The Rugby Football Union says it is "deeply disappointed" that South Africa hooker Bongi Mbonambi has been cleared of a racial slur and will play...

Billie Jean King wants the groups with a say in the tennis schedule to avoid potential conflicts such as the close timing and far distance between the WTA Finals and Billie Jean King Cup Finals

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reminded everybody why he was one of the best in the game with a blood-pumping speech to his team ahead of the 2023 season.If you were to substitute the head coach in any inspirational sports movie with Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Tomlin, the effect would be th...

Anthony Joshua remains on course for a future bout with Deontay Wilder after he produced a spectacular stoppage of Robert Helenius at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday night. Joshua claimed the 26th victory of his professional career with a first knockout in three years, but even before this bout all the pre-fight talk was about what next for the British heavyweight. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the state of play for the former two-time world heavyweight champion. Was the booing justified? The Matchroom show had been in doubt a week earlier when Dillian Whyte had to be withdrawn after “adverse analytical findings” were discovered in his doping test with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). It saw Helenius drafted in at the 11th hour but while there is no doubt a sold-out O2 Arena would have been happy to see Joshua in action, they clearly wanted more from the former Olympian during the first half of the 12-rounder. Joshua faced whistles and boos during round three and jeers followed after another pedestrian round saw the contest reach its halfway point. A thunderous right hand ensured the next outburst by spectators inside the London venue was applause. DJ getting a tune out of AJ? While Joshua was tentative early on against Helenius and did not want to initially trade off with the 39-year-old, some context must be provided. The Finchley boxer had only a week to prepare for his Finnish opponent and there is a number of inches difference between Whyte and Helenius, which would have brought out a significant adjustment for the home favourite. Joshua struggled to land with his right hand early on but was urged to keep persevering by highly-respected trainer Derrick James in only their second bout together. James told Joshua to “keep shooting the right” and it landed emphatically during the seventh round with Helenius sent toppling to the canvas. Wilder next? Even before Whyte’s withdrawal, a large chunk of the discourse around Joshua was whether he would actually fight Wilder next. The former world heavyweight champions have been speculated to lock horns for several years and it would have been a unification contest as recently as four years ago. Joshua had to block out the noise to do the business against Helenius but after he did, all eyes are now on Wilder. Saudi Arabia promotional entity Skills Challenge is eager to host the mouth-watering clash and dates in January and February are being drawn up. So that’s that then? We have been here many times before, not only with Joshua and Wilder but Joshua and fellow Briton Tyson Fury. It seems getting the best of the heavyweight division in the ring together is one of the hardest jobs in the sport. However, there is a lot of reason for optimism on this occasion. A traditional stumbling block can be the fact world heavyweight champions have mandatory challengers to face, but with Joshua and Wilder holding no belts, they are free to fight whoever they wish. The money on offer should satisfy the demands of both boxers, but Wilder’s trainer Malik Scott did hint this week that his fighter would like to be active before fighting Joshua. An October bout was proposed but even if that happens, these two generational heavyweights should still trade blows in 2024. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Neymar closing in on move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal Anthony Joshua vs Deontay Wilder in January? Key questions answered Ange Postecoglou says Eric Dier is still part of his plans at Tottenham

Goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann shielded Switzerland to a 0-0 draw against Norway at the Women’s World Cup

The best restaurant in the world is Central, in Lima. The dynamic tasting menu restaurant from chef Virgilio

DENVER (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper was ejected for charging Colorado’s dugout, and Kyle Freeland dominated for six innings on his 30th birthday in the Rockies’ 4-0 win Sunday.

