The upcoming season of the Indian Super League (ISL), which was earlier scheduled to kick off on September 4, is set to be postponed by more than a month and will start only after October 6. The ISL will start only after the FIFA international match window which runs from September 21 to October 6. The top tier league will also go ahead with 13 teams after the Indian Football League 2025-26 champions Diamond Harbour FC failed to pay the participation fee second instalment amounting to Rs 55 lakh by Wednesday deadline. Diamond Harbour were earlier promoted to the ISL by virtue of winning the Indian Football League 2025-26.
“The ISL is likely to start only in October after the FIFA window,” a top official of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) told PTI.
“We are going with 13 teams in the ISL,” the official added.
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All the 14 clubs were to pay the second instalment of the total Rs 1.1 crore participation fee to the AIFF by August 14 deadline, which was extended for Diamond Harbour till Wednesday.
Churchill Brothers paid, on August 14, the full Rs 1.1 crore fee to feature in the upcoming ISL after Jamshedpur Football Club sold its entire stake to the Goan side.
Jamshedpur FC had pulled out of the ISL and disbanded the first team on July 31, hours after the deadline for paying the first installment of participation fee amounting to Rs 55 lakh.
AIFF condemns ‘unverified claims’ concerning its finances and use of funds
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Meanwhile, the AIFF condemned what it called “incorrect claims that its decision not to participate in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 has resulted in a predetermined financial penalty or fine”.
“The AIFF is also concerned about the public circulation of unverified figures and claims regarding its finances without any supporting basis or documentation,” it said in a release.
Earlier last week, India withdrew from the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, opting to prioritise their high-profile international friendly against five-time world champions Brazil.
It said the decision to host five-time FIFA World Cup champions Brazil on October 3 in Kolkata “was taken through the appropriate institutional processes, recognising the exceptional opportunity it presents for Indian football, the national team and millions of fans”.
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“The match will give a morale boost to the Indian national team while driving fans towards Indian football, the impact of which is unquantifiable. The match is a mutually agreed international sporting opportunity between two football federations and should not be portrayed as a one-sided arrangement,” it added.
“The AIFF respects the democratic right to express opinions on Indian football. However, statements concerning the Federation’s finances and use of funds must be based on facts and verifiable information.” The national federation said the circulation of “factually incorrect statements has the potential to adversely affect India’s reputation and standing nationally and internationally”.
“We believe those who have made these claims have the best interests of Indian football in mind and may be misinformed.
“The AIFF, through this statement, seeks to make all aware of the facts. Should the concerned person(s) continue to disseminate incorrect claims, the AIFF will pursue appropriate legal remedies against those who continue to knowingly publish and/or circulate false and defamatory statements.”
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Spain Vs Argentina | Dani Olmo On WC Triumph: ‘Wanted To Set An Example For The Next Generation’
Things between AEW stars Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay got personal tonight on Dynamite. The reigning AEW World Champion and 2026 Owen Hart Cup winner are set to lock horns in the main event of All In at Wembley Stadium. Over the past few weeks, their friendship has been tarnished and turned into fierce animosity.
Both stars have a long history. Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay collided twice in 2023. They met once in NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 17 and once at Forbidden Door. Both of them have won one match in the contest, making their match at Wembley Stadium more meaningful.
Tonight, on Dynamite, Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega had a sit-down interview with Renee Paquette. Both stars talked about their past and struggles. At the end of the interview, the Cleaner took personal shots at the Aerial Assassin. Kenny Omega said that Ospreay’s son might have to find a new hero after the AEW World Champion defeats him at All In.
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The last time it mattered the most Will was 2023. At that time too, you tried to do it on your own, and what happened, Will? You failed. You failed. Except this time, in front of your countrymen, in front of all your friends, all your family, you’re gonna fail again (…) All I’m saying is there is a lot riding on this, not just for you, but for me. And hey, win, lose or draw, I still respect you, Will, and I still think that you are one of the greatest wrestlers that I have ever laid eyes upon. Even if you lose, your mom is gonna be proud of you. What I worry about most, Will, is that boy of yours might want a new hero after he sees me beat you,” he said.
It will be interesting to see what happens at All In when the two stars collide.
Please credit AEW and add an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling if you use any quotes from the first half of this article.
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Mar 25, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson (8) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Unable to sign rising star Peyton Watson to a new contract, the Denver Nuggets have traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers, while Cleveland sends guard Max Strus to the Los Angeles Clippers, according to multiple reports on Wednesday evening.
