Joshua posts update for first time since car crash

Anthony Joshua has posted on social media for the first time since he was injured in a car crash that killed two of his close friends in Nigeria.

Jota sons joining mascots for Liverpool v Wolves fixture

The sons of former Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Diogo Jota will accompany the mascots when the Portuguese's two former sides meet at Anfield.

Jubilation as Dan Pembroke seals second F13 javelin world title

Dan Pembroke (coach: John Trower, club: Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow) became Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s fifth World Para Athletics champion of the week after retaining his F13 javelin title at Kobe 2024.

Juniors can join the FC Bayern Football Camp at Costa Navarino, Greece this summer

School’s almost out for summer but for football loving kids aged 6-14 here’s a lesson they won’t want to miss. The chance to practice their footie skills and learn new techniques at the FC Bayern Football Camp at Costa Navarino in Greece.

Just days to go until Paddy Power Kabaddi World Cup 2025 makes history

The opening of the first-ever Kabaddi World Cup held outside Asia is just days away, with the seven-day event across the West Midlands set to showcase the sport’s remarkable global growth – up to 500 million are set to tune in worldwide.

Just how much have things changed?

Following England stars Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka’s missed spot-kicks, for them to be so severely targeted on social media after the game seemingly proves that the vile stigma that has been the Bain of football – in particular, and British society – in general – looks like, in no way, to be at an end.

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford apologised for his penalty shootout miss, but said he that he will never apologise for who he is after he – and his two other teammates were subjected to a torrent of racist abuse following England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy.

In his Withington hometown, a mural of striker, Rashford, was defaced after his penalty miss - before it was covered in messages of support. Captain, Harry Kane, openly criticised the England fans who racially abused the three stars, whilst manager, Gareth Southgate, said that the racist abuse was unforgivable. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Football Association also expressed their condemned it.

Racial abuse in football is proving to be an issue of “pandemic” proportions – so, there’s nothing different there – that’s the reason why they feel the need to have to ‘take a knee.’ And, that in itself created the ‘tone’ of what was expected from the Wembley terraces, as when both England and Italy players paid their respective respect to the equal lives for the culturally oppressed – and, indeed, all-round equality – the shameful booing was load and palpable.

In the 1970s and 80s, racial abuse was rife in football. There was the ‘regulation’ “Monkey chanting,” fans would throw darts, banana skins, and unpeeled bananas, at Black players on the pitch – whichever side he played for.

When former England great, John Barnes, scored his ‘Brazil-esq’ wonder-goal, against Brazil, in the Maracanã Stadium in 1984, it was the major highlight of a famous 2-1 for the Three Lions then. But, some England ‘fans’ declared the result as a 1-1 draw – dismissing one of the greatest ever goals by an England player. It was that blatant. It was also that regular back then.

Nearly 40-years on, dot much has changed. Following England’s defeat, defender Tyrone Mings hit out at Home Secretary Priti Patel following her condemnation of the racist abuse faced by his teammates. This previously calling players taking the knee “gesture politics.”

"I can take critique of my performance all day long,” Rashford (23) said. “My penalty was not good enough. It should have gone in, but I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from.

"I've felt no prouder moment than wearing those Three Lions on my chest and seeing my family cheer me on in a crowd of 10s of thousands." In their defence, England captain, Kane, said: "They deserve support and backing, not the vile racist abuse they've had since last night.

"Three lads who were brilliant all summer had the courage to step up and take a pen when the stakes were high. If you abuse anyone on social media you're not an England fan and we don't want you."

"I'm Marcus Rashford, 23-year-old Black man from Withington and Wythenshawe, South Manchester.

“If I have nothing else I have that. For all the kind messages thank you. I'll be back stronger. We'll be back stronger." The Metropolitan Police is investigating the abuse and said that it will not be tolerated, while the UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) has also launched an investigation.

Back in 1984, the powers-that-be back then said that they will not “tolerate racial abuse” that was a “fast-growing” trait back then – and more overt.

Just how much has things changed since Barnes. ‘worldy’strike?

Just where does financing Test cricket stand in today’s game?

The World Test Championship final showpiece between Australia and South Africa at Lord's represents an opportunity to celebrate international cricket's historic, and most romanticised, form of the game.

