Belgian midfielder Arne Engels is close to moving from Celtic to West Ham United, with a medical check currently underway. Celtic’s manager Martin O’Neill said Engels wanted to move to English football, and the club had already turned down an offer from Nottingham Forest earlier.
Key Facts
Arne Engels joined Celtic from Augsburg earlier in 2024.
Engels is now having a medical as part of a transfer to West Ham United.
Celtic rejected a multi-million pound bid for Engels from Nottingham Forest in January.
Engels preferred a move to English football and was open to leaving Celtic.
Manager Martin O’Neill wanted Engels to stay until after the Champions League play-off against LASK.
West Ham wanted Engels available for the start of the new season.
Celtic’s right-back Alistair Johnston recently got a leg muscle injury and will be out for weeks.
Celtic signed new players recently and may bring in Chelsea’s left-back Landon Emenalo on loan.
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Rookie quarterback Drew Allar played well in his first NFL preseason game for the Pittsburgh Steelers, helping the team score multiple touchdowns. He completed 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and scored four touchdowns, showing strong performance after recovering from a broken ankle.
Key Facts
Drew Allar played three offensive drives in the Steelers' preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.
He completed 10 out of 13 passes for 153 yards and threw two touchdown passes.
Allar also scored two rushing touchdowns in the game.
This was his first game in nearly 10 months after a broken ankle ended his last college season early.
Steelers coach Mike McCarthy praised Allar and the other quarterbacks for their confident play.
Allar credited the coaching staff and practice for preparing him well for the game.
Steelers fans cheered for Allar as he entered the field, but he focused on the game instead.
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Jeremiyah Love, a top draft pick for the Arizona Cardinals, played well in his first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, gaining 58 yards on 11 runs. He said he felt more comfortable as the game went on and showed promising speed and moves that helped his team win 27-14.
Key Facts
Jeremiyah Love was the third overall pick in the NFL Draft.
He ran 11 times for 58 yards in the Cardinals’ preseason win.
Love was nearly the team’s leading rusher in the game.
He did not score a touchdown but made important plays to help the team.
Love felt nervous early but played more confidently as the game progressed.
The Cardinals will play against the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers next in preseason.
Love is expected to start the regular season against the Los Angeles Chargers on September 13.
Love was a running back at Notre Dame and was considered a candidate for the Heisman Trophy, an award for the best college football player.
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A minor league baseball team, the Portland Sea Dogs, gave away Cooper Flagg bobbleheads at a game, which caused a lot of excitement. Some people listed these bobbleheads for as much as $30,000 online, but most were priced around $500 and no one has paid the high asking prices yet.
Key Facts
The Portland Sea Dogs gave away Cooper Flagg bobbleheads to the first 1,000 fans at a game.
Cooper Flagg is an NBA star and local hero from Maine.
The giveaway happened at Hadlock Field in Portland, Maine.
The line to get the bobbleheads started early in the morning for a 6 p.m. game.
Some people listed the bobbleheads for sale online at prices as high as $30,000.
Most listings on eBay were priced around $500 with options to offer lower.
No one has bought the bobbleheads at the highest prices yet.
The bobblehead craze was especially popular in the 1990s and early 2000s.
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The Arizona Cardinals won their preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders 27-14, but rookie guard Chase Bisontis suffered a serious knee injury during the game. The injury is expected to keep Bisontis out for a long time, potentially through the rest of this year or into 2027.
Key Facts
The Cardinals defeated the Raiders 27-14 in their first preseason game.
Rookie guard Chase Bisontis was injured when a Raiders player fell into his left knee in the third quarter.
Bisontis was taken off the field on a cart and his injury is believed to be long-term.
Bisontis was expected to compete for the starting right guard position.
Isaiah Adams may now get the starting job by default unless the team finds new players.
Bisontis was the 34th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft from Texas A&M.
The Cardinals have had a history of injuries to rookie offensive linemen in recent preseasons.
This is the fourth consecutive year a rookie offensive lineman for the Cardinals has suffered a preseason injury.
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Russell Westbrook, a well-known NBA player, announced his retirement after 18 seasons in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who is now the main star for the Oklahoma City Thunder, tweeted his congratulations and appreciation for Westbrook’s career.
