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2023-09-12 18:16
AP PHOTOS: Blood, sweat and tears on the opening weekend of the Rugby World Cup in France
PARIS (AP) — The dust has settled after the first set of games at the Rugby World Cup, which began with a stirring win for host France in front of nearly 79,000 people at the Stade de France, and ended with heartbreak for fan favorite Fiji as a dropped pass in the final seconds denied it a thrilling victory in Bordeaux.
2023-09-12 17:57
Heavyweight boxing is decaying before our eyes – no other sport would survive this idiocy
There might be a crisis in the heavyweight division unless the television companies, the promoters, the chancers, the tyrants at the sanctioning bodies, the fixers and the fighters start to realise that they are part of a rich history. The heavyweight division is not a random board game, a place where a good spin can turn the world upside down and a place where all sense of perspective is lost. It is not a game, but it is being run like a crazy game of chance. Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are circling each other with very little real indication that they will fight each other. In many ways, the crisis point was a long, long time ago. There was a bold claim about six months ago that Saudi Arabian riches would transform the heavyweight division, a claim that over $400m was on the table for the leading four men to meet on one night in two fights. A lot of so-called media were delivered to Riyadh and told the hefty Four Kings would fight, it would be in December, and the heavyweight fairy tale would be complete. The chosen insiders were quick to assure everyone that the money was real, the conviction was real and that it would happen. It fell apart; Fury walked away, Usyk kept busy, Wilder and Joshua are still, in theory, part of a crazy plan. However, even their fight in Saudi in January or February is starting to look more and more like a mirage in that fighting desert. Eddie Hearn, the promoter of Joshua, has not yet ruled the fight out. Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk, has not yet ruled out a Fury fight. Wilder’s people flew to Saudi to do a direct deal with the promotional company there, so presumably they are still part of the circus. Fury, meanwhile, will fight in Riyadh next month, but his fight with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou is being promoted by another branch of the Saudi government. It is difficult to keep up with this soap opera with blood. Ngannou, incidentally, has never had a single boxing match as an amateur or a professional; his 10 rounds with Fury have recently been given a belt by the WBC. It will not be for Fury’s actual WBC heavyweight title, which I guess is a small mercy. The new Saudi belt, complete with diamonds and gold, is still a belt and that means Ngannou, who is being trained by Mike Tyson, will fight for a WBC belt in his first ever appearance in a boxing ring. Shame on the WBC and their desperate attempt to be relevant. I have no problem with the fight, no problem with crossover events, but the WBC’s decision to award the winner a belt is pathetic. The WBC representative in Riyadh will need sharp elbows to get his face on television, because the Saudi families tend to flood the post-fight ring. Ngannou, incidentally, has been measured to possess the hardest punch in history. It is hard to invent this glorious nonsense. Fury has gone down this route because the money is there, and he is sick and tired of the relentless negotiations for a fight with either Usyk or Joshua. He is, it must be said, not entirely innocent. Although it is hard to blame Fury for going down the Ngannou route, talk of a rematch under mixed martial arts rules is slightly alarming. It is probably harmless chat, but the WBC needs to decide how long they will let their champion loose in the lawless playground of celebrity and crossover fights. There is simply no order, no strict rules, and nobody in a position to call a halt to the anarchy. In the last 12 months, Joshua has fought twice, staying busy and learning with his new coach; Fury has not fought since beating Derek Chisora for the third time last December in defence of his WBC title; Wilder has not been near a ring this year; Usyk stopped Daniel Dubois last month to retain his WBO, WBA and IBF titles. Dubois, incidentally, officially launched an appeal against the decision in that fight, claiming that the fight should have been stopped in Round 5 when he landed what he considers a legitimate body shot. Usyk was instead given nearly four minutes to recover. Krassyuk has ruled out a rematch, insisting that the punch was low and illegal. It means that in 2023, with two champions owning four recognised belts, with a lot of television backing and with a lot of quality contenders, there will be only one world heavyweight title fight. It is crazy and self-harming, and no other sport would survive such idiocy. Boxing has always been in a race against time, a race to get as much money as possible, as quickly and safely as possible, but this decaying state is so bad for business that it will hurt the business going forward. Read More Fans tear apart Tyson Fury over claim that Francis Ngannou poses tougher test than Oleksandr Usyk Watch moment topless Tyson Fury goads Francis Ngannou into taking his shirt off during press conference Sean Strickland shocks Israel Adesanya and MMA world with title win at UFC 293 Eddie Hearn outlines ‘deluded’ plan for Anthony Joshua Tyson Fury urged to highlight Saudi Arabia’s ‘disturbing’ human rights record What is an exhibition fight and how is it different to a professional bout?
