Tuesday, 29 September 2026
ANTHONY JOSHUA VS TYSON FURY ROW RESOLVED AFTER FIGHT PLUNGED INTO DOUBT
Joshua and Fury are due to meet in London on Wednesday to face the media for the first time since their heavyweight showdown was announced last week
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| Getty |
Anthony Joshua will face off with Tyson Fury tomorrow after Fury enrolled in drug testing.
Joshua and Fury are due to meet in London on Wednesday to face the media for the first time since their heavyweight showdown was announced last week. But a bitter row between Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn and UFC boss Dana White had plunged the fight - set for Cardiff on December 11 - into doubt.
White, who also runs Zuffa Boxing was officially named as a promoter alongside The Ring, which is owned by Saudi Arabian powerbroker Turki Alalshikh. Fury claimed on Saturday that Hearn and Joshua were trying to pull out and, speaking on his YouTube channel, Fury put the chances of a fight going ahead at one per cent.
He said: “If you’ve got a guy that wants to fight, and you’ve got a guy that doesn’t want to fight, then how are you going to make that fight happen?” Speaking to Sky Sports after Johnny Fisher’s victory at the Copper Box on Saturday, White refused to back down. “I’m involved in the fight,” he said.
“If Eddie Hearn really cared about this fight, first of all it would have happened a long time ago, number one. Number two, he could finance the thing himself. The guy who’s supposed to be helping the fight has been hurting the fight the entire time. We’ll all know more in the next three or four days.”
Hearn and Joshua also had concerns over when Fury was going to enrol in drug testing with VADA. Joshua's contract stated Fury would do so seamlessly after his win over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, but Fury's team insisted they would enrol when their fight with Joshua was finalised.
And Fury finally did so on Monday night as both fighters headed to London from their training camps. Fury has been preparing in Miami while Joshua has been training in Dubai. UFC boss White is not expected to be at the press conference having struggled to answer basic questions about the fight last weekend.
- Martin Domin
WHY IS MALAYSIA HOSTING THE F1 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX?
Round 16 takes place at the Sepang circuit in Kuala Lumpur, returning to the calendar after a nine-year absence
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| Why is Malaysia hosting the F1 Bahrain Grand Prix? Malaysia hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix in a one-off event this weekend Getty |
Formula 1 returns to a fan-favourite circuit this weekend as the Sepang circuit in Malaysia hosts the Bahrain Grand Prix in a one-off event.
George Russell got his season back on track with a first victory in three months at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix last time out, pipping Max Verstappen to the line to narrow the deficit on championship leader and Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli to 66 points.
Antonelli, who crashed out of qualifying, recovered from the back of the grid to finish fifth while Isack Hadjar joined Verstappen on the podium on a positive day for Red Bull. However, it was a tricky day for McLaren and Ferrari, who both struggled for form and pace.
As for this weekend, Bahrain’s original grand prix date in April was cancelled due to the war in the Middle East. The Gulf country have, however, opted to pay the hosting fees to have their name attached to Sepang’s return to the calendar for the first time in nine years this weekend.
Why is Malaysia hosting the Bahrain Grand Prix?
Organisers of the Bahrain Grand Prix were desperate to hold their event this season – even if racing at the Sakhir circuit in Bahrain proved to be an unfathomable option.
The race in April, alongside the grand prix in Saudi Arabia, was cancelled due to unrest in the region following the start of the US-Iran war at the end of February. With the war still ongoing, the staging of season-concluding races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remains doubtful.
Yet the Sepang circuit on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur became a viable option over the summer period.
The 3.4-mile circuit hosted a Formula 1 grand prix from 1999 to 2017 before withdrawing from the sport when they couldn’t match the host fees required.
Yet the racetrack is still used for other motorsport events, such as MotoGP, and its proximity to Singapore (hosting a race on 11 October) meant hosting an event in Malaysia was considered a feasible option.
F1 was always keen to add to the 22-race calendar given the two cancelled races in April and, as such, a compromise was reached whereby the race will be held in Malaysia but under the title of the ‘Bahrain Grand Prix’. Bahraini organisers will pay the hosting fees needed to stage the event, while it offers a financial boost to the Malaysian venue amid ticket and hospitality sales.
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| Malaysia last hosted an F1 race in 2017 (Getty) |
When is the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia?
