Tuesday, 16 June 2026
MAN UTD SET BARCELONA HARD LINE OVER MARCUS RASHFORD TRANSFER TALKS
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| Marcus Rashford spent last season on loan at Barcelona from Manchester United (Image: Getty |
Barcelona's option to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United for £26million expired at midnight on Monday, meaning the La Liga giants must now negotiate a fresh fee should they wish to pursue the forward. United have made clear they will not entertain any approach from Barcelona involving another loan arrangement.
Barca wasted little time in securing Anthony Gordon from Newcastle in a £70m deal at the start of the transfer window. The left winger's arrival has had a significant impact on how Rashford's future is likely to unfold this summer.
Rashford is currently on duty with England at the World Cup, though he is expected to report back for United's pre-season following a period of rest after the tournament concludes.
The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19. Even should England go all the way to the final, Rashford would in theory be available in time for United's last pre-season friendly against AC Milan on August 15
While United are prepared for the possibility of Rashford returning for pre-season training, it is understood the club's preferred outcome would be to agree a permanent transfer fee before the summer window closes.
He has two years remaining on his £325,000 per week United contract, which he signed in the summer of 2023 following a 30-goal campaign.
Bayern Munich have also been weighing up a move for Rashford after missing out on Gordon, who opted for Barcelona instead. Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz have all previously made the move from England to the Bundesliga giants.
Rashford chipped in with 14 goals and 14 assists for Barcelona as they won the La Liga title. Michael Carrick, who has both played alongside and managed Rashford, hinted that the door remained open for a return when quizzed about the forward's future two months ago.
Carrick said: "I just think there are decisions to be made in time, really, on certain things, and obviously Marcus is in that situation. But at this point in time, nothing's been decided. And it will be, because it has to be at a certain point, but at this stage, there's nothing to say."
When asked whether it was a case of never closing doors with players, Carrick responded: "Yeah, I'm not going on the Marcus individual one, because I think, like I've already touched on, I think to comment either way at this stage is just not the right thing to do, because there's uncertainties, for sure.
But for me, as I said, individual players who I'm able to work with in this part of the squad then I enjoy doing that, and trying to get the best out of them."
While Carrick stopped short of ruling out a Rashford return, his comments came at a time when Barcelona were pressuring United into accepting a fee below £26m. Since Ineos assumed control of football operations, trimming the wage bill has been a key objective, making Rashford's departure a priority. His iconic number 10 shirt was handed to Matheus Cunha last year.
- Steven Railston & Mark Wakefield
TUNISIA HIRE FORMER SAUDI ARABIA COACH HERVÉ RENARD DURING WORLD CUP
MONTERREY, Mexico — Hervé Renard is back on the World Cup stage.
The former Saudi Arabia coach was appointed Tunisia manager on Tuesday following the dismissal of Sabri Lamouchi, becoming one of the most unexpected coaching stories of FIFA World Cup 2026.
Tunisia acted after suffering a heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden in its opening Group F match, turning to the experienced Frenchman in a bid to revive its hopes of reaching the knockout rounds.
The appointment marks Renard's third consecutive men's World Cup with a different nation.
He previously coached Morocco at the 2018 tournament in Russia before guiding Saudi Arabia at Qatar 2022, where he led the Green Falcons to a historic 2-1 victory over eventual champions Argentina.
Renard's return to the World Cup comes just two months after his departure from Saudi Arabia following the team's qualification campaign for the expanded 48-team tournament.
Between men's World Cups, Renard also coached France at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and led the host nation at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Despite building a reputation as one of international football's most respected tournament coaches, Renard has yet to guide a team beyond the World Cup group stage.
His greatest achievements remain in Africa, where he became the first coach to win the Africa Cup of Nations with two different countries, lifting the title with Zambia in 2012 and Ivory Coast in 2015.
Tunisia now hopes that pedigree can inspire a turnaround. Renard has only a few days to prepare his new team before a crucial clash against Japan on Saturday, followed by a meeting with group favorite Netherlands.
- Saudi Gazette, Agencie
REPORT: FBI STOPPED VIOLENT TERRORIST PLOT AIMED AT UFC WHITE HOUSE, DONALD TRUMP RESPONDS
UFC White House might have avoided more than just a little bad weather.
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| WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 14: A general view during the UFC Freedom 250 Fan Fest at The Ellipse on June 14, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Zuffa LLC) |
On Tuesday, Fox News reported that FBI officials disrupted an alleged terrorist plot that involved explosive drones and snipers with the target being attendees of this past Sunday’s UFC event, which took place on the South Lawn of the White House, with President Donald Trump and numerous officials and VIPs watching, as well as at the nearby Ellipse Park, where nearly 80,000 fans were expected to be in attendance.
