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Thursday, 18 December 2025
RING WILL BE SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN NORMAL FOR JAKE PAUL VS. ANTHONY JOSHUA
MIAMI BEACH — Not everything will be standard procedure in Friday's eight-round heavyweight bout between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul at Kaseya Center.
The fight, along with the rest of the bouts that will be streamed on Netflix, will take place in a 22-by-22-foot ring. The standard size for a boxing ring is 20-by-20.
“That’s accurate,” Paul said, confirming the details at the final press conference at Jackie Gleason Theater at The Fillmore. “Pretty standard. I think fights range from 20-foot rings to 24-foot rings. So, 22 feet, I feel great about it.”
While that could presumably help the significantly smaller Paul, Joshua said he has no problem with the slightly bigger ring
"One of the last significant fights to take place in a 22-by-22 ring came four years ago when Canelo Alvarez stopped Billy Joe Saunders in their unification bout for WBA, WBC and WBO middleweight titles in Dallas.
Joshua also can’t weigh more than 245 pounds for the fight, rather than a typical heavyweight fight that doesn’t have a weight limit. The last time Joshua weighed less than 245 was for his rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in 2022. Joshua and Paul will wear 10-ounce gloves, which is standard for a heavyweight fight.
Paul (12-1, 7 KOs) will be making a huge step up in competition when he faces Joshua. Paul, 28, is coming off a unanimous decision over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28, which extended his win streak to six.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) will be fighting for the first time since his fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois for the IBF heavyweight title 14 months ago. His fight with Paul will also represent just his second fight in the U.S.
In his lone appearance in the States, Joshua was on the wrong end of one of boxing’s biggest upsets when he was stopped by Andy Ruiz in the seventh round at Madison Square Garden in New York on June 1, 2019.
Joshua became a two-time unified heavyweight champion six months later when he defeated Ruiz in the rematch by unanimous decision in Saudi Arabia.
- NATE MARRERO
WORLD CUP WINNERS TO POCKET $50 MILLION
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| Fifa and its president Gianni Infantino have increased the size of the tournament and the prize money to boot. File photo: Reuters |
The winners of the 2026 World Cup will receive US$50 million in prize money as part of a record financial contribution for the tournament from Fifa, world football's governing body announced on Wednesday.
The total World Cup prize fund of US$655 million (558.5 million euros) represents an increase of almost 50 percent from the US$440 million distributed to teams taking part in the last tournament in Qatar in 2022.
However, next year's World Cup – to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19 – will be the first to feature 48 teams, a 50 percent increase from the 32 teams last time.
The Argentine Football Association received US$42 million in prize money after Lionel Messi inspired them to glory three years ago, when they won on penalties in the final against France.
France received US$30 million for their run to the final.
This time, the beaten finalists will pocket US$33 million, with the third-place finishers collecting US$29 million and the other defeated semi-finalists getting US$27 million.
Teams eliminated in the group phase will receive US$9 million, while all 48 participating nations will get an additional US$1.5 million to cover "preparation costs."
- AFP
Wednesday, 17 December 2025
JA RULE LOOK OUT, CC!!! ... Nearly Drilled MLB Great With Tee Shot
CC Sabathia is a lucky man, 'cause it turns out the former MLB ace was just inches away from Ja Rule's historically bad tee shot at the Derek Jeter Invitational in the Bahamas on Tuesday!!
Videos of the errant swing were shared on social media by those in the line of fire ... and the 2009 World Series champion happened to be standing in the area.
In the clip, you see a man seemingly get drilled on the elbow by the shot, which resulted in a loud thud as the entire crowd collectively let out an "ooh."
Just seconds before letting it rip, the MC -- real name Jeffrey Atkins -- joked he had to block out the noise going on from those around him ... as folks were trolling the New York native as he did some practice swings.
Despite everyone getting a good laugh after the fact ... you can see he was clearly concerned for the man he drilled with his shot -- going to check on the person after realizing what he had done.
People are basically putting their lives on the line whenever they attend these celebrity golf outings. Just last month, Sophie Cunningham clocked someone during a tournament at the Pelican Club in Belleair, Florida.
The fan she hit had some fun with it ... falling to the ground after the ball came to rest -- which gave Caitlin Clark a good laugh.
So if you ever find yourself at a celebrity golf tournament ... make sure you keep your head on a swivel!
- TMZ Sports
FORMER WOLVES PLAYER ETHAN MCLEOD HAS TRAGICALLY PASSED AWAY AT THE AGE OF 21
The youngster, who has spent this season with Macclesfield FC in the National League North, lost his life following a car accident last night.
The attacker first joined Wolves at the age of seven, entering at the pre-academy stage, and progressed through the system to sign a professional contract with the club in January 2023.
