Lionel Messi was fined by Major League Soccer for slapping Philadelphia Union’s Quinn Sullivan during a 2-2 match. The game featured multiple clashes, including fines for other players and two red cards.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi slapped Quinn Sullivan near the end of the game after Sullivan appeared to elbow him.
The MLS fined Messi but did not share the fine amount.
Miami’s Ian Fray was also fined for grabbing Sullivan’s neck in another incident.
The match ended with two players, Miami’s Yannick Bright and Sullivan’s brother Cavan, receiving red cards.
Cavan’s one-game suspension was later lifted after review.
Messi scored Miami’s second goal, his first since his father’s recent passing.
Messi had been in Argentina for his father Jorge Messi’s funeral; his father was also his agent.
Miami is second in the MLS Eastern Conference, seven points behind the leaders Nashville.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The medal for the upcoming Sydney Marathon appears to show a stadium from Munich, Germany, instead of Sydney’s Allianz Stadium. The marathon will take place on August 30, with about 40,000 runners expected to participate.
Key Facts
The Sydney Marathon medal shows a stadium resembling Munich’s Allianz Arena instead of Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
The Allianz Arena in Munich has many diamond-shaped cushions, while Sydney’s stadium has a flatter design with bronze fins.
The marathon course runs past Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
Around 40,000 runners will run in the Sydney Marathon on August 30.
The Sydney Marathon received over 120,000 entries through a ballot system.
The medal’s other side features artwork by First Nations artist Ambrose Killian, representing each kilometer of the 42.2 km race.
A similar medal mistake happened last year at the Great North Run in Newcastle.
Sydney joined six other major marathon cities in 2024, with Cape Town to join next year.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tyrhys Dolan, a football player who moved from Blackburn Rovers to Espanyol in Spain, is preparing to play against Real Madrid in an important match. He feels more experienced and responsible after his first season and plans to stay focused on his game despite the excitement of facing a top team.
Key Facts
Tyrhys Dolan played five years at Blackburn Rovers before joining Espanyol last summer.
Dolan scored a goal in Espanyol’s 3-0 win against Levante at the start of the season.
Espanyol will play Real Madrid at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday at 20:30 BST.
Real Madrid is managed by Jose Mourinho, who is known for wanting to win every game.
Dolan may face English players Jude Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold during the match.
Dolan has adapted to living in Spain by learning the culture and language, which has helped him grow as a player.
He feels more responsible in his second season and wants to keep a steady routine before games.
Dolan believes Espanyol must avoid mistakes since Real Madrid will take advantage of them.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Lionel Messi was fined by Major League Soccer (MLS) for hitting an opponent in the face during a game between Inter Miami and Philadelphia Union. Other players, including Inter Miami’s Ian Fray and Toronto FC’s Walker Zimmerman, were also fined for rule violations during recent matches.
Key Facts
Lionel Messi was fined for a hand-to-face violation in the 101st minute of the Inter Miami vs. Philadelphia Union game that ended 2-2.
Inter Miami defender Ian Fray received the same fine for the same type of violation.
Philadelphia’s Cavan Sullivan had a red card and one-game suspension overturned after an appeal.
Sullivan is allowed to play in the next Union match against Austin FC.
Each MLS club has two chances to appeal unsuccessful disciplinary actions per season.
Toronto FC defender Walker Zimmerman was fined for not leaving the field quickly after a red card.
Minnesota United defender Anthony Markanich was fined for simulation, which means faking a foul, in a loss to Atlanta United.
The disciplinary actions were announced by the MLS Disciplinary Committee and the Independent Review Panel.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Amanda Serrano kept her WBA and WBO featherweight boxing titles by winning a close fight against Lucrecia Manzur. The match was the first world title fight streamed live on TikTok and had 3.4 million viewers.
Key Facts
Amanda Serrano won by majority decision, with scores of 114-114, 116-112, and 116-112.
This was Serrano’s 50th career win and she remains tied with Christy Martin for the most knockouts (32) in women’s boxing.
The fight lasted 12 rounds, each lasting two minutes.
Serrano’s previous fights have drawn millions of viewers on streaming platforms like Netflix.
The match took place in Temeculam, California.