Times BST
Friday 2 October
- Free practice 1: 5:30am
- Free practice 2: 9am
Saturday 3 October
- Free practice 3: 5:30am
- Qualifying: 9am
Saturday 4 October
- Race: 8am
How can I watch it online and on TV?
The Bahrain Grand Prix in 7Malaysia will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 6:30am (BST).
Sky Sports subscribers can watch all the action from Kuala Lumpur on the Sky Go app. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
In the United States, every practice, qualifying and race session is streamed on Apple TV this year. You can stream Apple TV for FREE, with Apple TV’s seven-day free trial.
- Kieran Jackson
SALAH WALKS, HASSAN TALKS - AND EGYPT HAVE A PROBLEM
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| Egypt forward Mohamed Salah, left, will not play in the next game against South Sudan, something coach Hossam Hassan, right, said was already agreed. Getty Images / Reuters |
Pharaohs head coach has gone from hero to headache as he attempted to walk back criticism of Shenawy and the Egyptian league while questions remain over whether Salah will return
Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan went into full damage control mode on Monday while talking to reporters ahead of the Pharaohs’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan.
Hassan walked back many of the statements that landed him in hot water with fans, pundits, and even his own players over the past week.
Just two months after he was given a hero’s welcome alongside the Egyptian squad that made a historic run to the last-16 at the 2026 World Cup, Hassan went through a nightmare four-day media storm due to ill-advised comments made during press conferences, a sub-par 0-0 performance against Angola, and the seemingly surprising departure of Mohamed Salah from training camp.
What did Hassan say?
At his pre-match press conference ahead of the Angola game in Cairo on Thursday, Hassan was quizzed about the absence of Mohamed El Shenawy, the Al Ahly goalkeeper and one of the Egyptian national team’s captains, from his squad.
Hassan did not appreciate his decisions being questioned and implied that at some point El Shenawy’s career was “finished” before he managed to revive it through the national team – comments that were interpreted by many as offensive to a player who has earned 76 caps and was Egypt’s first-choice goalkeeper for many years before his teammate Mostafa Shobeir came to the fore this summer.
“Mohamed El Shenawy at one point was finished, and was not playing with his club, yet he returned to his level through the work we did with him with the national team. Not just him, but other players as well,” said Hassan, who has also taken credit for bringing Emam Ashour back to form after illness.
“This was our point of view this time, regardless of whether he [El Shenawy] is injured or not. All respect to all the players, especially since Mohamed El Shenawy is one of the captains of the Egypt national team, and I value him. But this is my choice. I could have made my life easier by saying he is injured. But even if he isn’t injured, this is my choice. It’s high time we trust each other.”
"محمد صلاح من أهم لاعبي العالم.. وفضلنا إراحته بسبب أرضية النجيل الصناعي" 🇪🇬
حسام حسن خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بمباراة مصر وجنوب السودان 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/rONfeAm2s2
— EFA.eg (@EFA) September 28, 2026
Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abou Rida and Al Ahly, both released statements in support of El Shenawy following Hassan’s press conference.
Other comments that caused great ire among the Egyptian public were Hassan’s views on the Egyptian Premier League, the domestic league that typically provides almost 90 per cent of the players for the national team.
“I wish that the domestic league becomes strong. Looking at the league, do you see any team or any club in the league that has a good technical level? Name one star or one team from the league that you believe can add value or improve the level of the national team,” said Hassan on Thursday.
“Players come to us [at the national team], they improve, and then they return to their clubs. What’s supposed to happen is that they improve at their clubs and they come to us ready and in good shape. So we are truly suffering.
“I hope that all the big and respected clubs in the league can play football at a higher level and can increase the physical conditioning of the players. Because that will ultimately help the national team. Because I don’t have enough time with the players.”
The statements dominated the news cycle on the eve of the Angola game, and things worsened when Egypt were held to a goalless draw at Cairo International Stadium in a homecoming game that saw Hassan inexplicably substitute Salah in the 60th minute.
Hassan later said in the post-game press conference that his decision to take off Salah was for “technical reasons”.
The following morning, news broke that Salah had left the national team camp, despite there being two more games scheduled for this international break – an Afcon qualifier against South Sudan in Juba on Tuesday and a friendly against South Africa back in Cairo on October 4.
