Bhaichung Bhutia (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: The announcement of a glamour friendly between India and Brazil should have been a moment of celebration for Indian football. Instead, it has exposed the widening gap between spectacle and substance, prompting former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia to question both the timing and the purpose of the high-profile fixture.“The timing of the Brazil friendly is a problem for me,” Bhutia said, pointing out that India will be involved in the FIFA ASEAN Cup around the same period. “The FIFA ASEAN Cup will be taking place at that time and we don’t know how the national team will be formed.” His concerns are difficult to dismiss. India, ranked 138th in the world, have been drawn alongside Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in the ASEAN Cup, a tournament where only the group winner advances.With qualification already a challenging prospect, diverting attention towards an exhibition match raises legitimate questions about priorities. Bhutia’s criticism goes beyond scheduling. For him, the Brazil match has become a symbol of a football ecosystem struggling to address its fundamental problems.“I was wondering about the purpose of the friendly match against Brazil. Is Indian football going to gain anything out of it?” he asked.The question strikes at the heart of the debate. A match against five-time world champions Brazil will undoubtedly generate excitement, television audiences and commercial interest. But can a single evening against one of football’s global giants compensate for years of structural decline? The former captain believes it cannot. “A big corporate group like the Tatas have declared shutting down of Jamshedpur FC. It goes to show the health of Indian football,” he said.The uncertainty surrounding Jamshedpur FC has only amplified concerns about the financial sustainability of Indian football. At a time when clubs are struggling, developmental pathways remain weak and investment is shrinking, a marquee international fixture risks appearing disconnected from the realities on the ground.Bhutia painted an even bleaker picture of the current state of the game. “The focus of the football federation should be getting the house in order. Let alone the seniors, even the U-17s are failing to earn qualification in continental tournaments,” he said. “The national league is in disarray, the junior programme is rudderless and there is no money to develop the grassroots game.”His views have found support within the playing community. India full-back Nikhil Poojary echoed similar concerns on social media, noting the contrast between celebrating Brazil’s visit and waking up to news of another club shutting down operations.India has hosted football royalty before. Uruguay and Argentina played in the Nehru Cup during the 1980s, while Lionel Messi’s Argentina visited in 2011 and again in 2025. Those occasions generated excitement and memories, but they did little to alter the trajectory of Indian football.

Man Utd defender Luke Shaw has entered the final year of his contract, and there is no option to extend the deal.

Luke Shaw was described as “one of the best defenders in the world” by John Murtough when he was handed a new contract in 2023.

Manchester United’s former football director added that everyone at the club was looking forward to Shaw representing the club for years to come.

Shaw is now the longest-serving player at United, having reached the 12-year anniversary of his £30million transfer from Southampton in June, which made him one of the most expensive teenagers in the world.

The deal Shaw signed four years ago expires next summer, meaning he is in the final year of his contract, and United do not have the option of a 12-month extension, which they now include in many deals.

There will be serious conversations around whether to offer Shaw a new contract once the summer transfer window closes, as United will then turn their attention to what the squad will look like in a year’s time.

There are plenty of reasons in favour of giving Shaw a new contract, most of all the fact that he did not show any signs of decline last season, consistently performing to a high standard across 38 starts in the Premier League.

Shaw became the fifth outfield player to start every top-flight game for United during a campaign. Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Denis Irwin and Harry Maguire are the other four players to have achieved the feat.

That’s without mentioning the leadership and experience Shaw provides in the dressing room, and how he acts around the club’s young players, serving as a sounding board at Carrington.

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The problem is Shaw’s injury record, though. He demonstrated durability last term, but United played their fewest games in a season for 115 years due to their failure to qualify for Europe.

There is enough evidence from Shaw’s time at the club to conclusively say he cannot play two games per week without picking up an injury, which is why United are looking at signing a left-back in this transfer window.

The new campaign will bring a different challenge for Shaw. United expect to play more than 60 games throughout the season, competing in the Premier League, Champions League, the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup.

United are aware they need to strengthen and they are considering left-backs who could be signed as the heir to Shaw, a long-term successor.

Lewis Hall would be the perfect signing, but there has been acknowledgement since the window opened that it would be a difficult deal to do, and that feeling has only intensified given the sales Newcastle have already made.

Whether United sign a left-back this summer, and who that possible signing is, will be a factor when club chiefs weigh up a new contract for Shaw, who will want clarity on where he stands sooner rather than later.

In some ways, the situation would be more straightforward if United had a one-year extension in his contract to trigger, because the can could be kicked down the road without too much thought, but new terms must be negotiated with Shaw to keep him.

What would that contract look like? Maguire is two years older and was given a one-year deal on a wage reduction with the option of a 12-month extension, which feels about right for Shaw.

Ineos have leaned toward signing players in their early 20s since gaining control of football operations, but retaining experienced players in the dressing room is important for the group’s health.