Fifa has suspended Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales over his conduct at the Women’s World Cup final. Rubiales has been banned from all football-related activity for 90 days and is not allowed to contact Spanish midfielder Jenni Hermoso or those close to her. Rubiales is currently the subject of a Fifa investigation into his behaviour after the match, when he kissed forward Hermoso on the lips and was also filmed grabbing his crotch in an aggressive celebration at the full-time whistle. He has come under increasing pressure from across sport and politics but on Friday refused to resign in a chaotic press conference. “The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee... has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level,” Fifa said in a statement. Rubiales claimed the kiss was “spontaneous, mutual, euphoric and consensual” but Hermoso, who previously suggested comments playing down the incident attributed to her by the federation were false, hit back with an attack on the organisation as a whole. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) which Rubiales runs said it analysed four images of Hermoso and Rubiales embracing, claiming they show it was Hermoso’s force that lifted him in the air, in an effort to blame the player for the kiss. Hermoso was quoted in a statement issued by Futpro, the players’ union representing her, as stating “in no case did I seek to raise (lift) the president” during the podium incident. Hermoso had accused the Federation of a “manipulative, hostile and controlling culture” as the World Cup-winning squad refused to play while Rubiales remains in post. A total of 81 players signed a letter stating they will not accept national team call-ups while Rubiales refuses to resign. In the early hours of Saturday, RFEF said it would show there have been lies about what happened by Hermoso or people speaking for her and vowed to initiate legal action. “Where there is rule of law ... opinions are counteracted with facts and evidence, and lies are rebutted in court ... The RFEF and the President will show each of the lies that are spread either by someone on behalf of the player or, if applicable, by the player herself,” it said. The statement was accompanied by four photos of the event last Sunday that it said illustrated Rubiales’ contention that Hermoso lifted him by the hips before the incident. He appeared to forcibly kiss Hermoso as the players collected their medals and trophy. Rubiales also came under fire when footage emerged appearing to show the federation president grabbing his crotch when Spain won, while sat close to the Queen of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter. Elsewhere, Spain’s government has started legal proceedings seeking to suspend the soccer federation chief with Victor Francos, head of the state-run National Sports Council telling a news conference: “The government starts today the procedure so that Mr Rubiales has to give explanations before the Sport Court and if the Sport Court agrees, I can announce that we will suspend Mr Rubiales from his functions.” The secretary of sport also added that he hoped this incident would become “Spanish football’s Me Too moment”. The Spanish team has also been backed by the Lionesses, whom they beat in Sunday’s final in Sydney. England players declared on Friday evening that they stand with Hermoso, describing the incident as “unacceptable”. Full Fifa statement on Luis Rubiales “The chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio (Colombia), in use of the powers granted by article 51 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC), has decided today to provisionally suspend Mr. Luis Rubiales from all football-related activities at national and international level. This suspension, which will be effective as of today, is for an initial period of 90 days, pending the disciplinary proceedings opened against Mr. Luis Rubiales on Thursday, August 24. “Likewise, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and in order to preserve, among other factors, the fundamental rights of the national soccer team player Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and the good order of the disciplinary proceedings before this disciplinary body, has issued two additional directives (article 7 FDC) by which he orders Mr. Luis Rubiales to refrain, through himself or third parties, from contacting or attempting to contact the professional player of the Spanish national football team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso or her close environment. Likewise, the RFEF and its officials or employees, directly or through third parties, are ordered to refrain from contacting the professional player of the Spanish national team Ms. Jennifer Hermoso and her close environment. “The decision adopted by the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has been communicated today to Mr. Luis Rubiales, the RFEF and UEFA for due compliance.“ The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will not provide any further information on these disciplinary proceedings until a final decision has been taken.“FIFA reiterates its absolute commitment to respect the integrity of all persons and therefore condemns with the utmost vigor any behavior to the contrary.” additional reporting by PA Read More Spanish football’s ‘me-too moment’ is a mirror for the entire game Spanish football’s ‘me-too moment’ is a mirror for the entire game Spanish FA threatens legal action over Jenni Hermoso ‘lies’ in World Cup kiss row Jenni Hermoso slams Spanish football federation after Luis Rubiales incident

Manchester United will not be taken over by Qatari ownership after a drawn-out process has led to the main buyer pulling out of the bidding process. BBC Sport were informed that banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani had withdrawn from the process after placing a £5 billion bid for the club, which now leaves Ineos Group - headed by Sir Jim Ratcliffe - as the sole bidder for the Reds. Sheikh Jassim's bid would've also cleared the debt at the club - which currently stands to almost £1 billion. Confusion over the current owners - the Glazers - preferred sale options (selling a minority stake vs outright ownership of the club) led to a lengthy takeover process involving Sheikh Jassim and Ratcliffe - and it appears that timeline has now stretched out too long for the Qatari. Other reports say that Sheikh Jassim and his consortium refused to raise their offer to meet the Glazers changing expectations, leaving the bidding process in frustration. The withdrawal of Jassim from the process has rocked plenty of United fans, who have taken to X/Twitter to fume over the news, blaming the Glazers for the predicament: Ratcliffe remains the last party standing and is holding out for a minority deal in United - which will leave fans further frustrated as it keeps the Glazer family in control for the time being. It is thought that Radcliffe's deal will be the first step in a prolonged buyout with eventual control passing to Ratcliffe in the years to come. Ever since their takeover in 2005 using a leveraged buyout, the Glazers have found themselves in the crosshairs of MUFC fans who believe that the current owners are heaping debt onto the club and holding it back from its full potential. The pressure on the Glazers will now raise, though, as United fans struggle to process the reasons as to why Jassim's massive bid was rejected. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

Max Verstappen confirmed he has the tenacity and determination to clinch a third straight drivers' title with a convincing triumph in...

Talented Manchester United youngster Alvaro Fernandez has joined Granada on loan until the end of the 2023/24 season.

The Atlanta Braves outrighting a player ahead of the postseason, Michael Harris II snub, and Marcell Ozuna's impact this season lead our rumors roundup.