There is one overriding question many people are now asking. How?

Fifa’s disciplinary code states that Balogun should receive a ban of “at least two matches for serious foul play”.

Indeed, the World Cup rules do not allow teams to appeal against a red card.

Fifa’s statement offered no reason or explanation for suspending Balogun’s ban. It just cited “article 27 of the Fifa disciplinary code”.

Article 27 allows Fifa “to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure”.

It is a wide-ranging rule that allows Fifa to effectively make whatever decision it wants without having to meet any other criteria.

Article 27 has never before been used at a World Cup.

In addition, Balogun’s suspended ban is only for one match, not two as per the disciplinary code. This has not been explained.

BBC Sport has asked why this happened.

But we were not provided with any reasoning. We were simply directed to Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspended ban before this tournament.

Under Fifa’s disciplinary code, Ronaldo should have received a three-match ban for elbowing Dara O’Shea during Portugal’s 2-0 qualifying defeat by the Republic of Ireland in November.

He served one match in the final qualifier against Armenia – but the remaining two games of the ban were suspended.

Ronaldo’s red card, though, was received in qualifying. It was not a red card at a World Cup.

There have been many cases of players being shown some leniency before a tournament, not just Ronaldo.

See France’s Laurent Koscielny in 2014, or Ecuador’s Moises Caicedo and Argentina’s Nicolas Otamendi before this World Cup.

At least with Ronaldo, we were given some justification, with Fifa saying it had taking into account that “he had no red cards in his other 225 international appearances”.

With Balogun, we did not even get that.

It has left a vacuum of information which can only lead to speculation.

Why was this a special case? What factors were taken into account? Who made the decision?

BBC Sport has been told there are no suggestions that the referee asked for the suspension to be removed, or that video assistant referee protocol was not respected.

In England, the Football Association would publish the full written reasons.

The United States have the right to ask Fifa to publish them, Belgium do not.

BBC Sport pundit Micah Richards, a former England defender, said it was a farce.

“To have it suspended for a year makes a mockery of the whole tournament,” he said.

“It is to keep the big stars in the competition. How can that happen? Fifa needs to do better.

“It has left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths.”

Belgium are, of course, furious. They issued a statement on Sunday saying they were “astonished” that Balogun had been cleared to play.

The Belgian FA referenced several regulations, workshop presentations and pre-tournament co-ordination meetings.

They are adamant that the decision contradicts the tournament regulations which state that a player “will automatically be suspended from their team’s subsequent match”.

In effect, they say Fifa used its disciplinary code to override the competition regulations.

Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia, speaking at a news conference, went further. He said: “I didn’t know that [at] the Fifa World Cup 5 July is now 1 April, and that is April Fool’s.

“We are not defending the national team or the federation, we’re defending football.”

What must the other players sent off at this tournament be thinking?

Take Qatar’s Assim Madibo, involved in an unfortunate incident which led to a broken leg for Canada’s midfielder Ismael Kone.

There is a clear case here that Madibo did not even make a challenge, that the injury happened by chance and not because of the nature of the tackle.

Yet Fifa handed Madibo a five-game ban – an extra three on top of the standard punishment for serious foul play.

The Philippines’ Alex Eala celebrates beating Poland’s Iga Swiatek during their women’s singles third round tennis match on the sixth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 4, 2026. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP)

MANILA, Philippines–Filipinos can catch Alex Eala’s Wimbledon round of 16 match against Jasmine Paolini in a public watch party at Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Monday.

The watchalong, hosted by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), is free and can accommodate up to 8,000 fans on a first-come, first-served basis.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m., while the match, which takes place at Centre Court in London, is set at 8:30 p.m.

READ: Alex Eala targets Wimbledon quarterfinals, more history for Philippines

“Alex’s victory is a source of immense pride for the nation. Hosting this watch party is our way of uniting Filipinos to celebrate her journey and to show her that the entire country is behind her,” said PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio.

The viewing party will also feature Gilas Pilipinas’ game against Australia in the third window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers, which tips off at 6:30 p.m.

Eala continues to make tennis history for the Philippines. She became the first Filipino to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam singles tournament after sweeping defending Wimbledon champion Iga Swiatek of Poland on Saturday.

Her victory over the world No. 3 Swiatek was her seventh career win against a top-10 player.

Tickets go on sale this week for the first pre-season game as Manchester Storm make their big return to the AO Arena and it’s a biggie – here’s all the details

Manchester Storm make their big return to the AO Arena for their 2026/2027 season – and it will all start with a spectacular pre-season clash with fierce rivals the Sheffield Steelers. The team’s first game at the AO Arena has been confirmed to take place on Sunday, September 6.