Shaw has bags of experience, and United should be exploring how to keep him under the right offer.

Ibom Angels Football Club have appointed Mr Emmanuel Ntuk as the club’s new Chief Coach, SportsRation reports on Monday August 3, 2026.

The club announced the appointment in a statement dated August 3, 2026, describing Ntuk as an experienced coach with a strong professional background.

Ntuk has worked with several football clubs and academies in Akwa Ibom and beyond. His coaching career includes a spell as Technical Adviser of the defunct Akwa Starlets Football Club.

He has also served as Head Coach of Dakkada Football Club and Ibom Youth Football Club.

In addition, Ntuk previously worked as Head Coach and Chief Executive Officer of Greater Tomorrow Academy. He has also coached Police Machine Football Club and Emlo FC, Uyo.

Ibom Angels said his experience and technical knowledge made him a strong addition to the club’s coaching team.

“The management, players, and entire family of Ibom Angels Football Club warmly welcome Mr Ntuk and wish him every success as he embarks on this new assignment,” the club said.

The club added that it was confident Ntuk’s leadership and coaching experience would help drive its continued growth and success.

“We are confident that his experience, leadership, and technical expertise will make a significant contribution to the continued growth and success of the Club,” the statement added.

Ntuk now begins his new role as Ibom Angels prepare for the next stage of their football development.

He will work alongside former Super Falcons head coach Edwin Okon, who heads the club’s technical crew.

Manchester United have a golden opportunity to resolve one of Michael Carrick’s last remaining squad options in this transfer window by capitalising on the contract situation of one serial winner

Michael Carrick has an expiring opportunity to solve one of Manchester United‘s major squad dilemmas before the transfer window shuts. However, it would mean acting quickly and potentially giving up on one of the club’s main targets this summer.

United are being linked with Newcastle’s Lewis Hall as a long-term successor to Luke Shaw at left-back. It’s a position that has plagued the club for some years now, with Patrick Dorgu failing to prove he’s the solution to replace the injury-prone incumbent.

Reports have suggested United will look to take advantage of Eddie Howe’s recent resignation by going after 21-year-old Hall. However, Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco represents a much more budget-friendly option compared to the £70million-rated Englishman.

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Dimarco, 28, admittedly doesn’t yield the same long-term benefits. However, United’s move for Youri Tielemans is a sign of United’s strengthened desire to recruit squad options capable of making a more immediate impact.

And after entering the final 12 months of his contract at the San Siro, a rare opening has presented itself to sign the Italian. Dimarco is coming off the back of a historic season for Inter, during which he set a new Serie A record for assists in a single season (18).

The left-sided star won his second Serie A title in the space of three seasons as a critical piece of Cristian Chivu’s puzzle in Milan. Dimarco, who was named the league’s Most Valuable Player for his efforts last season, is supposedly being lined up for an extension at the San Siro but could be swayed by a potential move to Old Trafford under his current terms.

Reports emerged in Italy toward the end of the last campaign suggesting Dimarco has a 12-month extension clause in his contract. It was suggested the Nerazzurri will first trigger that option before prolonging the player’s stay by a further two years.

It hasn’t come to pass as of yet, however, and a club of United’s standing can expect to throw a spanner in the works as long as that’s the case. Reports also indicate Dimarco earns around £125,000 a week in Milan, terms United wouldn’t struggle to match (or slightly improve) in their bid to sign one of the most valuable left-sided assets on the current market.

One potential obstacle that could hamper Dimarco at Old Trafford would be the tactical transition required on the player’s part. Chivu’s preferred three-at-the-back system permitted the Italy international to roam with freedom down the left flank, similar to the Ruben Amorim regime Carrick has succeeded in veering away from.

The United icon has prospered by moving back to a more traditional four-man defence. Shaw, 31, has still been given licence to advance in that system, albeit through more central channels and less so by hugging the touchline as Dimarco often prefers.

However, Dimarco’s obvious technical advantages suggest he has the traits to adapt to a more regimented role if required. And the potential bargain opportunity for a more experienced asset in the final 12 months of his contract could outweigh any negatives.

Magpies star Hall has been touted as United’s left-back for potentially the next decade should the club splurge to take him from St. James’ Park. However, Dimarco is the much cheaper summer option for that role more readily available to take over the position here and now.

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The first batch of Indian athletes, including ace weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and Lovepreet Singh, returned home to a heroes’ welcome after a successful Commonwealth Games campaign with hundreds of fans lining up to receive them at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Sunday.

Olympic medallist Mirabai clinched her third successive Commonwealth Games gold medal in the women’s 49kg event.

“Coming from Manipur, I feel really proud that I have done something good for my country,” Mirabai told PTI at the airport.

Lovepreet, who settled for silver in the men’s +110kg category after narrowly missing the gold by just one kilogram, said his next target is the Asian Games in Japan.

