Get the latest updates on your favorite sports, from thrilling matches and championship events to player transfers and team rivalries. Dive into insightful analysis, expert opinions, and behind-the-scenes stories that bring you closer to the world of sports.
Despite Manchester City’s Women’s Super League win, it’s Arsenal who would come out on top in a combined 2025-26 Premier League and WSL table.
The Gunners get over the line by three points thanks to their seven-point advantage over Man City at the end of the Premier League season.
A formidable strikeforce of Erling Haaland and Khadija Shaw is a scary thought though – the pair netted a combined total of 48 league goals last season.
Despite a 10th-placed finish in the Premier League, Chelsea are fourth thanks to finishing third in the WSL.
West Ham are bottom of the clubs that competed in both competitions, amassing a total of 58 points.
Anders Dreyer scored on a penalty kick in the 89th minute and CJ dos Santos finished off a clean sheet as San Diego FC pulled off a 1-0 victory over LAFC on Saturday night.
Dreyer scored the winner after a video review led to a hand-ball foul on LAFC defender Ryan Porteous. It was his eighth goal this season and his 27th in 53 career appearances.
Dreyer will be suspended for San Diego’s next match after picking up a red card in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Dos Santos had three saves for San Diego (6-7-6) to earn his first shutout in six starts this season after posting 10 in 30 starts last year.
Hugo Lloris turned away one shot for LAFC (10-6-4), which had piled up 11 goals in its previous four matches.
LAFC’s Son Heung-min saw his four-match streak with a goal come to an end.
LAFC rallied from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw in San Diego in April.
Dreyer scored on a PK in the 64th minute to help San Diego earn 1-1 road draw with Minnesota United last time out.
Up next for LAFC: at Colorado Rapids on Wednesday.
Reid Detmers pitched eight scoreless innings, Nolan Schanuel had an RBI single in the eighth and the Angels outlasted the Kansas City Royals 1-0 on Saturday night.
Detmers (4-8) gave up two hits, no walks and struck out 11 for his first win this season at Angel Stadium, breaking an 0-5 spell and a streak of 12 games resulting in a loss or no-decision. Ben Joyce worked a hitless ninth for his second save, as the Angels (49-75) won for the fourth time in five games.
In the eighth inning, Jose Siri came on as pinch-runner after Wade Meckler walked. Siri stole second, and Schanuel brought him home on the go-ahead RBI single. Schanuel had three of the Angels’ six hits, finishing three for three.
Nate Pearson (2-1) gave up the winning run for Kansas City (50-74). Randy Dobnak worked 5⅔ scoreless innings during his start, fanning six and giving up four hits.
Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
HOUSTON — Guilherme Santos scored on a first-half penalty kick and Jonathan Bond posted his fourth clean sheet in a row to help the Houston Dynamo beat the Galaxy 1-0 on Saturday night.
Bond did not need to make a save in running his scoreless streak to 372 minutes as Houston upped its unbeaten run to seven at 5-0-2. The 33-year-old notched his seventh shutout this season, matching his total from last year — his first with the Dynamo. Bond had four clean sheets in 89 starts with the Galaxy from 2021-23.
The Dynamo (11-6-2) are the hottest team in the Western Conference with a 9-2-2 record over their last 13 matches.
Santos scored his 12th goal this season — in the 21st minute — to put Houston in front for good. The PK was awarded after Galaxy defender John Nelson fouled Lawrence Ennali.
Defender Emiro Garces subbed in for Maya Yoshida to begin the second half and was tagged with a red card in the 58th minute, leaving the Galaxy a man down.
JT Marcinkowski had one save for the Galaxy (5-8-7), who dropped to 0-3-2 in their past five matches.
Houston’s Ibrahim Aliyu picked up two yellow cards in second-half stoppage time, leading to a red-card exit.
Hirving “Chucky” Lozano subbed into the match in the second half in his first appearance with the Galaxy after posting nine goals and 10 assists in 27 appearances with San Diego FC last season.
Galaxy midfielder Elijah Wynder left with an injury in the 54th minute and was replaced by Isaiah Parente.
Up next for the Galaxy: vs. San José Earthquakes at Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday.
WASHINGTON — Sonia Citron scored 21 points, Shakira Austin had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and the Washington Mystics rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Sparks 80-70 on Saturday night.