According to the report, the alleged plot would have seen explosive-laden drones strike buildings at the event with the intention to force an emergency evacuation. People would then be steered towards an area where they could be shot at by snipers. A “second wave” would then directly attack the White House gates.
UFC White House took place June 14, and the potential threat was reportedly first discovered by the FBI on June 10, with the alleged suspects gathering for final preparations in Fredericksburg, Va. One suspect was taken into custody in Cincinnati and, as of Monday, five suspects are in custody with investigators identifying 23 people as being involved in the plot.
“In the days leading up to this weekend, our special agents, mission support personnel, and technical security teams worked around the clock to identify those responsible and hold them accountable,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said in a statement to Fox News. “Equally important to our protective mission is ensuring accountability through the justice system. To that end, our formal comments regarding the specifics of this case will be made through court filings.”
Ahead of Sunday’s event, which was first announced in June 2025, much of the talk revolved around how UFC CEO Dana White and his team would deal with the numerous logistical issues involved with putting on a show at the White House, with security being a chief concern. Weather was also a major topic of discussion, though the event proceeded with only a delay to the start time despite inclement weather in the surrounding areas.
FBI Director Kash Patel praised his team for preventing the alleged plot.
“While the result represented the best of investigative work, it was also nothing out of the ordinary for this law enforcement team,” Patel said. “We are built to detect, respond to, and bring to justice those who threaten the lives of American citizens—particularly during large gatherings like the historic UFC [Freedom] 250 fight. That’s exactly what we did here.”
At the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday, Trump was asked about the FBI stopping the alleged plot and he replied that he wasn’t aware.
“I haven’t heard about it,” Trump said. “The attack that I watched were the fighters. … They were as good a fights as I’ve ever seen, the best. That last fight was brutal and the two last—all of the fights were good. It was all good, it was a great evening, it was very different for the White House.”
In the main event of Sunday’s card, Justin Gaethje scored a dramatic fourth-round knockout over Ilia Topuria to unify the UFC lightweight titles, while Ciryl Gane became interim heavyweight champion a second time with a knockout over former two-division champion Alex Pereira.
- Alexander K. Lee
MONACO APPEAL MONACO GP RESULT AFTER FIA PENALTY REVERSAL SPARKS FAIRNESS ROW
McLaren have formally lodged a notification of appeal with the FIA International Court of Appeal after the revised Monaco GP result triggered a fresh sporting fairness row in the 2026 Formula 1 season.
The team confirmed it is appealing decisions related to Stewards Document 99, Revised Final Race Classification Document 100 and Revised Championship Points Document 101, following the post-race process that changed the Monaco result after the FIA reviewed pit lane speed penalties.
The controversy centres on the reversal of penalties that had shaped the Monaco finishing order and championship points. Alpine’s successful review restored Pierre Gasly to the podium, but it also created a wider problem for teams whose drivers had already served penalties during the race or had their strategies affected by the original decisions.
McLaren made clear their appeal is not aimed at any rival team or driver. Instead, the Woking team argued that the way the situation has unfolded raises broader questions over consistency, fairness and the integrity of the championship.
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| Oscar Piastri during practice for the 2026 F1 Monaco GP | McLaren F1 Team |
“McLaren Racing can confirm that it has formally lodged a notification of appeal with the FIA International Court of Appeal regarding the following decisions related to the 2026 Monaco Grand Prix: Stewards Document 99; Revised Final Race Classification Document 100; Revised Championship Points Document 101,” the team said in a statement.
“While we fully respect the FIA’s judicial processes and the role of the Stewards, we believe this case raises important questions concerning sporting fairness, regulatory consistency and the integrity of competition.”
McLaren question sporting fairness after Monaco revision
The Monaco controversy has become one of the most complex regulatory disputes of the 2026 season because it is not simply about whether one penalty was right or wrong.
The issue is what happens when a penalty is removed after others have already served punishments or adjusted their race decisions based on the original rulings.
McLaren’s position is that teams followed the regulations and established practice as they were being applied during the Monaco weekend. If penalties are later removed from some competitors, the team argues that those who accepted the original decisions can be left at a disadvantage.
“Throughout the Monaco Grand Prix weekend – and in every event – all teams operated according to the regulations and established standard practices for what concerns the speed limit in the pit lane as they were applied at the time,” McLaren added. “Competitors adjusted their procedures accordingly and, where required, accepted and served penalties imposed under those regulations.
“In our view, the subsequent removal of penalties creates a situation in which some competitors are disadvantaged by having acted in accordance with the rules and the Stewards’ decisions. Such an outcome risks creating sporting inequity and undermining confidence in the consistent application of the FIA Sporting Regulations.”
