The Vuelta a Espana, a major cycling race in Spain, faces disruptions due to protests by pro-Palestinian groups. These protests have caused the race stages to be cut short or disrupted, prompting concerns about safety. Despite the disruptions, race organizers plan to continue the event until its scheduled finish in Madrid.
Key Facts
Protests during the Vuelta a Espana have happened multiple times, affecting the race schedule.
Some stages of the race have been shortened or interrupted due to the actions of protestors.
Riders are concerned about their safety, but the race organizers have stated that they intend to finish the race as planned.
Thursday's time trial stage was reduced from 27.2 km to 12.2 km for safety reasons.
The protests are linked to Israel-Premier Tech, a team involved in the race, due to recent events in Gaza.
Israel-Premier Tech is co-owned by a Canadian-Israeli businessman with ties to the Israeli government.
The team has been in top-level cycling since 2020 and includes well-known cyclists like Chris Froome and Michael Woods.
Newcastle United cancelled tickets bought by a school 200 miles away for a game against Barcelona. The tickets came from unauthorized reselling, and affected season ticket holders lost their tickets without a refund.
Key Facts
Newcastle United cancelled 45 tickets for their game against Barcelona.
The High School of Dundee, located about 200 miles away, purchased the tickets.
The tickets were originally sold by fans through unauthorized reselling.
The club cancelled the season tickets of the fans who resold them.
These tickets will be available again to Newcastle United supporters.
A school spokesman said the school bought the tickets in good faith.
Lisa Mole from the Newcastle United Supporters Trust commented on the matter.
Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria has suggested that Israeli sports teams should face bans similar to those imposed on Russian teams after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This suggestion follows protests against the participation of the Israeli team, Israel-Premier Tech, in the Vuelta a Espana cycling race. The protests are linked to Spain's strong opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Key Facts
Spanish Sports Minister Pilar Alegria compared Israel's participation in sports to the bans on Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Protests in Spain have targeted the Israeli cycling team, Israel-Premier Tech, at the Vuelta a Espana race.
Israel-Premier Tech is a private cycling team, not a national team, and is owned by a billionaire.
The protests have led to some stages of the Vuelta being shortened for security reasons.
The Spanish government's stance on the Gaza conflict is one of the strongest pro-Palestinian positions in Europe.
Israeli military actions in Gaza are a response to a cross-border attack by Hamas, resulting in high civilian casualties.
Pilar Alegria suggested the cycling governing body, UCI, should decide on the ban against Israel-Premier Tech.
Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded not guilty to a charge involving an indecent image of a child at a court in England. The charge followed police recovery of a related video in February. Coote received conditional bail and will appear in court again on October 9.
Key Facts
David Coote is a former Premier League referee.
He is accused of making an indecent image of a child.
Coote entered a not guilty plea at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.
Police found a video related to the charge in February.
Coote was granted conditional bail and must return to court on October 9.
He was fired from refereeing in December after a video showed him making derogatory remarks.
Coote was banned by UEFA from officiating until June 2026 due to a separate video.
Coote publicly identified as gay in January, stating this had influenced past decisions.
England's Football Association (FA) has charged the Premier League club Chelsea with 74 rule violations. These charges relate to the club's dealings with football agents, intermediaries, and third-party investments from 2009 to 2022, especially between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons.
Key Facts
Chelsea faces 74 charges from England's Football Association.
The charges concern rules about football agents, intermediaries, and third-party player investments.
The alleged rule breaches occurred between 2009 and 2022.
Most of the issues happened during the 2010-11 to 2015-16 seasons.
Chelsea reported the issues themselves after a change of ownership in May 2022.
The club was sold by Roman Abramovich to an investment group in 2022.
Chelsea claims to have fully cooperated by providing all necessary information to the FA.
The club aims to work with the FA to resolve the issue quickly.
Jailed footballer Lucas Akins is included in Mansfield Town's squad list for the season. Akins started serving a 14-month sentence in April after pleading guilty to causing a cyclist's death due to careless driving. He may return to play for Mansfield before Christmas if released early on license.
Key Facts
Lucas Akins is a football player for Mansfield Town, a League One team.
In April, Akins began a 14-month jail sentence for causing a cyclist's death by driving carelessly or inconsiderately.
He might be released halfway through his sentence, with the remaining months spent under supervision.
Akins has been named on the squad list, meaning he could play this season once released.
Mansfield Town stated they will decide on Akins's future once he is out of jail.
Akins joined Mansfield from Burton Albion in January 2022 and has played over 150 matches for them.
He played a match for the team just hours after pleading guilty in court.
Chelsea football club has been charged with 74 rule violations by the Football Association related to payments made to agents from 2009 to 2022. The focus is on events from the 2010-11 to 2015-16 seasons, and the club has until September 19 to respond.
Key Facts
Chelsea has been charged with 74 alleged rule violations by the Football Association.
The charges relate to payments made to agents, intermediaries, and third parties.
The specific time frame in focus is between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons.
Chelsea is required to respond to these charges by September 19.
Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich owned the club from 2003 to 2022.
