Thursday, May 21Thursday, May 21Arsenal defender Ben White has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season after sustaining a significant medial ligament injury during the club’s 1-0 win over West Ham. The England international was forced off in the first half and will miss Arsenal’s final three fixtures, including the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on 30 May. This injury also appears to end his hopes of featuring in the 2026 World Cup .
Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes remain under scrutiny as Manchester City close the gap, with City facing a must-win fixture against Crystal Palace. The title race has tightened following Arsenal’s recent struggles, including the injury to White and a contentious VAR decision in their match against West Ham . A satirical cartoon by David Squires also highlighted the dramatic nature of the title race, referencing the VAR controversy in the Arsenal-West Ham game .
Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright is set to have his life story adapted into a biopic produced by Stormzy’s Merky Films. Wright, who became Arsenal’s all-time top scorer before being overtaken by Thierry Henry, described the film as one that will include hard-hitting moments but ultimately aims to inspire hope and joy .
A doping scandal in rugby has resulted in Georgia’s former captain, Merab Sharikadze, receiving an 11-year ban for his role in a urine-swapping scheme. The investigation, the largest in World Rugby’s history, uncovered evidence of sample tampering to conceal non-performance-enhancing substances like cannabis and tramadol .
Ruby Tui: Im going for France – the game needs someone to stop England New Zealand back turned TV presenter believes France can end the Red Roses 37-game winning streak in Bordeaux Thousands will descend on Bordeauxs Stade Atlantique on Sunday to watch the Womens Six Nations grand slam decider between France and England, among them the New Zealand legend Ruby Tui. The World Cup winner and Olympic gold medallist, who has been working for the BBC as a pundit, says she would love to see the French come out on top in Le Crunch to end Englands seven-year trophy hold.Tui attended her first Six Nations match in round one of this years competition at Twickenham, as England took on Ireland. The match felt like an extension of the World Cup party for the 34-year‑old, who witnessed last years groundbreaking event through her media duties. The Red Roses will want to deliver the same outcome as that final last September and if they did so they would extend their Six Nations winning run to 39 games in a row and become the first team to win the tournament after claiming the World Cup. But Tui is backing the women in blue. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
McInnes stands firm in belief Hearts can end Celtic dominance with historic title Defeat for the champions at Motherwell and a win for the leaders at home to Falkirk will crown them champions for the first time since 1960It is a sign of shifting attitudes that the fact Hearts could claim the Scottish Premiership title on Wednesday was somewhat lost in analysis of the weekends events. Given Celtics form such a scenario is an unlikely one, but that it exists at all is remarkable: a Hearts win at home to Falkirk, coupled with defeat for Celtic at Motherwell, means the Edinburgh club will become champions for the first time since 1960.Its nice to be able to hear Hearts could win the league at Tynecastle, says the manager, Derek McInnes. I dont know how many people have been able to say that in their lifetime. The likelihood is we are going to have to win two games or certainly pick up four points. In a quirk of history, both of Hearts title triumphs in the 20th century were secured at St Mirrens former Love Street ground. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Southampton v Middlesbrough: Championship playoff semi-final, second leg – live ⚽️ Championship playoffs, 8pm BST kick-off (first leg: 0-0)⚽️ Saints launch review into spying allegations | Mail LukeWhat a week its been in the world of association football. Fisticuffs at Real Madrid and a seismic VAR decision involving Premier League-chasing Arsenal and relegation-threatened West Ham feature in the highlights (or lowlights). But juiciest of all? The spying allegations levelled at Southampton by Middlesbrough before their Championship playoff first leg last week.Southampton were charged with misconduct last Friday, after an individual was allegedly discovered creeping around in the bushes at Boros training ground, and this morning Southampton confirmed that an internal investigation has been launched. The English Football League intend to convene a hearing at the earliest opportunity, but clearly it is a situation that could get extremely messy, depending on the result tonight. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Arsenals Ben White ruled out for rest of season and facing World Cup woe Defender sustained significant medial ligament injuryArsenal without both right-backs with Timber also outBen Whites World Cup hopes appear to be over after Arsenal said the England defender would miss the rest of the season owing to a knee injury sustained in their win over West Ham on Sunday.White was forced off in the first half of Arsenals 1-0 victory and left the London Stadium with his injured knee in a brace. The Premier League leaders confirmed on Tuesday that the 28-year-old had sustained a significant medial ligament injury and would not feature in their final three fixtures, including the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on 30 May. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Dick Advocaat returns to Curaçao job in time for World Cup 2026 adventure Dutchman resigned in February due to daughters healthCompatriot Rutten stood down from role on MondayDick Advocaat will lead Curaçao to their first World Cup and become the oldest manager in the tournaments history after returning to the job. The 78-year-old stood down in February because of his daughters health.The Dutchman, who has managed the Netherlands three times and took charge of Curaçao in 2024, was replaced by his compatriot Fred Rutten, but his short tenure ended on Monday.More details soon … Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Georgias Merab Sharikadze gets 11-year ban for role in urine-swapping rugby doping scandal Former captain, 32, won more than 100 caps for GeorgiaWorld Rugby found evidence of urine sample swapsThe biggest anti-doping investigation in World Rugbys history has resulted in six of Georgias mens team and a medical official being handed lengthy bans, with their former captain, Merab Sharikadze, suspended for 11 years. Working alongside the World Anti-Doping Agency, evidence was uncovered of urine swapping and advance warning of upcoming drug tests being given to players.No firm proof was uncovered of attempts to mask the use of performance-enhancing substances but World Rugby did find evidence that urine sample substitutions had taken place to conceal non-performance-enhancing substances such as cannabis and tramadol. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Barca striker Yamal waves Palestinian flag during La Liga celebrations FC Barcelona striker Lamine Yamal held a Palestinian flag during the clubs La Liga title parade, after the team secured their 29th Spanish league title by beating Real Madrid 2-0 in the Clasico.
france24 · 8 days ago
Mamdani shows off skills as he promotes street soccer ahead of World Cup New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani showed off his soccer skills as he joined children in the Bronx to promote the game ahead of the World Cup.
independent · 8 days ago
Hes inspired generations: Stormzy to produce biopic about football great Ian Wright The Crystal Palace, Arsenal and England striker says his life story – now in development with the rappers Merky Films – has hard-hitting moments, but in the end I want it to give people hope and joyStormzy has announced he is to produce a biopic of former Arsenal, Crystal Palace and England striker Ian Wright.Wright, who successfully transitioned to TV punditry after a distinguished playing career that included becoming Arsenals highest ever goalscorer, before he was overtaken by Thierry Henry, said he wanted the film to give people hope and joy. Continue reading...
theguardian · 8 days ago
Can Manchester City overtake Arsenal to win the Premier League title? With their grip on the Premier League title race slipping away, City face Crystal Palace in a must-win fixture.
aljazeera · 9 days ago
Flick, sobre Lamine y la bandera de Palestina: No me ha gustado El técnico del Barcelona, un día después de la celebración del título de Liga, opinó sobre la imagen de la estrella del club Leer
elmundo · 9 days ago
David Squires on … Arsenal, West Ham and a Royal Rumble for the ages Our cartoonist on the Premier League title potentially being decided by a lengthy VAR check after grapplingBuy this cartoon here | His favourites from 2025And his latest book, Chaos in the Box: get it now Continue reading...
theguardian · 9 days ago