During his time with Wolves McLeod worked closely with now academy director Jon Hunter-Barrett and former coach Wolves, leading to him representing England at youth level.
In September 2024 McLeod’s time with Wolves came to an end and he went on to represent Rushall Olympic and Stourbridge, before joining Macclesfield in the summer.
He played for the Silkmen seven times this season, scoring three goals, and was on the bench against Bedford Town on Tuesday, before he tragically passed away when travelling home later that night.
Ethan’s younger brother Conor is currently in Wolves' under-21 squad and the whole club will be providing care and support to him and his family.
Hunter-Barrett said: “We’re absolutely devastated as a club and academy with the news of Ethan’s passing. He was in our academy programme for a long time, and his brother Conor is on our books now, so we’re incredibly sad for Conor and his family.
“We’re respecting his family’s privacy at this moment in time, but we’ll support them in any way possible moving forward. We’ll be there for them and Conor, because they’re a massive part of our club.
“Nobody will have a bad word to say about Ethan. He had a warm heart and was incredibly caring and considerate. He was a talented young man, who got on well socially with everyone in the academy, staff and players, because he was such a loving character.
“Ethan was a talented footballer. He had injuries towards the end of his time here, but as a young player he developed early and progressed to representing England at youth level and played up the age groups at Wolves.
“Our thoughts go out to Conor, Ethan’s family and friends, and everyone at Macclesfield FC, because they’ll be devastated with the tragic news too.”
A minute’s silence will be held prior to Wolves’ Premier League clash with Brentford at Molineux this weekend.
- Wolves
NIGERIA PROTEST OVER DR CONGO PLAYERS, EXPLAINED: WHY SUPER EAGLES HAVE APPEALED TO FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 CASE
Nigeria may not have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by traditional means, but they believe they deserve a shot at the intercontinental playoff route.
The Super Eagles have lodged a complaint with FIFA that could, if granted, allow them another chance at earning passage to next year's tournament in North America.
Failing to qualify for the World Cup by winning their group, Nigeria were beaten on penalties by DR Congo in the final of the CAF World Cup qualification playoff, sending the Leopards to the interconfederation playoff in March.
But Nigeria believe they have identified a reason they should be the playoff participants instead of DR Congo, and have filed a protest with FIFA.
The Sporting News brings you an overview of what Nigeria feel they are entitled to, why they are filing a complaint, and the possible outcomes of the situation.
Why are Nigeria protesting over DR Congo players?
Nigeria have submitted a formal protest to FIFA over the eligibility of certain DR Congo players.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) alleges that up to six DR Congo players did not complete the full requirements for a one-time switch to represent the Leopards officially.
The technicality revolves around DR Congo's own international citizenship laws, which do not recognize dual nationals. Thus, all those wishing to become DR Congo citizens must renounce their previous citizenship.
The NFF believes that multiple DR Congo players have not renounced their previous citizenship, thereby bypassing the normal process to receive DR Congo citizenship.
"That is, to us, what you would consider a breach of that regulation," said NFF general secretary Mohammed Sanusi upon revealing that Nigeria had lodged an official complaint.
The players in question were not named. However, there are a number of candidates in the DR Congo squad, including a few European-born players who switched to represent DR Congo and appeared in their qualifier against Nigeria, including Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Axel Tuanzebe, Arthur Masuaku, Cedric Bakambu, Gael Kakuta, and Michel-Ange Balikwisha.
What are FIFA rules on dual nationality?
While FIFA's regulations around players obtaining nationality therein, and therefore eligibility for, a certain nation seem complicated, they are actually quite simple in most cases.
As FIFA's regulations state, "Any person holding a permanent nationality that is not dependent on residence in a certain country is eligible to play for the representative teams of the association of that country."
Essentially, if you legally obtained a passport for citizenship in a particular nation, you are eligible to represent that nation should you pass all the remaining requirements laid out by FIFA. While there are sometimes distinctions between "nationality" and "citizenship," those are rare occurrences.
However, players acquiring new nationality during the course of their lives must also meet one of FIFA's "genuine link" stipulations. These are:
He was born on the territory of the relevant association
His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant association
His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant association
He has lived on the territory of the relevant association:
for players that began living on the territory before the age of 10: at least three years
for players that began living on the territory between the age of 10 and 18: at least five years
these individuals must demonstrate that the move to the territory of the association was not for the purpose of participating for its representative teams
for players that began living on the territory from the age of 18: at least five years.
In this particular case, players receiving DR Congo nationality must follow the country's normal process of receiving citizenship, which includes renouncing their previous citizenship.
Could Nigeria take DR Congo's place in World Cup playoffs?
If FIFA determine that these players in question did in fact fail to complete the proper requirements for gaining DR Congo citizenship, then a few things could potentially take place.