Key Facts
Russell Westbrook retired from professional basketball after playing 18 seasons.
Westbrook last played for the Sacramento Kings.
He spent most of his career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, who drafted him in 2008.
Westbrook was part of a star trio with James Harden and Kevin Durant that reached the NBA Finals in 2012.
He won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 2017 by averaging a triple-double for the season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tweeted to honor Westbrook, calling him an Oklahoma City legend.
Other NBA stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Donovan Mitchell, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James also reacted to Westbrook's retirement.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has won back-to-back MVP awards and brought a championship to Oklahoma City since Westbrook’s retirement.
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Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward led a strong touchdown drive in a preseason game but completed only five of 12 passes overall. Head coach Robert Saleh said Ward appeared rushed and needs to improve his mechanics and decision-making during live gameplay.
Key Facts
Cam Ward led a 95-yard touchdown drive in the Titans’ preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Ward completed 5 of 12 passes for 57 yards in the game.
Head coach Robert Saleh said Ward’s mechanics were too fast and he could improve his decision-making.
Saleh noted the preseason helps identify areas to correct before the regular season.
Ward had a disappointing rookie season with 3,169 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.
The Titans have a new coaching staff, including offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, focused on improving Ward.
Ward played college football at Incarnate Word, Washington State, and Miami.
The Titans’ next preseason game is against the Seattle Seahawks.
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The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 in an important baseball game. This win helps the Brewers keep their top spot in the National League, but their lead is becoming less secure.
Key Facts
The Brewers had the best record in Major League Baseball for much of the season.
They play a "small-ball" style, focusing on teamwork and strategy rather than power hitting.
The Brewers won 5-4 against the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine.
Both teams had four hits, but the Brewers had more hits with runners in scoring position.
The Brewers have won only four games this season when trailing after eight innings.
Their grip on first place in the National League Central division is weakening as the Chicago Cubs improve.
The Brewers have not reached the World Series since 1982.
There is ongoing concern about a possible labor dispute in baseball affecting the season’s end.
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Fernando Mendoza, the Las Vegas Raiders' top draft pick, played his first NFL preseason game in a 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown but acknowledged he made mistakes and wants to improve.
Key Facts
Fernando Mendoza is the No. 1 overall pick for the Las Vegas Raiders.
He completed 10 out of 16 pass attempts for 97 yards and one touchdown in his debut.
Mendoza came into the game after veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins started with a touchdown drive.
He felt nervous early on but improved as the game continued.
Mendoza was sacked once for an eight-yard loss.
He praised his teammates for good blocking and route running.
Mendoza admitted he let his teammates down and said he needs to grow and learn from mistakes.
The Raiders will next play the Houston Texans and then the San Francisco 49ers in preseason games.
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Jadon Sancho, a free agent after his Manchester United contract ended, prefers to join a club outside England. He is considering offers, including from Borussia Dortmund, where he previously played.
Key Facts
Jadon Sancho's contract with Manchester United ended six weeks ago.
He is 26 years old and plays as a winger.
Sancho previously played 158 games for Borussia Dortmund in two periods.
He joined Manchester United from Dortmund in 2021 for £73 million.
Last season, Sancho was loaned to Aston Villa, playing 39 games and helping them qualify for the Champions League.
In the 2024-25 season, he played on loan at Chelsea, with 41 appearances.
Chelsea had an obligation to buy him but paid a £5 million penalty to cancel the deal.
Sancho is training at Flixton, a non-league club, to stay fit for the next season.
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Katarina Johnson-Thompson improved her chances for a medal in the heptathlon at the European Athletics Championships by jumping 1.83 meters in the high jump. She is currently in 10th place after the first day, with more events to come over the weekend.
Key Facts
Katarina Johnson-Thompson is a two-time world champion but has never won the European heptathlon title.
She competed only once this year before the championships due to injury problems.
Johnson-Thompson jumped 1.83 meters in the high jump, placing her behind only two competitors in that event.
She started the competition in 15th place after the 100m hurdles but moved up to 10th overall after the high jump.
