Football

Soccer-UEFA countries to boycott World Cup over FIFA proposals

July 30 (Reuters) - UEFA's member ⁠associations have unanimously voted to boycott the World Cup and ⁠other FIFA competitions in protest at FIFA's plan to sell ‌stakes to external investors in a subsidiary that will run the global governing body's tournaments, European soccer's governing body said following a virtual meeting on Thursday.

Football

Soccer-FA toughens sanctions on Premier League players for discrimination offences

July 30 (Reuters) - Premier ⁠League players found guilty of discrimination offences will ⁠face a minimum 10-match ban under strengthened English ‌FA sanction guidelines for aggravated breaches, the governing body said on Thursday.

Rugby

Rugby-Scottish Rugby CEO Williamson sacked after investigation

July 30 (Reuters) - ⁠Scottish Rugby CEO Alex Williamson ⁠has been sacked after an ‌independent investigation into his conduct, the national body's chair John McGuigan said on Thursday.

Football

Soccer-Neymar, Casemiro, Danilo not in Brazil's plans as Ancelotti turns to next generation

July 30 (Reuters) - Neymar, Casemiro and ⁠Danilo will no longer be in Brazil's plans as they look to build a ⁠younger squad for the 2028 Copa America, coach Carlo Ancelotti has told ‌Brazilian broadcaster ge.

Badminton

Zi Yu-Noraqilah, Pearly-Thinaah reach Taiwan Open quarters

PETALING JAYA: Women's doubles pair Low Zi Yu-Noraqilah Maisarah Ramdan booked their place in the Taiwan Open quarter-finals after upsetting third seeds Hsu Yin-hui-Lin Jhih-yun on Thursday (July 30).

Football

Soccer-Real defender Asencio sidelined due to leg injury

July 30 (Reuters) - ⁠Real Madrid centre ⁠back Raul Asencio has suffered ‌a leg muscle injury, the club said on Thursday, with ​Spanish media reporting ⁠the 23-year-old ⁠may face several weeks on ⁠the ‌sidelines.

Badminton

Ee Wei thanks Nova for helping her and Tang Jie grow into world beaters

PETALING JAYA: Mixed doubles shuttler Toh Ee Wei has paid a heartfelt tribute to departing coach Nova Widianto, thanking the Indonesian for his guidance, trust and unwavering support throughout their journey together.

Football

Soccer-Chelsea sign French defender Lacroix from Crystal Palace

July 30 (Reuters) - Chelsea ⁠have signed defender Maxence Lacroix from ⁠Crystal Palace on a deal until 2032, ‌the Premier League club said on Thursday.

Cricket

Cricket-England reappoint Root as test captain, name New Zealander Fleming as coach

LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - England named Joe Root as ⁠test captain and appointed former New Zealand batter Stephen Fleming as head coach on Thursday following the departures of Ben Stokes ⁠and Brendon McCullum.

Football

Soccer-Champions Man City begin WSL title defence at home to Birmingham

MANCHESTER, England, July ⁠30 (Reuters) - Women's Super League champions Manchester ⁠City will launch their title defence on ‌September 6 at home to Birmingham City, who won the 2025-26 WSL2 title to secure promotion, the ​WSL said on Thursday.

Football

Soccer-Asia confederation chief says FIFA's lack of consultation over World Cup plan 'totally unacceptable'

July 30 (Reuters) - Asian Football Confederation ⁠president Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al-Khalifa has branded FIFA's lack of consultation over its plan to ⁠sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors "totally unacceptable", saying the move undermined the sport's ‌existing continental structure.

Football

Soccer-Newcastle manager Howe steps down with immediate effect say media reports

July 30 (Reuters) - Newcastle United manager ⁠Eddie Howe has stepped down from his role with immediate effect and will ⁠be replaced by Al Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle, British media reported on Thursday.

Badminton

Zii Jia falls to All-England champ, Justin sets up Korean clash

PETALING JAYA: Shuttler Lee Zii Jia's Taiwan Open campaign came to an end after he lost to reigning All-England champion Lin Chun-yi in the second round on Thursday (July 30).

Swimming

Swimming-Le Clos sets new record medal count for Commonwealth Games

GLASGOW, July 30 (Reuters) - Veteran South ⁠African swimmer Chad le Clos won a 21st Commonwealth Games medal ⁠late on Wednesday to overtake Australia's Emma McKeon as the most ‌decorated athlete in the Games' history.

Football

Soccer-World Cup hero Vozinha in bid to keep name for new club career

July 30 (Reuters) - Chilean club Colo-Colo are ⁠seeking permission for new signing Vozinha to use his footballing nickname on his shirt when ⁠he debuts for the club as expected later this month despite regulations in the South ‌American country prohibiting it.

Football

Soccer-UEFA to boycott World Cup and FIFA tournaments over stake sale plans

LONDON, July 30 (Reuters) - European soccer's governing body UEFA ⁠and its 55 member nations on Thursday voted to boycott all FIFA tournaments in what could be a knockout blow to the global soccer organisation's proposal to sell a stake in ⁠the World Cup to external investors.

Badminton

Successful mixed doubles coach Nova leaves BAM with head held high

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's mixed doubles head coach Nova Widianto will leave the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) on Friday (July 31), bringing his three-year stint with the national body to an end.

Cricket

Cricket-Out-of-favour India batter Rahane quits international cricket

NEW DELHI, July ⁠30 (Reuters) - Middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane, who served as India's stand-in test captain on ⁠several occasions, announced his retirement from international cricket on Thursday, ending his ‌pursuit of a recall to the test side.

Football

Soccer-Saudi Arabia confirmed to host Asian Champions League Elite finals

July 30 (Reuters) - Saudi ⁠Arabia will organise the next three ⁠editions of the Asian Champions League ‌Elite finals after the Asian Football Confederation's executive committee confirmed the country's provisional hosting rights had been made ​permanent on Friday.

Football

Soccer-De Zerbi wants Bergvall to stay at Spurs but offers no starting guarantees

July 29 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur ⁠manager Roberto De Zerbi said on Wednesday he wants ⁠Lucas Bergvall to remain at the club but cannot ‌guarantee the Sweden midfielder a place in his starting lineup amid reports linking the 20-year-old with a move away.