Former USC star Kiki Iriafen added 19 points and eight rebounds for Washington (20-14), which was coming off two straight losses at Las Vegas. Citron had eight assists and six rebounds.
Austin’s layup with six minutes left in the fourth quarter gave Washington a 65-64 lead, its first advantage since it was 41-39 at halftime. With three minutes left, Citron hit a three-pointer for a 74-69 lead and the Mystics closed it out with a 9-1 run.
Washington outscored the Sparks 25-12 in the fourth quarter.
The Sparks led 26-24 one minute into the second quarter before Washington went on an 11-2 run in the next three minutes to lead 35-28. Two three-pointers from Burrell and one from Erica Wheeler got the Sparks within 41-39 at halftime.
Wheeler and Burrell opened the second half with back-to-back threes and the Sparks led 52-43 three minutes into the third quarter. The Mystics scored the next eight points and the Sparks held a 58-55 lead heading to the fourth.
The Mystics had won seven straight before their back-to-back losses to the Aces.
The Sparks have lost four straight and 11 of 13. Cameron Brink (ribs) did not play, two days after she took a shoulder to the midsection from New York’s Breanna Stewart.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It did not take long for Ty Simpson to acclimate to the NFL.
In his pro debut, the Rams rookie quarterback passed for two touchdowns and made no major errors in a 20-12 preseason victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I definitely felt more comfortable than I ever have in a game,” said Simpson, who completed 21 of 25 attempts for 190 yards.
It was a much-awaited first game for Simpson after the Rams shocked fans and much of the NFL by picking him so high in the draft after he started only 15 games for Alabama.
Fourth-year pro Stetson Bennett played the first two series — the first against many Chiefs starters — and led a field-goal drive on the second one before Simpson came on with 11 seconds left in the first quarter.
Simpson’s first series ended with him bobbling a high snap, and then making a smart decision to throw the ball out of bounds. From that point on, offensive coordinator Nate Scheelhaase called play-action bootlegs and other rollouts that enabled Simpson to find receivers, many of them wide open.
“Once that first drive kind of got done, I was like, ‘All right, well yeah, this is just like playing in the backyard,’” Simpson said.
Simpson’s parents and brother were in attendance, and he credited family, coaches and teammates for helping him relax and excel. He finished two second-half drives with short touchdown passes to running back Dean Connors.
“I thought Ty had great command all day,” coach Sean McVay said. “It was a great step in the right direction for him.”
During training camp and recent practices, Bennett took first-team snaps when starter Matthew Stafford was held out. He took second-team snaps when Stafford practiced.
So he appeared to enter the game as the presumptive frontrunner to back up the reigning NFL most valuable player.
Rams quarterback Ty Simpson celebrates after a touchdown against the Chiefs on Saturday.
(Reed Hoffmann / Associated Press)
Does Simpson’ performance change anything?
“We’re going to continue to evaluate it like anything else,” McVay said.
Simpson is not getting caught up in whether there is a true competition.
“That’s a head-man decision and executive decision,” he said. “I just know that I’m happy to be here and I’m working to make sure that I do anything the team needs me to do.”
Other takeaways from the Rams’ preseason victory:
Stetson Bennett steady in start
Rams quarterback Stetson Bennett passes in the first quarter against the Chiefs on Saturday.
(David Eulitt / Getty Images)
Bennett, a fourth-year pro making his seventh preseason start, completed four of six passes for 38 yards and led a field-goal drive before giving way to Simpson.
The first series ended when the Chiefs broke up a third-down pass.
During the second series, Bennett completed four passes during a 13-play, 73-yard field-goal drive that stalled at the six-yard line after the Chiefs broke up his third-down pass to rookie tight end Max Klare in the end zone.
“Stetson did a nice job,” McVay said. “He came in and did a nice job orchestrating a nice drive on the second series.”
Offensive lineman Keagen Trost injured
If the Super Bowl-favorite Rams have a potential weakness, it’s offensive line depth.
They selected former Missouri standout Keagen Trost in the third round with the hope that he could provide versatility. And with left tackle Alaric Jackson possibly facing a suspension if the NFL determines that he violated the league’s personal conduct policy, Trost could be counted on immediately.
