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River home to 500 crocodiles chosen as Olympic rowing venue
The Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Queensland, has been approved to host Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing events at the 2032 Brisbane Games following an independent technical assessment. The decision is notable because the river is home to approximately 500 saltwater crocodiles, though the venue is already an established training and competition facility for flatwater…
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‘It is for every fan who has ever followed us’: Bournemouth’s European debut caps journey from the brink
Bournemouth will make their competitive European debut against Real Sociedad, marking a remarkable rise from the brink of non-league football to the Europa League. Club legend Steve Fletcher says the occasion represents generations of supporters and reflects the long-term progress achieved under manager Andoni Iraola and owner Bill Foley. The achievement follows Bournemouth’s escape from…
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Raheem Sterling’s bleak tale a reminder of absurd path young footballers face | Jonathan Liew
Raheem Sterling’s court case over a dangerous driving incident is presented as a troubling endpoint to a career that once made him one of football’s biggest young stars. The article argues that his decline also exposes the pressures and instability created by a football system that recruits, commodifies and discards players from childhood. Sterling moved…
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Rancour, road trips and revival: tale of battle for Brighton’s future hits the stage
A new play called “Stand or Fall” is being staged this month to commemorate Brighton & Hove Albion’s fight to save its historic Goldstone Ground in the 1990s, marking the club’s 125th anniversary. When owners announced plans to sell the stadium and relocate to Portsmouth in 1995, supporters launched an intensive campaign that included pitch…
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Prominent athlete tells Alan Jones trial he froze after alleged kiss: ‘I can’t get it out of my memory’
A prominent athlete testified in a Sydney trial that former broadcaster Alan Jones kissed him without consent at a sporting event, with the anonymous sports figure appearing for a third day to describe the alleged incident that he cannot erase from his memory. This testimony is central to charges against the 85-year-old Jones, who faces…
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Boehly and Walter sell Chelsea stakes to Clearlake
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter have sold their combined stakes in Chelsea to majority owner Clearlake Capital, giving Clearlake full control of the club. Boehly will also step down as chairman, although Chelsea says there will be no immediate changes to its daily operations, leadership or strategy. The two stakes total about 25% of Chelsea…
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Raphinha’s treble spearheads Barcelona’s seven-goal rout of Santander
Raphinha scored a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Racing Santander 7-2 in La Liga on Wednesday, a result that made Hansi Flick the first Barça manager to win his opening seven competitive matches of a season. The Catalan side have now scored 33 goals across those seven games and move three points clear of Real Madrid…
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De Cuyper and Brighton pile on pain for Manchester United with comeback
Manchester United’s dismal week continued as they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton, blowing a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at Old Trafford. The result compounds a torrid few days for Michael Carrick’s side, coming after their derby defeat to Manchester City and a request from JJ Gabriel to leave the club,…
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Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun handed stadium ban over Diogo Jota chants
The Saudi Pro League club Al-Taawoun have been fined and ordered to play two home matches behind closed doors after their supporters chanted the name of the late Diogo Jota during a league fixture. The chants, audible during Saturday’s match against Al-Hilal, prompted Rúben Neves, a former Wolves and Portugal teammate of Jota’s, to gesture…
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Sunderland open Europa League account with penalty win over AZ Alkmaar
Sunderland began their Europa League league-phase campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 win over AZ Alkmaar at the Stadium of Light, thanks to a second-half penalty from Enzo Le Fée. Régis Le Bris’s side dominated much of the match but were profligate in front of goal, hitting the post and missing several clear-cut chances before the…