Hassan surprised reporters by saying he had nothing to do with arranging the South Africa game and the EFA decided to add it to the agenda; another indication that not everyone is on the same page within the national team ecosystem.
Statements and reaction
Following Salah’s departure, the EFA released a statement saying it was a prearranged decision, made before the Angola game, by the national team's technical staff.
The reason given was that the South Sudan game would be played on an artificial pitch, which, potentially, could increase the Trabzonspor star's risk of injury.
Despite the EFA’s statement, football insiders reported that there was more to Salah’s departure and that he left because of the unrest within the team, caused by Hassan’s comments and actions.
The situation has dominated every news outlet in Egypt since Saturday morning, with many describing it as a “crisis”.
Former Egypt and Tottenham striker Mido said on X he found Hassan’s statements to be “narcissistic”, while ex-Zamalek and Egypt forward Shikabala criticised the coach’s defensive strategy in a home game against Angola and said Hassan was being “stubborn”.
“He wants people to say that ‘I am the one who benched [Omar] Marmoush, I am the one who pulled Salah’. Why would I take off Salah in the 60th minute? What technical part of the game is Salah incapable of doing? Salah sat on a rock [in Turkey]; it became a touristic landmark,” Shikabala added, speaking on MBC Masr.
Another former Zamalek and Egypt star, Hazem Emam, questioned Hassan’s decisions, which he said had divided people rather than united them, and said they were unnecessary given the fanfare and goodwill that surrounded Hassan and the team after their World Cup heroics.
“Captain Hossam, you are a very big player and a very big coach, but you must admit that you have an issue with the statements you make in press conferences. It causes you lots of problems and it ruins all the good work you’ve done. What’s the use of publicly targeting two great players on your own team? It’s so unnecessary,” Emam said on On Sport.
“Captain Hossam has a big problem. He always feels underappreciated; that no one appreciates his work, and I don’t know why. As a player, everyone considered him a legend of the Egyptian game, and at the World Cup, people said he is the best coach to ever manage Egypt.
"I don’t know why he finds the need to recount all of his achievements over and over again. Let the people list your achievements instead. Why take credit for El Shenawy? Why describe him as finished? Why say Emam Ashour would have spent a year recovering from a virus had it not been for you? He plays for a club and it’s normal that the clubs are the ones that prepare their players.
“Calling the league poor, that really upset me. And he would have been upset had he been coaching in the league and someone said that. Ninety per cent of your players are from the league. He shouldn’t say these things.”
Acclaimed TV host and media personality Amr Adib said Hassan went from “national hero to national problem” in the span of 48 hours.
"حديثي عن تصريحات محمد الشناوي فهم خطأ.. وأحترم
الجميع" 🇪🇬
حسام حسن خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الخاص بمباراة مصر وجنوب السودان 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/HvPJjJyucU
— EFA.eg (@EFA) September 28, 2026
Amid this media storm, Hassan addressed reporters in Juba on Monday and clarified his previous statements.
He said his comments on El Shenawy were “misinterpreted” and that he was simply referring to the goalkeeper’s previous shoulder injury that kept him out for some time.
He also insisted that Salah’s departure was prearranged and that it wasn’t the first time the former Liverpool star had skipped games played on artificial grass, citing past fixtures against Cape Verde and Mauritania as examples.
“There is no conflict,” Hassan assured. “We are in our best state right now. We just got back from the World Cup; this was our first game back.”
The National's view
Hassan claims Salah will be back with the team for the South Africa game on home soil on Sunday, but that remains to be seen.
The EFA, at least publicly, seems to be behind Hassan, who, together with his twin brother Ibrahim, the director of the national team, has renewed his contract until 2030.
Victory against South Sudan on Tuesday will be essential for the noise around the head coach to die down, who has already shown great restraint in his rhetoric during the pre-game press conference in Juba.
As Emam mentioned, Hassan has spent too much time listing his accomplishments and should instead get back to letting the team’s form and results do the talking.
pic.twitter.com/I0YEi117lE
— EFA.eg (@EFA) September 28, 2026
What the Pharaohs were able to achieve in North America over the summer was unprecedented, and it raised the hopes and expectations of 120 million Egyptian fans, who are now dreaming of African glory and further success on the global stage.
Egypt’s Afcon qualification journey had an ominous start, but there is still time to course-correct and get back on track.