It's possible that FIFA deem any match these players have appeared in to be in violation, and thus DR Congo would forfeit the matches. This could be incredibly damaging to the national team, as some of these individuals — Arthur Masuaku, for example — have racked up a significant cap tally.
It's also possible that FIFA could decide this is an impractical punishment, and instead they could simply sanction DR Congo moving forward, with a points deduction or other restrictions on future participation.
Should DR Congo be punished retroactively, it could result in Nigeria being given passage to the intercontinental playoff instead of Congo, but that feels like a major step for FIFA to take.
The Sporting News has reached out to FIFA for comment, but had not received a response at the time of publication.
When are the World Cup playoffs?
The FIFA Intercontinental Playoff will take place during the March international window.
The semifinals will be played on March 26, while the final of each pathway will take place on March 31.
Right now, DR Congo are slated to play in the Pathway 1 final against the winner of the semifinal between New Caledonia and Jamaica.
2026 World Cup co-host Mexico will host the Intercontinental Playoff, with one pathway held at Estadio Akron in Zapopan, where DR Congo is scheduled to play, and the other held at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe.
- KYLE BONN
A HISTORY OF EUROOEAN BASKETBALL'S GROWTH
Basketball arrived in Europe through American soldiers and YMCA missionaries in the early twentieth century, but the sport spent decades in relative obscurity compared to football. The game found pockets of enthusiasm in Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Balkans, yet it lacked the structure needed to compete for public attention. That changed in 1958, when the FIBA European Champions Cup was established, giving the continent a competitive framework that would shape the next six decades of the sport.
What followed was a slow build. The competition operated under FIBA's control until 2000, when Euroleague Basketball was created as a separate governing body. This split marked a turning point in how European basketball was managed, marketed, and monetized. The league rebranded, restructured, and began attracting larger audiences and deeper investment.
The Early Decades Under FIBA
From 1958 through the late 1990s, the European Champions Cup served as the primary stage for the continent's best club teams. The format changed multiple times, but the competition remained under FIBA's administration. Real Madrid dominated the early years, winning multiple titles and establishing Spain as a basketball stronghold. Italian and Soviet clubs followed, with teams from Yugoslavia adding their own chapters during the Cold War era.
The game remained popular in southern and eastern Europe, where basketball culture had developed strong roots. Greece saw its clubs become regular contenders, and the sport became a national obsession in countries like Lithuania after the fall of the Soviet Union. Yet the competition lacked consistent commercial backing, and attendance figures remained modest compared to football. In 1996, the competition was renamed the FIBA EuroLeague, but the real restructuring came four years later. Euroleague Basketball took control of operations, and Euroleague Commercial Assets began managing the business side. This separation from FIBA allowed for more aggressive expansion and marketing strategies.
Revenue Streams Beyond the Arena
The global sports betting market reached $100.9 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $187.39 billion by 2030, according to industry estimates. This growth has changed how leagues generate income. The NFL signed partnerships worth over $1 billion with DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars, while total team sponsorship revenue from betting brands approached $300 million during the 2022-2023 US seasons. European basketball has followed a similar path, with Euroleague Basketball and bwin renewing their multi-year sponsorship agreement through 2026. Still, regulatory pressure is tightening across Europe. Spain banned betting advertisements during prime time in 2021 and prohibited promotion on team jerseys and in stadiums, costing La Liga an estimated 90 million euros. Italy maintains a full blanket ban on sports marketing from betting firms. For those betting on sports, these restrictions have pushed operators and leagues to find alternative sponsorship models, even as the four major US sports leagues are set to earn a collective $4.2 billion from legal sports betting revenue.
Attendance Records and Arena Culture
The modern EuroLeague has seen consistent growth in live attendance. During the 2024-25 season, the average reached 10,589 spectators per game, breaking the previous record of 10,383 set the year before. That 2% increase continued a four-year streak of attendance milestones. The regular season drew a total of 3,039,060 spectators, placing the league fifth among all professional indoor sports leagues worldwide and second among basketball leagues globally, trailing only the NBA.
These numbers tell a story of fan investment. Arenas across Europe have upgraded facilities to accommodate growing demand, and game-day atmosphere has become a selling point for the league. Greek fans remain among the loudest, while Spanish and Turkish arenas regularly fill to capacity for high-profile matchups.
Expansion Beyond European Borders
The 2025-26 season brought a major structural change. The league expanded from 18 to 20 teams, with Dubai Basketball joining as the first non-Israeli team from outside Europe. This move signaled the league's ambitions beyond its traditional geography. The same year, the Final Four was held in Abu Dhabi, marking the first time the championship tournament took place outside Europe.
The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, partnered with Etihad Airways, signed a four-year title sponsorship agreement. This deal replaced the previous partnership with Turkish Airlines, which had been in place since 2010 and was valued by GlobalData Sport at $12.5 million per year. The new arrangement reflects the league's push into Middle Eastern markets, where sports investment has accelerated over the past decade.