Trost started at right tackle, but he left after two series because of a hamstring injury he apparently sustained as part of the protection unit for a Rams field-goal attempt.
“He was pretty bummed,” McVay said, adding that Trost would undergo tests to determine the severity of the issue.
Receiver Mario Williams also sustained a hamstring injury on a kickoff return, McVay said.
Tight end Max Klare the go-to receiver
Chiefs wide receiver Nikko Remigio is tackled by Rams safety Alex Cook during the first half Saturday.
(Reed Hoffmann / Associated Press)
Max Klare, a second-round draft pick out of Ohio State, was targeted eight times, and caught seven passes for 37 yards.
Klare is part of a loaded position group that includes veterans Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and second-year pro Terrance Ferguson.
But Klare showed skills that could help the Rams this season and beyond.
Receiver CJ Daniels, who made multiple plays during training camp, caught two passes for 18 yards.
Defense holds Chiefs to field goals
Outside linebacker Desjuan Johnson, a rotational player last season, was the most notable member of a defense that played a few series against quarterback Justin Fields and the rest of the game against Garrett Nussmeier and Chris Oladokun.
Johnson sacked Nussmeier in the third quarter. Rookie lineman Tim Keenan also had a sack.
Safety Nick Andersen had a team-best nine tackles for the Rams.
Harrison Mevis picks up where he left off
In his first game under new special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone, Harrison Mevis kicked field goals of 25 and 40 yards.
Ethan Evans averaged nearly 61 yards for four punts.
Ireland’s Kate O’Connor speaks after winning gold in the women’s heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships, just weeks after winning the same event at the Commonwealth Games.
-13 S Scheffler (US); -11 S Burns (US), Im (Kor); -8 J Knapp (US), T Fleetwood (Eng)
Selected others: -7 B Harman (US); -6 V Hovland (Nor); -5 W Clark (US); -4 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), J Spieth (US); -3 L Aberg (Swe); -2 H Hall (Eng); -1 A Rai (Eng); +6 J Rose (Eng), R McIlroy (NI)
World number one Scottie Scheffler will take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the St Jude Championship as he chases his first victory since January.
Scheffler, 30, carded a two-under 68 on Saturday to sit at 13 under overall, with his American compatriot Sam Burns at 11 under alongside South Korea’s Im Sung-jae.
Burns produced a superb bogey-free 62 to move into contention in the FedEx Cup play-off opener at TPC Southwind in Memphis.
England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who is the defending FedEx Cup champion, is a further three strokes adrift at eight under with Jake Knapp.
And it ensures an intriguing fourth round, with close friends Scheffler and Burns in the final pairing.
“Strategy is still the same, just go out there and execute,” said Scheffler, who last led an event after 54 holes at the 2025 Open Championship.
“This is a golf course where that’s really all it comes down to. It’s always a little weird just because I want him to have success so much and I think he wants the same for me.
“It will be a competition like normal. It will be fun being out there with your friend but it’s also a bit weird.”
Sweden’s Alex Noren and Norway’s Viktor Hovland are well placed for strong finishes at seven and six under respectively.
However, six-time major winner Rory McIlroy and 2013 US Open champion Justin Rose both faltered badly on the 18th hole to sit well off the pace at six over.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy carded a double-bogey six after driving into the water off the tee, while Rose fared even worse finding the same hazard twice on his way to a triple-bogey seven.
The top 50 players in the FedEx standings at the end of the weekend will advance into next week’s BMW Championship, with the top 30 after that advancing to the Tour Championship.
Novak Djokovic struggled with the heat and humidity as he fell to a shock defeat by Argentina’s Thiago Tirante in the second round of the Cincinnati Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion dropped onto his hands and knees and took a medical timeout during the second set before eventually losing 2-6 6-4 6-4 to the South American, who is ranked 50th in the world.
Djokovic, 39, the world number five, was making his first appearance since losing to Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals at Wimbledon in July.
The Serbian had never failed to reach at least the last 32 of the tournament in Ohio since making his debut in it in 2005.
However, despite claiming the first set, Djokovic toiled badly after winning an 18-minute third game in the second set and appeared to vomit twice.