Juventus chairman says ESL project cannot proceed

Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli says the European Super League (ESL) project cannot proceed as AC Milan, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid joined the six Premier League clubs in withdrawing.

Agnelli was one of the chief architects of the breakaway plans, which involved 12 clubs from England, Spain and Italy.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are yet to comment.

"To be frank and honest no, evidently that is not the case," said Agnelli, on whether the ESL could still happen. "I remain convinced of the beauty of that project, of the value that it would have developed to the pyramid, of the creation of the best competition in the world, but evidently no. I don't think that project is now still up and running."

Agnelli has been replaced as chairman of the European Club Association by Paris St-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi, the Qatari who resisted repeated attempts to persuade the French club to become founder members of the breakaway league. Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan announced their withdrawal on Wednesday morning, followed by statements from AC Milan and Juventus.

Agnelli was described as a "snake and a liar" by Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin after the announcement of the breakaway plans. The Juventus chairman resigned his position as chairman of the European Clubs' Association and refused to take calls from Ceferin.

In a statement, Juventus said there were "limited chances that the project be completed in the form originally conceived" but that the club "remains convinced of the soundness of the project's sport, commercial and legal premises".

The six Premier League clubs involved all withdrew within hours of each othe following a furious backlash against the plans. Manchester City were the first club to pull out after Chelsea had signalled their intent to do so by preparing documentation to withdraw. The other four English sides - Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham - then followed suit later.

In announcing their withdrawal on Wednesday, Atletico Madrid said "harmony is essential" between the club and the fans, and added that the first-team squad and coach Diego Simeone had backed their decision because "sporting merits must prevail over any other criteria".

In their statement, Serie A side Inter Milan said they were "committed to giving fans the best football experience", adding: "Our engagement with all stakeholders to improve the football industry will never change.

"AC Milan said "the voices and the concerns of fans around the world have clearly been expressed" about the plans and the club "must be sensitive to the voice of those who love this wonderful sport".The 12-team Super League was announced to widespread condemnation.

"Despite the announced departure of the English clubs, forced to take such decisions due to the pressure put on them, we are convinced our proposal is fully aligned with European law and regulations," the ESL said earlier on Wednesday, adding it was "convinced that the current status quo of European football needs to change".

"Real Madrid president Florentino Perez is insisting on the idea of keeping the group together to push for change," says Spanish football expert Guillem Balague.

"Barcelona say they agreed to the ESL, but only if the season ticket holders' assembly approve it, which could be their way out." Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City chiefs apologised to their supporters.

Ceferin welcomed the reversal by the clubs, saying: "I said yesterday that it is admirable to admit a mistake and these clubs made a big mistake.

"But they are back in the fold now and I know they have a lot to offer not just to our competitions but to the whole of the European game. The important thing now is that we move on, rebuild the unity that the game enjoyed before this and move forward together."

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, PM Boris Johnson said the withdrawals were "the right result for football fans, for clubs and for communities across the country". He also promised a "root-and-branch investigation" into football governance and what the government could do to "promote the role of fans in that governance".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer added the proposals "would have destroyed football" and that "we now need to get on with the other changes that are necessary". The League Managers' Association (LMA) welcomed the decision of the clubs to withdraw, saying: "There is no place in our game for clandestine collusion, driven by opportunism, with such a blatant disregard for the history and integrity of our game."

The LMA also called for a club licensing system that sets out a "clear and unified governance structure, with consistent game-wide checks and balances".

"The future of football should be one that upholds the values of integrity and transparency.

“Owners, and those responsible for the direction of the game, must be more connected to, and significantly more accountable to the game itself," it added.

The Football Supporters' Association said "the cabal of billionaire owners overplayed their hand" and all efforts needed to be poured into the review of football governance in order to "rebalance the power structure of the domestic game".

In a statement, the Professional Footballers' Association praised players "who stood up for the game they love" and former players who "used their platforms effectively and often devastatingly" to "passionately articulate why the preservation of the domestic game is so important".

The English Football League said it hoped events over the past few days would lead to "much needed change to the distribution of wealth" in domestic leagues to ensure all clubs can have a "sustainable future".