What’s important to remember is that the Egyptian national team is not a vanity project and should never be treated as such. Decisions should be based on merit, not personal feelings, but that doesn’t mean words don’t matter and feelings can’t be hurt.
The South Sudan game may not be make-or-break for Egypt’s Afcon ambitions, but it certainly bears a lot of weight for Hassan’s second term with the Pharaohs.
- Reem Abulleil
Monday, 28 September 2026
AGASSI STEALS SHOW WITH JOKES ABOUT CARLOS ALCARAZ AND ALEXANDER ZVEREV AFTER EUROPE SEAL LAVER CUP GLORY
Andre Agassi was in a playful mood Andre Agassi watching his Team World lose the 2026 Laver Cup to Team Europe at London's O2 Arena on Sunday, with the American legend taking an opportunity to poke fun at Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz.
Zverev sealed a sixth Laver Cup for Europe with a straight-sets victory over Learner Tien, reclaiming the title Team World won in San Francisco a year earlier.
Europe had earned themselves three chances to win the tournament during the final round of singles matches, which they took at the first opportunity thanks to Zverev's win.
Alcaraz was set to play Alex de Minaur next had Zverev not beaten Tien but the Spaniard was not required for his final match after beating Taylor Fritz on Saturday and winning Friday's doubles contest alongside Jakub Mensik against Fritz and Alexander Bublik.
Alcaraz had a four-month injury lay-off and missed the Roland-Garros and Wimbledon Grand Slams as a result, before returning to the US Open earlier this month, where he exited at the quarter-final stage.
"How great is it to have Carlito back in the house? My man! We missed you! The game really missed you," Agassi said before Europe were awarded the Laver Cup trophy.
"In real time, I was missing you. I was praying every day that your wrist would get better somewhere in October… not before this weekend."
Former world No. 1 Agassi also took the opportunity to make some fun of Zverev, who made the most of Alcaraz's absence from the circuit this year to claim his first Grand Slam titles at the French and US Open.
"Congratulations, Sascha on a crazy year," he said. "Seeing you win [a Grand Slam] for the first time, I know how important that was for you.
"It was important for me too, because I can start watching your press conferences again where you’re not like. ‘Why do I always lose? Why do I always lose? I’m the third best in the world [pretending to cry].
"But then you win and then it’s like, ‘I’m only a one-slam champion; I’ve got to do it again.'"
Zverev laughed off Agassi's comments, which went down well with the London crowd, before joining his team-mates on stage to lift the Laver Cup.
Following his win, Zverev - who has featured at more Laver Cups than anyone else - made an admission about the current state of men's tennis after enjoying another team campaign.
"Winning as a team, there is no better feeling in sports," he said.
"We don’t have enough of it in tennis, being among these great players that I normally see across the net every week, and playing alongside two great captains, Yannick [Noah] and Tim [Henman].
"It’s just fun being out here."
- BEN SOUTHBY
QATAR NATIONAL TEAM WIND CATEGORY E GOLD AT THE WORLD CHESS OLYMPIAD IN SAMARKAND
The Qatar National Chess Team claimed the gold medal in Category E at the 46th World Chess Olympiad, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 15 to 28 September 2026, with the participation of 206 countries.
The national team consisted of five players: Hamad Al Kuwari, Irfan Mohammed, Turki Al Kuwari, Khalid Al Jumaat, and Mohammed Jerbi. The Qatari players delivered impressive performances throughout the Olympiad and concluded their campaign by securing first place in their category.
Qatar's participation also witnessed notable individual achievements. National team player Khalid Al Jumaat earned the title of Candidate Master (CM), while Mohammed Jerbi achieved the title of FIDE Master (FM). In addition, the players made significant gains in their international ratings.
The Olympiad competition featured five divisions: A, B, C, D, and E. The Uzbekistan national team won the Open section title, followed by India in second place and Germany in third.On the administrative side, Mr. Mohammed Al Mudahka, Deputy President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and President of the Qatar Chess Association, participated in the FIDE General Assembly meetings held on the sidelines of the Olympiad. Several Qatari administrative officials also took part in the event, including Ms. Zhu Chen, FIDE Treasurer, and Mr. Hamad Al Tamimi, Advisor to the FIDE Events Commission and Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Association.