That wording is significant.
McLaren are not arguing simply that Gasly should not have regained his position. They are challenging the wider consequence of revising the result after teams had already accepted penalties that could not be fully unwound.
Monaco appeal could test FIA consistency
The appeal now places the FIA’s regulatory process under renewed scrutiny.
Pit lane speeding is usually one of the most straightforward offences in Formula 1, but Monaco’s unique layout and the reported timing discrepancy turned a routine penalty process into a much larger issue.
The problem for the FIA is that the revised classification did not affect every competitor in the same way. Some penalties could be removed after the race through a points and classification change. Others, particularly penalties already served during the Grand Prix, had already shaped track position, strategy and race outcome in ways that cannot easily be reversed.
“Our decision to appeal is not directed at any competitor,” the team said. “Rather, it reflects our belief that the Championship benefits from regulations that are applied consistently, transparently and fairly to all participants.
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| Oscar Piastri during the F1 2026 Barcelona Grand Prix | McLaren F1 Team |
“McLaren remains committed to working constructively with the FIA, Formula One and fellow competitors to protect the integrity of the sport and maintain confidence in its regulatory framework.”
For McLaren, the championship implications matter too. Any revised classification or points adjustment can affect the fight against Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull, especially in a season where small swings have already carried major consequences.
But the bigger question now goes beyond one result.
If the FIA International Court of Appeal takes the case forward, it may have to address how Formula 1 handles errors that are identified after the event, particularly when some competitors can be restored while others cannot be compensated in the same way.
That makes McLaren’s appeal more than a dispute over Monaco.
It is now a test of how the FIA balances correction, fairness and sporting certainty when a Grand Prix result has already been shaped by decisions made in real time.
- John Smith
SERENA AND VENUS WILLIAMS TO PLAY AT WIMBLEDON AFTER GETTING DOUBLES WILD CARD
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| Serena Williams, left, and Venus Williams with their trophies after winning the women's doubles final at Wimbledon in 2016. Credit: AP |
Serena and Venus Williams will return to Wimbledon after being given a wild card into the women’s doubles.
The tennis sisters are six-time doubles champions at Wimbledon, winning their last title on their most recent appearance together a decade ago.
Serena, 44, played her first match since 2022 last week at Queen’s Club, winning one round alongside Victoria Mboko before the Canadian was forced to pull out through injury.
The seven-time Wimbledon singles champion joked on court after the victory that she “had nothing better to do” and “got tired of sitting at home”, so she decided to return to the sport she once dominated.
She later added that the comeback was partially inspired by the prospect of her two daughters, Olympia and Adira, being able to watch her play.
Neither Serena nor Venus has yet been given a wild card into the women’s singles, although one spot remains open ahead of the Championships, which start on June 29.
Serena appeared to play down rumours she would be making a singles comeback when the 23-time grand slam champion said, when quizzed at Queen’s, that it was “not my journey right now”.
The younger Williams sister last appeared at Wimbledon four years ago, when she lost in the first round to France’s Harmony Tan, before “evolving away” from tennis later that summer at the US Open.
Speaking last week, All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) chief Sally Bolton said: “I can’t answer that question, but I guess what I can say is we can all see how much excitement Serena being back on a tennis court and particularly on a grass court has created and so one can only imagine what that would be like at the Championships.
- itvX
GERMAN MATHEMATICIAN WHO CORRECTLY PREDICTED 3 WORLD CUPS NAMES TEAM TO WIN 2026 TOURNAMENT
- German economist and mathematician Joachim Klement has predicted the Netherlands will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- Klement says his prediction is based on an economic model rather than pure football analysis
- He points to the country’s record of reaching three World Cup finals as evidence of its strong football system
German economist and mathematician Joachim Klement has predicted that the Netherlands will win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, extending a forecasting model he says has correctly identified the winners of the previous three tournaments.
Speaking in an interview with CBS News, Klement said his prediction is based on an economic model rather than football performance alone.
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| German economist Joachim Klement predicts the Netherlands as winners of the 2026 FIFA World Cup using an economic model. Photo credit: Picture Alliance/Roberto Schmidt/DeFodi Images/Getty Images Source: Getty Images |
He explained that the model evaluates four key factors: population size, climate, national wealth and current FIFA rankings.
According to Klement, countries with larger populations have broader talent pools and stronger fan support, while wealth enables investment in sports infrastructure and player development. Climate, he said, can also influence a team's performance.
Although traditional football powerhouses such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France and Spain remain among the favourites, Klement believes the Netherlands consistently performs above expectations.
