The Guardian

Blues defender apologises after ‘conduct unbecoming’ verdict Handed two-match ban and fined following off-season night out Carlton defender Lachie Cowan has received a “wake-up call” after being suspended for two matches for the use of an illicit substance during a night out last weekend. In addition to the ban, which will be served at the beginning of next season, Cowan was handed a $5,000 suspe…

Last week’s result in Auckland tempered progress made under Les Kiss but Saturday’s return fixture in Sydney offers a chance for redemption Australian rugby will serve up quantity on Saturday, with the first quadruple header at Accor Stadium providing a smorgasbord of the sport that is entering a golden runway through to two World Cups and a home Olympics over the next six years. The quality of t…

Henderson back on Merseyside, Farke threatens more misery for Carrick and Forest are a threat to Arsenal Premier League top scorers | Follow us on TikTok A lively reception awaits the former Liverpool midfielders Jordan Henderson and Xabi Alonso at Everton and, in the case of the former, any jeers can be considered an unintentional tribute. They will speak of what the 36-year-old is able to produ…

An impossible dream realised in the Vitality staging European football, and the Europa League is becoming an oasis for Bournemouth. No wins yet in the Premier League but in beating Sturm Graz to follow victory at Real Sociedad should ease the domestic pressures on Marco Rose. A pair of Brazilians secured club history on the gala night, Evanilson’s first-half header followed by Rayan’s close-range…

Halpin’s first playoff homer puts Cleveland ahead Williams strikes out nine as Guardians win 3-2 Cleveland bullpen retires 11 of final 12 Rays batters Petey Halpin hit a go-ahead two-run homer, Gavin Williams struck out nine over five innings and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Thursday to take a 2-1 lead. Game 4 of the b…

With the season approaching its climax, we look at the players who have perfected the art of smack talking through the years Today, even the most casual of WNBA fans have watched some of the league’s biggest stars talking trash on the court. But while the snarling convos look heated, most of the time, they are good-natured, competitive fun. Still, we wondered, who are the best trash talkers in th…

Defender says sorry after talks with Michael Carrick Any disciplinary action will not be made public by club Lisandro Martínez has apologised for claiming that Jason Wilcox, Manchester United’s director of football, failed to strengthen sufficiently in the summer window after discussions with the manager, Michael Carrick, and executive on Thursday. While any disciplinary action taken against him …

Three minutes into stoppage time Noah Sadiki hurdled a set of advertising hoardings sprinted across a running track and hurled himself at the jubilant Sunderland fans. Just as those supporters’ long awaited party in Portugal had looked in peril of falling a little flat, the Democratic Republic of Congo midfielder capitalised on excellent work from Enzo Le Fée and Granit Xhaka to lash home an eye-…

The Test stalwart on his surreal last stand at the Oval, his ‘shabby’ treatment by Rob Key and the vexed problem of cricket’s drinking culture On a rainy October afternoon, after his 20th season as a professional cricketer, Chris Woakes sits down at Edgbaston’s indoor nets and thinks of the advice that helped him when he was 17 and about to start a career in this consuming sport. “The words came …

Bordeaux No 8 takes on Gloucester in Champions Cup to underline hole he will leave Borthwick for the World Cup Swines are swirling above Twickenham, the cows have returned to their roots and hell is an icy sub-zero. Steve Borthwick has been given a free pass to pick one player based outside England. The consensus is that Jack Willis – Toulouse captain and two‑time Top 14 player of the season – wo…

Scott walking away to focus on other projects Disney+ was criticised after opening round this season Alex Scott, the former Football Focus host, has left her role as a presenter of the Women’s Champions League coverage on Disney+. It is understood it was Scott’s decision to walk away and focus on other projects, including her new show, One More Word WSL, with her fellow former England internation…

Defender sustained ACL injury on debut for club Iraola: ‘It is taking more time than we wanted’ Giovanni Leoni’s Liverpool return has been delayed because of the severity of the knee injury sustained on his debut, Andoni Iraola has revealed. The central defender had been expected to resume team training during the recent international break but that schedule has been put back by about a month. Co…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! It is quite funny that PSG felt like the good guys at the Etihad Stadium but if we briefly detach ourselves from the notion that the European champions’ own sportswashing and cashsplashing has also done immeasurable damage to the beautiful game, then their 4-2 Bigger Cup shellacking of Manchester City was pure cinema, baby! I was stunned at read…

A seventh consecutive French title looks likely with lopsided odds again favouring Toulouse and Bordeaux-Bègles The world is currently awash with uncertainty but not, sadly, in the case of rugby’s Champions Cup. This season’s winners will be either Toulouse or Bordeaux-Bègles. Next question? Such is the French stranglehold on the tournament – six consecutive years and counting – that it grows eve…

The competition returned after the international break as the reigning champions put on a devastating display and Italy looked for its next savior Famous faces in the crowd for English teams’ home matches on Wednesday. While Prince William delighted in his beloved Aston Villa’s 6-0 romp over Fenerbahce , Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City homecoming was spoiled by Paris Saint-Germain showing they st…