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Barca’s Flick unfazed by criticism of Yamal’s goal celebrations

BARCELONA: Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal sparked controversy with his regal goal celebration last week when he pretended to crown himself after scoring against Mallorca, but manager Hansi Flick on Friday brushed off criticism of his 18-year-old winger. The gesture appeared to anoint Yamal as the new king after netting his first goal of the season in Barcelona’s 3-0 victory over Mallorca, with the teenager having inherited the iconic number 10 shirt worn by many club greats in the past. Yamal has found himself under scrutiny recently, with a Spanish disability rights group threatening legal action over reports of people with dwarfism being hired as entertainment at his 18th birthday party last month. But Flick remains unfazed by the external noise surrounding his player. “I don’t care what other people say about my team. Lamine is only 18 years old but he’s a fantastic footballer,” Flick told reporters ahead of Saturday’s game away at Levante. “I will help him to grow in the right way.

ABA League’s MVP McKinley Wright IV touches down in Dubai ahead of new season

DUBAI: Reigning ABA League MVP (most valuable player) and league finalist McKinley Wright IV has joined the Dubai Basketball squad for pre-season training. The 26-year-old American is Dubai Basketball’s second addition to the 2025-26 roster ahead of their EuroLeague debut.

Isak will not play against Liverpool, as ‘lose-lose’ situation continues

Newcastle United’s wantaway striker Alexander Isak will not be in the squad when they host Premier League champions Liverpool on Monday, said boss Eddie Howe, who called the tense standoff a “lose-lose” situation. Isak was the subject of a 110 million pounds ($148.34 million) bid from Liverpool earlier this month, according to media reports, and in a social media post on Tuesday accused Newcastle of breaking promises. Newcastle responded by saying there had been no commitment to sell the 25-year-old who is under contract until 2028. “There’s been no change,” Howe told reporters on Friday. “It’s a lose-lose situation.

Red Bull and KW25 to tender for new FIA World Rally Championship commercial rights

DUBAI: The FIA has announced that it will have a tender process for the commercial rights of the FIA World Rally Championship, which ends this season in Saudi Arabia.

Russell Henley birdies last 3 holes for a 61 to lead Tour Championship over Scheffler

ATLANTA: Russell Henley hardly missed a putt. Scottie Scheffler hardly missed a fairway. They led a parade of players who seized on the soft conditions at East Lake to begin the race for the Tour Championship and the season-ending FedEx Cup title.

Japan’s Akie Iwai grabs opening-round lead at CPKC Women’s Open

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario: Getting her first career win has not stopped Japan’s Akie Iwai from going for another, at least judging by her opening round at the CPKC Women’s Open in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Errani, Vavassori retain US Open mixed doubles title in revamped event

NEW YORK CITY : Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori retained their US Open mixed doubles title on Wednesday, beating Iga Swiatek and Casper Ruud to claim the $1 million top prize in the new-look competition that kicked off action at the last Grand Slam of the year.

Why fan violence still sullies Latin American football

Santiago — CHL Santiago, Aug 21, 2025 : Images of a fan jumping from the stands to escape a beating as bottles, rocks and seats fly through the air at a game between Chilean and Argentine clubs in Buenos Aires on Wednesday highlight the enduring problem of violence in Latin American football. Over 100 people were arrested over the bloody battles between supporters of Universidad de Chile and Argentina’s Independiente, which left 19 people injured, three seriously. From Mexico to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Chile and Ecuador, stadium violence continues to mar the beautiful game in football-mad Latin America. Here is a quick overview of the situation: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay have all enacted laws over the past two decades to tackle hooliganism, including, in some cases, with prison sentences. But the violence continues unabated. So far this year in Chile, twelve matches were suspended due to violence, according to the players’ union. In April, two fans died during a stampede outside a Santiago stadium before a Copa Libertadores match between local side Colo Colo and Brazil’s Fortaleza. In Argentina, more than 100 people have died in the last 20 years, 157 in Brazil between 2009 and 2019, and 170 died in Colombia between 2001 and 2019, according to academic and NGO studies. There’s an idea “that stadiums are spaces where it’s legitimate to commit acts of violence, not just physical violence, but also racism and homophobia,” Argentine sociologist Diego Murze, author of the book “Football, Violence, and the State,” told AFP. According to Murze, there’s a “tribal logic that has always prevailed in football,” including a culture of provocation between fans that has “re-emerged

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Barca’s Flick unfazed by criticism of Yamal’s goal celebrations

ABA League’s MVP McKinley Wright IV touches down in Dubai ahead of new season

Isak will not play against Liverpool, as ‘lose-lose’ situation continues

Red Bull and KW25 to tender for new FIA World Rally Championship commercial rights

Russell Henley birdies last 3 holes for a 61 to lead Tour Championship over Scheffler

Japan’s Akie Iwai grabs opening-round lead at CPKC Women’s Open

Errani, Vavassori retain US Open mixed doubles title in revamped event

Why fan violence still sullies Latin American football