The SEC has fined Kentucky coach Mark Pope $25,000 for his “post-game conduct and comments” following his team’s 75-74 loss at Auburn on Saturday, the league announced.

Auburn won the game on Elyjah Freeman‘s tip-in with 1.1 seconds to go. That play followed a controversial offensive foul call against Collin Chandler that set up Auburn’s game winner.

“Mitch, if those mother F’ers try to fine me, screw ’em because I did not say a word about how they cheated us,” Pope said to Kentucky athletic director Mitch Barnhart as he left the postgame podium.

The league said Pope violated SEC rules after the game.

“University of Kentucky men’s basketball coach Mark Pope has been issued a public reprimand and fined $25,000 by the Southeastern Conference for post-game conduct and comments related to officiating following the Wildcats’ game at Auburn University on February 21,” the SEC said in its statement on Tuesday. “The comments violated SEC Bylaw 10.5.3 (Sportsmanship) and the SEC Commissioner’s Regulation regarding Public Criticism of Officials, which prohibit coaches, student-athletes and institutional staff from publicly criticizing officials or disclosing officiating-related communications.”

Saturday’s game was the third consecutive loss for Kentucky, which reportedly spent more than $20 million on its current roster, and the team’s fourth loss in seven games just weeks before Selection Sunday. Late in Saturday’s game, Chandler was whistled for pushing off an Auburn player on the inbounds with nearly 14 seconds to go in the game. On the next possession, Auburn sealed the win on Freeman’s putback.

After the game, Pope said his team had to stay focused even if things were “personal.”

“We refuse to give control to people that are outside of our program. Refuse,” Pope said after the loss. “Regardless of how personal it might get or how bad it might get, we refuse to give control to fans, to give control to anybody else associated with this game. Regardless of how blatantly people are trying to make this not happen, we refuse to give them our power. … We don’t make excuses. We don’t do that. Regardless of what is happening. Regardless of how disgraceful things are, we don’t give away our power. Regardless of how embarrassing, personal, awful, unacceptable things are, we refuse to give away our power.”

Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has spoken of his regret over not applying himself in his studies when he was young, particularly when learning English.

The Argentina captain and 2022 World Cup winner admitted that he felt “half ignorant” when meeting famous personalities throughout his impressive career and not being able to communicate.

“I regret many things,” Messi, 38, told Mexican podcast “Miro de Atras.”

“To not have learned English as a boy. I had the time to have at least studied English and I didn’t do it. I deeply regret it.

“I experienced situations where I was with incredible and spectacular personalities to be able to talk and have a chat and you feel half ignorant.

“I always thought: ‘What an idiot, how I wasted my time.’

“When you’re young, you don’t realise it. Today that’s what I tell my children, [the importance of] having a good education, to study and be prepared.

“I always tell my children to take advantage of it. They have a different situation to the one I had although I never lacked anything…”

Messi arrived at Barcelona from his native city Rosario when he was 13.

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“It [my last year of school in Argentina] was a disaster,” he admitted.

“I knew that I was leaving [for Barcelona]. At Barcelona, I finished my high school with the other children that went to [Barcelona’s youth academy] La Masia.”

Meanwhile, Messi, who joined Inter Miami in the summer of 2023 after two years at Paris Saint-Germain, says football has offered him other valuable lessons.

“I was able to do everything and reach the top [in football], but along the way there are many experiences and lessons learned,” the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said.

“It’s true that football is a way of life. It teaches you a lot, it gives you a lot of values. It creates lifelong bonds. You get to know places.”

South Africa have secured a 16-run victory over Pakistan in a thrilling One Day International encounter of the ICC Women’s Championship series at SuperSport Park, clinching the series 2-1 with a match to spare. 

The hosts were made to struggle hard for their unassailable 2-0 lead, enduring a few nervous moments as the visitors launched a spirited pursuit of a daunting target.

Electing to bat first, the Proteas showed confidence from the very beginning of the match with openers Laura Wolvaardt (20) and Tasmin Brits (77) laying a solid foundation. 

However, it was Brits who truly shifted the momentum. Her innings of 77 from just 62 balls set the tone for what was to follow. 

Following the departure of Wolvaardt and a brief stint at the crease for Faye Tunnicliffe (7), the stage was set for a remarkable middle-order display.

Sune Luus played tactfully, compiling a measured 57, but the day belonged to Annerie Dercksen. In a breathtaking exhibition of power-hitting, Dercksen fell just ten runs short of a century, blasting 90 off 68 deliveries, with the help of six boundaries and and four sixes. 

Her partnership with Luus gave the home side a commanding position.  Nadine de Klerk’s late flurry, featuring a colossal 90-metre six, compounded Pakistan’s misery, with the tourists’ bowling discipline deserting them at crucial junctures.

Chasing a record target of 361, Pakistan found themselves in early trouble at 24 for two, as Dercksen sent Muneeba back. However, the tourists refused to capitulate. 

A resolute third-wicket stand of 97 between Sadaf Shamas and Ayesha Zafar breathed new life into the contest. Zafar’s composed 75 and Shamas’s gritty 61 kept the required rate within reach.

The hosts’ sloppiness in the field, included 30 extras plus 24 wides. When Fatima Sana arrived at the crease, the equation began to look increasingly precarious for the home side. The Pakistan captain struck a defiant 52 from a mere 36 balls, shifting the balance in her side’s favour. 

Pakistan’s valiant effort ended at 345 all out in the penultimate over, handing South Africa a hard-fought victory. 

The teams will now head to Durban for the final ODI on Sunday.