Serrano is 37 years old and plans to have a farewell fight later this year or in early 2027.
On the undercard, Melissa Mortensen from Denmark won the vacant WBA super-bantamweight title.
Serrano said she trained hard because her opponent was younger and tough.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A German Cup soccer match between Waldhof Mannheim and Kaiserslautern was stopped for about 30 minutes because fans threw fireworks and ran onto the field. After the delay, the game continued and Kaiserslautern won 1-0 with a last-minute goal in extra time.
Key Facts
The match was between SV Waldhof Mannheim and 1. FC Kaiserslautern in Mannheim, Germany.
The game was tied 0-0 before extra time began.
Fans at both ends threw flares and other objects onto the pitch.
Some Mannheim fans invaded the field before police in riot gear and on horses pushed them back.
The delay lasted just under 30 minutes.
Ibrahim Kanate scored the only goal in the last minute of extra time.
Kaiserslautern won the match 1-0 and moved on to the second round of the German Cup.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Los Angeles Dodgers player Andy Pages broke his left hand after being hit by a pitch during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was taken out of the game and will likely be out for about four to five weeks, with a chance to return before the season ends.
Key Facts
Andy Pages is an All-Star center fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He was hit on the back of his left hand by a pitch in the third inning.
X-rays confirmed he has a fractured hand.
Pages was replaced by Kiké Hernández starting the fifth inning.
Manager Dave Roberts said the injury is not expected to end Pages’ season.
Pages might need surgery, but it probably won’t delay his return.
Utility player Tommy Edman may play center field while Pages recovers.
Pages is having a strong season, batting .272 with 25 home runs and 80 RBIs.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arsenal, Marseille, and Real Betis all won their first league games of the 2026 season without letting their opponents score. Arsenal defeated Coventry City 3-0 in England, Marseille beat Strasbourg 4-0 in France, and Real Betis won 1-0 against Real Sociedad in Spain. Meanwhile, the German Cup first round was affected by fan disturbances.
Key Facts
Arsenal won 3-0 against newly promoted Coventry City in the Premier League opener.
Arsenal players Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard scored goals.
Coventry City returned to the Premier League after 25 years but were outplayed.
Marseille beat Strasbourg 4-0 with two goals from Amine Gouiri.
Gouiri scored once after the break and another from a penalty; Strasbourg had a player sent off.
Real Betis won 1-0 against Real Sociedad in the Spanish La Liga.
Betis’s goal came from Rodrigo Riquelme in the 63rd minute.
German Cup matches had problems due to fan disturbances and pyrotechnics.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tommy Edman hit a single in the 10th inning, scoring the winning run as the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4. The Dodgers remain undefeated in extra-inning games this season with a 5-0 record.
Key Facts
The game took place on Friday, August 21, 2026, in Los Angeles.
Tommy Edman hit a two-strike, walk-off single in the 10th inning.
Kiké Hernández scored from third base on Edman’s hit.
The Dodgers have won eight of their last eleven games.
Oneil Cruz of the Pirates hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning.
Sex toys were thrown onto the basketball court during two WNBA games on consecutive nights, causing interruptions. The Chicago Sky game on Friday and the Los Angeles Sparks game on Thursday both experienced delays while staff removed the items.
Key Facts
During a Chicago Sky home game, sex toys were thrown on the court in the third quarter.
The Sky won that game 73-70 against the Golden State Valkyries.
Players remained on the court while arena workers cleared the items.
A similar disruption happened the night before at the Los Angeles Sparks game.
A male suspect was detained, given a citation, and released in Los Angeles.
Comparable incidents occurred last WNBA season in Atlanta, New York, and Los Angeles.
Some past incidents led to arrests.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays passed his final concussion tests and is expected to return to play on Saturday after spending seven days on the injured list. He tested his readiness by playing a minor league rehab game and has been feeling normal since his injury last week.
Key Facts
Guerrero collided with a New York Yankees player at third base last Friday and suffered a concussion.
He was taken off the Blue Jays' lineup and placed on the seven-day injured list.
Guerrero recently played in a minor league rehab game and took batting practice before rejoining the Blue Jays.
He is currently batting .263 with 7 home runs and 46 RBIs this season.
