SportsCatch

Atalanta prepare five-year deal for Ederson as Manchester United's £38m move risks collapse

Atalanta are readying a new five-year contract for midfielder Ederson amid fears his £38m transfer to Manchester United could fall through following concerns raised during a medical.

Football Jul 13

Youngs backs Smith to start at scrum-half again after record-breaking Fiji cameo

Former England scrum-half Ben Youngs has declared Marcus Smith good enough to reprise his No.9 role against Argentina in the Nations Championship, calling the Harlequins fly-half England's greatest ever scrum-half based on his 20-30 minute cameo against Fiji.

Rugby Jul 13

Arsenal push to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico despite £100m price-tag standoff

Arsenal are making a serious move to sign Argentina striker Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, according to The Independent, though a significant gap between the clubs' valuations threatens to complicate any deal.

Football Jul 13

Olise wipes his Instagram clean in solidarity with photographer denied World Cup accreditation

Michael Olise deleted all his Instagram posts ahead of the World Cup in a show of solidarity with Florence Pernet, his trusted photographer, whose accreditation for the tournament was denied by FIFA.

Football Jul 13

Micah Richards plans to quit TV punditry before the 2034 World Cup to give back to grassroots football

Micah Richards has revealed he intends to leave all mainstream broadcasting by the time he turns 46, stepping away from the BBC, Sky Sports and CBS Sports after the 2034 World Cup to focus on grassroots community work.

Football Jul 13

USA Women stun South Africa 26-19 as De Bruin names 49-player squad for next phase

The USA Women's Eagles claimed a 26-19 victory over South Africa at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, overturning the previous week's result. Springbok Women's coach Swys de Bruin has since named a 49-player squad to begin preparations for the team's remaining 2026 Tests.

Rugby Jul 13

Balogun Red Card Reversal: Single FIFA Official Made Decision Without Consulting Peers

According to the Sunday Times, the lifting of Folarin Balogun's suspension for the 2026 World Cup was decided unilaterally by Mohammad al-Kamali, president of FIFA's disciplinary commission, without consulting the other 17 members.

Football Jul 13

Tuchel bans wheat and sugar from England training camp as strict diet rules emerge

Thomas Tuchel has banned wheat and sugar from his players' meals, according to former Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Hendrik Bonmann, who worked under the England manager for two years. Captain Harry Kane has also outlined his own nutrition approach, emphasising carbohydrate timing and recovery.

Football Jul 13

Ivan Barton confirmed as referee for Spain vs France World Cup semi-final, dividing fans

FIFA has appointed El Salvador's Ivan Barton to referee the World Cup semi-final between Spain and France in Dallas on Tuesday. The 35-year-old drew widespread attention earlier in the tournament for sending off Miguel Almiron in a group stage match.

Football Jul 13

Ted Lasso actor Cristo Fernandez makes professional debut at 35 after injury derailed his playing career

Cristo Fernandez, who plays footballer Danny Rojas in Ted Lasso, came off the bench in the 79th minute for El Paso Locomotive in their 2-0 USL Cup defeat to New Mexico United on Saturday — fulfilling a dream that injuries once appeared to have ended.

Football Jul 13

Kai Rooney and Jacey Carrick sign Manchester United academy scholarships and share their hopes

Sons of Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick were among the first-year scholars celebrated at a signing ceremony at Old Trafford, with both teenagers speaking about what the milestone means to them.

Football Jul 13

Rabiot or Koné: Deschamps faces a real dilemma in midfield ahead of France-Spain

On the eve of the World Cup semi-final against Spain, Didier Deschamps has yet to decide between Adrien Rabiot, returning from injury, and Manu Koné, who has been very convincing in the last two matches.

Football Jul 13

Atalanta offer Ederson five-year deal as Man United's £38m move stalls over knee injury

Atalanta are prepared to hand Ederson a new five-year contract if his £38m move to Manchester United collapses. United have not abandoned the deal, with the Brazilian midfielder undergoing fresh medical assessments in Manchester after a knee issue was detected.

Football Jul 13

Michael Oliver misses out on $100,000 World Cup bonus after final ban over England and Falklands rules

Premier League referee Michael Oliver has been ruled out of officiating the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium due to England's semi-final presence and geopolitical restrictions tied to the 1982 Falklands War, costing him a potential $100,000 pay package.

Football Jul 13

Roy Keane's stone-faced silence during England's goals steals the show at World Cup

Roy Keane remained unmoved and silent in the ITV studio as Jude Bellingham scored twice to send England past Norway 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-finals, while fellow pundits Gary Neville and Ian Wright celebrated around him.

Football Jul 13

Ocon to face reader questions at Spa as Haas driver opens up on F1 journey

Esteban Ocon will sit down for a reader-driven interview in the Spa-Francorchamps paddock on 16 July, with the Haas driver set to discuss his path to Formula 1 and his years alongside two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.

Formula 1 Jul 13

Kane backs Tuchel amid Bellingham feud as FIFA faces backlash over Balogun ban reversal

Harry Kane has defended Thomas Tuchel's critical approach after Jude Bellingham showed visible frustration with the England manager, while FIFA faces fierce criticism — including from UEFA — over its decision to lift Folarin Balogun's one-game suspension at the request of Donald Trump.

Football Jul 13

Bryce Mitchell becomes first active UFC fighter to face a UFC BJJ champion at UFCBJJ 11

Bryce Mitchell will make history on September 24 when he faces unbeaten UFC BJJ bantamweight champion Mikey Musumeci in a non-title featherweight clash headlining UFC BJJ 11, marking the first time an active UFC fighter has competed against a UFC BJJ titleholder.

MMA Jul 13

Police on red alert for England vs Argentina semi-final as mixed seating raises fan clash fears

Atlanta Police have enhanced security ahead of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where FIFA's open ticket sales mean rival fans could be seated side by side in a 75,000-capacity venue.

Football Jul 13

Pollock demands England starting shirt after hat-trick dismantles Fiji

Henry Pollock scored a hat-trick as England routed Fiji 73-8, and the 21-year-old flanker has declared his ambition to start against Argentina — a call backed loudly by former England internationals Ben Youngs, Chris Ashton and Jeremy Guscott.

Rugby Jul 13