British teammate Jade O'Dowda is just behind her in 12th place.
Johnson-Thompson withdrew from the Commonwealth Games recently to focus on being fit for the European Championships.
The heptathlon includes seven events: 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200m, long jump, javelin, and 800m.
Johnson-Thompson will try to improve in the shot put, one of her weaker events, to close the points gap to the leaders.
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Skip Bertman, the former LSU baseball coach who led the team to five national championships and built a strong college baseball program, died at age 88. He coached LSU from 1983 to 2001 and later served as the university’s athletic director.
Key Facts
Skip Bertman died early Friday morning in a Baton Rouge hospital at age 88.
He was LSU’s baseball coach from 1983 to 2001 and won five national College World Series titles.
Bertman helped make LSU a top college baseball program with many players going on to Major League Baseball.
The LSU baseball stadium’s field is named after him, and the stadium opened in 2009.
He won the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award six times between 1986 and 2000; the award was named after him in 2013.
Bertman coached the U.S. Olympic baseball team in 1996, earning a bronze medal.
After coaching, he was LSU’s athletic director until 2008 and continued supporting LSU until his death.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandy, and daughter, Lisa. Funeral plans were pending.
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World Athletics President Sebastian Coe will defend the federation’s ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in court. The ban was set after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but Russia’s athletics federation is now challenging it at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Key Facts
World Athletics imposed a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes in March 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine.
Russia’s athletics federation argues the ban is unfair and politicized.
The ban stops Russian athletes from fully representing themselves internationally.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allows Russian athletes to compete in some team events for the 2028 Olympics.
World Athletics, led by Sebastian Coe, continues to enforce the ban and will defend it legally.
Coe says the ban is about fair competition, not politics.
Other sports federations like World Gymnastics and the International Skating Union have eased restrictions on Russian athletes.
Ukraine criticized the IOC’s decision to allow Russian athletes at the 2028 Olympics as premature.
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Chelsea has set a deadline for offers to buy midfielder Enzo Fernandez, who is valued at £120 million and wanted by Manchester City. Manchester City’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, was Fernandez’s coach at Chelsea, and a deal may depend on City selling midfielder Rodri to Barcelona.
Key Facts
Chelsea wants offers for Enzo Fernandez by Friday at 17:00 BST.
Manchester City is interested in signing Fernandez for £120 million.
Enzo Maresca, City’s new manager, previously managed Fernandez at Chelsea.
Manchester City already signed midfielder Elliot Anderson this summer for £116 million.
Manchester City may only sign Fernandez if Rodri is sold to Barcelona.
Rodri has been key for City and wants to return to Spain; City values him at about £68.4 million.
Barcelona’s initial offer for Rodri was much lower than City’s asking price.
Fernandez was made captain at Chelsea under Maresca but had a difficult relationship with Chelsea after Maresca left.
Chelsea’s deadline is just a target; the actual transfer window closes on 1 September at 23:00 BST.
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Jessica Bang, an 18-year-old Australian golfer, died from a brain hemorrhage while preparing for a tournament in Thailand. She collapsed on August 1, had emergency brain surgery, but did not recover and passed away on Thursday.
Key Facts
Jessica Bang was a promising young golfer from Australia.
She won her first professional event earlier this year in only her fifth tournament.
She collapsed on August 1 in Bangkok, Thailand.
She had emergency brain surgery but did not recover.
Jessica was in Thailand for the International Qualifying Tournament for the Korean women's professional golf tour.
The WPGA Tour of Australasia described her as an outstanding young talent.
A GoFundMe page was created to help her family with medical expenses.
The Australian golf community expressed deep sadness and offered support to her family and friends.
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British sprinter Amy Hunt says that dressing up and having stylish nails helps her feel confident when competing. Many athletes, including Olympic champions, use fashion and personal style, like nail art and jewelry, to boost their mindset and performance in sports.
Key Facts
Amy Hunt won two gold medals at the European Athletics Championships and aims to win four.
She customizes her nail art with Birmingham landmarks to feel connected to the event location.
Nail artist Jess Young says designing nails helps athletes express themselves and feel more confident.