Denver will receive an unprotected 2031 first-round pick from the Cavaliers and a 2032 second-round pick from the Sacramento Kings.
Watson, who averaged a career-high 14.6 points per game in 2025-26, will sign a four-year, $88 million contract as part of the sign-and-trade transaction, his agent told ESPN.
The Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Portland Trail Blazers also expressed interest in Watson, but Denver and Cleveland finalized the deal with Watson’s agents on Wednesday. The deal includes a player option and a trade kicker.
Los Angeles will send Cleveland a 2027 second-round pick, which it acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Johni Broome, thereby allowing the Clippers to pick up Strus via a trade exception.
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The Cavs will also send Tre Mann, who they just acquired from the Charlotte Hornets for Dennis Schroder, along with the 2027 second-rounder from Los Angeles to the Washington Wizards, reports indicated.
Watson, an outstanding two-way player, also averaged career highs in rebounds, assists, and steals in 2025-26 and increased his 3-point field goals made from 48 in 2024-25 to 81 last season. He scored 30 or more points four times during the season, including three in January, when Nikola Jokic was out of the lineup.
Watson started 40 of 54 games last season and has 64 career starts in 225 games. He boosted his career scoring average to 8.7 points per game.
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Strus, 30, played the last three seasons in Cleveland, after spending three in Miami and one in Chicago. He played in a dozen games after returning from injury in 2025-26, averaging 11.2 points per game. Strus converted 33 of 82 (40.2%) from behind the arc and has made 742 treys in his last six seasons.
Strus has played in 321 games (161 starts) and averaged 10.4 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Maltese Cross (9/4) turned the tables on the Ballydoyle-trained colts in the Group 2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur at York on Wednesday afternoon.
Trained by William Haggas, Maltese Cross was second to Christmas Day in the Betfred Derby at Epsom in June, on ground that did not suit him.
This afternoon, with underfoot conditions more to his liking, the Sea The Stars colt beat Pierre Bonnard (100/30), third in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby in June, and his conqueror at Epsom, Christmas Day (6/4 favourite), by two lengths and two-and-a-quarter lengths respectively.
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The winner, ridden by Tom Marquand, made smooth progress three furlongs from home, and then challenged the race leader, Christmas Day, the mount of Ryan Moore.
Pierre Bonnard was soon pushed to lead at the two-furlong pole by Wayne Lordan, as the race favourite, Christmas Day, began to weaken.
The George Waud-owned Maltese Cross was staying on best of the field inside the final furlong to run out a decisive winner, to add to his Group 1 Cygames Grand Prix de Paris success of last month.
Any Toronto Blue Jays fans looking to relive one of the biggest moments of the 2025 World Series run will now get their chance, it just might not come where you’d expect.
The Hockey Hall of Fame announced Wednesday that it will be hosting a George Springer display, with his custom Hartford Whalers-themed batting gloves that he used last season as the main attraction.
The blue and green gloves pay homage to Springer’s since-departed childhood team, as he grew up in New Britain, Conn., about a 20-minute drive from Hartford.
Springer had a resurgent 2025, hitting 32 home runs in the regular season to help the Blue Jays win their first AL East title since 2015.
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But by far his most iconic moment wearing the gloves came in Game 7 of the ALCS, when Springer launched a three-run, go-ahead home run in the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners that propelled the Blue Jays to the World Series.
It was one of the most iconic moments in Blue Jays history, and now a little piece of it will be on display in Toronto.
The Houston Texans have lost one of their most important weapons for the 2026 season.
On Wednesday, second-year wide receiver Jayden Higgins was revealed to have torn his ACL during joint practice with the Las Vegas Raiders the previous day. He had landed awkwardly while trying to catch a pass during red-zone drills, then was spotted limping off the field.
Thanks for the submission!
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Sources: #Texans WR Jayden Higgins suffered a torn ACL yesterday during the joint practice against the #Raiders. A tough blow to the Houston receiving room.
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Reaction to the development was rife:
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@RapSheet All they have left is Nico Collins. Their season is over
@RapSheet Tank Dell is about to go NUCLEAR if he stays healthy
@RapSheet Hey @HoustonTexans, call @Browns and ask for Jeudy! Please
@RapSheet It’s time for @DeAndreHopkins to come home!
@RapSheet Here come the skeptics saying Stroud has no help.