A physio and a doctor both provided on-court assistance and both players returned to the dressing rooms after the second set.
However, when play resumed Djokovic dropped serve in the ninth game of the third set and Tirante was able see out the match.
“This is the best win of my career,” said the Argentine.
“I managed the nerves of playing a legend like Novak. It was all so much pressure.”
Doc Rivers needed some time to write the speech that he’ll give when formally inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.
The storytelling, that part was easy. He’s a natural at that.
But what Rivers wound up learning during the trial-and-error process of speechwriting was that the words he’ll say from a stage in Springfield, Mass., aren’t going to be about him. They’re going to be about everyone else who played a role in him getting to that moment.
“You go through this journey of writing it and you realize it has nothing to do with you in a very good way,” Rivers said. “People are happy for you, and I am happy for them because they got me there. You hear all your life, ‘You don’t do anything alone.’ When you get in the Hall of Fame, you really understand that you don’t do anything alone. It’s all the coaches in your life, your parents, the players. It’s a thankful journey and that’s what the Hall of Fame should be about.”
Numbers prove he’s among best
A winner of 1,194 regular-season games as an NBA coach — and that’ll be all, he insists, saying his retirement is a real one — Rivers ranks sixth in league history. The only others ahead of him: Gregg Popovich, Don Nelson, Lenny Wilkens, Jerry Sloan and Pat Riley, all of whom are Hall of Famers, so it was obviously a lock that Rivers would be joining them.
He won a championship with Boston in 2008, won 114 playoff games as a coach, played 13 seasons, was an All-Star once, has been a broadcaster and — if he goes back to work, and his family currently has a pool that he will — he’ll be a broadcaster again.
But there’s more to life now. The Illinois native and Marquette legend has seven grandchildren, a house on the water and can’t play enough golf. He’ll still be involved in the game, somehow. It just won’t be as a coach. It’ll be as a Hall of Famer.
“Doc is a proven, extraordinary leader and communicator during his renowned NBA coaching career,” Milwaukee general manager Jon Horst said when the Bucks hired Rivers in 2024. “As a championship coach, he’s widely respected as an established innovator, and the right coach to lead our experienced and talented team.”
He was, until he wasn’t.
Injuries derailed every chance the Bucks had at being a winner last season, and when the season came to its dismal close Rivers was fairly certain it was the end for him as well — after 27 seasons on the sideline, and whole lot of missed moments along the way.
“The one thing that people have no idea about is the toll it takes on you and the family component,” Rivers said. “It is rough. You’re never home. You make sacrifices and your family has to make them as well.”
That won’t be an issue now.
A hit from the beginning
Rivers won coach of the year in his first season, taking a team he called “the 301s” in Orlando and leading it to a 41-41 record. On the surface, there’s nothing special about going .500. But the Magic were supposed to be bottom dwellers that season and Rivers used a preseason ranking of the league’s top 300 players as inspiration — since none of those top 300 were playing for the Magic.
“That season gave me great confidence,” Rivers said.
He has some regrets, of course. Critics have long pointed to the 10 losses that Rivers-coached teams had in Game 7s, by far the most of any coach in NBA history. And his fans will retort by pointing to his 114 playoff wins, fourth-most in NBA history. But the biggest do-over, if Rivers had such an option, would be changing his mind about leaving the Celtics for the Clippers in 2013.
Rivers got to the Clippers not long before the end of Donald Sterling’s ownership of the team; Sterling made racist comments and was banned by NBA commissioner Adam Silver.
“I underestimated what a great situation I was in, and I took that for granted, like you can just go anywhere and create that,” Rivers said. “I messed that one up. But then when I go to the Clippers, the team is pretty damn good. The organization, it was the worst organization in sports with the ownership problem. Within a week there, I remember telling my assistant, ‘We’ve got a lot to do here.’ ”
The championship with the Celtics in 2008 — Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, the stars of that team, will be together again to present their former coach for his Hall enshrinement — was an obvious high point for Rivers’ career. There were other moments he’s particularly proud of as well, such as delivering on a promise that he made to someone who barely played for him.
