PARAGUAY'S MIGUEL ALMIRON GETS FIRST WORLD CUP RED CARD UNDER NEW FIFA RULE

 

Miguel Almiron remonstrates with referee Ivan Barton
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Darren Yamashita

Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron has become the first player to be issued a red card at the World Cup for covering his mouth, under a new rule from Fifa.

The infraction came during first-half stoppage time as Paraguay played Turkey, with Almiron and defender Mert Mulder exchanging words on the pitch following a foul.

Almiron covered his mouth while saying something to Mulder, who immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.

A new law passed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in April states that "any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card".

Barton reviewed the video and quickly ruled that Almiron should be sent off

Fifa president Gianni Infantino pushed for the new rule after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni tried to hide verbal insults towards Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League game earlier this year.

The IFAB said it was approving the rule in a bid to address discriminatory and inappropriate behaviour in football.

Paraguay were leading 1-0 at the time, and managed to hold on for the win despite playing a man down for the entire second half.

After the game, Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said Almiron had apologised to his team for his mistake and told him his absence brought out the “fighting spirit” of the team.

The red card means Almiron will miss the side's final group stage match against Australia with second place in Group D on the line.

"He knew about the situation he had left his teammates in with his actions. It happened and it happened," Alfaro said.

This is the second time in two games at the World Cup that Almiron has been carded under a new rule in place this year.

He got a yellow card in the side's opening match against the United States after video review overturned a yellow card issued to Tim Ream and gave it to Almiron instead for diving.

This year's World Cup has also already seen more red cards than in the two tournaments previous, with six given to players so far - and Qatar receiving two in the same game.

- ITV News

THE TRUE STORY OF SIMBA WHEN THEY WERE AWARDED THE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AT THE TABLE, WHEN YANGA REFUSED TO COME TO THE FIELD IN 1965

In the picture, it is 1965 at Ilala Stadium (now Karume), and it is the National Championship Final between the traditional rivals Sunderland (now Simba SC) against Yanga SC. But the match did not reach its conclusion in the usual way.

In the 80th minute, with Yanga leading by one goal, a major commotion broke out on the field. The referee was forced to stop the match right there, and it was ordered that the match be replayed on another day. Yanga did not show up…

The football authorities awarded Simba the championship and the trophy, not by the power of the feet, but by a committee decision.

This photo is a memory of that replay day when Sunderland arrived but Yanga did not appear:

Standing from left: Adam Athuman, Hamisi Kilomoni, Gilbert Mahinya, Kibwana, Kibunzi, Kimimbi, Haji Lesso, Mustafa Choteka and Fikirini. Crouching from left: Arthur Mwambeta, Durban, Mbaraka (Gentula), Salum, Hatibu Mtoto, Luando and Ali Kajo.

#SimbaSportsClub #YoungAfricansSportsClub #yanga #Simba #makinikiayahabari

- Muhidin Issa Michuzi 

THE 1977 TANZANIAN NATIONAL BOXING TEAM AND THEIR LEADERS, ALONG WITH SPORTS COUNCIL OFFICIALS

 

It was at Dar es Salaam Airport in 1977, when the Tanzania National Boxing Team was returning from a competition in Ethiopia, having arrived home with honor around their necks.

In the top row stands Titus Simba (fifth from the left at the back), the National Heavyweight Champion, a boxer whose fists were a weapon of the nation. When this photo was taken, it was not known that this would be his last journey representing Tanzania on international stages. The late Simba left us too soon, but he left an indelible mark in the history of our sports.

Kneeling in front from the right are Ahmed Tesha, Emmanuel Mlundwa, Lucas Msomba, Rashid Mohamed, Habib Kinyogoli, and Bakari Kitivu (who did not go on this trip).

Behind them stand the leaders and pillars of boxing in the country: Coach William Majwala, Vice President of the Tanzania Amateur Boxing Association (TABA) Mzee Pazzi, Chairman of TABA and international referee Salim Seif Nkamba, Secretary General of TABA and international referee Narcis Tarimo, Elias Sulus (from BMT), William Lyimo, Alois Nyuti, and Dr. Kisambale.

Nearly 50 years have passed and many of them have gone ahead to the hereafter, but this photo remains evidence that Tanzania was at the top in boxing even back in the day.

