List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith says he is using a bye week to choose a starting quarterback for the remainder of the regular season

Major League Baseball will play its 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta, four years after moving the event from Truist Park to Denver’s Coors Field over objections to changes in Georgia’s voting rights laws

The Las Vegas Raiders will carry a two-game winning streak to Miami when they face the Dolphins, who have rarely lost at home in the past two years

Tyson Fury will fight Oleksandr Usyk on 17 February, as the pair clash to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 2000. Fury, who holds the WBC title, and unified champion Usyk will go head to head in Saudi Arabia, where both men have fought in recent years. It was confirmed in late September that the unbeaten pair would finally face each other, potentially on 23 December but certainly in Riyadh. However, Fury’s fight with ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou did not go as smoothly as planned, with the Briton winning a controversial decision after being knocked down by the mixed martial artist in Riyadh. Fury and Usyk faced off in the ring after the bout, in which Fury’s WBC title was not on the line, and the “Gypsy King” suggested that his fight with the Ukrainian would be delayed until 2024. At a press conference on Thursday (16 November), it was confirmed that Fury vs Usyk will take place on 17 February, as each heavyweight bids to become the first undisputed champion in the division since Lennox Lewis, who achieved undisputed status in 1999 but was stripped of his WBA belt in 2000. “I’m gonna relieve the Ukrainian of all the belts, I’m gonna bust him,” Fury said, before launching into an explosive rant at his opponent. “Sausage. Ugly, little man. Rabbit. Run, rabbit, run. You know what’s coming: You’re getting smashed to bits, sausage. You beat all the rest of them, but you ain’t beat Tyson Fury yet. “His b*****s have shrivelled up now. Sissy with an earring in, sausage. Motherf****r, you’re getting knocked out cold. You can’t beat me, you can never beat me. If you beat me in your dreams, you better wake up and apologise – I stole that from [Muhammad] Ali, by the way, sorry. “I came here to pick a fight, I didn’t get all dressed up for nothing. I’m getting a little bit carried away here. I’m excited, and I’m enjoying it. I’ve been in many, many heavyweight title fights before; now is the most important one. It’s gonna be a fight for the ages. We’ve been chosen, and I believe we’re both destined to be here. There’s only one winner, and I’m destined to become undisputed champion and to cement my status as the No 1 fighter of this era. “Easier said than done, I know that. He’s tricky, a good boxer, but I’ve seen many men like him before; when they fight the big men, they struggle. He’s gonna struggle on 17 February, and he’s gonna lose. Never mind the size. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog. But when you meet a man who’s also got the dog in him and is bigger than you, let’s put it in a nutshell: You’re f****d. “He’s nowhere near the biggest threat [I’ve faced]. We know he’s slick, a southpaw, but I can outbox him or I can get on the front foot and slaughter him. There’s plenty of ways that I can skin this cat.” Usyk was more reserved but said: “Thank you very much, people. I will speak in the ring. You stop, [Fury]? Enough? I’m a little man, but I will be champ. “I want to tell one story, which looks very similar to our story with Tyson, about David and Goliath. When the Lord gives me Tyson in my hands, I will do my job.” Fury replied: “Impossible. The Lord would never deliver me to you, son, ever – especially a man wearing earrings, believe that.” Fury (34-0-1, 24 knockouts) won the WBC title with his stoppage win over Deontay Wilder in 2020, after the pair fought to a controversial split draw in 2018. The 35-year-old has since retained the belt against Wilder, Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora, winning each fight via stoppage. Meanwhile, Usyk (21-0, 14 KOs) won the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts with a decision win over Anthony Joshua in 2021. The 36-year-old southpaw then retained the gold with another points victory over the Briton in 2022, before stopping Joshua’s compatriot Daniel Dubois in August. Read More Tyson Fury unleashes explosive verbal assault on Oleksandr Usyk at face-off in London Anthony Joshua sees Otto Wallin as stepping stone on way to title fight Date for Tyson Fury’s title fight with Oleksandr Usyk to be announced on Thursday Boxing’s heavyweight saga sees biggest plot twist yet Eddie Hearn makes surprising revelation about Anthony Joshua coach Tyson Fury promoter Frank Warren promises ‘historical’ fight card on 23 December

Spain defeated Cyprus 3-1 to remain in first place in Group A of European Championship qualifying