2023-09-12 16:53
Aaron Ramsey rolls back the years to keep Wales’s Euro 2024 hopes alive
Wales kept their Euro 2024 qualification hopes alive with a 2-0 win in Latvia as Aaron Ramsey’s 100th career goal and a David Brooks clincher lifted the pressure on under-fire manager Rob Page. Ramsey stroked home a 29th-minute penalty – his 21st goal for Wales – before Brooks, on as a substitute for the injured captain, settled matters in the sixth minute of stoppage time. The victory was Wales’ second in 14 attempts and gives them renewed hope that they can claim a top-two place in Group D. On a night when Wales simply had to win or be left with a play-off route to Germany next summer, there was further good news before kick-off as group leaders Croatia did them a favour by winning 1-0 in Armenia. Croatia are Wales’ next Euro opponents in Cardiff next month, and Page can now look forward to that game after heading to Riga with huge question marks over his future. The 49-year-old was feted as a national hero after leading Wales to their first World Cup for 64 years, but poor performances at that tournament and in this campaign had prompted large parts of the fan base to call for managerial change. Page had drawn encouragement from Thursday’s friendly with South Korea – and he named 10 of the side who started that goalless draw in Cardiff. Captain Ramsey returned in place of Nathan Broadhead as Burnley’s Connor Roberts won his 50th cap. Jordan James made his first competitive start and the 19-year-old suggested he may be a mainstay of the Wales midfield for some time to come. Latvia had drawn a complete blank in Euro 2024 qualifying, losing all four games, with three of them – including a 1-0 away defeat to Wales in March – by a single goal margin. The tiny three-sided Skonto Stadium, with cars parked behind one goal, seemed at odds with what was such an important night in Welsh football. But over 1,000 Wales fans were in a crowd of 6,464. There had been a mood of sporting celebration in Riga throughout the day as Latvians turned out to honour their basketball players, who had recorded a best finish of fifth at the sport’s World Cup, in the city. Wales should have had the perfect start inside 75 seconds when Ethan Ampadu released Brennan Johnson but Tottenham’s new striker skied over on his unfavoured left side. Ampadu was off-target from a Harry Wilson corner but Wales were threatening at set-pieces. Chris Mepham met another Wilson corner at the far post and Ben Davies reached the deflected ball first to force Roberts Ozols into a flying save in the Latvian goal. Chances continued to come and go for Wales with Johnson wayward again and Ozols producing stops to deny Wilson and Roberts. There was a danger that frustration would creep in, but Latvia provided a helping hand when Kaspars Dubra bundled over Wilson after 28 minutes. The incident survived a VAR check for a potential offside in the build-up and Ramsey coolly converted for his landmark goal. Wales should have been out of sight in the next 10 minutes as Neco Williams and Johnson fired wide when well-placed and Ozols denied Wilson again. Latvia had shown nothing as an attacking force for 41 minutes before suddenly bursting into life. Ward shovelled out a Janis Ikaunieks header that Roberts had to clear as the Latvian striker prepared to pounce for the rebound, while Raimonds Krollis almost profited twice after being left unguarded. Wales suffered a blow four minutes into the second half when Ramsey signalled to the bench to come off, with David Brooks taking his place. The worry was that Wales would miss Ramsey’s stabilising influence and Krollis went close after Johnson had driven wide. Latvia might have been reduced to 10 men when Ikaunieks aimed a wild kick at James. Slovakian referee Michal Ocenas brandished a yellow card before being asked to review the decision at the VAR monitor. After a two-minute check Ocenas stuck with his original decision and Ikaunieks escaped further sanction. The final quarter became very fragmented with a series of niggly fouls. Ikaunieks’ 20-yard shot flew into the side netting and, while that would have represented the cruellest punishment for Wales, Brooks ended matters by racing on to Wilson’s pass and scoring with the most delicious of chips. Read More Is Latvia vs Wales on TV? Channel, and how to watch Euro 2024 qualifier online Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba provisionally suspended for anti-doping offence James Maddison, Julian Alvarez and 5 players to target for FPL Gameweek 5 Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba provisionally suspended for anti-doping offence James Maddison, Julian Alvarez and 5 players to target for FPL Gameweek 5 Football rumours: Jadon Sancho looking to leave Manchester United
2023-09-12 15:57
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba provisionally suspended for anti-doping offence