Abramovich sold Chelsea last year to a group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital.
Chelsea stated they self-reported these issues to relevant regulatory bodies after the sale.
The club provided the regulators with access to files and historical data.
Olympic swimmer Ben Proud has joined a new event called the Enhanced Games, where athletes can use banned performance-enhancing drugs under medical supervision. The event offers high prize money, and Proud expressed that earning from traditional sports doesn't provide enough financial stability. The Enhanced Games has faced criticism for potentially risking athletes' health and fairness in sports.
Key Facts
Ben Proud is an Olympic swimmer who joined the Enhanced Games.
The Enhanced Games allow athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs legally under medical guidance.
Prize money at the Enhanced Games is much higher than some traditional competitions.
Proud stated it would take 13 years of winning World Championships to earn the same as winning one race at the Enhanced Games.
The Enhanced Games offers athletes an appearance fee and up to $1 million for breaking a world record.
The Enhanced Games faces criticism from governing bodies, including the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The inaugural Enhanced Games event is scheduled for May 2026 in Las Vegas.
Proud emphasized he is not required to take drugs and will rely on medical advice if necessary.
Venezuela's national football team coach, Fernando Batista, was fired after the team lost a World Cup qualifying match against Colombia. The decision came after Venezuela's president called for changes following the team's failure to qualify for the World Cup. Batista and his entire coaching staff were dismissed as a result.
Key Facts
Venezuela's football coach, Fernando Batista, was fired after a World Cup qualifying loss.
The team's qualifications hopes ended after losing 6-3 to Colombia.
Venezuela has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup.
President Nicolas Maduro requested changes to the coaching staff after the loss.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will expand from 32 to 48 teams, raising hopes for more teams to qualify.
Bolivia, not Venezuela, secured a spot in the intercontinental playoffs.
Another team, Peru, also fired their coach after failing to qualify for the World Cup.
Two British tennis players, Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic, both 16 years old, are ready to move from junior to senior professional tennis after notable achievements in junior tournaments. Klugman has achieved high junior rankings, while Stojsavljevic has won a junior Grand Slam and recently competed in professional matches. Both athletes express their readiness to compete at higher levels.
Key Facts
Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic are 16-year-old tennis players from Britain.
Klugman reached the finals of the French Open and the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in junior competitions.
Stojsavljevic won a junior Grand Slam and competed well in a professional WTA match, taking a top-60 player to a tie-break.
Both players debuted in the professional circuit at age 14.
Klugman can still compete in junior tournaments but feels ready for senior competitions.
Stojsavljevic won a $35,000 tournament on the ITF World Tennis Tour and is coached by Jeremy Bates.
Klugman has been coached by Ben Haran and works with a fitness trainer and physiotherapist.
The WTA's age rules limit competition for 16-year-olds, allowing only 12 professional tournaments per year.
Former Leicester City player Jamie Vardy has joined the Italian football team Cremonese at 38 years old. He signed on a free transfer and is set to debut against Verona. Vardy aims to keep playing as long as he feels physically capable.
Key Facts
Jamie Vardy is a former striker for Leicester City.
Vardy played for Leicester for 13 years, scoring 200 goals in 500 games.
He was part of Leicester's Premier League-winning team in the 2015-16 season.
Vardy joined Cremonese, a team newly promoted to Serie A, on a free transfer.
Cremonese will play against Verona, and Vardy might make his debut in that match.
Vardy believes age does not impact his ability to play well.
He plans to learn Italian but feels that football itself has a universal language.
Cremonese started their season by beating AC Milan 2-1 and Sassuolo 3-2.
Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson says she has improved since last year as she gets ready for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. She shared this update with Jessica Ennis-Hill in an interview on BBC Sport.
Key Facts
Keely Hodgkinson is an Olympic 800m champion.
She believes she is better than she was last year.
Hodgkinson is preparing for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
She shared her thoughts in an interview with Jessica Ennis-Hill.
The interview is available on BBC iPlayer for UK users.
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Former Liverpool football player Andre Wisdom was stabbed in 2020 during a robbery after attending a house party in Liverpool. Despite recovering from the attack, which involved multiple stab wounds, Wisdom's football career changed direction. He now plays for a lower-league team, but still experiences physical pain from the incident.
Key Facts
Andre Wisdom is a former Liverpool football player.
He was stabbed in 2020 by masked men who stole his watch.
The attack happened after a house party in Liverpool.
Wisdom had surgery and recovered, but his career was affected.
He played for Derby County and was released in 2021.
In 2023, he signed with non-league Warrington Town and later played for Derry City.
Wisdom currently plays for FC United of Manchester in the seventh tier of English football.
Wisdom still feels physical pain from the stabbing.
Everton has undergone a major turnaround, spending a record £97 million to recruit nine new players. The club, once close to relegation, is now fifth in the Premier League and has moved to a new stadium. Their financial health has improved thanks to profits from player sales and a takeover by the Friedkin Group.
Key Facts
David Moyes returned as Everton's manager in January when the team was near relegation.