Screens and Social Platforms
Television viewership for the EuroLeague has doubled over the past five years. Social media metrics have grown even faster. Total impressions reached 1.5 billion, with video views surging 56% to total 816 million. Content engagement across platforms tripled in recent years, driven by highlight clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and player-focused storytelling.
This growth aligns with a younger audience that consumes sports through mobile devices and streaming services rather than traditional broadcasts. The league has invested in content production, partnering with creators and platforms to extend its reach beyond live games. The result is a more consistent presence in fans' daily feeds, even during off-seasons.
Sponsorship and Commercial Partnerships
The global sports sponsorship market is projected to grow from $64.1 billion in 2024 to approximately $144.9 billion by 2034, according to industry projections. European basketball has positioned itself to capture a portion of this growth. The EuroLeague's expanded geography and improved viewership numbers make it more attractive to brands seeking international exposure.
Betting companies remain a complicated partner. While deals with firms like bwin continue to provide revenue, restrictions in Spain and Italy have limited how these partnerships can be activated. The league must balance commercial interests with regulatory realities, a tension that will shape future sponsorship strategies.
What Comes Next
European basketball has grown from a regional curiosity to a global product with audiences in the Middle East, Asia, and beyond. The league's decision to host events outside Europe and add non-European teams suggests further expansion is likely. Whether this growth can be sustained depends on continued investment in arenas, broadcasting, and player development.
The sport has built a foundation over nearly seven decades. What it does with that foundation in the coming years will determine how it competes for attention in a crowded global sports market.
- Eurobasket
PLAYER ASKED TO LEAVE CLUB BECAUSE OF GIRLFRIEND
Karim Adeyemi is a forward for Borussia Dortmund who has consistently delivered impressive performances for the German team, securing his spot as a regular in the national squad's line-up. However, he is reportedly reconsidering his future with the club.
The reason? His girlfriend has apparently requested that they leave the town of Dortmund and move to a major European city. In response, the striker has dismissed his agent and stalled contract renewal negotiations to push for an exit and fulfill his partner's wishes.
EXACT AMOUNT OF NONEY JAKE PAUL AND ANTHONY JOSHUA WILL EARN FROM FIGHT
In their controversial, yet highly anticipated heavyweight clash, Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua will face each other at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Friday, with both fighters set to take home an eye-watering sum of prize money from the Netflix-streamed event.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul was originally set to face lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis in an exhibition match last month, but the bout was cancelled after a domestic abuse lawsuit was filed against Davis in October. After a quick search for a replacement, Paul's team landed on two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua.
Unsurprisingly, AJ enters the ring on Friday as the overwhelming favourite, with some even criticising the bout as a dangerous mismatch. The Brit has been out of action for 15 months following a fifth-round KO defeat against Daniel Dubois at Wembley, but is still an Olympic gold medallist with a professional record of 28 wins (25 by KO) against the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Joseph Parker, and Dillian Whyte, and only four losses.
The 36-year-old will expect a straightforward win ahead of what is promised to be a big 2026, which is set to include a February fight in Riyadh before a high-profile bout in September, potentially in the shape of his much-anticipated clash with Tyson Fury either in London or Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Paul comes into this professional fight, with standard 10oz gloves and knockouts allowed, having only ever fought at heavyweight once — a unanimous decision win against a 58-year-old Mike Tyson. The American holds a professional record of 12 wins and one loss, coming against Tommy Fury in February 2023, and most recently fought against former middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, beating the Mexican on points in June.
For the highly controversial fight against Tyson, Paul reportedly took home $40 million, while his opponent got $20 million, but the upcoming clash with Joshua looks set to exceed those numbers, and by some distance too.
Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua Fight Purse & Prize Money
It was initially reported by the Daily Mail that Paul and Joshua would evenly split a £140 million purse and each take home around £70 million, but Paul revealed a different figure on social media just days later. Taking to X, Paul tweeted: "Stop asking me. $267 million."
Such a figure would see both fighters take home roughly £100 million each, dwarfing the payday Paul enjoyed thanks to his fight with Tyson, and even the prize money Joshua received for his rematches with Oleksandr Usyk ($75 million) and Andy Ruiz Jr ($72 million).
Putting the new figure into perspective, sports and entertainment accountant, Oriana Morrision, told The Independent: "Even if the lower figure – the rumoured $184m purse – is true, AJ could bring home $92 million [£70 million]. We haven’t seen a boxing match with a purse at this level since Mayweather vs Pacquiao in 2015 or even Mayweather vs McGregor in 2017. It’s higher than any Saudi purse to date."
And while many boxing purists have been critical of AJ's decision to take the fight with Paul, Morrison believes it is a perfect opportunity for the Brit, created by Paul's promotion company Most Valuable Promotions.
