30M

The LA Clippers have been fined $30m (£22.2m) by the National Basketball Association (NBA) for violating salary rules over the acquisition of star player Kawhi Leonard.

The Clippers will also have to forfeit five first-round draft picks between 2029 and 2033, while owner Steve Ballmer has been suspended from all league and team activities for 12 months for “knowingly seeking to help Mr Leonard obtain off-court income opportunities”.

Two-time NBA champion Leonard has been fined $700,000 (£518,997) by the league.

The team’s president of business operations, Gillian Zucker, has been suspended for one year without pay for providing “misleading statements to investigators”.

The punishments come after the NBA said its month-long investigation “found a pattern of misconduct and multiple significant rules violations by the Clippers organisation, a prior offender of the salary-cap circumvention rules”.

Following the ruling, Leonard, 35, said he “accepts full responsibility” for his actions and “regrets the distraction this situation has caused the fans and my family”.

“I entered into my contract with the Clippers as well as the agreements in question in good faith, fully committed to fulfilling my obligations and with no knowledge of any intent on anyone’s part to circumvent the salary cap,” he wrote on Instagram.

The two-time NBA Finals MVP joined the Clippers in 2019, spending seven years with the franchise before joining the Toronto Raptors.

The NBA said both the “organisation and personnel” of the Clippers will be subject to a compliance and monitoring programme, overseen by the league for five years.

More to follow.

More to follow.

Newcastle United have signed defender Amar Dedic from Benfica for about £30m.

Dedic has joined the club on a five-year deal after having a medical on Tyneside on Monday.

He has reunited with manager Matthias Jaissle, with whom he previously won the Austrian title at Red Bull Salzburg in 2023.

“It’s a special feeling and a really big honour for me to join Newcastle United,” he said after the move was announced on Tuesday, his 24th birthday.

“I’m really happy to be here and can’t wait to start playing for the club and the amazing fans.

“Working with Matthias again was a big factor for me. We know each other well. He knows what I can bring on the pitch and I’m really happy to be playing for him again.

“Playing Premier League football at St James’ Park is going to be really special. Every game feels like a big occasion, with an amazing atmosphere. I’m really excited to get started.”

Newcastle had been in the market for a new right-back following the departure of veteran Kieran Trippier, who joined Wolves on a free transfer when his contract expired earlier this summer.

Dedic could quickly be called upon to feature in Newcastle‘s season opener at home to Liverpool on Sunday as Tino Livramento is still recovering from a calf injury he sustained on international duty with England in June.

Jaissle said he was “really looking forward” to working with the defender again.

“He’s a player who I know really well, having worked with him from a young age in Austria and followed his career since,” he said.

“He will bring both defensive and attacking qualities to our squad, which suits the style of football that we want to play.

“He’s athletic, aggressive and technically very good, but also has a lot of potential to develop further.”