- Emmanuel Mlundwa

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BBC PUNDIT CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE WIMBLEDON RULE CHANGE AND BLASTS 'INSANITY'

The tennis ace has urged the ATP to introduce a drastic rule change.

Former British tennis star John Lloyd has called on the ATP to reduce men’s Grand Slam matches to best of three sets. It comes amid ongoing suggestions that the hectic tour schedule is negatively impacting players and forcing them to miss tournaments.

Carlos Alcaraz has been the big casualty this year, with the Australian Open champion having sat out the recent French Open. His injury woes also mean he’ll be out for the upcoming Wimbledon Championship, as the effects of elite-level tennis begin to take their toll.

Lloyd is adamant that the solution is to reduce the number of sets the men play at Grand Slams, insisting the best-of-five rule is harming them physically. Commenting on the BBC’s Queen’s coverage, the former world No.23 remarked: “In my opinion, the calendar is awful.

“It has been for years. I think Grand Slams should be best of three sets anyway. I’ve said that for years. All the way through, or certainly from the quarter-finals. I’ve been saying this for years.

“We are going to see more and more injuries, mark my words, unless something is changed. It will happen, there will be more injuries. The best of five sets for four Slams, it’s not just the playing at the tournament that does it, it’s the preparation.”

To win a Grand Slam, players have to come through seven matches, and in a lot of those contests, they’ll be playing at least one more match than they would do during a regular Tour event. Across the course of a Slam, that can add up to just under three extra matches, while during an entire year, it could represent a couple of tournaments worth.

To win a Grand Slam, players have to come through seven matches, and in a lot of those contests, they’ll be playing at least one more match than they would do during a regular Tour event. Across the course of a Slam, that can add up to just under three extra matches, while during an entire year, it could represent a couple of tournaments worth.

Continuing with his assessment, he added: “In our day, the best of five in my day is the equivalent of the best of three sets now. The physicality of the players is night and day to what it was in my day. We have to change this. We will get more injuries unless something is done.

“Best of five sets, when players have to come out from the starting point, every match will be dynamic. People remember great matches, but they remember them because they were at Slams. Not because it’s five hours, a three-hour match will be remembered as much if they are at the Slams.”

- Amos Murphy

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FIFA WORLD CUP 2026: SAIBARI SCORES FASTEST GOAL OF THIS EDITION AS MOROCCO BEAT SCOTLAND 1-0

 

Massachusetts [US], June 20 (ANI): Morocco secured a clinical 1-0 victory over Scotland at Boston Stadium, with Ismael Saibari scoring the decisive goal as the Atlas Lions maintained control to claim a crucial Group C win.

Morocco completed 601 passes against Scotland, the most by an African team in a FIFA World Cup match on record since 1966, as per OptaJoe's X handle.

Morocco struck early through Saibari, who broke past the Scottish defence, controlled a precise pass from Brahim Diaz, and fired a powerful finish into the roof of the net beyond goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

The strike proved to be the fastest goal of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 and also Morocco's quickest ever at the global tournament, helping them move to four points and temporarily top Group C ahead of Brazil's fixture in Philadelphia.

After the interval, both sides created chances in an open contest. Saibari nearly doubled the lead but saw his deflected effort crash off the crossbar after a sharp move initiated by Bilal El Khannouss.

Morocco came close again when El Khannouss almost converted a near-post corner from Achraf Hakimi, only for Gunn to deny him once more.

In the closing stages, Scotland pushed hard for an equaliser, with John McGinn, Ben Gannon-Doak and Scott McTominay leading repeated attacks. However, Morocco held firm under pressure to secure all three points and complete a vital win.

During the clash, Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari etched his name into the record books after scoring the fastest goal of the FIFA World Cup 2026, finding the net just 70 seconds.

Saibari struck after only one minute and 10 seconds, surpassing the previous fastest goal of the tournament scored by Czechia's Michal Sadilek, who had netted after five minutes and seven seconds against South Africa earlier in the competition.

The early breakthrough underlined Morocco's positive start to the match and highlighted Saibari's growing influence on the international stage.

The goal also saw Saibari achieve another significant milestone. He became only the second African player to score in each of his first two FIFA World Cup appearances, joining Egypt's Mohamed Salah in the exclusive list.