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has been provisionally suspended by Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal after returning an adverse sample. The France international tested positive for testosterone in a random drugs test following Juventus’ Serie A game against Udinese on August 20, when he was an unused substitute. After the Italian anti-doping body issued a statement on Monday evening confirming Pogba’s suspension, Juventus said the club would now consider “the next procedural steps”. If found guilty of doping, a suspension of between two and four years could be handed out to Pogba. “Juventus Football Club announces that today, September 11, 2023, the footballer Paul Labile Pogba received a precautionary suspension order from the National Anti-Doping Tribunal following the results of tests carried out on August 20, 2023,” a statement from the Serie A side read. “The club reserves the right to consider the next procedural steps.” Italy’s national anti-doping tribunal confirmed Pogba’s positive sample for testosterone. A statement from the anti-doping body read: “The National Antidoping Tribunal informs that, in acceptance of the instance proposed by the National Antidoping Prosecutor, it has provided for the provisional suspension of the athlete: Paul Labile Pogba (FIGC) for the violation of articles 2.1, 2.2; prohibited substance detected: Non-endogenous testosterone metabolites (The GC/c/IRMS results are consistent with the exogenous origin of the target compounds).” Earlier on Monday, former Manchester United midfielder Pogba said he was almost driven to walk away from football after allegedly being blackmailed by an organised crime gang. The 30-year-old’s brother Mathias was detained in September 2022 on suspicion of involvement in the alleged plot, which Paul Pogba claimed amounted to a bid to extort £11.1million from him. Mathias Pogba was released in December and denies the charges. Sometimes it's tough. This life, you have to go through it. It will only make me stronger. Paul Pogba Paul Pogba reported the incident to Turin prosecutors in July of last year, shortly after leaving Manchester United on a free transfer in order to rejoin Juventus. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Paul Pogba said: “When there is money you have to be careful. Money changes people. It can break up a family. It can create a war. “Sometimes I was just by myself thinking: ‘I don’t want to have money anymore. I just don’t want to play anymore. I just want to be with normal people, so they will love me for me – not for the fame, not for the money.’ “Sometimes it’s tough. This life, you have to go through it. It will only make me stronger.” Laure Beccuau, a Paris prosecutor, said the investigation was looking into allegations of “blackmail by an armed gang, kidnapping and membership of a criminal conspiracy”. Mathias Pogba is himself a professional footballer, with the 33-year-old having represented Crewe, Crawley, Wrexham and Partick Thistle, as well as the national team of Guinea. He is currently without a club after leaving French lower-league side Belfort in 2022. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Football rumours: Jadon Sancho looking to leave Manchester United Luis Rubiales resignation has to be ‘the start of something’, says Georgia Stanway On this day in 2005: England end 18-year wait to win back Ashes after Oval draw
2023-09-12 15:50
Football rumours: Jadon Sancho looking to leave Manchester United
What the papers say After failed talks with manager Erik ten Hag, Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho is looking set to leave the club after the pair could not settle their differences, The Star reports. Sancho has played three games for the club this season. The Daily Mail says the club is looking at signing former Ajax, Aston Villa and Everton winger Anwar El Ghazi . The 28-year-old from the Netherlands is a free agent after leaving PSV Eindhoven. Germany have placed former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann and former Manchester United and Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal on their shortlist after Hansi Flick was sacked from the role, according to the Mirror. Social media round-up Player to watch Ousmane Diomande: Arsenal had a rejected bid worth £30million for the 19-year-old Sporting CP defender but will make another attempt next year, the Metro reports. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live
2023-09-12 14:27
Juan Soto hits a 3-run homer in the ninth, and Padres rally to stun weary Dodgers 11-8
Juan Soto hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning, and the San Diego Padres rallied from an early five-run deficit for an 11-8 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers
2023-09-12 13:56
Giants rally past Guardians 5-4 in 10 innings to keep pace in NL wild-card chase
LaMonte Wade Jr. blooped a single in front of sliding center fielder Myles Straw in the 10th inning to drive in Blake Sabol with the winning run as the San Francisco Giants rallied past the Cleveland Guardians 5-4
2023-09-12 13:56
Luis Rubiales resignation has to be ‘the start of something’ – Georgia Stanway
