nunes, 33, did not appear for her post-fight press duties but had been respectful towards her opponent in the Octagon after her defeat, signaling that much of the animosity that had characterized the build-up to the fight had been laid to rest.