"The US never really got the chance to savour Anthony Joshua’s talent and charisma. This is the perfect setting for this fight and definitely a turning point for boxing in the US. MVP and Jake Paul are dragging new audiences into boxing. They’re forcing boxing to modernise its promotion and pay fighters better than established promoters."
- Henry Eccles
WHY MOHAMED SALAH WAS LEFT OUT OF EGYPT SQUAD AHEAF OF AFCON AFTER ARNE SLOT ROW
Mohamed Salah was left out of Egypt's squad for the nation's friendly clash with Nigeria ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, as the Liverpool forward temporarily parts ways with Anfield following a bombshell Arne Slot statement
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| Mohamed Salah was left out of the Nigeria friendly(Image: Getty Images) |
Everything you need to know as Mohamed Salah was left out of Egypt's squad against Nigeria ahead of AFCON...
Mohamed Salah makes bombshell Arne Slot claim: The Liverpool forward lambasted a lack of a relationship between himself and his manager after a 3-3 draw with Leeds United, in which he was left on the bench for. During an interview with reporters he claimed there was no relationship between the two, claiming he had been thrown under the bus by the club. Read the full story here.
- Slot forced into change for Brighton: Despite starting on the bench during Liverpool's 2-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion, Salah was deployed by Slot as a replacement for Joe Gomez in the first-half. The 33-year-old made an impact in the match, setting up Hugo Ekitike in the second period for his brace. Read the full story here.
- Salah links up with Egyptian national team for AFCON: Following the Brighton match, Salah made his way to Morocco to link up with his national team mates ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations. FIFA required all Premier League clubs to allow players to leave their club for the tournament by Monday, December 15.
- Forward dropped from squad for friendly: After missing Monday's training session with Egypt, Salah was understandably not named in the nation's squad for a pre-AFCON friendly with Nigeria. However, when the tournament gets underway, it is expected that the star will feature heavily. Read the full story here.
- Egypt secure 2-1 win over Nigeria: Mahmoud Saber opened the scoring for the Pharaohs on Tuesday evening, before Zaidu Sanusi levelled the match on the turn of half-time. Mostafa Mohamed then put Egypt back in front moments after play had resumed to close out a 2-1 win.
- Egypt AFCON schedule: Egypt kickstart their AFCON endeavours with a clash with Zimbabwe come Monday, December 22, before taking on South Africa on Friday, December 26. They then turn their attention to Angola on Monday, December 29 in their final clash of the group stages.
- The games Salah is guaranteed to miss: As a result of AFCON, Salah will miss Liverpool's upcoming outings with Tottenham Hotspur (December 20), Wolverhampton Wanderers (December 27) and Leeds United (January 1). Dependent on how far Egypt progress in the tournament, he may also be absent from Fulham (January 4), Arsenal (January 8) and Burnley in the FA Cup (January 17). Read the full story here.
TERENCE CRAWFORD ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT
Instagram: tbudcrawford https://www.instagram.com/p/DOktLePDsEx/?img_index=1
Three-weight undisputed champion Terence Crawford has announced his retirement from the sport of boxing at the age of 38.
The news follows his unanimous decision win over Canelo Alvarez to become the Undisputed Super Middleweight Champion in September. The historic win made him the first-ever male three-weight undisputed champion, following his feats at 140, 147 and 168. After the Canelo win, Crawford was stripped of his WBC Super Middleweight Title after refusing to pay the WBC their $300,000 sanctioning fee. While Bud hinted at a possible move to 160 with a view to becoming a six-weight world champion, he has now called it a day. He leaves the sport undefeated with a 42-0 record, as boxing fans have come out in droves to credit Crawford for a hugely successful career.
“I’m stepping away from competition, not because I’m done fighting, but because I’ve won a different type of battle. The one where you walk away on your own terms. Every fighter knows this moment will come, we just never know when. I spent my whole life chasing something.
“Not belts, not money, not headlines. But that feeling, the one you get when the world doubts you but you keep showing up and you keep proving everyone wrong. I fought for my family. I fought for my city. I fought for the kid I used to be, the one who had nothing but a dream and a pair of gloves. And I did it all my way. I gave this sport every breath I had,” Crawford said
Tuesday, 16 December 2025
FIFA COMMITTEE MEETING | DOHA | QATAR
President of Young Africans(Yanga) Sports Club, Chairman of the African Clubs Association (ACA) and Member of the FIFA Club Competitions Committee, Eng. Hersi Said, in a group photo with the President of the World Football Federation (FIFA) Gianni Infantino, President of TFF Wallace Karia, and Deputy Chairman of ACA Jessica Motaung, at the first meeting of the FIFA Committee taking place today in Doha, Qatar.