Kabaddi to make debut in Commonwealth Games

This year’s Commonwealth Games will see the British Kabaddi League make an entrance in the UK, with tournaments set to take place over this month (April) in Birmingham as well as Manchester, Glasgow and Wolverhampton.

Prem Singh, CEO of British Kabaddi, said: “We are delighted that so many people from different and diverse backgrounds have come together to present this amazing sports project.

Kabaddi World Cup 2025 set for the West Midlands – with less than 100 days to go!

World Kabaddi celebrates the official 100-day countdown to the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 which will be held in the West Midlands between 17th and 23rd March 2025, with the team draw for the 16 participating nations taking part in the competition.

Kabaddi World Cup ends in spectacular style in city

The Kabaddi World Cup came to a spectacular climax in Wolverhampton over the weekend.

Kabaddi World Cup spectacle opens in Wolverhampton

Hundreds of fans turned out to celebrate start of the Kabaddi World Cup 2025 in Wolverhampton.

Kamran Kandola – the first pro of south Asian origin – pens Wolves deal

Wolverhampton Wanderers under-18 defender Kamran Kandola has just been rewarded for his development, commitment and work ethic having progressed through his hometown club’s Academy by signing his first professional contract. The Wolverhampton-born centre-back has spent the last decade at the Academy where he has progressed throughout the age groups to become a regular at under-18 level.

Kappa renews exclusive apparel sponsorship deal with BBL and WBBL

The British Basketball League (BBL) and Women’s British Basketball League (WBBL) have both announced the renewal of its partnership with exclusive apparel sponsor Kappa.

The worldwide sportswear company has continued their significant commitment to supporting the league, with this latest deal ensuring the BBL is Kappa’s longest standing UK based partner.

Karachi beat Lahore to win PSL title for first time

Karachi Kings won their first Pakistan Super League with a five-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars in the final.

Babar Azam hit an unbeaten 63 off 49 balls as a Karachi side featuring England's Alex Hales comfortably chased their target of 135 with eight balls to spare on their home ground.

Earlier, Lahore collapsed from 68-0 to 81-4 as they posted a modest 134-7.

The tournament was halted in March by the Covid-19 pandemic and resumed with the play-off stages on Saturday.

Karachi were playing in their first final, having reached the play-offs on all four occasions since the competition launched in 2016.

Lahore had finished bottom of the table in every previous tournament. Having won the toss, Lahore started solidly through Tamim Iqbal and Fakhar Zaman, who made 35 and 27 respectively, before losing three wickets in seven balls.

Former England all-rounder Samit Patel - on the day he signed a new deal with his county side Nottinghamshire - fell for five as Karachi seamers Umaid Asif and Waqas Maqsood claimed 2-18 apiece.

Patel's Notts team-mate Hales made 11 in Karachi's chase but opener Babar, who was last week appointed Pakistan Test skipper to add to the limited-overs captaincy, played an elegant innings to see the side home.

There were 15 English players involved in this season's PSL, including Chris Jordan, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone and Lewis Gregory, who missed the play-offs because they were selected for England's limited-overs tour of South Africa which starts this week.

The 2021 PSL is scheduled to begin in February.

Kashmiri skier set to take India to Beijing 2022

Arif Khan made it look easy as he slalomed downhill on the artificial slopes of Ski Dubai recently.

That was the moment he became the first, and, so far only, Indian athlete to qualify for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which begins in February. For the 31-year-old, who hails from Gulmarg in Indian-administered Kashmir, it has been a long hard climb to get there.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson claims a second gold for Team GB

Following Dina Asher-Smith's 200m gold, Katarina Johnson-Thompson ended her wait for outdoor global golden glory by storming to heptathlon supremacy at the World Athletics Championships.

Claiming her first international heptathlon victory in Doha, the 26-year-old Liverpudlian was beaming as the reality of her achievement started to sink in after a trying two-days – in which she recorded 4 personal bests.

Previously without an outdoor medal at this level, the 26-year-old won with a British record 6,981 points, beating 2017 champion, Belgium’s Nafissatou Thiam, by 304 points and registering Great Britain's third medal at the Championships.

Johnson-Thompson, who recently moved to living in France, led Thiam by 137 points going into the concluding 800m and stormed to victory in two minutes 07.26 seconds - her fourth personal best of the competition.

