The Rome Golden Gala in the Diamond League features some of the best athletes in the world in an action-packed night at the Stadio Olimpico.

Keely Hodgkinson begins her quest for a 800m world record, opening up her outdoor season in the 400m, which is also the start of a career-long quest to break three elite time barriers.

Noah Lyles is also in action with fellow Team USA superstar and indoor world champion Jordan Anthony, with Team GB’s Jeremiah Azu and former Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs in the men’s 100m.

Georgia Hunter Bell goes in the women’s 1500m, while Amy Hunt and Dina Asher Smith are up against superstar duo Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Julien Alfred in the women’s 200m.

Here’s everything you need to know:

When is the Rome Diamond League?

The meeting in Rome will be held on Thursday 4 June at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the meeting live on BBC Three, with coverage on the channel from 8pm BST. A live stream will be available via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website.

Rome Diamond League Schedule (all times BST)

18:10 Men’s javelin throw

18:15 Women’s pole vault

18:48 Men’s triple jump

20:04 Women’s 400m hurdles

20:07 Men’s high jump

20:27 Men’s shot put

20:28 Women’s 100m hurdles

20:35 Men’s long jump

20:38 Women’s 5000m

21:04 Men’s 110m hurdles

21:15 Women’s 400m

21:27 Women’s 200m

21:37 Women’s 1500m

21:52 Men’s 100m

Full live results can be found here

Diamond League Calendar 2026

16 May: Shanghai, China

23 May: Xiamen, China

31 May: Rabat, Morocco

4 June: Rome, Italy

7 June: Stockholm, Sweden

10 June: Oslo, Norway

19 June: Doha, Qatar

28 June: Paris, France

4 July: Eugene, United States

10 July: Monaco

18 July: London, United Kingdom

21 August: Lausanne, Switzerland

23 August: Chorzow, Poland

27 August: Zurich, Switzerland

4-5 September: Diamond League finals (Brussels, Belgium)

Nearly 900 people have been arrested in riots that broke out after Paris Saint-Germain club won the coveted Champions League for a second consecutive year over the weekend. Speaking with FRANCE 24’s Mark Owen, Mateusz Grodecki, Associate Professor at The Maria Grzegorzewska University, says that football violence “is about proving one’s masculinity and the excitement that violence provides to one’s life”.

Many golfers struggle with slices, blocks and inconsistent contact without realizing that the real issue is often the clubface, not the swing path.

When the clubface is in a poor position during the downswing, golfers are forced to make last-second compensations to square it before impact. Sometimes those compensations work, but they can also lead to inconsistency and poor ball striking.

One interesting observation from studying elite players is how quickly many of them begin closing the clubface during transition. In fact, some of the best players in the world make this move within the first few inches of the downswing. The challenge is that doing so requires tremendous skill, awareness and timing.

For most recreational golfers, I prefer a simpler approach, which you can watch in the video below.

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How to fix your clubface

One of my favorite drills uses a short club, such as a wedge. Grip the club normally with your lead hand, then place your trail thumb on the toe of the clubhead. As you make slow-motion practice swings, feel your lead hand twisting the grip while your trail thumb provides light resistance.

The goal isn’t to aggressively roll the clubface closed. Instead, the drill helps create awareness of how the clubface is moving throughout the downswing.

As golfers develop this skill, they begin to understand that clubface control is largely a timing equation. For a right-handed golfer, if the face closes too early, the ball tends to start left. If it closes too late, the face remains open and the ball starts right.

By improving awareness and learning to square the face earlier, golfers often find they can rotate more freely, strike the ball more solidly and eliminate many of the compensations that lead to inconsistent shots.

Sometimes better golf starts with a better understanding of what the clubface is doing rather than making wholesale swing changes. So if you’re struggling with your ball striking, check what your clubface is doing during the downswing. If you fix it, you will start making better contact in a hurry.

Gujarat Titans’ Jos Buttler (ANI Photo)

Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2026 final defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru featured several moments that attracted attention, but one of the biggest talking points came early in their innings when youngster Nishant Sindhu was promoted ahead of Jos Buttler.Now, the former England captain has revealed that the unexpected move was a tactical decision made by Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra.The Titans entered the final hoping to claim a second IPL title after defeating Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. However, they ran into a dominant RCB side that had already beaten them in Qualifier 1 and once again found themselves second best on the biggest stage.Their chase for the trophy suffered an early setback when captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for 10 in the third over. With Gujarat needing stability, many expected Buttler to walk in at No. 3. Instead, Nishant Sindhu was sent to the crease in a move that surprised many observers.Speaking on the For The Love of Cricket Podcast, Buttler disclosed that he was preparing to bat before Nehra informed him of the change in plans.“When the first wicket went down, I got up to put my helmet on. But Ashish Nehra said, ‘You sit back down, we are going to send Nishant in at 3’. I did ask him after the game, and he just said it felt reactive at that point, and it was a good chance to get Nishant in the game as he’s a top-order batter,” Buttler said.The tactical call did not deliver the desired result. Sai Sudharsan fell soon after, increasing the pressure on the batting unit, while Nishant scored 20 before being dismissed in the eighth over. By the time Buttler eventually arrived at the crease, Gujarat were already struggling to build momentum.The England batter explained that the decision was partly influenced by Gujarat’s desire to give Nishant a bigger role after a season in which opportunities had often been limited.“He has been sometimes on that slippery slope where the team gets going, and he has ended up not batting or batting at 7. So it was a decision to get him in the game. He had batted ahead of me in another game against KKR. Right or wrong, it just didn’t work out for us,” he added.With wickets falling around him, Buttler attempted to guide the innings deep into the chase. However, he was unable to produce the acceleration Gujarat desperately needed, scoring 19 from 23 deliveries before being dismissed by Krunal Pandya.Looking back on his own contribution, Buttler admitted he was disappointed with the way his innings unfolded.“When I did bat, I wanted to take it deep as we had lost a few wickets. I just never got the boundaries and got done in by a good piece of bowling from a smart operator, Krunal Pandya. It’s disappointing when you go worse than a run-a-ball in an IPL final. It’s not a great look,” Buttler added.Gujarat eventually finished on 155, a total that never seriously threatened RCB. The defending champions completed a comfortable chase to secure a second consecutive IPL title, while the Titans were left reflecting on a final where several key decisions, including the promotion of Nishant Sindhu, failed to produce the outcome they had hoped for.

Terence Crawford walked away from the sport after a career-defining victory over Canelo Alvarez, leaving some observers believing that Alvarez is now past his best.

Now, ‘Bud’ has revealed why he believes the Mexican superstar opted not to hang up the gloves at the same time as him.

Whilst only 35-years-old, Alvarez’s 68 career fights make him a veteran, with both scars of battle and wear and tear becoming evident in recent performances, after a career that spanned over two decades; having debuted at the age of 15.

Upon returning to the 168lb division, following an unsuccessful bid for Dmitry Bivol’s light-heavyweight world title, Canelo scored six consecutive unanimous decision triumphs, receiving criticism for being unable to close the show despite his victories.

Against Crawford, those early warning signs were proven to be correct, as the American handed Alvarez a first career defeat as a super-middleweight, costing him his undisputed throne. 

However, though it was Canelo who looked to be the faded fighter, it was Crawford who sailed off into the sunset, content with retirement after a career-best win. Meanwhile, Alvarez is set for an immediate title challenge when he bids for Christian Mbilli’s WBC world title in September.

Speaking on a DAZN broadcast, Crawford explained why he believes Canelo has chosen to continue campaigning in the sport.

“Canelo won’t want to end his career on a loss like he did with me. So, I can see Canelo wanting to come back and prove himself and be back champion, do the things he wanted to do in the sport of boxing and then leave on his own terms.”

Mbilli vs Canelo takes place on Saturday, September 12, topping a ‘Mexico vs. The World’ themed bill in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Ibrahima Konate has opened up about a year of profound personal loss, revealing the immense toll it took on his mental health and performance.

The France international, who is set to leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the month, endured a period of deep struggle following the death of his teammate Diogo Jota, which was tragically followed by the passing of his father, Hamady.

Konate directly addressed the stigma surrounding mental health in professional sport, stating: “There are low points, there’s depression. You can suffer from depression in football too; there’s no need to be ashamed to say so.”

He challenged the common misconception that wealth negates mental health issues.

“It’s true that I’ve often heard players say they were suffering from depression and that fans or people on the outside didn’t understand because they were earning a lot of money. But no, that’s rubbish and you shouldn’t say that.”

He further elaborated on the insidious nature of depression, describing it as a deeply personal battle.

“Depression is personal; it’s deep inside you. When you’re depressed, it starts in the heart, goes up to the brain and takes over your whole body. For me, that’s what’s hard, and we need to talk about it.”

The defender recounted the devastating impact of the crash that claimed the lives of his teammate and neighbour, Jota, and his brother Andre Silva, just before pre-season training.

“It devastated me. I didn’t have any interest in anything else at that point,” Konate admitted.

Despite his grief, the demands of professional football meant a swift return to the pitch.

“You go back to football because you have no choice. We’re employees at a club that pays us every month, so we have duties. We had no choice but to go back on the field and play for him and his family – as well as ourselves. There’s no way of getting over it, but you learn to live with it.”

While the squad collectively mourned Jota, Konate was privately grappling with the severe illness of his father. His form visibly suffered, but the extent of his personal turmoil only became clear in January when his father, Hamady, died after a long illness.

“I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know whether I should go home and stop playing, because the team needed me too,” he explained.

He confessed to keeping his struggles to himself, a decision he now regrets.

“I didn’t know who to talk to about it, so I kept it all to myself. And this is the advice I’d give to everyone: when you’re feeling down or something’s going on, you need to talk to those around you. It can help you and do you good. I didn’t talk about it and kept it to myself.”