It marks the first time fans will get to see their team back under the lights in the Manchester AO Arena, one of the biggest indoor arenas in Europe. Announcing the pre-season game against the Steelers was the homecoming game supporters had been waiting for.

The new season ushers in a new era for Manchester Storm, who announced their move from their recent home of Planet Ice in Altrincham back to AO Arena back in April amid major excitement from fans. The ambitious move is set to see huge crowds once again able to cheer on the Elite League team for the new 2026/2027 season.

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The move sees Storm heading “back home” to the AO Arena where the team first started out in 1995.

The tickets for the pre-season game will go on general sale to the public from Wednesday, July 8, but pre-sales will start from today, Monday July 6.

Ticket prices for the pre-season game have also now been confirmed, starting at £7.25 for juniors and £18.75 for adults. Fixtures and ticket prices for the full season will be announced in the coming weeks.

Here’s all the details of how to get tickets for the pre-season opening game below.

When tickets go on sale

The first tickets go on sale from today. Here’s the ticket sale timeline

Monday 6 July – 9:00am

• Season Ticket Holder Pre-Sale

Tuesday 7 July – 9:00am• AO Arena Pre-Sale (available to AO Arena newsletter subscribers). Please note that Season Ticket Holder seats will still be unavailable at this stage.

Wednesday 8 July• 8:59am – Season Ticket Holder and Venue priority window ends• 12:00noon – General Sale begins

Tickets prices for pre-season game

Ticket prices for pre-season have been confirmed as:

• Adults: £18.75
• Concessions (including students) and ages 13–17: £13.00
• Ages 3–12: £7.25

The prices are inclusive of all booking fees – there are no additional charges.

Further game by game tickets will go on sale at a later date. Ticket prices for the season will also be confirmed in the coming weeks.

How to get tickets

Tickets will go on sale via Ticketmaster here for the pre-sale and the general sale. Links will also be available via the AO Arena website and Manchester Storm websites.

At 39, Michael Hollick is not the typical rookie. In a game that often celebrates youth, his first season on the DP World Tour serves as a reminder that some journeys simply take longer to unfold — but that doesn’t make them any less meaningful.

In 2025, Hollick claimed the final available DP World Tour card by finishing seventh on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit. After a career that had had a few unexpected turns — setbacks, a brief step away from competitive golf, and even a stint coaching — this was a chance to turn the page on a new chapter. 

Once he arrived on tour, there was little sign of a player trying to catch up. Three top-10 finishes in his first four starts — including a solo fourth at the Crown Australian Open that earned him a spot at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale — showed he belonged. Each week seemed to reinforce the last, and Hollick carried that consistency into the BMW International Open.

Sunday wasn’t flawless, but Hollick was never far from the lead. After the 16th hole, he found himself three shots behind fellow South African Hennie du Plessis. Even then, there was no change in his approach.

“I was actually calm the whole day, stuck to the same stuff I’ve done the whole week,” Hollick said after the round, “You start making birdies and it’s easy to start thinking too far ahead, and I kind of brought myself back.”

That patience paid off almost immediately. Du Plessis bogeyed the par-3 17th after missing the green, while Hollick answered with a birdie to cut the deficit to one heading into the final hole.

Following a 307-yard drive and a nervy approach shot, Hollick stood over a 19-foot eagle putt knowing exactly what it meant.

He rolled it in.

Remarkably, it was a moment he had already imagined.

“I just said, ‘If I have a chance to win the tournament on the back nine, that’s what I want,’ and funnily enough, yesterday when I went to bed, I thought if I had the chance to make eagle at the last to win it, that would be something,” Hollick said.

The putt completed a closing 67, a winning total of 18-under, and the first DP World Tour title of his career. It also felt like the natural reward for years of persistence.

“Four years ago, I put the clubs in the cupboard and started coaching,” he said, “The first year is tough, it’s all the unknown. You’re playing your heart out to keep your card and give yourself a chance next year — but here we are.”

The victory also secures starts in both the Genesis Scottish Open and the Open Championship, continuing a rookie season that has exceeded expectations at every turn.

For Hollick, this wasn’t simply one great week. It was the culmination of years spent rebuilding, believing and patiently working his way back. And if his first few months on the DP World Tour are any indication, this chapter may be only the beginning.

Despite coming off a defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, former long-reigning kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven could soon land another world title shot, this time at a 50,000-seat stadium.

The 37-year-old gave a tremendous account of himself in May, coming tantalisingly close to pulling off a major upset against the lineal heavyweight champion.