Tyronn Lue succeeded Rivers as coach of the Clippers. Lue played 11 games for Rivers in Orlando during the 2003-04 season; that was all the time it took for Rivers to be convinced that Lue would one day be a coach. He told Lue to call him if he ever wanted a job and Lue took him up on it. Rivers wound up going to the Hall of Fame, and few within the game would be surprised if Lue joins him there one day.
“It’s the stories like that that you think about,” Rivers said. “Rajon Rondo played for me in Boston. We had a very tumultuous relationship when I coached him and now, I probably talk to Rondo more than probably than any player that I coached.”
It’s what the game does, Rivers said. The lucky ones get guided along the way. He played that role with players like Rondo — who coached with Rivers — and Lue, and in Rivers’ own case, it was Riley who gave him the push he needed.
Riley and Rivers clashed at times during their player-coach relationship, and their biggest fights came when Riley was telling Rivers that he belonged in coaching.
Riley was right.
“When I was doing TV, he kept writing and sending me these freaking messages about getting into the fray,” Rivers said. “He knew it. And here I am, going into the Hall of Fame.”
Aston Villa are in negotiations over Zion Suzuki, boosting Juventus’ hope of signing Emiliano Martinez, while Arsenal are told price for Victor Osimhen.
Aston Villa are in negotiations to sign Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma after the 23-year-old’s proposed move to Paris St-Germain collapsed. (Talksport), external
Villa’s interest in Suzuki has boosted Juventus’ hope of signing Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, 33, from the Premier League club. (Football Italia), external
Arsenal must offer more than £60m to stand a chance of signing Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen, 27, from Galatasaray this summer. (Football Insider), external
Barcelona believe their third offer of 70m euros (£59.8m) for Rodri will be enough to persuade Manchester Cityto sell the Spain midfielder, 30. (AS – in Spanish), external
Newcastlehave revived talks to sign Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha, 31, with Aston Villa and Benfica also interested in the Portugal midfielder. (Mail), external
Inter Milan are keen to sell Brazilian winger Luis Henrique, 24, to fund a move forLiverpool‘s England midfielder Curtis Jones, 25, who is expected to cost about 40m euros (£34m). (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian), external
Chelsea‘s English forward Liam Delap, 23, wants to stay in the Premier League despite interest from Como,with Newcastle and Everton monitoring his situation. (Talksport), external
Once they are into the meat of the season, few at Old Trafford will remember this day.
However, depending on how the situation unfolds before the transfer window closes on 1 September, it could be very significant in one way.
With an hour gone, Marcus Rashford was introduced by Carrick as one of six substitutes.
It was his first appearance for his boyhood club since Viktoria Plzen away in the Europa League on 12 December 2024, after which he was effectively banished by Amorim and loaned out, first to Aston Villa and then Barcelona, from where he was not expected to return.
Carrick had enough opportunities when he spoke to UK media in Maynooth on Thursday to say so if it was certain Rashford will be staying beyond this month.
United officials were quick to make it known the number nine shirt Rashford wore in Poland was not permanent, to stave off any complaints from those tempted to buy one.
The 28-year-old looked relaxed enough throughout.
When he was sent out for his first warm-up during the game, he applauded the positive reception he got from United supporters in the corner he was running towards. Although, within seconds, Samuel Chukwueze was tapping home AC Milan’s first equaliser at the same end of the pitch.
Rashford was out later than most of his fellow substitutes for a second-half warm-up, but he still had time for a couple of passing tricks with Martinez – a World Cup semi-final rival a month ago.
Once the England attacker came on, it was noticeable he stayed wider than Patrick Dorgu, the man he replaced on the left. For the record, Dorgu and Harry Maguire were United’s men on the scoresheet in this latest tune-up.
Rashford’s first run ended with him conceding a foul, but it wasn’t long before a brilliant piece of play by the corner flag took him past an opponent.
Not surprisingly, that brought the crowd to its feet.
As reintroductions go, it was solid, not spectacular. But it didn’t need to be anything more.
Premier League games at Hull and against Ipswich will offer a greater insight into Carrick’s thinking. The transfer deadline will bring permanence to what remains an uncertain situation.
He is the second England player to join Inter this summer with John Stones moving to the San Siro after his Manchester City contract expired.
Spence had all but confirmed the transfer earlier on Saturday, when he posted a farewell message to Spurs supporters across his social media accounts.