In addition, the strike is now the fastest goal ever scored by Morocco at a FIFA World Cup and the second-fastest goal scored by an African nation in the tournament's history. The record for the fastest World Cup goal by an African player remains with Ghana's Asamoah Gyan, who scored against the Czech Republic during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Ismael Saibari's early effort has now become the quickest goal of the ongoing edition of the World Cup, highlighting his immediate impact in the high-profile clash.

However, the fastest goal in FIFA World Cup history remains unchanged. Turkey's Hakan Sukur still holds that record, having scored just 11 seconds into a match against South Korea in 2002. Sukur had capitalised on a defensive lapse straight from kickoff to slot home and create a milestone that continues to stand as the quickest strike in World Cup history. 

- ANI

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COURTESY OF GOLDEN BOY PROMOTIONS

Another day, another turn for Oscar Collazo.

Informed early that his replacement opponent, Mexico’s Neider Valdez, had no chance of making the 105-lbs weight limit for Saturday night’s DAZN main-event minimumweight title bout at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California, Collazo weighed in Friday at 110.6lbs while Valdez came in at 111.2lbs.

Collazo’s WBO and WBA belts will no longer be on the line, but the Puerto Rican will fight for the WBA International flyweight strap.

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Valdez, 15-3-3 (12 KOs), was summoned this week after top-15 ranked original opponent Joey Canoy could not secure a travel visa to reach the U.S. from the Philippines and first-choice replacement opponent, Luis Castillo of Mexico, couldn't either.

Collazo, 14-0 (11 KOs), told BoxingScene Thursday he’s considering moving on from the 105lbs division to either seek the winner of the July 20 Shokicki Iwata-Erik Badillo WBC light flyweight title bout, or to make the bigger leap to flyweight and pursue fellow Golden Boy Promotions fighter and unified 112-lbs champion Ricardo Sandoval.

Collazo assured that his power will transfer up in weight, and now he’ll have the opportunity to prove that against Valdez, who has been knocked out twice in the past two-plus years.

- Lance Pugmire

THE WORLD'S TOP CHESS NATIONS

 

WYNDHAM CLARK LEADS US OPEN WITH MIXED BAG AFTER TITLEIST DEAL ENDED

Clark entered 2026 as an equipment free agent and built a multi-brand setup spanning TaylorMade, Ping and Titleist. Halfway through the US Open at Shinnecock Hills, the experiment is working.

Wyndham Clark holds the lead after the second round of the 2026 US Open at Shinnecock Hills with one of the more unusual bags on tour. The 2023 US Open champion entered the season as an equipment free agent after his full-line Titleist contract ended, and the setup he has assembled across four brands is now contending at a major.

Clark’s US Open bag features TaylorMade woods, a Ping fairway wood and putter, Titleist irons and wedges, and a Titleist Pro V1x ball. It is a setup built without a single full-line obligation, outside a ball-and-glove arrangement with Titleist and a putter-only deal with Ping that was confirmed ahead of the championship.

Driver settled at the right time

Clark cycled through four different drivers in his first five events of 2026 before settling on the TaylorMade Qi4D at the end of April. The move came with a notable spec change: he went from a 9° head to 10.5°, which Golf Monthly reports helped increase spin and accuracy.

The shaft also changed. Clark had been using a Project X Titan Black 70 TX but switched to the brand-new Project X Titan Yellow 60 TX, which debuted at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in late May. He won that event by three shots with a final-round 60, ending a two-year winless drought.

The rest of the top of the bag includes a TaylorMade Qi4D Tour 3-wood (15°, Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX 80 TX shaft) and a Ping G440 Max 7-wood (21°, Project X Titan Black 80 TX shaft).

Putter became the breakthrough club

The most consequential equipment change of Clark’s 2026 season may be the Ping Scottsdale Tec Ally Blue Onset putter he has used since The Masters. Today’s Golfer reported that Ping signed Clark to a putter-only agreement ahead of the US Open, the first time the company had entered a single-club endorsement deal with a PGA Tour player.

Clark’s own comments explain the fit. “The white finish first got my attention and when I started rolling putts with it, it set up easily and gave me immediate confidence,” he said. “I’d never used a putter with onset before, so it was a new look for me that really matches my eye. The onset combined with the top-rail dot simplifies alignment and my consistency has improved. I’m sinking more long putts than ever.”

