America's most decorated track cyclist claims more gold at world championships
Jennifer Valente of the U.S. defended her omnium world title at the cycling world championships in Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday
2023-08-10 05:23
Premier League may have to scrap mid-season break due to demands of calendar
The Premier League may have to scrap its mid-season break due to the overcrowding of the football calendar. The change could come into effect next season with FIFA’s revamped 32-team Club World Cup set to take place in the summer of 2025, as well as a larger-scale World Cup the following year. The Premier League introduced the break – which this season will take the form of a structured two-week period in January – in 2018 in a bid to ease the workload on players, but chief executive Richard Masters admits it is under discussion as it could become unworkable. “It is one of the things we are discussing with the FA and EFL. We want the Premier League, the big cup competitions and the EFL to flourish and that requires an adjustment,” he said. “It is the last season where it’s recognisable under the current international match calendar, where the Premier League starts on a particular weekend and the FA Cup final has its own weekend and you have the Champions League after that and a mid-season player break in the middle. “A lot will have to change because of the additional European dates. We are also very much aware of the changes to FIFA’s competitions. The World Cup is getting bigger, an additional group stage game is going to be added. Inevitably that’s going to take up more calendar space. “You obviously have the views of the players’ union and the players being expressed very strongly now. “From a leagues perspective, the European Leagues and World Leagues Forum are very clear on this, there has to be a forum for domestic competitions to be able to discuss the impact of regional and global decisions on the calendar. “There’s lots of dialogue with UEFA, very little dialogue with FIFA.” There were almost double the usual amount of yellow cards shown over the first weekend of the EFL season as the crackdown on time-wasting and player behaviour came into force. Masters expects the same in the top flight until players and managers get used to the law changes. “I think these things will level out,” he added. “It’s not the first crackdown that the governing bodies have had, in relation to surrounding referees for example. “Players and managers need time to adjust and actually the officials need time to adjust. “But over a period of time, rather than it to sort of dissipate and not have impact, everyone’s behaviour adjusts and things settle down. “There will be more yellow cards. I don’t know whether a doubling of yellow cards is a good thing or a bad thing. It certainly sends a message that the officials are true to their word.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Premier League looking into ‘historic’ financial issues at Chelsea I’ve struggled with the pressure – Katie Archibald misses out on omnium medal Gael Monfils rolls back the years to shock Stefanos Tsitsipas in Canada
2023-08-10 05:21
Premier League looking into ‘historic’ financial issues at Chelsea
Chief executive Richard Masters has confirmed the Premier League is investigating Chelsea regarding “historic” financial issues that the club reported. It was reported on Tuesday the Blues are the subject of a Premier League investigation for alleged breaches of financial regulations during Roman Abramovich’s time at the club. Current owners Todd Boehly and the Clearlake Capital Consortium, who took over last summer after Abramovich was forced to sell following sanctions as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reportedly flagged the potential issue to the Premier League and Football Association themselves. That now appears to have been confirmed by Masters, who said: “We don’t comment on investigations unless they are out in the public domain. You obviously know who has been charged, that much is clear. “We have been pretty open about the historic issues with regard to Chelsea because they self-reported to the Premier League and to the FA so it is obvious we are looking into that.” UEFA announced last month it had been approached “proactively” by the club, who agreed to pay 10million euros (£8.57million) to Europe’s governing body after owning up to “incomplete financial reporting” between 2012 and 2019. We have been pretty open about the historic issues with regard to Chelsea because they self-reported to the Premier League and to the FA so it is obvious we are looking into that. Richard Masters Chelsea said in a statement at the time their new owners became aware of potential impropriety when carrying out a “thorough due diligence process” prior to the purchase. According to reports, no charges have yet been brought by the Premier League, but, even though the allegations relate to a previous ownership, possible sanctions could include a fine or points deduction if the club are found guilty of any wrongdoing. Chelsea have been contacted for comment. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-08-10 05:17
Barcelona explore sensational Neymar return as PSG set price for Brazilian superstar