In them he wrote: “A special chapter comes to an end, It’s been some journey, with plenty of memories, moments and experiences that I’ll carry with me for forever, especially that night in Bilbao.
“Thanks to all the staff members who’ve helped me along the way, the players who’ve become family and most importantly thank you to the fans. Time for a new chapter now, but Spurs will always have a place in my heart.”
Spence featured in all eight of England’s games at the World Cup as Thomas Tuchel’s side finished third.
He made 44 appearances for Spurs in all competitions during the 2025-26 campaign, however, first-choice right-back Pedro Porro signed a new deal in June and left-back Andy Robertson has been brought in from Liverpool.
Tottenham manager Roberto de Zerbi had said in July he wanted to convince Spence to stay at the club.
Spence joined Spurs for an initial £12.5m from Middlesbrough in 2022 and made 85 appearances for the north London side, helping them to win the 2024-25 Europa League title.
This will be Spence’s second spell in Italy after a six-month loan at Genoa in 2024.
Sunderland have agreed a £25.6m fee to sign left-back Dayann Methalie from Toulouse.
The 20-year-old French defender is expected to undergo a medical after a verbal agreement was reached for an initial £23.9m, with a further £1.7m in potential add-ons.
Methalie made 28 appearances for Toulouse in Ligue 1 last season, scoring twice in his final three games, as they finished ninth.
The deal follows a prolonged pursuit by Regis Le Bris’ side as Sunderland look to strengthen their defence before the start of their Premier League campaign at Ipswich Town next Saturday (15:00 BST).
The Black Cats will also compete in Europe for the first time in 53 years and are looking to add greater depth to their squad.
Newcastle United changed shirts in the first half of their pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen.
The hosts walked out in their black and white home kit, which has a blue trim, but decided to ditch it during the first hydration break at St James’ Park on Saturday.
There was an apparent colour clash with Bayer Leverkusen’s away kit, which is mint with a blue pattern, so Newcastle players put on their lilac third strip instead.
Former Monaco head coach Sebastien Pocognoli has been identified by the Scottish FA as their prime candidate to replace Steve Clarke.
The 39-year-old Belgian, who left Monaco at the end of last season, previously led Union Saint-Gilloise to a first league title in 90 years in 2024-25.
Pocognoli is one of several candidates to have been spoken to by Scottish FA chief executive Ian Maxwell and Craig Mulholland, who was appointed as the association’s chief football officer in May.
And it is thought an appointment could be imminent, with Scotland returning to action in the Nations League with a four-game block of fixtures, starting in Slovenia on 26 September.
Pocognoli spent time in England during his playing career, turning out for West Bromwich Albion and Brighton & Hove Albion, and earned 13 caps for Belgium.
He would become just the second foreign boss of the Scotland men’s team, after German Berti Vogts.
Clarke – who had signed a new four-year deal in May – resigned following the group-stage exit at the World Cup, ending his seven-year tenure.
Steven Naismith, who served as one of his assistant, said last month he expects to continue in the national team set-up under a new boss.
Bournemouth have vowed to “do better” after changes to matchday staffing were handled in a manner which “did not reflect the standards” the club expects.
Concerns were raised over the way the Premier League club told some long-serving members of their matchday team that their services would no longer be required for the 2026-27 season.
An email was sent from “the safety team” two weeks before the start of the season.
In a statement,, external the club acknowledged those concerns and said: “We have reviewed the way these changes were communicated and recognise that it did not reflect the standards we expect of ourselves as a club.
“People who have given many years of service to AFC Bournemouth deserve to be treated with appreciation and respect.
“We are contacting those affected directly to listen to their concerns and review their individual circumstances.”
The Cherries made a rapid rise from League Two to the Premier League, taking just five years to reach England’s top flight when they were promoted in 2015.
Despite being relegated in 2020, they returned to the Premier League two years later and this season will be playing in Europe for the first time.
The club reviewed its matchday staffing arrangements for 2026-27 and have made changes to a number of roles and working requirements “as we continue to strengthen the safety and security of the stadium, its perimeter and surrounding areas”.
Their club statement added: “These changes are important, but so too is the way we communicate with and treat the people who have served our club. We should have handled this better, and we will do better.
“We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to AFC Bournemouth over the years, and particularly those who have served the club for decades.”