The news of his father’s impending death came suddenly: “The doctors then told us he didn’t have long to live, but we didn’t know it would happen so quickly.”

During compassionate leave, Konate made the decision to return to the team, contacting then head coach Arne Slot to offer his services amidst a defensive injury crisis. He marked his emotional comeback with a goal against Newcastle at Anfield.

However, the centre-back acknowledged that he never truly felt a sense of recovery.

“There was never a moment when I felt like I was on the mend,” he revealed. “All of these tragic events happened so quickly and as soon as I felt like I was getting my head above water, something else happened.”

Despite the immense support from Liverpool fans, teammates, and his family, Konate recognised the need for personal resilience.

“I also had to learn how to get back on my feet on my own because the team needed me more than ever and I know that my father would have wanted me to get back.”

Brighton Women have confirmed that Sophie Baggaley, Libby Bance and Rosa Kafaji will leave the club this summer at the end of the 2025/26 season.

Baggaley and Bance will leave when their contracts expire later this month, while Kafaji will return to Arsenal after spending the season on loan with the Seagulls.

The departures mark the end of a chapter for three players who helped Brighton reach the Women’s FA Cup final for the first time in the club’s history.

Head coach Dario Vidosic thanked the trio for their contributions and professionalism during their time at the club.

“I would like to thank all three girls for their service to the club. During my time Sophie and Rosa have been great to work with and extremely professional both on and off the field.

“They helped the club reach its first Wembley final and should be proud of the part they played in that historic achievement.

“When I had the opportunity to work with Libby I found her attitude and professionalism first-class too. I wish them all every success for their future careers.”

Baggaley leaves Brighton after making 42 appearances since joining the club in 2023 and was voted Players’ Player of the Year for the 2023/24 season. The goalkeeper was recently rewarded with a call-up to the England senior squad ahead of upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Kafaji made 24 appearances during her loan spell from Arsenal, scoring twice and playing a key role in Brighton’s run to a historic FA Cup final.

Meanwhile, Bance departs after progressing through the club’s academy and making 27 senior appearances. The midfielder also gained valuable experience through loan spells with Rangers, Bristol City and Birmingham City.

Women’s and girls’ managing director Zoe Johnson also paid tribute to the departing players.

“It is always tough to part ways with players who have given so much to the badge. Each of these individuals has made a defining contribution during their time here.

“Sophie was central to our historic fifth-place finish in 2024/25, and alongside Rosa, played a massive role in taking us to our first-ever FA Cup final.

“Libby’s journey through the Albion academy is a testament to her incredible work ethic and professionalism. We are deeply grateful for their service and wish them every success moving forward.”

The NBA finals start on June 4 and the San Antonio Spurs, with its star player, Victor Wembanyama, are favoured to take the title. But as the 22-year-old Frenchman told reporters, it’s not a done deal yet against the Knicks – who haven’t won since 1973 but won 11 consecutive games in the playoffs this year.

Switzerland international Breel Embolo is currently stranded in his home country, awaiting clearance to travel to the United States after a last-minute Esta complication prevented him from joining his teammates for their pre-World Cup training camp.

The forward attended an appointment at the US Embassy in Bern on Wednesday to submit a visa application, the Swiss football federation confirmed.

Embolo was forced to miss the squad’s departure to California on Tuesday after his Esta travel authorisation was unexpectedly placed under further review just hours before the team boarded their flight to Los Angeles.

The issue stems from a legal case dating back to a 2018 altercation in Basel, which led to the Stade Rennais striker’s 2023 conviction for making multiple threats and a suspended fine. This verdict was later upheld on appeal and became legally binding earlier this year.

The Swiss federation stated that the embassy had assured them the application was being processed as a priority.

“The Embassy informed us that the application is being processed as a priority,” the federation said. “Breel and the team are now awaiting approval so that he can travel to San Diego and join the squad as soon as possible.”

They added that US authorities had specifically inquired whether any physical violence was involved in the case, clarifying: “This was not the case.”

According to the federation, all Esta applications, including Embolo’s, were initially approved before US authorities requested additional checks approximately two and a half hours prior to departure.

Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Lauren Bis commented on the broader context, telling Reuters: “The Trump administration is enforcing immigration laws.”

She further explained: “Under the Visa Waiver Program, all Esta applications are continuously vetted against law enforcement and security databases. Travelers must provide complete and truthful information, including all criminal history.

“Failure to disclose arrests or convictions constitutes misrepresentation and can lead to Esta denial, revocation, or a permanent bar from entering the United States. An approved Esta does not guarantee admission. Individuals ineligible for the VWP due to criminal convictions or misrepresentation must apply for a visa.”

A Swiss team spokesperson noted that Embolo had previously travelled to the United States with the national team in June 2025 for matches against Mexico and the United States without encountering any issues.

Switzerland are set to compete in World Cup Group B alongside co-hosts Canada, Bosnia, and Qatar, with their opening match against Qatar scheduled for June 13 in San Francisco.

File photo of Pat Cummins© X/Twitter