The Guardian

All the latest updates from around the grounds Middlesex chair Sykes to resign | Email Tanya It was advantage Warwickshire at the top but perhaps the most significant action of the day came off the pitch and at the bottom, with Leicestershire all but relegated after a points deduction. The Cricket Regulator had charged Leicestershire after the Grace Road pitch was rated as poor for last month’s w…

LeBron James was once one of the world’s most outspoken athletes. Now he’s plugging a predictions market and an authoritarian leader There was a time when LeBron James’s views on abuses of political power were considered dangerous enough that Donald Trump’s allies told him to shut up and dribble. But over time, James has become less outspoken. After he built a reputation as a voice on social issu…

Australian Joanna Wietrzyk went on to win fitness race in Beijing Hyrox admits making mistake by ‘not reacting immediately’ Organisers of the global indoor fitness competition Hyrox have apologised and pledged immediate rule changes after an Australian athlete was allowed to finish and win an event in Beijing despite soiling herself mid-race. Footage of world record holder Joanna Wietrzyk competi…

Our cartoonist on the English top-flight leading the way for debatable decisions and performative sadness Buy a cartoon | Some of David’s favourite works And his latest book, Chaos in the Box: get it now Continue reading...

Winger was one of the first big-money academy transfers, part of a child labour market that has barely been questioned “What’s your name?” “Raheem.” Continue reading...

Man behind US college football’s landmark match in London has dedicated his life to improving crowd safety since his daughter was killed in a crowd crush at a concert aged 23 On Saturday afternoon, as he looks out at the crowd of 60,000 he has helped entice to Wembley Stadium, Brian Dubiski’s dream will become a reality. But, as Arizona State and Kansas make history by playing the first US colleg…

‘I take responsibility … it doesn’t feel good at the moment’ United beaten 3-2 by Brighton after taking two-goal lead Michael Carrick admitted Manchester United’s Carabao Cup capitulation against Brighton that was greeted by boos at Old Trafford was unacceptable and that answers had to be found at Fulham on Sunday. United were knocked out 3-2 by Fabian Hürzeler’s visitors after leading 2-0 after …

Club legend Steve Fletcher reflects on the wild rise over two decades to playing Real Sociedad in the Europa League It is 13 years since Bournemouth, a couple of months after finishing runners-up to Doncaster in the third tier, hosted Real Madrid. It was a balmy summer’s day, officially Carlo Ancelotti’s first match in charge, and, a few hours after checking into the Haven hotel on the Sandbanks …

New play spotlights fans’ tortuous trek from the Goldstone Ground, via Gillingham and an athletics stadium It was the tip-off that changed Ian Hart’s life for ever. The funeral director from Worthing was co-editor of the Brighton fanzine Gull’s Eye when he received a phone call from Gordon Lucking, a Crystal Palace director, in July 1995. “Gordon always wanted to join the Brighton board, but they…

Mike Gatting has led calls for Sykes’ departure Beleaguered county’s chief executive left in June Richard Sykes is set to resign as chair of Middlesex in the latest change of leadership at the beleaguered county club. The Guardian has learned that Sykes has told the board of his decision to quit after three years as chair, with members to be informed later this week, after repeated calls from ex-…

International Olympic Committee endorses Fitzroy River course World Rowing and Paddle Worldwide back Australian venue A crocodile habitat has been given the green light to host 2032 rowing after the controversial site passed an assessment “with flying colours”. Olympic authorities on Thursday confirmed they had approved central Queensland’s Fitzroy River as a Brisbane Games venue, ending months o…

The much-loved winger has an ‘unbelievable’ Roosters highlights reel but will soon cross codes again for the next rugby union chapter in Japan Mark Nawaqanitawase, the prime producer of NRL highlights, will soon be lost to rugby league at the age of just 26. His performances have been described as “freaky” and “ridiculous”, but he is due to return to rugby union as early as Saturday night, unless…

American chair Boehly leaves role after deal is secured ‘I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned’ Todd Boehly and Mark Walter have sold their stakes in Chelsea in a deal under which Clearlake Capital takes full control of the Premier League club. The American billionaire businessmen Boehly and Walter were two of the investors who partnered with Clearlake to buy the club from Roman Abramovi…

For Aston Villa, an overdue drama-free outing as Unai Emery’s side cruised into the Carabao Cup fourth round courtesy of a Tammy Abraham double and a Ross Barkley header. Unfortunately for Coventry, it was a sorry case of more of the same. Frank Lampard’s side have lost five of their six matches in all competitions and continue to leak soft goals. It was hard to know whether Abraham’s tap-in or B…

Coach says Argentina’s gung-ho approach forced hand ‘No one is more hurt than me, no one wanted it more’ Thomas Tuchel stands by his heavily criticised defensive substitutions in the World Cup semi-final defeat against Argentina this summer, but the England head coach accepts he made them too early. Tuchel said England were “waiting for death”, unable to cope with the attacking tactics adopted by…