One post on X, external said that a man who has been a member of Bournemouth‘s matchday staff for nearly 60 years received an email that was four paragraphs long, adding that it was a “disgusting approach”.
After saying their contracts would not be renewed, the email ended with: “We appreciate this will be disappointing news. On behalf of everyone at AFC Bournemouth, I would like to thank you for your commitment, professionalism and contribution to the club during your time with us.
“We are grateful for the support you have provided over the years and wish you every success for the future.”
BBC Sport has been told that the club reached out to the individual involved before the statement was released.
He had been working in the car park but has now been offered employment for next season in a different area.
Bill Plaschke should have consulted with his colleague Laurence Darmiento before writing his ill-informed column on the sale of the Lakers. Had he done so he would’ve realized that Joshua Kushner, who is co-buying the Lakers, is a lifelong Democrat, and therefore President Trump‘s showing up for a Lakers’ tip-off as suggested by Plaschke is off the table.
Jack Wishard Los Angeles
In 2025, when Mark Walter acquired his majority stake in the Lakers, he said, “It’s a privilege to work alongside Jeanie Buss as we maintain that excellence and set the standard for success in this new era, both on and off the court.”
That era concluded quickly, undone by his hubris and deceit. Did he mean to say “error” both on and off the court? That he did quite well.
David Griffin Westwood
Like in real estate, the Lakers were flipped by Dodgers majority owner Mark Walter after only 10 months of ownership. One person took a “flip in his grave,” previous owner Jerry Buss, who died in 2013. The Lakers as an organization have never been the same since his passing.
Wayne Muramatsu Cerritos
Former Disney head honcho Bob Iger, et al., owning the Lakers? Can’t wait to see Goofy and Mr. Toad as ushers at the Crypt!
Jack Wolf Westwood
Lakers previous owner Mark Walter is under federal investigation for possible loan fraud, and new Lakers owner Joshua Kushner’s company, Thrive Eternal, participated in the recent FIFA private equity scandal. Why can’t NBA owners avoid financial shenanigans? Thank God for Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. … Oh, wait.
Fifth in a series of stories profiling top high school football players by position. Today, Vincent Shields, Murrieta Valley offensive lineman.
For those who love dogs, offensive tackle Vincent Shields of Murrieta Valley High needs to be on your must-invite list. His mother and father run a dog training business. There are five dogs living at their home. All the female dogs are named after Disney characters. Vincent swears dogs can be trained to do anything, like open the refrigerator.
He just got a golden retriever puppy named Nala, the wife of Simba from “The Lion King.” The question is will Shields train her to rush the passer so he can practice his blocking techniques against someone with agility and a hunger to do anything for biscuits?
“That would be a good challenge,” he said.
The football journey of the 6-foot-6, 285-pound junior involves a change of positions, a change in eating habits and a recognition he has found his calling.
“He’s a freak athlete,” former Murrieta Valley offensive line coach Alex Rosenblum said. “That kid has had an amazing offseason.”
Teammates share a laugh with Vincent Shields as he engages in a power lifting exercise.
(Sandy Huffaker / For The Times)
By the end of the summer, Shields was nearing 20 scholarship offers after just one season as an offensive lineman. That’s what happens when college recruiters discover someone with size, good footwork and the ability to improve.
He started at right tackle last season for a school that has been producing outstanding linemen.
“We love to run the ball,” Shields said.
He was a defensive end as a freshman before Rosenblum convinced him to become a blocker. It opened a path that Shields has embraced.
“He told me at the end of my freshman year, ‘You’re going to start and if you make a mistake, it’s OK. Everything is a learning experience.’ I made mistakes and he was supportive,” Shields said.
He has been receiving private instruction to understand his role of blocking specific defenders and adjusting when linebackers blitz. All that was thrown at him as a sophomore, so it was no surprise he had some offside penalties. A year later, there’s no telling how dominant he can become.
“It takes a different person to play O-line,” he said. “It’s violent and that takes a special person. Not everyone is meant for the mental part and physical part. Are you going to take another man against his will and drive him down the field?”
Murrieta Valley offensive tackle Vincent Shields, center, does exercises during practice.