Qatari international arbiters Yousef Khalil Al Mohannadi and Sara Al Muhannadi were also among the officiating team responsible for managing the Olympiad competitions.Commenting on the achievement, Mr. Mohammed Al Mudahka, President of the Qatar Chess Association, expressed his delight with the team’s success in the Samarkand Olympiad, praising the outstanding performances delivered by the players. He highlighted that the squad included a number of promising juniors and young players who succeeded in earning international titles and achieving important gains in the world rankings.
Al Mudahka stated that winning the gold medal represents a valuable addition to the accomplishments of Qatari chess and will further strengthen the players’ standings in the FIDE rating list.He emphasized that the Qatar Chess Association will continue its efforts to develop the national teams through comprehensive preparation programs and participation in international tournaments, helping players prepare for future competitions and enhancing Qatar’s presence on the international chess stage.
The Qatar National Team concluded its participation in the Samarkand Olympiad with a gold medal in Category E, along with several individual achievements, international titles, and rating gains. The results reflect the continued progress of Qatari chess talent and support the Association’s long-term vision of developing a new generation of players capable of competing successfully at the highest international level.
- Gulf Times
HAMILTON SHARES TEAR-JERKING MESSAGE FOR ROSCOE ONE YEAR AFTER HEARTBREAKING LOSS
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| Photo: RacePictures |
Lewis Hamilton has shared a heartfelt social media tribute to his beloved dog Roscoe, who accompanied him for a significant part of his Formula 1 career before passing away one year ago.
Roscoe passed away on Sunday, 28 September 2025, after being hospitalised with pneumonia and placed on life support. The Brit confirmed his death the following day, revealing that his beloved dog died in his arms the previous evening. One year later, Hamilton marked the anniversary of Roscoe’s passing, remembering the companion who remained by his side for twelve years.
Hamilton remembers Roscoe one year after his passing
Looking back on their time together, Hamilton reflected on the important place Roscoe held in his life and acknowledged how difficult his absence continues to be. Alongside memories of Roscoe, Hamilton also mentioned Coco, explaining that both dogs remain a constant presence in his thoughts despite no longer being by his side.
The anniversary also gave Hamilton an opportunity to revisit some of the memories they created together through old photos and videos. Rather than focusing solely on the sadness of the loss, the Briton looked back at those moments with a smile, remembering the happiness they brought him throughout the years.
“It’s been one year since Roscoe’s passing. Being without my best friend has been hard, and there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wish he was with me. I think of him and Coco every day, and as sad as I am to not have them, I’m so grateful for the time I shared with them and to have had them in my life. They’ve been there for some of the happiest times of my life.”
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| Roscoe in the F1 paddock in 2020 - Photo: Race Pictures |
Hamilton also took the opportunity to thank those who have supported him since Roscoe’s passing, particularly fans who understood the pain of losing a beloved companion and helped him through the difficult period.
“Today, I’m looking through these photos and videos laughing and smiling so big remembering those moments. So many of you have been through this and reached out with love and support. It means so much to me, knowing how much Roscoe was loved. Rest’s in peace buddy’s, love you always.”
Last August, Hamilton decided to start a new chapter in his life with a new pet, welcoming Golden Retriever puppy Halo into his family. The Ferrari driver introduced the newest addition during the summer break, sharing several photos of the pair together on social media. Halo was brought over to Los Angeles, where she is set to receive training from Kirstin McMillan, who previously worked with Hamilton's other dogs, Roscoe and Coco.
- Tobia Elia
BRANDON MCNULTY TAKES TOP SPOT |
The USA rider, Brandon McNulty, leads the Men Elite Road Race rankings at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montréal with a time of 6:17:04.
🥈 Michael Matthews 🇦🇺 +13"
🥉 Mathieu van der Poel 🇳🇱 +13"
4️⃣ Quinn Simmons 🇺🇸 +13"
5️⃣ Isaac Del Toro 🇲🇽 +14"
6️⃣ Mads Pedersen 🇩🇰 +14"
7️⃣ Tom Pidcock 🇬🇧 +14"
8️⃣ Matteo Jorgenson 🇺🇸 +14"
9️⃣ Giulio Ciccone 🇮🇹 +14"
🔟 Ben Healy 🇮🇪 +14"
#Cycling #Worlds2026 #UCIWorlds
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