She said: "This is the result of so many attempts of trying to perform on a world stage.

“This has been my dream”.

In the first event on day one KJT took 0.21 seconds off her previous best to win the 100m hurdles in 13.09 seconds.

Her 1.95cm in the high jump was matched by Thiam, but she scored a personal best in the shot put - one of her weaker events – with distance of 13.86m. That was 71cm further than she had ever gone before.

After the 200m, she had a 96-point overnight lead over the Belgian, nine better than her advantage at last year's European Championships where she eventually finished second.

On day-2 Johnson-Thompson extended her lead before, in the long jump, she leapt to 6.77m. Thiam could only leap a distance of 6.40m.

Johnson-Thompson effectively clinched gold as she recorded another PB by throwing the javelin to 43.93m before Thiam, who had been struggling with an elbow injury, only managed 48.04m - her best is 59.32m - and skipped her final throw.

That gave Johnson-Thompson the 137-point lead over the Belgian going into the 800m, having previously trailed her rival at this stage.

Keeping her cool throughout, the final event saw her win and accumulating a points total which surpassed the previous British best of 6,955 set by Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill at the London 2012 Olympics.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she said: "It’s been a long road, but I am happy that I'm coming into my best form in these two big years.

"I just want more."

Katarina Johnson-Thompson returns to the Müller British Grand Prix in Gateshead

Katarina Johnson-Thompson will continue her comeback from injury when she takes on a world-class long jump line-up at the Müller British Grand Prix in Gateshead on Tuesday 13^th July. The world heptathlon champion takes on world long jump gold medallist Malaika Mihambo of Germany plus fellow Tokyo-bound Britons Jazmin Sawyers and Abigail Irozuru at the Wanda Diamond League meeting next week.

Johnson-Thompson’s preparations for the Olympics were interrupted a few months ago due to an Achilles injury but she returned to competition last week with a 1.84m high jump at a low-key meeting in France. In Gateshead she will face a more serious test as her preparations for the Tokyo Games gather pace when she faces Mihambo and the one-two at the recent Müller British Athletics Championships – Sawyers and Irozuru – in a contest that will feature the new ‘Final Three’ format.

Mihambo, 27, won the world title in Doha in 2019 with a jump of 7.30m and she has been in fine form this season with victory in the Wanda Diamond League in Oslo last week. At those same championships in Doha, Johnson-Thompson also enjoyed her finest moment so far by claiming global gold with a British heptathlon record of 6981.

Johnson-Thompson, 28, said: “Training has been going well and I’m so pleased to be competing at a big event like the Müller British Grand Prix. I’m really looking forward to being out there in front of a home crowd who always generate such a great atmosphere.”

The meeting on 13^th July is part of the Wanda Diamond League series and other entries so far include British star Dina Asher-Smith in the 200m. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands will compete in the women’s mile and world record-holder Keni Harrison of the United States races in the 100m hurdles.

Johannes Vetter of Germany could give Jan Zelezny’s world record a scare in the javelin if conditions are good, while the women’s pole vault sees British record-holder Holly Bradshaw taking on Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi, world indoor gold medallist Sandi Morris and world leader in 2021 Katie Nageotte.

Gateshead staged the first Wanda Diamond League event of 2021 in May after it was moved from Rabat in Morocco to the North East of England and now, on 13^th July, the same venue will host the seventh Diamond League of the season. The Müller British Grand Prix will be broadcast internationally from 7-9pm with BBC showing the action for domestic viewers from 6.30pm.

Katherine Grainger a first at BOA

Dame Katherine Grainger has become the first female chair of the British Olympic Association in its 119-year history.

Katie Nageotte leads world class pole vault field lining up against Holly Bradshaw at Müller Birmingham Diamond League

Olympic pole vault bronze medallist and British record holder Holly Bradshaw will be up against world class competition as she gets her 2022 season underway at the Müller Birmingham Diamond League at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday 21 May.

Olympic champion, Katie Nageotte (USA) will be joined by compatriot and World Indoor champion, Sandi Morris and the Olympic champion from Rio, Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) meaning four of the current top five world ranked female pole-vaulters will battle it out for the first Diamond League points of the season in Birmingham.