A man has been charged after Scotland Women’s 2025 European Championship qualifier against Israel was delayed by an on-pitch protestor at Hampden Park.

The protestor chained himself to one of the goal frames at Scotland’s national stadium ahead of the fixture, which was played behind closed doors in response to anticipated planned disruptions.

Scotland Police confirmed a 24-year-old man was arrested and charged following an incident on the pitch before kick off.

He will be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal, Scotland’s public prosecution service.

A statement from chief superintendent Stevie Dolan read: “A proportionate policing response was deployed at Hampden during the evening of Friday, 31 May and we worked with event organisers to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance and those in the surrounding area.

“A 24-year-old man has been arrested and charged following an incident on the pitch prior to kick-off and will be subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.”

Photographed in a “Red Card for Israel” T-shirt, a protester appeared to affix themselves to a goalpost using a padlock fastened around their neck.

Following their removal from the field, the match, originally scheduled for a 7:05pm BST kick-off, commenced around 7:35pm BST. At present,…

Scotland Women’s European Championship 2025 qualifier against Israel was delayed as a protester chained himself to one of the goal frames at an empty Hampden Park.

Originally scheduled for a 7:05pm BST kick-off, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) made the decision to play the match behind closed doors in response to planned disruptions potentially affecting the game. As a result, supporters who had previously purchased tickets were offered a full refund.

Photographed in a “Red Card for Israel” T-shirt, the protester appeared to affix themselves to a goalpost using a padlock fastened around their neck.

Following their removal from the field, the match commenced around 7:35pm BST. At present, it remains unclear how the protester managed to gain access to the stadium.

A number of other protesters have also been pictured by the ground outside the doors of the main stand.

Last week, the SFA said in a statement that “the stadium operations team were alerted to the potential for planned disruptions to the match” and, as a result, took the decision to play the game without fans in attendance.

Israel started its offensive in Gaza in response to the attack on southern Israel on October 7, when more than 1,000 Israelis were…

Arsenal’s Jen Beattie has completed a move to NWSL expansion side Bay FC.

The 32-year-old centre-back has signed a two-year contract, with the option of an additional year.

She is joining the San Francisco team who are set to take part in the NWSL for the first time in the upcoming 2024 season.

Beattie joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2019, having previously played for the London club between 2009 and 2013.

Across her two spells with Arsenal, Beattie won three Women’s Super League (WSL) titles, three FA Cups and one League Cup. She has, though, found minutes hard to come by this season, making only three WSL appearances before her move.

“Jen leaves Arsenal with the respect and admiration of every one of us,” Arsenal’s director of women’s football Clare Wheatley said. “She has been a wonderful player for us across two periods here and we’re excited to watch her in this new chapter. It’s a sad moment to say goodbye to such an important Arsenal figure, but Jen will always be part of this family and we look forward to seeing her soon.”

Beattie also won one WSL, two FA Cups and two League Cups during her four years at City, as well as one A-League title during a loan at Melbourne City.

The former Scotland international, who played 143 times for her country…

As the Team GB manager at the London 2012 Olympics, Hope Powell left Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on foot following the 1-0 win over New Zealand in their opening game.

She was, in her words, “mobbed” by fans. In her book Hope: My Life in Football, she recounts spending hours signing autographs and posing for photographs with supporters. This was not normal.

A decade before England’s victory at the 2022 European Championship, 70,584 fans watched Steph Houghton score in Team GB’s 1-0 group-stage win over Brazil at Wembley. Up until then, Powell herself had only played or managed in front of a crowd of a few hundred.

She described Team GB’s participation at that summer’s Olympics — the first time Great Britain had entered a women’s football team despite the event existing since 1996 — as a “major breakthrough” for the sport.

London 2012 was part of the vehicle to increase professionalism and commercialism in the women’s game in Britain. But that vehicle has now stuttered and choked: Team GB will play no part in the 2024 Paris Olympics after England, the nominated nation to attempt qualification on behalf of Great Britain, beat Scotland 6-0 but failed to better…

Real Madrid and Scotland midfielder Caroline Weir has suffered a serious knee injury after rupturing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) on international duty.