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ OWED 60 MILLION EUROS BY PSG, FRENCH COURT SAYS
Paris Saint-Germain ordered to pay superstar forward now at Real Madrid unpaid salary and bonuses.
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| Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe has won his court case against former club PSG [Miguel Oses/AP] |
A Paris labour court has ordered Paris Saint-Germain to pay Kylian Mbappe 60 million euros ($70.6m) in unpaid salary and bonuses, bringing a partial end to one of the most acrimonious disputes in French football.
The ruling on Tuesday followed months of legal wrangling after the France striker took PSG to court over earnings he said were withheld for April, May and June 2024, shortly before he left the Ligue 1 club to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
“We are satisfied with the ruling. This is what you could expect when salaries went unpaid,” Mbappe’s lawyer Frederique Cassereau told reporters.
The court found PSG had failed to pay three months of Mbappe’s salary, an ethics bonus and a signing bonus due under his employment contract.
Those sums were recognised as due by two decisions of the French Professional Football League in September and October 2024, and the judges said PSG had not produced any written agreement showing Mbappe had waived his entitlement.
The judges rejected PSG’s arguments that Mbappe should forfeit his unpaid wages entirely but also dismissed several of the player’s additional claims, including allegations of concealed work, moral harassment and breach of the employer’s duty of safety.
The court did not view Mbappe’s fixed-term contract as a permanent one, a decision that limited the scale of potential compensation related to dismissal and notice pay.
‘Labour law applies to everyone’
“This judgment confirms that commitments entered into must be honoured. It restores a simple truth: even in the professional football industry, labour law applies to everyone,” Mbappe’s legal team said in a statement.
“Mr. Mbappe, for his part, scrupulously respected his sporting and contractual obligations for seven years, right up to the final day.”
PSG had argued that Mbappe acted disloyally by concealing for nearly a year his intention not to renew his contract, preventing the club from securing a transfer fee similar to the 180 million euros ($212m) they paid to sign him from AS Monaco in 2017.
Mbappe’s representatives said the dispute concerned the strict application of French labour law and unpaid remuneration rather than transfer policy.
- News Agencies
VERSTAPPEN MAKES THE SWITCH TO MERCEDES AND OS THEREFORE IN PORTUGAL
Max Verstappen is reportedly not in Portugal for a holiday, but to race in a Mercedes car. It is said that two Verstappen.com cars are running at the Estoril circuit in preparation for the 2026 GT3 program.
News surfaced that Verstappen’s plane had landed in Portugal. At first, it appeared to be a holiday trip, but rumours suggest he is set to run a Mercedes car in a test at the Estoril circuit.
According to the reports, the Red Bull driver is taking part in a test day at the Portuguese venue, with his team believed to be running a Mercedes-AMG GT3 bearing the numbers 33 and 333.
'Verstappen in Portugal for Mercedes test'
Verstappen’s team will race with Mercedes-AMG power next year, and according to rumours, two such cars are currently running in Portugal in Red Bull colours. Max is not alone on track either, with Mercedes-AMG factory driver Jules Gounon also said to be present.
It’s clear that Verstappen enjoys other racing classes besides Formula 1. A few months ago, the four-time F1 world champion drove with Emil Frey Racing on the Nurburgring Nordschleife.
Together with teammate Chris Lulham, they were too strong for the competition at the German track.
- Estéban den Toom
"HE'S BEEN HURT IN SPARRING": JAKE PAUL VS ANTHONY JOSHUA 'LEAK' EMERGES DAYS BEFORE FIGHT
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| Image credit: Jake Paul Instagram / Matchroo |
Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul are just days away from their controversial heavyweight showdown.
Two-time unified heavyweight champion Joshua is set to face ‘The Problem Child’ over eight rounds at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Friday night.
‘AJ’ is yet to make a return to the ring since he suffered a shock 5th round stoppage defeat to former IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Paul was last in action back in July when he defeated former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at the Honda Center in Anaheim.
There are a number of stipulations that have been put in place for their controversial match-up which includes a 245lb weight limit that only Joshua must adhere to.
As reported by The Sun, Ryan Garcia has claimed that Paul has been struggling during his sparring sessions and could be in a world of trouble when he steps into the ring with ‘AJ’ later this week.
“I heard word that he’s getting beat up in sparring by these heavyweights. And these aren’t even Anthony Joshua, bro. S***, I’m leaking some s***. But… [Joshua] has got 50lbs on him.”
It was revealed earlier this month that Paul had drafted in a number of world ranked heavyweights for sparring ahead of his meeting with Joshua, including two-weight world champion Lawrence Okolie and Cuban contender Frank Sanchez.
Okolie, who is now campaigning at heavyweight following his success at cruiserweight and bridgerweight, left ‘The Problem Child’ with a black eye following a recent sparring session.