England star Georgia Stanway insists the resignation of Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales has to be “the start of something, not the end of something”. Rubiales finally announced he was quitting as president of the RFEF on Sunday night, three weeks after he kissed Spain midfielder Jenni Hermoso on the lips during the World Cup final trophy presentation in Sydney. And it was reported on Monday evening that an investigation into Rubiales has been opened by a high court judge in Spain. Hermoso formally submitted a complaint about Rubiales to Spain’s national prosecutor’s office last week before a complaint of sexual assault and an allegation of coercion was then filed by the office to the high court. On Monday, the high court reportedly accepted the complaint and will now decide whether to recommend that the case should go to trial or be dismissed. Hermoso has said she had not consented to the kiss, but Rubiales spent the last three weeks standing firm in saying he would not quit over the incident despite the opening of disciplinary proceedings by football’s world governing body FIFA and the instigation of a criminal complaint in the Spanish courts. Stanway was part of the England team beaten by Hermoso and her team-mates in Sydney, and hopes the controversy over how this matter has been handled has a wider impact than just being the eventual trigger for Rubiales’ exit. “Everybody’s fought and we fought as a women’s football group,” Stanway said. “We fought as players, we’ve fought as staff, we’ve fought as journalists for the outcome to be what it is. “Obviously, the outcome is what we want. But at the same time, we want this to be the start of something, rather than the end of something. “We want to continue to be able to have these conversations, to feel comfortable to have these conversations, feel comfortable in your workplace, to be able to stand up for whatever you think is right.” Rubiales had told an RFEF emergency general assembly on August 25 that he would not quit his post, but was provisionally suspended by FIFA the following day pending an investigation into his conduct. As well as kissing Hermoso, Rubiales was also pictured grabbing his groin in celebration of the World Cup win while standing metres from Spain’s Queen Letizia and her teenage daughter. Rubiales posted on the social media platform X on Sunday night: “After the rapid suspension carried out by FIFA, plus the rest of proceedings open against me, it is evident that I will not be able to return to my position. “Insisting on waiting and holding on is not going to contribute to anything positive, neither to the federation nor to Spanish football. “I have faith in the truth and I will do everything in my power to prevail. “My daughters, my family and the people who love me have suffered the effects of excessive persecution, as well as many falsehoods, but it is also true that on the street, more and more every day, the truth is prevailing.” Rubiales has also done an interview with chat show host Piers Morgan concerning the matter, which is due to air on Tuesday evening. There has been no public statement yet from Hermoso, nor from the rest of the Spain squad who had said they would not represent their country while Rubiales remained in post. UEFA issued a statement on Monday night, noting Rubiales’ resignation and thanking him for his “service to European football”. The governing body said: “UEFA takes note of Luis Rubiales’ resignation with immediate effect from his position as UEFA Vice-President and UEFA Executive Committee member, which was due to end in 2027. UEFA acknowledges the public discourse surrounding Mr. Rubiales and his recent actions but would also like to thank him for his many years of service to European football UEFA statement “UEFA acknowledges the public discourse surrounding Mr. Rubiales and his recent actions but would also like to thank him for his many years of service to European football. “In view of the ongoing legal proceedings, UEFA has no further comments to make on this matter.” Spain are due to play Sweden and Switzerland in the Nations League on September 22 and 26. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Luis Rubiales resignation has to be ‘the start of something’, says Georgia Stanway On this day in 2005: England end 18-year wait to win back Ashes after Oval draw New York Jets overcome Aaron Rodgers’ early exit to defeat Buffalo Bills
2023-09-12 13:50
Grichuk has RBI single to key Angels' three-run 11th in 8-5 win over Mariners
Randal Grichuk drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the top of the 11th inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 8-5
2023-09-12 13:49
Bills' Josh Allen has one of his worst days in the NFL in a loss to the Rodgers-less Jets
After Aaron Rodgers went down with an Achilles tendon injury early in his debut with the Jets, the Buffalo Bills seemingly had an easy path to a season-opening win at MetLife Stadium
2023-09-12 13:47
Yandy Díaz hits his 20th homer as Tampa Bay Rays beat Minnesota Twins 7-4
Yandy Díaz connected for his 20th homer and finished with four hits, helping the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4
2023-09-12 12:55