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@RapSheet They should trade for Hollywood brown, would give them that deep treat that they will be missing now
Higgins was stellar in his NFL debut, catching 41 of 68 targets for 525 yards and six touchdowns. In June, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer had mentioned him as a potential breakout star after OTAs:
“Higgins certainly has looked that part in the spring. His frame is nearly identical to Nico Collins’, and while Collins is the physically stronger player, Higgins is a smoother, looser athlete than the Texans’ incumbent No. 1 — one staffer illustrated it as having a power forward (Collins) and small forward (Higgins) at the position.”
With him gone, the Texans find themselves needing a new no. 2 beside Nico Collins.
Xavier Hutchinson looks like the leading in-house candidate after posting career highs of 35 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. 2023 batchmate Tank Dell is looking to return from a devastating knee injury that sidelined him for nearly the past two seasons, while Jaylin Noel, another 2025 draftee, has been battling multiple injuries throughout training camp.
Former Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins posts cryptic message in aftermath of Jayden Higgins’ season-ending ACL tear
Losing Jayden Higgins for the 2026 season is definitely a major blow for the Texans, especially as they look to reclaim the AFC South. However, a familiar face has offered his services to help the team: DeAndre Hopkins.
Also on Wednesday, sometime after the nature of Higgins’ injury was revealed, the veteran wideout took to Instagram Stories to post this old image of himself greeting his mother:
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Hopkins spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career with the Texans, evolving into one of the league’s top wide receivers. With them, he was a four-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler, led the league in receiving touchdowns in 2017, and set the franchise single-season receptions record in 2018.
He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020 and lasted three seasons there, making another All-Pro and Pro Bowl. After being released in May 2023, he bounced around three teams before becoming Georgia Tech’s WRs coach at the end of last month, though he has insisted that he is not retired.
As part of the transition post Leon Goretzka, Bayern Munich handed he midfield role as well as the number 8 shirt over to Tom Bischof. The 21 year-old has shown incredible composure for his age and is keen to carry out the responsibilities of his role and as well as the weight of the shirt he inherited from Goretzka.
A responsibility rather than a burden
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 25: Javi Martinez of Bayern Muenchen is seen with the trophy during the UEFA Champions League final match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Muenchen at Wembley Stadium on May 25, 2013 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The number 8 shirt of Bayern has seen absolute stalwarts in Paul Breitner, Lothar Matthäus and the honorary president Uli Hoeneß himself. It comes with a certain legacy and weight that Bischof holds a lot of respect for. Leon Goretzka inherited the number 8 from Javi Martinez after winning the sextuple with Bayern. Javi sealed the Champions League and the treble in his very first season at the club with the 8 on his back. They added immense weight to a jersey that was already iconic.
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As graceful as he threads his passes, Tom Bischof answered the natural question of whether the shirt brings an immense burden with it. “When you play for Bayern, you’re generally under the spotlight anyway, regardless of what number you wear on your back. Nevertheless, squad numbers do have a significance for most people. It’s a special feeling to wear such a significant number. I just like it, it suits me. And I appreciate the fact it’s been entrusted to me. I want to take the next step now and I definitely believe I’m capable of it. So: incentive! I’m looking forward to wearing the number 8 shirt and will do so with pride,” said Bischof in the club’s magazine #Säbener51 (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
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A classy gesture beforehand
Munich, Germany – May 16: Aleksandar Pavlovic of FC Bayern Muenchen and Tom Bischof of FC Bayern Muenchen gestures after the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern München and 1. FC Köln at Allianz Arena on May 16, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images) | DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Although he grew up adoring the number 10 shirt, the role of the box-to-box midfielder was the path that Bischof and the game chose. The 21-year-old was not the only young midfielder rising through the ranks in Munich. Aleksandar Pavlović who settled into a starter role in midfield is another suitable and an easy choice to succeed Goretzka’s shirt. Before throwing his hat Bischof did pitch the idea to his senior and only then did he make an official request with the club.
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“As a kid you dream of the #10. That’s what I always wanted when I was younger. Now I play more defensively, so #8 fits. I waited for a while out of respect for Leon, and then initially spoke to Aleks Pavlović. He’s been here longer and is a friend of mine, but Pavlo is sticking with his number. So, I asked and they indicated that I could have it,” he added acknowledging his ability and role’s requirement to defend deeper.
Aug 19, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; San Francisco Giants left fielder Victor Bericoto (78) advances to third on a double by right fielder Jung Hoo Lee (not pictured) during the fourth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Victor Bericoto singled off Brayan Rocchio’s glove in the fourth inning to score Rafael Devers, and three pitchers combined for a shutout as the visiting San Francisco Giants beat the Cleveland Guardians 1-0 on Wednesday night.