Mikel Arteta has been charged by the Football Association (FA) over his criticism of the officials after Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Newcastle. Arteta described the awarding of Anthony Gordon’s winner, which was subject to a long VAR check, as an “absolute disgrace” and “embarrassing”. His stance was subsequently backed by the club, but referees chief Howard Webb this week insisted that the decision to award the goal was correct. Arteta has now been charged, with the FA alleging that his comments constituted misconduct. “Mikel Arteta has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following comments that he made in media interviews after Arsenal’s Premier League game against Newcastle United on Saturday 4 November,” said a spokesperson for English football’s governing body. “It’s alleged that his comments constitute misconduct as they are insulting towards match officials and/or detrimental to the game and/or bring the game into disrepute.” Arteta has until Tuesday 21 November to respond to the charge. While the sanctions that Arteta could face are unclear, former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel was fined £20,000 after being charged under the same rule last year. Arteta had been riled after Gordon’s goal was cleared despite separate checks for a possible foul and offside, with the VAR also looking to see if the ball had run out of play in the build-up. “Embarrassing, it’s an absolute disgrace, that’s what it is: a disgrace,” Arteta said after the defeat. “There’s so much at stake, we’ve put in so many hours to compete at the highest level and you cannot imagine the amount of messages we’ve had saying this cannot continue. It’s embarrassing. “It’s not acceptable, there’s too much at stake. I don’t want to be in the hands of these people. I don’t know how to feel. I’m wasting my time, we are wasting our time. It’s difficult enough to compete against Newcastle – they are a really good team, but we have to talk about how the hell this goal stood. It’s an absolute disgrace it was allowed. For more than one reason it should not be a goal. “I have been in this country more than 20 years and [the officiating] is nowhere near the level of the best league in the world. I feel sick to be part of this. I feel sick. It’s not a goal, it’s not a goal.” Arsenal travel to Brentford on Saturday 25 November in their next Premier League game. Read More Aaron Ramsdale’s dad criticises Mikel Arteta over No 1 decision Mikel Arteta praises VAR and officials as 10-man Arsenal beat Burnley Mikel Arteta: ‘I’m completely with referees’ Zinchenko volleys ten-man Arsenal past Burnley to go level with Man City Mikel Arteta warns Aaron Ramsdale not to rush decision over Arsenal future Leandro Trossard discusses Arsenal role: ‘I will never back down’

Thousands of Bulgarian football supporters on Thursday took to the streets of the capital, Sofia, in protest over the management of the national football union, a demonstration that eventually turned violent. The Euro 2024 qualifying match between Bulgaria and Hungary fell victim to a bitter dispute between the management of the Bulgarian Football Union and football fans from across the Balkan country. Minutes before the kickoff, fans began to throw makeshift bombs, stones and plastic bottles at the police. After trash cans were set on fire, police responded with water cannons. Media reported that several protesters were injured. The last straw that infuriated the fans, whose anger had been simmering for a long time, came with the union’s decision to play Thursday’s match in front of empty stands at the national stadium in the capital. Some 1,600 police in riot gear were dispatched to secure the area around the empty stadium in downtown Sofia. The Bulgarian national team has failed to qualify for a major tournament for nearly two decades. After the latest two humiliating defeats by Albania and Lithuania in October, fans called for a nationwide protest, blaming the union’s managers for the poor results and calling for their resignations. In previous weeks, soccer fans have been shouting “Resign!” in the 18th minute of every championship match, addressing the president of the Bulgarian Football Union Borislav Mihaylov and his aides, who have been at the helm for the past 18 years. Fearing new riots against his leadership, last week Mihaylov asked Uefa, the governing body of European soccer, to order the game to be played behind closed doors due to exceptional circumstances. “The Bulgarian Football Union has provided Uefa with necessary guarantees from the relevant local authorities and stadium management in Sofia to host the match at the Vasil Levski National Stadium without spectators,” said a Uefa statement. Fans said the union’s move was “unprecedented”, as there is no other case in soccer history where a football union has voluntarily asked to host a football match without fans. The decision fueled anger not only amid Bulgarian fans. The state-run news agency BTA reported that many Hungarians with tickets decided to travel to Bulgaria regardless of whether they would be allowed into the stadium. As they had already planned their trip, they intended to join the Bulgarian fans’ protest, according to BTA. AP Read More Arteta charged by FA over criticism of officials after Newcastle defeat Lawrence Shankland’s last-gasp leveller rescues point for Scotland in Georgia Saudi Pro League sets sights on world’s best players Arteta charged by FA over criticism of officials after Newcastle defeat Lawrence Shankland’s last-gasp leveller rescues point for Scotland in Georgia Saudi Pro League sets sights on world’s best players

It’s the eighth Cricket World Cup final for Australia

A judge says lawyers for Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant are allowed to argue that he was acting in self-defense as part of a lawsuit accusing him of assaulting a teenager during a pickup basketball game at the NBA star’s house

The Aggies look to move on after Sunday’s firing of coach Jimbo Fisher when they take a break from Southeastern Conference play with a visit from Abilene Christian

Thousands of Bulgarian football supporters have taken to the streets of the capital, Sofia, in protest over the management of the national football union, a demonstration that eventually turned violent

Auburn and New Mexico State are riding hot streaks into their meeting at Jordan-Hare Stadium