The Guardian

NBA is looking into claims of salary cap circumvention ESPN says league has no proof owner funneled money Steve Ballmer denies allegations; Leonard trade on hold The NBA has disputed an ESPN report on the league’s investigation into possible salary cap circumvention by the Los Angeles Clippers. On Monday, ESPN reported that, after an 11-month investigation, the NBA was not able to show proof that…

There are many good reasons why Burnley and West Ham are performing as Premier League tribute acts, slumming it in the Championship with the hope of a shot at the limelight once more. They are two flawed teams, relegated because of chronic defects, and plenty were on show as West Ham blew a two-goal lead to start life on the second-tier circuit with an entertaining draw. Zian Flemming’s late doub…

Chelsea chair Boehly and Walter each own about 13% Sale would give Clearlake effective control of club at 86% The Chelsea chair, Todd Boehly, and director Mark Walter are considering selling their shares in the club to the majority owners, Clearlake Capital, in a deal that would give the private equity company complete control at Stamford Bridge. Clearlake, whose investment is managed by Behdad E…

Teenager’s glorious strike made it 2-0 against Villarreal – but though they were pegged back to a draw the match sealed a feelgood return from the abyss “The poor kid couldn’t believe what had happened; none of us could have if we’d just done what he had just done,” said Álvaro Mantilla, Racing Santander’s captain in the match they had longed for more than anything in the world. Which was why the…

Big Three and Hunter Bell to meet in Zurich next week ‘I am really excited to throw my hat into the ring there’ Georgia Hunter Bell says she is ready to take on the “Big Three” of Audrey Werro, Keely Hodgkinson and Femke Broeders-Bol in a race for the ages over 800m in Zurich next week. Hunter Bell has had an extraordinary season, adding the 1500m European Championship title on Sunday to her Comm…

The unbeaten three-year-old’s showdown with Ombudsman promises a race for the ages but the Ebor Handicap remains the festival’s most compelling spectacle For the moment at least, there is a Bow Echo-shaped hole in the remainder of the 2026 Flat season, after the news last week that George Boughey’s unbeaten colt has been retired to stud after suffering a training setback. The 2,000 Guineas winner…

Essex opener faces unenviable task batting at No 3 against a new-ball master like Mohammad Abbas in Pakistan series It has been a complicated start to Jordan Cox’s England career. There have been a handful of white-ball appearances and a Test debut that was taken away from him two years ago when he broke a thumb in the buildup. The cap eventually arrived this summer, though only at No 7 as a spec…

Audio to be used during live broadcasts for first time Move is part of an expansion of the RefCam system The Premier League will permit audio of on-field conversations between players and referees during live broadcasts for the first time this season. The use of audio by the Premier League’s domestic rights holders, Sky Sports and TNT Sports, is part of an expansion of the RefCam system, which be…

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! When Berti Vogts was unveiled as Scotland’s first foreign manager, back in 2002, he had a simple instruction . “When we are playing,” he said, “you can call me Berti McVogts!” Scotland fans preferred a slightly courser sobriquet when, six months later, Scotland went 2-0 down to the Faroe Islands before scrambling a 2-2 draw . Vogts left after tw…

The Community Shield isn’t always a sign of things to come, but City’s form in their defeat to Arsenal is concerning in the wake of Pep Guardiola’s departure Sign up for our free newsletter here There are caveats. It was only the Community Shield – and no side has gone on to win the league after lifting the Community Shield since 2018. It was against the league champions, whose pre-season has inv…

After glory days of Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min, the new season could be Korean-free for first time since 2005 It has been a cruel summer for South Korea. The national team crashed and burned at the World Cup, the police are investigating the football association, reports have emerged about bribes paid to foreign referees in 2011 and 2012 and there is a real prospect of the English Premier Lea…

British sprinter catapulted herself into the mainstream by winning four golds in Birmingham and celebrated her final golden night in style Long before Amy Hunt catapulted herself into the mainstream by winning an unprecedented four gold medals at the European Championships, she was remarkably upfront about her ambitions. There was no coyness. No equivocation. She wanted the quadruple in Birmingha…

Larne defender Dan Bent has played in two European competitions this summer and now faces a former team in a Conference League tie that could earn his club vital funds By Playing in the Shadows Premier League footballers are gearing up for the start of the season, but some of their fellow professionals in smaller leagues across Europe have been going all summer – even those who play a winter camp…

Max Rushden is joined by Will Unwin, Sanny Rudravajhala and Ben Fisher as Arsenal coast past Manchester City to win the Community Shield. Continue reading...

Vicario has lost No 1 slot at Spurs to Antonin Kinsky Move could become permanent for £8.6m next year Juventus have agreed a deal with Tottenham for Guglielmo Vicario to join on an initial loan after the Italian side decided against a move for Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martínez. Vicario is set to leave Spurs having lost his place as Roberto De Zerbi’s No 1 to Antonin Kinsky, with the agreement with …