McLaren has formally called for an investigation into the penalty handed to Lando Norris during the Qatar Grand Prix, a decision that has intensified scrutiny of the FIA’s decision-making processes.

The British driver received a 10-second stop-and-go penalty—the harshest available short of disqualification—for allegedly ignoring yellow flags. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella criticized the ruling, describing it as disproportionate and lacking nuance.

The penalty cost Norris a potential second-place finish, dropping him to 10th and impacting McLaren’s constructors’ championship prospects. The team’s lead over Ferrari was reduced to 21 points ahead of the final race in Abu Dhabi, where 44 points remain up for grabs.

Stella expressed frustration over the application of the penalty, suggesting a reliance on outdated procedures:

“It feels like someone dusted off an old rulebook and applied it without context. This decision lacked rationality and proportionality.”

His comments reflect broader dissatisfaction within the paddock about the FIA’s recent leadership changes and decision-making.

The controversy comes during a period of upheaval for the FIA. The governing body recently replaced race director Niels Wittich, appointing Rui Marques for the Las Vegas Grand Prix just one race before Qatar. Wittich’s dismissal remains unexplained, and the decision has raised questions about consistency and stability within the organization.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff joined Stella in questioning the FIA’s approach:

“Rationality needs to prevail. At the moment, it doesn’t seem like it is.”

This shared criticism highlights growing concerns among teams about transparency and fairness in FIA rulings.

McLaren is pushing for a review of the penalty decision, which could influence how race regulations are enforced in the future. Meanwhile, the FIA faces mounting pressure to provide clarity on its recent personnel changes and improve its governance to restore confidence in its leadership.

A tragic stadium crush has claimed the lives of dozens in N’zérékoré, Guinea’s second-largest city, following violent clashes during a football match. The incident, which occurred during a tournament match between N’zérékoré and Labé, has shocked the nation.

The chaos reportedly began after fans of the visiting team, Labé, reacted angrily to a referee’s decision, hurling stones onto the pitch. Police responded with tear gas, which allegedly exacerbated the situation, leading to a panic-driven stampede.

Videos shared on social media reveal distressing scenes of large crowds scrambling over walls and multiple unresponsive bodies on the ground, including children. The exact number of fatalities remains unconfirmed, but reports indicate the toll could be significant.

Prime Minister Mamadou Oury Bah confirmed the “stampede” and expressed condolences to victims’ families. He appealed for calm and assured that hospitals are providing care to the injured. Regional authorities are working to stabilize the situation and investigate the incident.

The match was part of a tournament held in honor of President Mamadi Doumbouya, who took power in a September 2021 coup. Thousands of spectators were in attendance at the time of the tragedy.

This incident adds to a global pattern of stadium disasters linked to overcrowding and poor crowd control. It underscores the urgent need for stricter safety measures at large-scale sporting events.

Chelsea continued their dominant run in the Europa Conference League, edging closer to the knockout stages with a 2-0 victory over Heidenheim in Germany. The win keeps Enzo Maresca’s side at the top of the 36-team table with a flawless four-game streak in the group phase.

Christopher Nkunku, in scintillating form this season, opened the scoring with his fifth goal in the competition. The French forward expertly controlled Jadon Sancho’s pass before delivering a clinical finish. Nkunku, who played in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig before joining Chelsea, now has 11 goals across all competitions this season.

The match saw Chelsea’s defense tested by a spirited Heidenheim side, with goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen delivering a standout performance. Jorgensen made crucial saves, including a brilliant one-handed stop to deny 18-year-old Paul Wanner in the first half. He also thwarted efforts from Leo Scienza and Wanner again after Chelsea took the lead.

Mykhailo Mudryk sealed the victory in the 86th minute, curling a superb strike into the top corner. However, the game ended on a slightly sour note for Chelsea, as midfielder Cesare Casadei was sent off in injury time after receiving a second yellow card.

Heidenheim, known for their remarkable rise through the German football leagues, posed Chelsea’s toughest challenge so far in the group stage. Despite their resilience, the Bundesliga club couldn’t overcome the visitors’ quality.

A contentious moment occurred in the first half when Chelsea thought they had won a penalty after Mudryk went down under a challenge from Patrick Mainka. Following a lengthy VAR review, referee Serdar Gozubuyuk opted against awarding the spot-kick, deeming the contact insufficient.

Chelsea remain the team to beat in the competition, having scored 18 goals across their four group matches.