Barcelona are looking at a sensational loan with an option to buy for Neymar, as the Brazilian's fractious time at Paris Saint-Germain is coming to a close. The French club’s new manager Luis Enrique and football advisor Luis Campos have been working on a vision for the team that involves hard running and young players. And the Ligue 1 champions have told the 31-year-old he can leave six years after his world-record €222 million (£200m) transfer. Neymar's main preference is to return to Barcelona, and the club are investigating the possibility despite some internal debate. Although a primary issue is that they would likely need to offload a series of players to make Neymar’s return financially viable. This is also why an initial loan is being looked at, as PSG are looking to bring in around £60m (£51.8m) for Neymar. The Camp Nou executive feels that they can make it work due to his huge commercial profile. That is one reason he hasn't yet accepted a huge offer from the Saudi Pro League, since he wants to be in peak condition for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Neymar is said to be obsessed with becoming a star in America. As such, he wants to continue playing Champions League football until then. The negotiations may be smoothed over by the fact PSG are poised to sell Marco Verratti to Al Hilal for €50 million, with that deal going down to the final details. The Saudi Pro League may end up being Neymar's most viable destination, but he is intent on staying in the Champions League. The main issue is that Luis Enrique is now preparing a team without him. Read More First golf, now football? Saudi Arabia’s grand plan and the 72 hours that changed everything Saudi transfers reveal difference between Premier League and European rivals Neymar incident could see F1 clampdown on grid access
2023-08-10 05:16
Bell homers twice, Bryan De La Cruz's HR in 9th helps Marlins rally late for 5-4 win over the Reds
Josh Bell homered twice and drove in four runs, Bryan De La Cruz hit the go-ahead shot in the ninth and the Miami Marlins rallied late for a 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds
2023-08-10 04:53
New Buffalo Bills stadium cost overruns approaching $300M, AP sources say
Four people with direct knowledge or who have been briefed on the financial details tell The Associated Press that the Buffalo Bills are already facing a potential cash crunch on building their new stadium, with the latest projections having the team on the hook for as much as $300 million in cost overruns
2023-08-10 04:47
Edwards fined $50,000 by the NBA for his chair chuck after the Timberwolves' ouster in Denver
Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star guard Anthony Edwards has been fined $50,000 by the NBA for a postgame outburst following the team’s ouster from the playoffs in Denver
2023-08-10 04:27
Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm secure places on European team for the Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm have had their spots on the European team for the Ryder Cup confirmed
2023-08-10 03:49
Northwestern football staffers wear shirts in support of fired coach Pat Fitzgerald at practice
Pat Fitzgerald’s presence was hard to miss even if he was nowhere near the field on Wednesday
2023-08-10 03:45
‘We need to get it at the root’: Anthony Joshua and Robert Helenius on boxing’s doping ‘problem’
Robert Helenius puts it bluntly: “In Finland, if I would be caught, I would be lynched for my whole life.” The 39-year-old Finn is the biggest – perhaps only – beneficiary in this week’s saga, which has seen Dillian Whyte return an ‘adverse finding’ in a drug test, causing him to be pulled from his main event with Anthony Joshua. Helenius, on seven days’ notice, will now fight Joshua at London’s O2 Arena on Saturday, but he is still damning of a situation that has handed him one of the biggest bouts of his career. “Of course it’s a problem, because I don’t think everybody’s on the same level,” he tells reporters on Wednesday. “I think some boxers have some privileges that others don’t. I think anti-doping should be the same in every country. For example, in your country, when Dillian gets caught, nobody cares. I would get a two-year minimum [ban], or I would never get a licence again.” Prior to last week, Whyte had twice dealt with doping-related dramas. The Briton, 35, served a two-year ban from 2012 to 2014 and was cleared of wrongdoing in a separate episode in 2019. He will again be investigated following last week’s failed test, but no matter the outcome, eyebrows have been raised. Helenius also references Tyson Fury and Alexander Povetkin as high-profile heavyweights to have tested positive for a banned substance before returning to the sport, with both men boxing on the biggest stage thereafter. “How is this possible?” Helenius asks, incredulously. “Either they should legalise everything for everybody, or have the same standard for everybody. “Of course it feels like I’m at a disadvantage, because I don’t have that luxury of doing that stuff – because they come to my home to do my blood tests and everything, all the time. It’s not fair, but who said that life should be fair? “My doping is: I have a really high level of Viking blood in me!” Joshua remains calmer on the topic – stunningly so, given how this week has affected him, and considering that he was burnt by a short-notice fight with Andy Ruiz in June 2019, after his original opponent Jarrell Miller tested positive for multiple banned substances. “It happens in boxing,” Joshua says. “It’s not the first time it’s happened. [It’s happening more], so I wasn’t so surprised to be honest.” Joshua, 33, also plays down suggestions that he might be ‘disgusted’ with Whyte, or even just ‘angry’. Remarkably, the Briton is generous enough to give some fighters the benefit of the doubt. “I hope it’s a mistake [with Whyte], but that’s why I have to invest in these tests, etc, and now I ask the team: ‘Can they get Helenius tested as well?’ It’s important to make sure we’re on top of these things. I actually don’t know what Dillian was caught with, I don’t know what was in his system. “I don’t wish Dillian any bad. His reputation is tarnished, it’s not good for him. It’s not ‘disgusting’ [to me], but... Boxing’s not an institution where you join a club and everything’s presented to you. These guys go to local gyms, they’re probably around people who are doing dodgy stuff. I don’t know what it is, but you have to be very, very responsible. Boxing’s so tough; your body hurts, you’re tired, you’re trying to look for small advantages, and you’ve got some guy at the gym who’s always got energy, lifts more than you, trains harder than you, and he’s like: ‘This is what I take, take this.’ If you don’t do your research, it can lead to a positive drug test. “I’ve been drug tested since 2011, then I started [pushing for] drug testing for my opponents around 2017. Who knows [if Whyte was doping when Joshua faced him in 2015]? I won, that’s the main thing! They must be doing it without knowing, because I think the money is better than a ban. Why would you go through a whole training camp to dope at the end and get banned? I just think they’re not careful.” Joshua’s reaction is especially commendable when one considers that Whyte and Miller both accused “AJ” of doping, despite a lack of evidence. “You've got to question the person who’s accusing people, sometimes!” Joshua says. “It’s funny, those two actually popped dirty themselves. It’s probably because of my physique maybe, or my rise in boxing, it just didn’t make sense to them because they’re probably working hard. Sometimes it’s just natural – God gifted, and a lot of hard work as well.” Joshua, who claims it’s “not morally right” to fight someone who is using a banned substance, also expresses frustration at a lack of consistency – not in punishment, per Helenius’s point, but in testing. “I get drug tested all year round,” he says. “Every quarter I have to submit my whereabouts, where I’m gonna be for one hour in a day, so they can turn up randomly if they want. It’s been like that since 2011, I’ve just submitted it every day of my life. Why am I under that pressure but other boxers aren’t? Once you sign up to a promoter, they should all have that under their organisation.” Derek Chisora, a friend of Joshua’s, suggested at Wednesday’s press conference that Whyte might not be to blame but rather his team. Joshua’s response? “I can understand where Chisora is coming from, because I get a plate of food presented to me, I don’t cook. Who’s giving [Whyte] this stuff? But I know what I’m taking, whoever’s giving it to me. It should be easy enough to know... “If I was to get caught on drugs, I’d be like: ‘Ah, f***; it’s probably this, this, this or this. These are the four supplements I’m taking.’ He doesn’t know what he’s taken or where it’s come from, he’s shocked. I know who gave me these bottles of water when I came in, who gives me my food, my supplements. It’s easy to track what’s going on in your life.” Joshua again differs in opinion from Helenius, to a degree, as he says: “I don’t think we need longer bans, I think we need to get it at the root. It’s backwards, boxing. You’ve got someone that’s come out of the Olympics, with potential to be a champion, who’s training in someone’s backyard swimming pool! If that’s me, who’s got potential, then you’ve got a kid coming out of nowhere and training in his local gym... he can easily be led down the wrong path. “There’s no support, no guidance. That’s why I always say: There’s the fight in the ring and the fight outside the ring, which is even harder. You need to get your s*** right outside; Dillian didn’t have his s*** right outside, and he can’t get in the ring.” Read More It’s time to stop taking Anthony Joshua for granted Joshua vs Helenius live stream: How to watch fight online and on TV this weekend ‘He’ll finish you with a sledgehammer’: What it’s really like to get punched by Anthony Joshua Anthony Joshua did not want to let people down in accepting opponent change Wozniacki returns to tennis and new Man Utd threads – Tuesday’s sporting social Who is fighting on the Joshua vs Helenius undercard this weekend?
2023-08-10 03:26
NFL preseason could be a good test of how teams approach the league's new kickoff rule
Special teams coaches and standout players weren't happy when the NFL changed the kickoff rules this offseason to allow fair catch touchbacks in the field of play
2023-08-10 03:25
Messi's MLS regular-season debut delayed, likely until Aug. 26
Major League Soccer fans will have to wait a little longer for Lionel Messi’s first regular-season match with Inter Miami
2023-08-10 03:17