- Kailem Lowe
Monday, 15 December 2025
WTA ANNOUNCES 2025 SEASON AWARD WINNERS
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| © @Mashae00l X accoun |
This year's WTA awards ceremony for the 2025 season generated a lot of reactions. Fans were impatiently waiting to see who would receive the awards, and it seems that they were mostly deserved awards and that most are satisfied with this year's selection.
As expected, Aryna Sabalenka was named player of the year for the second year in a row. The Belarusian tennis player absolutely dominated this season with a large number of victories, finals and titles. In total, she brought record prize money earnings, but most emphasize that without her mentality and discipline, this kind of success would not have been possible.
In addition to the Belarusian tennis player, Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend were named the best doubles team of the year, given their great season and incredible success at Grand Slam tournaments.
The most improved player
Amanda Anisimova made a big step forward this year and received the award for the most improved player. Anisimova really surprised everyone with her dominance this season and great results, and above all with her reaching Grand Slam finals.
Comeback Player of the Year
Belinda Bencic was named Comeback Player of the Year after a long break due to motherhood.
Newcomer of the Year
The last award, i.e. newcomer of the year, went to Victoria Mboko, who made significant progress in the WTA rankings.
Reactions
The reactions of the fans were mostly positive, due to the naming of Aryna Sabalenka as this year's best player. This will be an additional motivation for the Belarusian tennis player to be equally dominant in the next season. Whether she will succeed in this is difficult to give a precise answer, but most believe that Sabalenka will be dominant next season as well.
Next year will be an opportunity for players from this list, as well as for those who did not receive an award this year, to improve further and possibly win such a prestigious award next season.
- Sead Dedovic
JONAH | "GUINESS BOOK OF SPORT" | SQUASH
What a fabulous image of Jonah... this wasn't used in the Squash mags/Press as it was specifically commisioned for the cover the 'Guiness Book of Sport' a very big deal back then....
PRESENTING THE AUDI REVOLUT F1 TEAM
The Audi Revolut F1 Team has unveiled its official name, logo, and announced that its global launch will take place in Berlin on January 20.
This milestone marks a significant step for Audi toward joining the world championship in 2026, the team name and logo uniting Audi F1 and global fintech Revolut, following the confirmation of their title partnership in July 2025.
The partnership with Revolut is a strategic cornerstone of the team's identity. As a global fintech, Revolut shares the ambition for innovation, performance, and connecting with a diverse, international audience.
The collaboration goes beyond traditional sponsorship, creating a powerful alliance aimed at challenging conventions and shaping new forms of fan engagement through activations, race access and exclusive app-based benefits for Revolut users. The alliance also extends to key areas of the Audi Revolut F1 Team's operations: integrating Revolut Business into its financial operations and Revolut Pay into its online store for a seamless checkout experience.
For the first time, the Audi Revolut F1 Team will present its full identity at the Berlin launch on January 20. Designed to be an immersive experience, the event will showcase the core pillars of the brand: clarity, technical intelligence, and emotion. To ensure the team's entry resonates beyond the paddock, the exclusive launch will be followed by a public opening on January 21, allowing fans to be part of the inaugural moment.
A centrepiece of the Berlin launch is the official unveiling of the car's full 2026 race livery, following the reveal of the Audi R26 Concept in November. With less than 50 days to go before the first race, the team will show how the visual identity will shape its debut season and translate Audi's design principles into a striking presence on the grid.
As part of the formation of the Audi team, Sauber Motorsport AG will be renamed Audi Motorsport AG. The team's Technology Centre in Bicester, UK will also be renamed Audi Motorsport Technology Centre UK. The company honours its past by keeping the name of Sauber Holding AG and Sauber Technologies AG.
"Unveiling the Audi Revolut F1 Team name and logo marks another major milestone on our journey into the pinnacle of motorsport," said Gernot Döllner, CEO of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sauber Motorsport AG. "Both give our ambition a clear identity, reflecting a strong vision and innovative spirit. We now look ahead to Berlin in January, where we will officially present this exciting new chapter for the Audi brand to the world."
"This announcement gives a name and a face to the incredible work being done by the team," added Mattia Binotto. "The team is taking shape, driven by a culture of precision and relentless ambition. The Berlin launch will be the first moment we stand together as a collective and invite our global fan base to join us ahead of our debut in 2026."
"Today, our project takes on its official identity," said Jonathan Wheatley. "The Audi Revolut F1 Team name is a symbol of the combined strength of our teams in Germany, UK and Switzerland, together with our partners. It provides a banner under which we all unite as we build towards 2026. This is a crucial milestone that energizes the entire project and makes our long-term ambition tangible for everyone involved."