Weir was forced off in the first half of Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Belgium after attempting to challenge for the ball.

Real Madrid confirmed on Thursday that the 28-year-old had ruptured the ACL in her left knee and said she would “undergo surgery in the coming days”.

The injury could put Weir’s participation at next summer’s Olympic Games in doubt.

Real Madrid have not given any timeframe for her rehabilitation but the average recovery time for an ACL injury without complications is around eight months.

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Weir was part of the Team GB squad that reached the quarter-finals in Toyko three years ago.

England boss Sarina Wiegman will lead a squad at Paris 2024, with Olympic football due to start in July.

Arsenal and England captain Leah Williamson is currently recovering from an ruptured ACL sustained in April.

Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas, Arsenal duo Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema and France international Marie-Antoinette Katoto have all previously suffered the injury and faced lengthy lay-offs.

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Gordon McQueen, the former Manchester United and Leeds United defender, has died aged 70.

McQueen was born in Scotland and came through the ranks at St Mirren, before moving to Leeds United in 1972.

The former Scotland international played under legendary manager Don Revie during his first few years at the club, winning the First Division title in the 1973-74 season.

McQueen moved to Manchester United in 1978, where he won the FA Cup in 1983 before leaving two years later. In total, he made 140 league appearances for Leeds United and 184 for Manchester United.

He also played 30 times for Scotland.

Everyone at Manchester United is heartbroken by the loss of our beloved former defender, Gordon McQueen.

Our love and condolences are with his family at this terribly sad time.

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) June 15, 2023

A statement from the McQueen family read: “It is with the heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of Gordon McQueen, 70, who died at home in the early morning today leaving behind his wife Yvonne, daughters Hayley and Anna, son Eddie and his beloved grandchildren Rudi, Etta and Ayla.

“We hope that as well as creating many great football memories he’ll be remembered most for his character. Our house was always full of friends, family and football just as it was…

Do a Twitter search for “Caroline Weir” and something strange happens: the mentions are almost exclusively positive. The Real Madrid midfielder, who moved to Spain’s capital from Manchester City last summer has clearly had a positive impact on her new side, scoring 20 goals and establishing herself as creator-in-chief.

“The Spanish lifestyle is a good thing for me,” she says to The Athletic while on a camp with her national team, Scotland, for the Pinatar Cup, a four-team invitational tournament held in Spain last month. The Scots went on to finish third, behind Wales and winners Iceland after a 2-1 win over the Philippines, a draw and a defeat in their three matches.

The international break came during a period of scintillating for Weir for her club. In early February, she scored her first career hat-trick in a 6-1 win at Valencia and by the time she met up with her Scottish team-mates she had also amassed an impressive tally of 11 assists in 27 appearances for Madrid.

One to remember in Valencia+3 and my first career hat-trick

Un partido para recordar en Valencia! 3 puntos más y el primer hat-trick de mi carrera! pic.twitter.com/wdi1oFMKGE

— Caroline Weir (@itscarolineweir) February 5, 2023

So, was there a part of her that didn’t really want the…

Scotland defender Jen Beattie has announced her retirement from international football.

The 31-year-old Arsenal player won 143 caps for her country and was a key part of the side that qualified for the 2014 Women’s Euros and 2019 Women’s World Cup.

Beattie, who has recovered from breast cancer and worked to raise awareness for screening, was awarded an MBE for services to football and charity in the recent New Year Honours list.

Confirming her decision to call time on her Scotland playing career, Beattie said: “Amazing memories made. Thank you so much for every single one of them.”

Beattie made her international debut at the age of 17, representing Scotland at the 2008 Women’s U-19 Championship.

She missed Euro 2017 through injury but played in all three matches at the 2019 Women’s World Cup, scoring against Argentina.

Beattie was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2020, undergoing subsequent surgery and radiotherapy, but continued to play football, speaking publicly about her diagnosis and treatment.

She signed a contract extension at Arsenal last summer and agreed a dual role at the club to assist the academy and commercial teams alongside her playing commitments.

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