(Sandy Huffaker / For The Times)
Shields said he has been playing tackle football since he was 11. He was primarily a linebacker to take advantage of his athleticism. Then he started to grow and eat and eat.
Those were the days he loved French fries, chips, hamburgers and anything fried. He once ordered three 4×4 burgers from In-N-Out, which is four beef patties and four slices of cheese. He used to order from Chick-fil-A two chicken sandwiches, four chicken strips and 10 chicken nuggets.
Then he learned about nutrition and choices. He’s been eating steak and grilled chicken lately.
“I’ve done a good job shedding the bad weight,” he said.
His father, a former Marine, likes to cook, so everyone is watching Shields’ eating habits. He’s 17 with an appetite like a dog.
And speaking of dogs, the family has Shields’ golden retriever, a Rottweiler named Fancy, a giant schnauzer named Goose and two Belgian Malinois named Hero and Baymax.
That’s enough dogs to form a starting offensive line. But one of them has to beat out Shields, who intends to cause a whole lot of trouble blocking opponents over the next two seasons.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “You’re going to see a jump and a lot of people are going to wonder how it happened.”
Spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the crucial wicket of Steve Smith as Bangladesh moved closer to a historic first Test victory in Australia on day three in Darwin.
Smith, so often Australia’s talisman, chipped a leading edge straight back to the off-spinner to depart for 44 and leave his side 122-4 in their second innings.
Australia safely batted out the rest of the session but they face a tough task to save the match after closing on 161-4, still 67 runs behind Bangladesh’s first innings total.
Their hopes of saving the first Test rest in the hands of Cameron Green, who remained unbeaten on 43 and Alex Carey, on 19.
Earlier Bangladesh added 75 to their overnight score of 351-6, with Miraz scoring 65 and Josh Hazlewood claiming 6-89 to claim his 300th Test wicket.
Miraz guided the tail superbly for his 65 from 154 balls as the Bangladesh lower order frustrated Australia’s tiring bowling attack.
“The way we showed character and played the last two, three days I think is outstanding. So, really happy to see them play like this,” Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said.
After being dismissed for 426 shortly after lunch, Bangladesh seamer Hasan Mahmud stunned the hosts when he claimed both openers cheaply.
The 26-year-old, who took a career-best 6-55 in the first innings, bowled Jake Weatherald for 0 and Travis Head for 17 as both players chopped on to their stumps.
Marnus Labuschagne and Smith steadied the ship, before the former was bowled by Taijul Islam for 31.
Smith batted sensibly for his 44 off 88 balls but his wicket left Bangladesh confident of victory as they roared in triumph on the Marrara Oval pitch.
All-rounder Green’s place in the side had been questioned prior to the series, but he defended well alongside wicketkeeper Carey as the pair reached the end of the day to give the hosts a slither of hope going into day four.
Australia have never lost a home Test to Bangladesh, only losing once to the Tigers in six previous Tests – at Mirpur in 2017.
He scored the extra-time winner against Argentina to help Spain claim their second men’s World Cup last month, while his stock had already risen considerably after a strong season with Barcelona.
The forward scored 21 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions, providing three assists, and helped Barcelona win the La Liga title.
PSG, managed by former Barcelona coach and player Luis Enrique, have won the Champions League in the past two seasons.
Torres is the second high-profile forward PSG have signed this summer after the arrival of Maghnes Akliouche from Monaco.
PSG added to their silverware collection on Wednesday by beating Aston Villa 2-1 to win the Uefa Super Cup.
Torres has been at Barcelona since 2022 having previously spent two years at Manchester City.
He has scored 25 goals in 65 appearances for Spain and made his debut for the national team under Enrique.
PSG could lose Bradley Barcola this summer, with the forward wanted by Liverpool.
He arrives from Union Saint-Gilloise where, since joining in 2024, he helped the side win their first Belgian Pro League title in 90 years and a Belgian Cup.
Khalaili will add European experience to Palace’s Europa League campaign, having scored three of his six goals last season in the Champions League.
“I have followed the Premier League for a long time, it’s a new challenge for me,” Khalaili said.
“And Crystal Palace I like, because I have followed them for a long time. They have deserved to win three trophies and I want to do more.”
Khalaili becomes the fifth addition to Pierre Sage’s side.