At the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Clark gained 12.5 strokes on the greens for the week, a PGA Tour record for strokes gained putting in a single event.

Irons, wedges and ball stayed with Titleist

Despite moving away from a full-line deal, Clark kept Titleist equipment in the scoring half of his bag. His iron set is a blend of the Titleist T200 in 4-iron and 5-iron and the Titleist T100 from 6-iron through 9-iron, all on True Temper Dynamic Gold X7 shafts. Earlier in 2026 he had the T200 covering 4-iron to 6-iron but switched the 6-iron to the T100 model for a more compact head.

His wedge setup is Titleist Vokey SM11 in 46°, 50° and 54° configurations, plus a Vokey WedgeWorks 60°. He upgraded from the SM10 shortly after The Masters.

Clark continues to play a Titleist Pro V1x ball, the one piece of Titleist equipment that remained contractually tied after his endorsement shifted.

What the mixed bag signals

Equipment free agency has been part of the PGA Tour for years. Clark’s bag at Shinnecock is a clear example of what happens when a major winner builds a setup without brand constraints. The TaylorMade driver and woods sit at the top. Ping covers the putter and one fairway wood. Titleist handles irons, wedges and ball. Municipal, the apparel brand co-founded by Mark Wahlberg, provides Clark’s clothing, and he wears FootJoy Fields shoes.

Clark has 36 holes to turn this experiment into a US Open-winning setup. Through two rounds at Shinnecock Hills, the mixed bag is holding up.

- Simon Bale

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CANADA'S ISMAEL KONÉ SHARES MESSAGE FROM HOSPITAL AFTER BREAKING LEG AT WORLD CUP: 'I LOVE YOU GUYS'

Koné suffered a broken leg during Canada’s win vs. Qatar Thursday night, ending his World Cup.

Canada’s Ismaël Koné leaves the field on a stretcher after breaking his leg against Qatar.

Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press

Canadian midfielder Ismaël Koné showed gratitude for his teammates in his first statement after sustaining a devastating injury to his left leg during Canada's World Cup match against Qatar on Thursday.

In a post to Instagram, Koné said the outpouring of love and support after he was stretchered off following a tackle by Qatari midfielder Assim Madibo in the second half of Canada’s 6-0 win has “been felt” and he was grateful for those keeping him in their prayers. 

“Allah will never give you a challenge that you can’t overcome and being tested is the best of gift from god,” he said before turning the focus to his teammates.

“To Canadian brothers, as I turned myself into assistant coach to support you from the sideline ... I wanted you to know that I love you guys from the bottom of my heart and our brotherhood is everything to me.

“What you guys did yesterday will stay with me forever.”

Koné’s surgery at a Vancouver hospital on Thursday night was deemed a success. The Montrealer is expected to make a full recovery but will miss the remainder of the soccer tournament, coach Jesse Marsch told reporters in Vancouver.

Several members of the Canadian soccer team rushed to Koné as he laid on the grass, clutching his leg, including Moïse Bombito and Maxime Crépeau. Bombito had just made his return to play against Qatar after a long recovery from a broken leg he suffered in a game last October. Crépeau fractured his right leg back in 2022, causing him to miss that year’s World Cup tournament.

Later on throughout the game, Koné’s teammates honoured him with their inspiring play. When Nathan Saliba, who came on to replace the injured Koné, scored the country’s fourth goal, he held up the Montrealer’s No. 8 jersey to the crowd.

After the men’s national team earned its first win in World Cup history, Bombito visited Koné in the hospital and posted a photo to Instagram. The pair held up two peace signs while Koné rested on a hospital bed. 

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, who watched the game in Vancouver alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, visited the team’s dressing room after the match and spoke about how Koné and his teammates responded after the shocking injury.

“You showed a level of character that some people never achieve in their life,” Carney said. “And you showed it when the entire country and a good part of the world was watching ... I couldn’t be prouder as a Canadian.”

Canada’s Nathan Saliba holds up Ismaël Koné’s jersey after scoring against Qatar.

Emilee Chinn/Getty Images

In his social media post, Koné ended his message with a final promise.

“I’ll be back very soon,” he said, “and we’ll keep making more memories together.”

- Sadeen Mohsen

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