"Revolut and Audi are uniting in Formula 1 with a global ambition to challenge the status quo and a shared obsession with engineering excellence," added Nikolay Storonsky, CEO and Co-Founder of Revolut. "The Audi Revolut F1 Team name and logo are the first symbols of this powerful alliance that will accelerate Revolut's global growth."
ALAN SHEARER SLAMS 'ROTTEN, PATHETIC' NEWCASTLE AS EDDIE HOWE'S SUNDERLAND CALLS DUG OUT
Newcastle United were beaten 1-0 by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in their crunch Premier League showdown, and Alan Shearer has hammered his beloved side for their display
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| Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has blasted the Magpies performance against Sunderland |
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has absolutely hammered the Magpies following their defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland. The Magpies' all-time leading goalscorer said his former side were rotten, pathetic, dreadful, and almost ran out of superlatives to describe the Wear-Tyne Derby defeat.
A Nick Woltemade own goal was all that separated the two sides, but it was a poor game that lacked any attacking intent from either side.
Shearer singled out Anthony Elanga and Anthony Gordon for their poor displays and felt that Eddie Howe got his team selection wrong.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said: "I wasn't [okay]. Newcastle were dreadful.
"They were rotten and I was really shocked at how dreadful they were because, I mean, that is pathetic in any game, let alone in a derby game.
"Seriously, you're going to play in the biggest game of the season at your rivals and you've heard all the players all week, 'We know how much it means to the fans and we're going to do this and that.' Well, lads, they did nothing. They were awful, honestly."
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| Newcastle United's Nick Woltemade scored the decisive goal in the wrong end against Sunderland(Image: Getty Images) |
Newcastle have won just once away in the Premier League all season, and Shearer didn't hold back in his criticism of the Newcastle manager either, adding: "Eddie made some big calls team-wise, and I thought Eddie got it wrong as well.
"The players who he picked didn't perform for him. Elanga was awful. Gordon was awful. Woltemade was awful. They offered nothing in forward positions."
Shearer got fed up with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards sniggering on the podcast, as he hit out: "Stop laughing you two d********s. You pair of... I wish I could say that word I'd call you that now."
The Newcastle icon then continued: "There was no desire, there was no energy, there was nothing. You go away to Sunderland, and who aren't a great team, and after half an hour, Sunderland had about 70 per cent possession, as if.
"I was thinking, 'Am I missing something here, are we going away to Arsenal or Man City here?'
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| Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe got some decisions wrong at the Stadium of Light(Image: PA) |
"We're going away to Sunderland. Okay, they're hard to beat at home. They're really well organized and they're above us in the table but come on, they're not Barcelona or Real Madrid.
"Are we going to have a pop at them or have a go at least? There was nothing from Newcastle. It was really, really awful."
When asked by Richards if Sunderland could get a bit of credit, Shearer said: "Yeah, they deserved to win. They were up for the fight.
"They had the energy, they won every second ball. They won every challenge. Well done, yeah. Newcastle were terrible."
- Matty Hewitt
FIFA CLUB MANAGEMENT SUMMIT
Doha, Qatar: Young Africans (Yanga) Club President, Chairman of the Clubs Association (ACA) and member of the FIFA Club Competitions Committee, Eng. Hersi Said, arriving together with Young Africans Vice President Arafat Haji at the conference organized by the world football governing body (FIFA) for two days in the city of Doha, Qatar.0
President Hersi has been selected to be among the experts who will avail his expertise on the topic of the Club Transformation System.
- Young Africans
LORD ALAN SUGAR URGES TOTTENHAM TO BRING JÜRGEN KLOPP AS NEW MANAGER WITH THOMAS FRANK FACING WIDESPREAD SACK CALLS AFTER NOTTINGHAM FOREST MAULING
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| GOAL/Getty |
Former Tottenham chairman Lord Alan Sugar has urged the club to bring in Jurgen Klopp as their new manager amid widespread calls for Thomas Frank's sacking after Sunday's humiliating 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Spurs suffered their third loss in their last five league matches at the City Ground as they dropped to 11th place in the Premier League table.
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| Getty Images Sport |
Fans call for Frank's sacking
Callum Hudson-Odoi bagged a brace and Ibrahim Sangare also got on the scoresheet to wrap up a thumping 3-0 win for Nottingham Forest.
Following yet another shambolic performance at the City Ground, frustrated Spurs fans have called on the club to sack Frank. The defeat leaves the north London side in the bottom half of the table, with supporters angry after yet another sub-par display.
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| Getty |
Former owner wants Klopp to rescue Spurs
Lord Alan Sugar, who was a part-owner at Spurs from 1991 to 2001, has urged the English side to hire legendary former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp to replace Frank in the new year.
On X, the former Spurs chief wrote: "With the massive fortune of the Lewis family it would be a win-win situation if they hired Jurgen Klopp in January. “Loads of money for players and a great manager. Who agrees #coys."
- Ritabrata Banerjee
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