He noted that despite never winning the World Cup, the Dutch national team has reached three finals, which he said reflects the country's strong football culture and effective talent development system.
Klement acknowledged that his latest prediction may surprise many football fans, as the Netherlands is not widely regarded as one of the leading favourites to lift the trophy in 2026.
- Edwin Abanga
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IRAN GOALSCORER ACCUSED OF 'GUN CELEBRATION' AFTER NEW ZEALAND WORLD CUP CONTROVERSY
Iran midfielder Mohammad Mohebi's celebration of his equaliser against New Zealand has been criticised by fans, who have accused the player of an alleged 'gun gesture' during their opening World Cup match
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| (Image: 2026 Shaun Clark/ISI Photos) |
Iranian goalscorer Mohammad Mohebi is at the centre of controversy following allegations that he performed a 'gun celebration' during his country's draw against New Zealand. The midfielder struck in the 64th minute to earn Iran a point in their opening World Cup fixture.
The 27-year-old has come under fire for his post-goal antics, which saw him place two fingers on his arm before extending two fingers on his right hand and waving them in the air. The gesture has drawn considerable scrutiny given the contentious nature of Iran's involvement in the tournament in the United States.
The moment has ignited fury across social media, with numerous users suggesting that Mohebi's actions were deliberately provocative. Whether the gesture was intended to imitate a firearm remains unclear, and FIFA have been approached for comment.
Fellow goalscorer Ramin Rezaeian admitted his celebration carried political undertones after netting Iran's first equaliser, pulling his shirt over his face as he ran towards supporters.
Despite this, he refused to elaborate following the final whistle. "It's something political (his goal celebration)," he said.
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| (Image: Getty Images) |
"I don't want to talk about that. We are here to answer football questions. If there is a problem between us (the Iranian people), it is between us."
The team saw their national anthem booed before kick-off against New Zealand, while supporters also displayed pre-revolutionary flags in protest against the current ruling regime. Iranian fans in the stadium waved the Shir o Khorshid and were likely members of the nation's diaspora community based in Los Angeles, reports the Daily Star.
The Metropolitan Area is home to the largest population of Iranians following the Iranian Diaspora after the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
The exact figure of people with Iranian heritage is uncertain, but estimates suggest it sits somewhere between 200,000 and 700,000.
FIFA banned the flag, and footage also showed one being confiscated during the match with New Zealand.
- Scott Trotter, Callum Hoare and Matt Jackson
Monday, 15 June 2026
IMPATIENT TUNISIA SACK MANAGER AFTER JUST FIRST WORLD CUP MATCH | FIFA WORLD CUP 2026
BREAKING: Sabri Lamouchi has been SACKED by Tunisia following the 5-1 defeat to Sweden.
Lamouchi becomes the FIRST manager to lose his job at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
JESSE LINGARD'S GRANDFATHER DIES AHEAD OF CHILD SEX OFFENCES TRIAL
Kenneth Lingard was accused of sexually abusing a girl from the age of five
Footballer Jesse Lingard's grandfather has died while awaiting a retrial for a number of alleged child sex offences.
Kenneth Lingard, who was aged 87, was accused of sexually abusing a girl from the age of five as he stood trial at Liverpool Crown Court in 2025.
While he was cleared of two counts of indecent assault by the jury, verdicts couldn't be reached on the remaining 15 counts, it can now be reported.
Benjamin Aina KC, prosecuting, told a hearing on Monday, June 15: "On June 10 this year, Kenneth Lingard passed away and a death certificate has been produced."
The 87-year-old, of Northway, Warrington, had been due to face a retrial in May but the proceedings were rescheduled for next year after the court heard he was in hospital.
The first trial heard the historic allegations about the pensioner were reported to police by the complainant in November 2022, following the release of a documentary in which Jesse Lingard spoke about his grandfather’s positive influence on his career.
The jury was told the woman messaged the midfielder after the programme was aired and said: "Shame on you Jesse Lingard. Loads of lies. Your grandad Kenneth Lingard molested and sexually abused me and you know he did."
The former Manchester United and England player flew to the UK from South Korea, where he was playing for FC Seoul, to give evidence in his grandfather’s defence last April.
The footballer, who now plays for Brazilian team Corinthians, denied he had known about any alleged abuse, telling the court: "If I knew any of these allegations, I’d have cut ties with him years ago."
Lingard, a former gymnastics coach and powerlifter, told the court the assaults "never happened".
Addressing the court on Monday, Judge Katherine Pierpoint said: "In the circumstances of this case, having seen the evidence which shows the death of the defendant on June 10 this year, any existing indictments no longer have any legal effect unless the court is shown otherwise."
- The Mirror
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