Everton bought nine players this summer, spending £97 million.
The club avoided relegation by 23 points and is now fifth in the Premier League.
Previously penalized for breaching financial rules, the club has changed its spending strategies.
The takeover by the Friedkin Group has stabilized Everton's finances.
Everton moved to Hill Dickinson Stadium, which holds over 52,000 people.
The club made £86 million from player sales between 2021 and 2025.
Everton plans to generate more income through the new stadium's expanded capacity and facilities.
Medals from the 2025 Great North Run mistakenly featured an image of the wrong location and are being sold online as rare collectibles for high prices. The Great Run Company apologized for the mistake and warned potential buyers about scams. They encouraged people who want a medal to participate in the 2026 race.
Key Facts
The 2025 Great North Run medals showed an outline of Sunderland and the River Wear instead of the correct Newcastle, Gateshead, South Shields, and River Tyne route.
Some medals are listed for sale online for as much as £5,000, with other prices as low as £35.
The Great North Run organizers apologized for the error and emphasized that each medal should be a meaningful memento for participants.
The organization warned people to be cautious of potential scams when buying the medals online.
People interested in obtaining a Great North Run medal are encouraged to apply for the 2026 event, which is open for applications.
The Great Run Company promises future medals will have special designs.
The error was notably not noticed by the event’s founder, Sir Brendan Foster, who admired the designs.
The Great North Run has been held annually since 1981, drawing thousands of participants each year.
Keely Hodgkinson, an Olympic 800m champion, went through a challenging year with two severe hamstring injuries but made a strong comeback in August. She aims to achieve her first World Championship gold at the upcoming event in Tokyo, despite setbacks that previously affected her competitive season.
Key Facts
Keely Hodgkinson is a 23-year-old Olympic 800m champion.
She suffered two hamstring tears in a year, delaying her return after winning at Paris 2024.
Her first injury was a left hamstring tear before an indoor world record attempt in February.
A second, more severe tear in May almost jeopardized her World Championships hopes.
She returned competitively in August, running the year's fastest 800m in 1:54.74.
Hodgkinson aims for a World Championship gold at the Tokyo event.
Her coaching team played a crucial role in her recovery and motivation.
Hodgkinson acknowledges the past year's difficulties but values the lessons learned.
India and Pakistan will face off in a cricket match during the T20 Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai. Although India holds the official hosting rights, the match takes place in the UAE due to tensions between the countries. India recently defeated the UAE in the tournament, while Pakistan comes off a series win against Afghanistan and the UAE.
Key Facts
The India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for Sunday at 6:30 pm local time in Dubai, UAE.
India could not host the match at home due to conflicts with Pakistan, so it's held in a neutral location.
The Indian government does not allow Indian athletes to play bilateral tournaments in Pakistan.
India defeated the UAE in their first Asia Cup match, winning by nine wickets.
Pakistan recently won a tri-nation series against Afghanistan and the UAE.
The weather forecast for the match is hot and humid, with temperatures around 41°C during the day.
Historically, India has beaten Pakistan 10 times in Asia Cup matches, while Pakistan has won 6 times.
Pakistan last won against India in an Asia Cup match in 2022, with Mohammad Rizwan as the top scorer.
The T20 cricket match between England and South Africa in Cardiff was shortened due to rain, leading to a reduced game. England captain Harry Brook described the night as chaotic and noted the challenges of a shortened match. South Africa won by scoring 97-5, setting a target England could not reach in their five allotted overs.
Key Facts
The match in Cardiff between England and South Africa was shortened because of rain.
The game started late and was reduced to nine overs per side.
South Africa scored 97 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in their 7.5 overs.
Rain further reduced England's playing time to five overs, with a target of 69 runs.
England finished with 54 runs for 5 wickets, losing the match.
Harry Brook, England's captain, called the rain-shortened match chaotic.
A change in the playing team saw Jofra Archer replaced by Luke Wood, who took 2 wickets for 22 runs.
The series will continue at Old Trafford, with uncertain weather expected.
England lost to South Africa by 14 runs in a cricket match played in Cardiff. The game was shortened to nine overs per team because of rain, and South Africa scored 97-5. England needed 69 runs from five overs but reached only 54-5.
Key Facts
The cricket match between England and South Africa was affected by rain.
Each team played only nine overs due to delays.
South Africa scored 97 runs with the loss of 5 wickets in 7.5 overs.
England's revised target was 69 runs in five overs.
England ended their innings at 54-5, losing by 14 runs.
South African players Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen each took two wickets.
Jos Buttler from England scored 25 runs from 11 balls, hitting three sixes.
The players are set for the next match in the series at Old Trafford on Friday, with more rain expected.
A fan using crutches caught a cricket ball in the crowd during the first T20 match between England and South Africa at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. Fans were enjoying the match despite reduced overs.
Key Facts
A fan with crutches caught a cricket ball in the crowd.
The event took place during a T20 cricket match.
The match was between England and South Africa.
The match was held at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.
The game had reduced overs, meaning they played fewer sets.
Fans were still enjoying the match despite the changes.