The Blue Jays made four roster moves, including placing Josh Smith on the 10-day injured list due to a hamstring injury.
Pitcher Spencer Arrighetti was activated from the injured list and is expected to serve as a bulk reliever.
Outfielder Davis Schneider was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to the Blue Jays.
Reliever Brendan Cellucci was sent back to Triple-A and has not played since being recalled.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
IndyCar drivers are excited to race through a new course in downtown Washington, D.C., with famous landmarks like the U.S. Capitol visible. The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is part of President Donald Trump’s 250th birthday national celebration and marks a rare major motorsport event in the city.
Key Facts
The Freedom 250 Grand Prix is held on streets in downtown Washington, D.C., near landmarks such as the U.S. Capitol and National Gallery of Art.
This is the second major sporting event staged by President Trump in Washington for the nation’s 250th birthday; the first was a UFC fight in June.
IndyCar is a type of open-wheel car racing, different from NASCAR.
Roger Penske, IndyCar’s owner who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Trump in 2019, helped organize the race.
Drivers say the location and media attention offer a rare and exciting chance to showcase IndyCar outside its usual events like the Indy 500.
The race track includes a straight run down Pennsylvania Avenue and turns near the National Archives, the Justice Department, and the Smithsonian museums.
Washington, D.C. has little history with top-level motorsports, with only a previous event in 2002 held in a parking lot at RFK Stadium.
The event causes road closures but promises a spectacular setting if the weather is good.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
NHL referee Garrett Rank won his fourth Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur golf championship by making a 6-foot putt on the last hole. He finished the tournament with a score of 18-under 270 and earned a spot in the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship.
Key Facts
Garrett Rank is an NHL referee from Waterloo, Ontario.
He won the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship four times.
Rank made a 6-foot par putt on the final hole to secure his one-stroke victory.
He finished with a total score of 18-under 270.
The tournament took place at Brantford Golf & Country Club in Ontario.
Third-round leader Evan Nachtigall ended in second place after a bogey on the last hole.
Rank previously won the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur title three years in a row from 2014 to 2016.
He also won the 2012 Canadian College/University Individual Championship.
Winning this tournament qualified Rank for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship in Wisconsin.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
England won their first Test match against Pakistan by a large margin, marking a strong start for Joe Root's second period as captain. The match showed promise for England's new bowling lineup and highlighted rising players like Jordan Cox.
Key Facts
England won the Test match against Pakistan by an innings, finishing the game early.
This game was the first Test under Joe Root’s new captaincy term.
England's bowling team is rebuilding after losing key players like Ben Stokes, Stuart Broad, and James Anderson.
Four fast bowlers—Jofra Archer, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, and Gus Atkinson—led England’s attack successfully.
There is currently no strong, regular spin bowler for England in Test cricket.
Jordan Cox scored 73 runs in his first significant Test opportunity, showing promising skill.
The match raised questions about future team selections, including spots for opener and wicketkeeper roles.
England plans to use mostly fast bowlers but will need spinners for upcoming matches in places like Bangladesh.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison missed most of the 2025-26 season due to a serious knee injury. During this time, he and his partner welcomed their second set of twins. Maddison credits his family and new coach Roberto de Zerbi for helping him and the team through a tough season.
Key Facts
James Maddison suffered a ruptured ACL injury in August 2025, sidelining him for most of the season.
Maddison and his partner have five children aged four and under, including two sets of twins.
He described the past year as the toughest of his life but said his family helped him through.
Maddison’s eldest son thought he had left Spurs because he missed so many games.
Tottenham struggled in the 2025-26 season and barely avoided relegation.
New coach Roberto de Zerbi joined in March 2026 and focused on getting the team to enjoy playing football again.
De Zerbi held a team dinner allowing alcohol to help players relax and bond.
Maddison made a brief return to play in May 2026 but hasn’t played in pre-season yet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Alabama’s football team is spending less money on its players than other top college football programs. This change follows the retirement of their longtime coach Nick Saban and has affected their ability to sign some key players. Alabama is still focusing on recruiting from high school rather than spending more on established players.
Key Facts
Alabama’s football team spends about $30 million on its roster, less than the $40 million spent by top programs.