Prior to that, Verhoeven’s only professional boxing match came against a 0-5 journeyman, who he stopped in round two of their 2014 encounter.

Yet despite his lack of pugilistic experience, the Dutchman was presented with an opportunity to claim Usyk’s WBC title in Egypt.

The Ukrainian had been made an almighty favourite but, rather astonishingly, it was Verhoeven who built a slight lead on one of the judges’ scorecards through 10 rounds.

This remarkable achievement was then followed by an 11th-round knockdown, with referee Mark Lyson waving Verhoeven off on his feet after the bell had sounded.

Subsequently, the kickboxing legend entered the WBC rankings at No.8, while Usyk has now vacated his three belts and afforded Agit Kabayel an upgrade from ‘interim’ to full WBC champion.

Speaking with Playbook Boxing, Kabayel’s manager, Spencer Brown, proposed a potential voluntary title defence against Verhoeven.

“Holland’s very close to Germany; it’s an hour away. [Verhoeven would] bring massive support, and I think that would fill 50,000 in Germany.

“It’s a sensible fight. I think Oleksandr Usyk won the fight fair and square … [But] I thought [Verhoeven] put up an unbelievable performance. I’d never seen anything like it.”

Kabayel claimed his ‘interim’ title with a sixth-round stoppage of Zhilei Zhang in February 2025, underlining his status as one of the division’s most formidable body punchers.

Now coming off a third-round finish over Damian Knyba in Germany, the unbeaten 33-year-old will be eager to defend his new strap later this year.

The former Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, is wanted by some supporters of one national team who are calling for huge changes after their World Cup exit

Brazilian supporters have called for head coach Carlo Ancelotti to be dismissed and replaced by Pep Guardiola after their elimination from the World Cup.

The five-time World Champions suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Norway in the round of 16, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals. A brace from Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in the second half sealed Brazil’s fate, despite Neymar’s late penalty, their second of the match after Bruno Guimaraes had one saved in the first half.

That defeat means their quest for a sixth World Cup triumph continues. The nation last claimed the trophy in 2002.

Speaking following the final whistle, Ancelotti said: “We must continue to work and improve, and find new ideas. I believe that this loss is not the end, but the beginning of a new cycle.”

Despite his measured response, Brazilian supporters took to social media to demand his dismissal. “Bruno is at fault, Endrick is at fault. But the main one responsible for the elimination is the cowardly and arrogant Carlo Ancelotti,” one wrote.

“He clearly instructed the team to let Norway have the ball. Coward. It went wrong, obviously, but he didn’t want to fix it. Arrogant. Best coach in the world… who should never coach the national team again.”

A second added: “Carlo Ancelotti is an absolute coward. An utter disgrace. He should be fired tonight.

“I like Carlo Ancelotti – who doesn’t – but I am completely unmoved by this result, and he deserves the sack,” said a third. “To choose Neymar over Joao Pedro is an injustice punishable by this sort of disgrace. I understand football is emotional, but you’re not serious if you pick Neymar in 2026.”

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Supporters are in little doubt over who they’d like to see take the reins. One wrote: “This selection is begging for Pep Guardiola.” A second added: “The only manager who can save Brazil, Pep Guardiola.”

“Hey @CBF_Futebol, take advantage of this Pep Guardiola guy slipping up in the market and pay the buyout clause,” a third said.

Guardiola is currently without a club after departing Man City this summer, with former Chelsea and Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca stepping in as his successor at Etihad Stadium. The Catalan coach has been touted for the Brazil role on several occasions previously, including as recently as this year.

Back in 2015, former Brazil and Barcelona full-back Dani Alves disclosed that the iconic tactician had coveted the position ahead of the 2014 World Cup. “Pep said he wanted to make Brazil a World Cup champion and had an entire strategy to make us a world champion,” Alves told ESPN Brasil in 2015.

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“They didn’t want it, because they said that they didn’t know if Brazil would accept a foreign coach. Pep is the best coach in the world, the greatest sports manager I’ve ever seen. He revolutionised football, revolutionised a team, and we had the chance to have him with us. If you let an opportunity like this go by, then you are not really thinking about the national team.”

Guardiola himself has conceded that he may be receptive to managing at the international level. When quizzed back in May about whether he would consider taking charge of England, he said: “I don’t have any absolute plan about my future.

“I go to rest and recover the time I missed with my kids, even though they are grown, and do many things I’ve not done that I want to do. I don’t think for one second about anything related to football for the next years. I need to rest, I need to reflect, I need to see what happened in my 17, 18 years, in my time with Barcelona, in Germany [with Bayern Munich] and here.

