Sports

Portugal maintained their perfect start to the Nations League with a 4-2 win over Denmark despite Cristiano Ronaldo leaving camp, while Germany beat Serbia 2-0 for Jürgen Klopp’s first victory in charge. Elsewhere in the third round, Wales beat Norway 2-1 and the Netherlands came from two goals down to draw with Greece.

Moroccan Ismail Nourdiev faces Italy’s Marvin Vettori on 3 October in UFC 332 in Salt Lake City, continuing an Arab presence that has lasted nearly two decades and reached its peak when Palestinian-American Belal Muhammad won the welterweight belt in 2024, alongside notable campaigns by fighters from Morocco, Iraq, Palestine and other Arab countries.

Premier League clubs are pressing for a severe punishment for Manchester City after it was found guilty of financial breaches spanning 9 seasons, arguing that relegation to the Championship for one season would not be enough. The push comes as efforts continue to conclude the proceedings this season and some rivals consider seeking financial compensation.

Raphinha has left the Brazil camp after scans revealed a small muscular oedema in the back of his right thigh, sustained during the 4-2 win over Australia. The Barcelona forward will return to his club for further tests, while the coaching staff have decided not to call up a replacement for the match against India.

England beat hosts Czechia 2-0 in Prague in the second round of Group C in League A of the UEFA Nations League. England benefited from Pavel Šulc’s dismissal before Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane scored the winning goals in the second half.

An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of Premier League financial rules over nine seasons, and of most charges concerning its failure to co-operate with the investigation. The commission said sham contractual arrangements helped inflate revenue and reduce costs by more than £900 million, while the club announced its intention to appeal.

Catalan journalist Xavi Torres revealed that José Mourinho had the strongest backing within Barcelona’s board to succeed Frank Rijkaard in 2008, while Pep Guardiola received no votes. But president Joan Laporta chose the reserve-team coach on the recommendation of Johan Cruyff and Txiki Begiristain, beginning an era in which the club won 14 trophies.

Gianni Infantino has requested a review of proposals to increase funding for football associations after UEFA and Concacaf called for each FIFA member association to receive at least 10 million US dollars. The proposals are due to be referred to the FIFA Council on 15 October for assessment before any formal approval.

The organising committee for the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games acknowledged failures in transport and accommodation services and apologised after athletes and delegations complained about buses that went astray or failed to arrive, food shortages, cramped accommodation, small beds and exhausting competition schedules.

Players from Brazilian club Chapecoense visited the site of the team’s plane crash in the Colombian city of La Unión as part of events marking the 10th anniversary of the accident. Survivor Neto took part in the commemorative ceremony before a friendly against Atlético Nacional was held to renew the ties formed between the two clubs after the tragedy.

Ireland defeated Israel 3-0 in the UEFA Nations League in a match held in Hungary that was preceded by calls for a boycott over the war in Gaza. Ireland’s players refused to shake hands, wore black armbands and lowered their heads during the Israeli anthem, drawing praise from activists and criticism in Israel.

Republic of Ireland players have decided to play Israel in the Nations League after an internal vote, while wearing black armbands in tribute to victims of the conflict in Gaza and carrying out other protest initiatives. The decision comes amid domestic pressure to boycott the two matches between the teams, and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu’s withdrawal from both.

Spain settled their Wembley clash with England 3-2, while Croatia beat Czechia and Finland thrashed San Marino 7-0 in 10 matches played on Saturday to conclude the opening round of the fifth edition of the Nations League.

Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu announced that he would not take part in Ireland’s two Nations League matches against Israel, while the Football Association of Ireland decided to proceed with the first fixture, scheduled for Sunday in Hungary, after a vote in which a large majority of the squad backed playing the match. The players also agreed a series of protest and solidarity measures.

Qatar face Yemen on Sunday in the second round of Group B at the Gulf Cup in Jeddah, seeking a win that would secure their place in the semi-finals. Yemen are clinging to their final chance after losing 4-0 to the United Arab Emirates, while Qatar enter the match buoyed by a 2-0 victory over Bahrain.

Kylian Mbappé left France’s match against Turkey with pain in his left knee, minutes after scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 Nations League victory. The France captain is awaiting tests to determine the nature of the injury, with a run of matches beginning against Belgium on 28 September.

England supporters selected Jude Bellingham as the team’s best player for the 2025-2026 season after he scored seven goals and provided one assist in 12 matches. The Real Madrid player excelled at the 2026 World Cup, setting a scoring record for England players in major tournaments, as well as two records related to his age and international appearances.

Lionel Scaloni said he pushed for Lionel Messi’s farewell match to be held during the current period, fearing he might no longer be Argentina’s coach later. Messi is set to appear against Benin on 6 October at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, weeks after announcing his international retirement.

Japan won the men’s team table tennis gold at the Asian Games by defeating China 3-2, ending a Chinese monopoly on the title that had lasted since 1994. Tomokazu Harimoto attributed the victory to Japanese players gaining confidence, while Wang Chuqin acknowledged that the Chinese team had been affected mentally during the match.

Erling Haaland has taken his Norway tally to 64 goals in 56 appearances after scoring twice to lead his team to a 3-2 win over Denmark in the opening round of the Nations League, moving past the international tallies of Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Syria manager José Lana has called up striker Omar Al Somah to a 23-man squad for friendly matches against Jordan and Uzbekistan, marking his international return after an absence of about two years. The squad includes 17 overseas-based players and six domestic players, while Omar Khribin is absent after citing personal reasons.

The departure of 11 managers and head coaches from Premier League clubs during the 2025-2026 season has reopened the question of the role players should play in choosing a manager. Michael Cox argues that giving team leaders a structured advisory role could help club executives assess candidates, while leaving the final decision to officials and avoiding conflicts of interest.

The experiences of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and other English clubs show that heavy spending and the recruitment of prominent names do not guarantee success. In seven cases, seasons ended with a drop in the table, managerial sackings or relegation to the First Division, despite initial praise for their transfer policies.