Famous athletes like Sha'Carri Richardson and Florence Griffith Joyner are known for their bold nail styles.
Athletes use fashion, such as jewelry and hairstyles, to improve their performance by feeling good about themselves.
Feeling confident can give athletes an extra boost during competition, according to former sprinter Adam Gemili.
Nail art and personal style offer a sense of individuality even when athletes wear matching team uniforms.
Taking time for self-care through things like nail design can also be calming and therapeutic for athletes.
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Southampton’s head coach Tonda Eckert faces a Football Association (FA) misconduct charge related to the Spygate scandal, which involved spying on other clubs. The FA hearing will likely take place in mid-September, and the outcome could affect Eckert’s role during the Championship season.
Key Facts
Southampton was punished last season for spying on three clubs, leading to their exclusion from the Championship play-offs and a points deduction.
Head coach Tonda Eckert was charged with misconduct by the FA on July 22 for his involvement in the spying.
The FA hearing is expected around mid-September, with possible appeals extending the process into the season.
Southampton’s Championship campaign begins Sunday, before the FA decision is made.
Intern Will Salt, involved in the spying controversy, is set to be given a permanent analyst job at Southampton.
Club owner Dragan Solak stated in June that Eckert deserves a second chance and would not be sacked by him.
Eckert's contract runs until the end of the season; a long ban could force Southampton to find a new head coach.
The club is preparing for different scenarios depending on FA’s ruling, but currently focuses on the team’s immediate performance.
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Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca spoke cautiously about Rodri’s future amid rumors linking the player to Barcelona and Real Madrid. Rodri recently returned to training after back surgery, and Maresca said the team is focused on preparing for an upcoming match, with transfer decisions still uncertain.
Key Facts
Rodri, a key midfielder for Manchester City, has been linked to a possible transfer to Barcelona.
A photo circulated showing Rodri on a budget flight from Madrid to Liverpool, fueling transfer rumors.
Real Madrid has reportedly cooled interest in Rodri due to the high financial cost.
Rodri recently underwent back surgery but is now fit to return to training.
Manager Enzo Maresca declined to confirm any immediate player transfers and emphasized focusing on the upcoming Community Shield match.
Maresca said the Community Shield is an important trophy and not just a friendly match.
Maresca wants to win the Community Shield as his first trophy as Manchester City manager after Pep Guardiola’s departure.
Manchester City will not make any new signings on the Friday before the match.
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New rules will be introduced in English football for the 2026-27 season to reduce timewasting and speed up the game. These rules include time limits on goal-kicks, throw-ins, substitutions, and player injuries, aiming to keep the ball in play longer and reduce added stoppage time.
Key Facts
The new rules were first tested at the 2022 World Cup and will apply in English football from community matches to the Premier League.
Referees will use a visible countdown of five seconds for goal-kicks and throw-ins, and will penalize teams that delay restarts.
Goalkeepers taking too long on goal-kicks near the end of games can now concede a corner to the opposing team.
Substituted players must leave the field within 10 seconds; if not, the replacement player can be delayed for at least one minute, and the team plays with 10 players until then.
Players who cause stoppages for injury treatment must leave the field for one minute to avoid timewasting, even if they do not request treatment.
The time the ball is in play increased at the 2022 World Cup from about 57% to over 60% of match time with similar rules.
The rules focus on changing player behavior rather than harsh punishments, and officials will actively signal countdowns to speed up play.
Some exceptions exist for players leaving the field due to injury or security reasons.
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Tanzid Hasan Tamim became the first Bangladeshi player to score a century in a Test match in Australia. On day two of the first Test in Darwin, Bangladesh scored 351 runs for six wickets, leading Australia by 153 runs.
Key Facts
Tanzid Hasan Tamim scored 101 runs off 197 balls.
This was his second Test match.
Bangladesh was 351 runs for six wickets at the end of day two.
Bangladesh bowled Australia out for 198 runs on day one.
Tanzid Hasan put on 102 runs with Mominul Haque and 93 runs with captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.
Australia has never lost a home Test match against Bangladesh.
The match is taking place at Marrara Oval in Darwin.
This is the first Test in a two-Test series between Australia and Bangladesh.
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