Devers led off the fourth with a double against Parker Messick (9-8) before scoring on Bericoto’s two-out single that caromed off Rocchio’s mitt as he dove into the hole at shortstop. It was the only hit with runners in scoring position in 11 combined opportunities.
Adrian Houser (4-7) pitched five-plus innings of relief for the win, striking out three. Dylan Smith worked the final two innings for his third save and had five strikeouts, completing the collective six-hitter.
Bericoto, the left fielder, also made the defensive play of the game in the bottom half of the fourth to keep Cleveland off the board. He sprinted to make a diving grab of Angel Genao’s low liner with two on and two outs.
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All-Star rookie Messick tied his career high with 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings, giving up one run on six hits without a walk. The left-hander hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any of his eight starts since the start of July.
Giants pitcher Matt “Tugboat” Wilkinson started and tossed two innings in his major league debut, allowing one hit against the seven hitters he faced. The lefty didn’t have a strikeout or walk.
The 6-foot-1, 250-pounder, who was drafted by Cleveland in 2023, was traded to the Giants in exchange for starting catcher Patrick Bailey on May 9.
Willy Adames had three hits for San Francisco, while Genao and Angel Martinez singled twice for the Guardians. With the loss, Cleveland fell 1 1/2 games out of the final American League wild-card position.
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Guardians outfielders Jo Adell (left kneecap contusion) and Chase DeLauter (mild left hamstring tightness) were unavailable Wednesday, and first baseman Rhys Hoskins (lower back inflammation) was placed on the IL before the game. The club promoted utilityman David Fry from Triple-A Columbus as a result.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett passed for a career-high 3,366 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions, completing 64.7% of his passes in 2025. Only 12 NFL quarterbacks tallied more passing attempts, yet 13 of them yielded more passing yards. Yet, instead of simply assessing Brissett by his statistics, perhaps general manager Monti Ossenfort’s contractual extension weighs in more on Brissett’s innate value.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) works out with his teammates during training camp at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Aug. 3, 2026.
Brissett is a true veteran, and his $15.5 million contract revision in July was deserved. Ossenfort and newly hired head coach Mike LaFleur don’t need Brissett to be a super hero. Instead, they need him to be competent. LaFleur needs to rebuild team camaraderie, and prying the franchise from Brissett’s hands simply to defer to reserve Gardner Minshew or rookie Carson Beck would be oddly premature and problematic.
Brissett’s primary passing target, tight end Trey McBride ranked No. 2 in the NFL in total receptions, No. 2 in touchdown receptions, and No. 6 in receiving yards last season. With improved play from wide receiver Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr., Brissett should be capable of giving LaFleur some resolve as he navigates his first stead at head coach. Ultimately, Brissett’s veteran leadership and vigor is the essence of his value, especially for a franchise needing to badly renovate.
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BALTIMORE (AP) — Pete Alonso‘s drive down the left-field line in the seventh inning was ruled foul, and the New York Yankees took advantage of that reprieve, scoring twice in the top of the eighth to beat the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Alonso, who had already homered in the third, nearly went deep again with the score tied at 3. His fly to left was initially called foul. One replay seemed to show the ball on the fair side of the pole, but it wasn’t clear what angle it was shot from.
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After a review, the call stood and Alonso ended up striking out.
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The following inning, Cam Sanders (1-1) loaded the bases with a walk and two hit batters. Yennier Cano came on with two outs, and George Lombard Jr. hit a slow roller for an infield single to put New York ahead. Then a wild pitch made it 5-3.
Ben Rice homered for New York, and Alonso and Dylan Beavers went deep for the Orioles. Baltimore has lost three straight since pulling briefly ahead in the race for the American League’s final wild card.
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The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first on a double steal. Gunnar Henderson swiped second base while Jackson Holliday dashed from third to home.
Ryan McMahon‘s RBI single in the second tied it, and Lombard followed with a sacrifice fly.
Rice’s 34th home run went 431 feet in the third to make it 3-1. The ball landed just under the big scoreboard in right-center field at Camden Yards.
But Alonso extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a drive to the same part of the ballpark, just a little shorter than Rice’s. He has 29 homers in his first year in Baltimore.
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Beavers tied it in the sixth off Fernando Cruz with an opposite-field drive to left — just to the right of where the wall out there deepens.
Up next
The Yankees try for a sweep Thursday night with Gerrit Cole (6-6) on the mound against Baltimore’s Kyle Bradish (7-11).
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