The team spent less in Saban’s last three years than some SEC teams will spend in one season in 2026.
Nick Saban’s retirement led some players, like Caleb Downs, to transfer to other schools.
Alabama lost a transfer player, Hollywood Smothers, to Texas because Texas offered more money.
Alabama still has top recruits like five-star quarterback Keelon Russell expected to start.
Other programs are spending more on transfer players and experienced athletes.
Alabama’s strategy focuses more on recruiting high school players than buying veteran talent.
The upcoming season will show if Alabama’s lower spending approach is still effective.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The college football show "College GameDay" will visit three campuses at the start of the season for games involving top-ranked teams LSU, Texas, and Ole Miss. LSU, led by new coach Lane Kiffin, has spent a lot of money on players and hopes to compete for the College Football Playoff. The show will be at Ole Miss when LSU plays there, marking Kiffin’s return to Oxford.
Key Facts
"College GameDay" plans to broadcast from LSU, Texas, and Ole Miss in its first three shows of the season.
These three teams are ranked in the preseason AP Top 15: LSU (11th), Texas (5th), Ole Miss (9th).
Lane Kiffin is the new head coach of LSU and is known as the "Portal King" for recruiting many players via the transfer portal.
LSU’s roster may be the most expensive in college football, estimated at $40-50 million.
LSU made big-money deals to sign top players like quarterback Sam Leavitt and offensive tackle Jordan Seaton.
The games include LSU vs. Clemson at LSU’s stadium and LSU vs. Ole Miss in Oxford.
Kiffin’s return to Ole Miss will be a key moment covered by "College GameDay."
LSU has high hopes this season due to its strong roster and coaching changes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
WNBA player Caitlin Clark is launching a new color version of her first Nike signature shoe called the Caitlin 1. The new sneaker will be available on October 1 for $140, and Clark wants fans to feel connected to her through the shoe.
Key Facts
Caitlin Clark is an Indiana Fever All-Star guard in her third WNBA season.
She is the 2024 No. 1 overall WNBA draft pick.
Clark leads the WNBA in assists and is third in scoring this season.
The Caitlin 1 is her first Nike signature sneaker.
The newest colorway mixes seaform green, dark blue, muted purple, with a golden orange Nike swoosh and CC logo.
Other colors released include racer blue, black, neon green, hot pink, yellow, and purple.
The Caitlin 1 shoes will officially launch on October 1 and sell for $140.
Clark hopes the shoe helps fans feel connected to her, whether they know her personally or are just fans.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Thomas Castellanos, a talented quarterback who played for Florida State, UCF, and Boston College, has been granted one more year of college eligibility. Instead of returning to his previous schools, he entered the transfer portal and is expected to join Texas Tech, a team looking for a new quarterback.
Key Facts
Thomas Castellanos was Florida State's starting quarterback last season.
He has also played for UCF and Boston College.
He was granted an extra year of eligibility to play college football.
Castellanos entered the transfer portal, a system allowing players to switch schools.
Texas Tech is likely to recruit him as they need a quarterback.
Texas Tech's previous quarterback, Brendan Sorsby, left amid a gambling scandal and is now preparing for the NFL Draft.
Castellanos is experienced as a dual-threat quarterback, able to pass and run the ball effectively.
Texas Tech hopes adding Castellanos will improve their chances in the Big 12 conference and the College Football Playoff.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
During a WNBA game between the Chicago Sky and Golden State Valkyries, fans threw sex toys onto the basketball court. This followed a similar incident at a previous WNBA game in Atlanta where a fan was arrested and banned from league events for throwing a sex toy.
Key Facts
At least three green sex toys were thrown onto the court during the Chicago Sky vs. Golden State Valkyries game.
The incident happened at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Fans booed the person responsible for throwing the items.
In a previous game in Atlanta, a fan threw a sex toy during a free throw attempt.
The Atlanta fan was arrested and banned indefinitely from all NBA, WNBA, and related events.
Chicago Sky won their game against Golden State 73-70 with a last-second 3-point shot by Sydney Taylor.
The Sky had a three-game winning streak and were preparing to play Indiana Fever next.
Veteran guard Natasha Cloud scored the most points for Chicago with 17.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