“After, we see what happens. I didn’t do in the past stupid things that I want to do.” Asked if this was not a no, Guardiola said: “Yeah – [but] nobody cares.”

Harry Kane lost his voice after England’s World Cup win and struggled during his post-match interview.

Harry Kane delivered one of the most memorable post-match interviews of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after quite literally singing his voice away during England’s jubilant celebrations following their dramatic 3-2 Round of 16 victory over Mexico. Moments after helping Thomas Tuchel’s side book a place in the quarter-finals, the England captain appeared before the BBC barely able to speak after joining teammates and more than 3,000 travelling supporters in belting out Oasis’ Wonderwall and Three Lions inside the Estadio Azteca. The unusual interview quickly went viral, with fans comparing Kane’s raspy voice to cartoon characters while praising the striker’s honest reaction after one of England’s toughest victories of the tournament.

Kane’s celebrations leave him almost speechless

England secured their place in the last eight after surviving an extraordinary night in Mexico City.Jude Bellingham stunned the home crowd with two goals in the space of 98 seconds before Julián Quiñones pulled one back shortly before half-time. Kane then converted a second-half penalty to restore England’s two-goal advantage, although Raúl Jiménez’s penalty and Jarell Quansah’s red card following a VAR review ensured the final stages became an exhausting defensive battle.

England players celebrate after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England in Mexico City, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

The Three Lions held on through 11 minutes of stoppage time to seal a famous 3-2 victory, prompting emotional celebrations at full-time as the entire England squad made their way over to acknowledge the travelling supporters.With Wonderwall having become England’s unofficial anthem throughout the tournament, players and fans sang together before launching into another rendition of Three Lions. Kane enthusiastically joined every word, but the celebrations came at a cost.When he walked over for his post-match interview with the BBC, his voice had almost completely disappeared.“My voice has gone,” Kane laughed. “It was a crazy game, we had to fight. We had to find something. I’ve just been singing there, I can’t really talk.“Everything was against us, we found a way. I’m speechless, I can’t even talk.”

Fans enjoy Kane’s unforgettable interview

Kane’s struggle to complete the interview immediately became one of the talking points of the evening, with supporters flooding social media after hearing the England captain’s unusually high-pitched voice.One fan wrote: “Harry Kane losing his voice may be the best moment of the World Cup so far.”Another posted: “Harry Kane has gone full Marge Simpson in this post-match interview.”A third added: “Harry Kane laughing at his own voice is comedy gold.”Others compared the Bayern Munich striker to another famous animated character. One supporter joked: “Harry Mickey Mouse Kane.”Another wrote: “90 mins at the Azteca Stadium and Harry Kane turned into Mickey Mouse.”Even Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher joined the conversation, posting: “It’s hard work that singing Harry Kane cmon ENGLAND cmon WONDERWALL.”

England march on despite injury concern

The celebrations, however, were tempered by concern over midfielder Jordan Henderson.The Brentford player was injured while celebrating with supporters after attempting to jump over the advertising hoardings before landing awkwardly on his waist. Henderson required lengthy medical treatment on the pitch, was given oxygen and was subsequently taken to hospital.Speaking afterwards, Thomas Tuchel admitted the injury appeared significant.“It’s quite a serious injury,” the England manager said.England now turn their attention to the quarter-finals, where they will face Norway in Miami. The match will pit Kane against Erling Haaland in one of the tournament’s most anticipated individual battles, but before thoughts shifted to the next challenge, it was Kane’s disappearing voice rather than his goals that produced one of the World Cup’s most unforgettable moments.

England midfielder Jordan Henderson suffered a “really bad” wrist injury while celebrating his side’s dramatic World Cup last-16 win over Mexico, manager Thomas Tuchel said.

Henderson appeared to land awkwardly after falling from the advertising hoardings at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium following England’s 3-2 victory and was pictured leaving the pitch on a stretcher.

The 36-year-old Brentford midfielder’s World Cup has been limited to a six-minute appearance at the end of England’s Group L win over Panama.

“Jordan [Henderson] just fell over and injured his wrist. It looks really bad,” said England manager Thomas Tuchel on BBC One after his side’s win on Monday.

“It’s a quite serious injury and it doesn’t fit to the evening that Jordan is now not with us. The doctor told me he is in hospital.”

Henderson is being accompanied by a member of England’s support staff and will not travel back with the team on Monday.

England’s next match is a quarter-final tie against Norway in Miami on Saturday 22:00 BST, which you can follow on BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website and App.

Henderson is likely to join Reece James, who picked up a hamstring injury in England’s opening match, on the sidelines.

Jarell Quansah is unavailable after receiving a straight red card during England’s victory over Mexico.