“I would like to thank my Indian Navy staff and captain Vijay Kumar, and all who have come,” said the 28-year-old from Punjab, who lifted a total of 388kg, including a Commonwealth Games record of 176kg in the snatch.

“It happens (missing on gold), but I did my hard work and I have got the result for that and when two players fight one has to lose. Up next, I will prepare well for Asian Games.” 
Happy with the warm welcome on their return, Bindyarani Devi Sorokhaibam, who claimed bronze in the women’s 58kg category, said she would work even harder ahead of the upcoming competitions.

“Everyone has welcomed us like this so it feels great, thankyou all for making feel like home,” she said.

“I’ll train even harder than I have so far for the upcoming competitions.” 
Rishikanta Singh, who won silver in the men’s 60kg category, said he would strive for gold the next time.

“Feeling good that I have got a medal for India. I’ve already spoken about my performance, but I’ll come back stronger and perform even better,” Rishikanta said.

The Imphal-born Indian Army weightlifter also appealed for peace in his home state, saying it would help produce more sporting talent.

“For me both Navy and Meitei are equal. I would want to say this that we need peace in Manipur so that Manipur could produce more athletes even better than me,” he said.

Indian weightlifters concluded their campaign with eight medals — one gold, six silver and one bronze.

Chief National Coach of the Indian weightlifting team coach, Vijay Sharma said: “We feel very proud as we have received this reception here. Everybody is very happy. I am really very happy with the performance of my players.

“There are some areas where we fell short, and we can work on them to change the colour of our medal from silver to gold. But that happens in sports. Overall, the results are good. We are happy.” 
He also lavished praise on Mirabai for her third gold.

“Mirabai is an exceptional player. With her discipline, she is able to deliver these results. We are preparing for the Asian Games, and I think we will win that medal as well,” Sharma said.

India are currently fourth in the medal standings with 13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze medals for an overall tally of 39.

Indian boxer Jaismine Lamboria and other athletes during the closing ceremony of the CWG 2026. (PTI Photo)

PUNE: The Glasgow Commonwealth Games are over. The baton passes to India for the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, dubbed ‘Amdavad 2030’. With the event returning home after 20 years, India will be aiming not only to stage a better Games than Delhi 2010 but also to improve on its best-ever medal haul. At the 2010 Delhi Games, India won a record 101 medals to finish second in the overall standings.For Indian sport, Glasgow offered a mixed picture. The 39 medals collected this time were fewer than the 61 in Birmingham 2022, 66 in Gold Coast 2018 and 64 in Glasgow 2014. More importantly, those medals came from just six sports. By contrast, India’s medals had come from 17 sports in 2010, 11 in 2014, 15 in 2018 and 13 in 2022.The explanation lies partly in the programme itself. Glasgow did not include sports where India has traditionally been strong. India has won 135 medals in shooting between 1966 and 2018, excluding the 1970 Edinburgh edition. Wrestling has fetched India 114 medals across 18 editions since 1934. Yet Glasgow had no shooting, wrestling, hockey, badminton, archery or table tennis, which together had contributed 67 medals for India in Delhi 2010.As India prepares to host in 2030, the focus will be on retaining the positives from Glasgow while also bringing back its strongest disciplines.

Athletics leads the way

Athletics emerged as the biggest winner for India, with medals in the men’s 10,000m and 5,000m long jump, decathlon, high jump, triple jump and para-athletics adding up to 16 medals. What stood out most was the history made by Gulveer Singh, who won silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m and Tejaswin Shankar, who claimed decathlon bronze.Yash Vir Singh also broke new ground by winning a javelin bronze in a field featuring Olympic and world champions, as well as world leaders and record holders. The para-athletes contributed three gold, two silver and one bronze, even as the 4x400m relay team had to settle for sixth place.“The performance was way better than expected. This has been a good result and it will only improve in the years to come. The result reflects the policies that the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has adopted in the past few years,” former World Championships bronze medallist and current AFI senior vice-president Anju Bobby George told TOI.“Now we plan the training programme according to individual athletes’ requirements rather than designing a blanket programme for everyone. Some athletes train in the USA, some in Europe, because that is what best suits their future. The results are definitely going to improve in 2030 and beyond, as we also plan to host the Olympics,” she added.

Boxers make a statement

Boxing also delivered strongly, with seven gold among the 13 medals won. While the level of competition at the Commonwealth Games is not as demanding as at the Asian Games or Olympics, the performances will still provide a valuable confidence boost.“It is not as if these were the only medals our boxers have won so far. We had world champions, an Olympic medallist and Asian Games and Asian Championships winners at the Glasgow CWG. The field may not have been as strong as the Asiad, but it was not weak either. A good show at a competition like this gives a boost to the boxers,” 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh told TOI.

Judokas earn their place in the spotlight

With two historic gold and three medals overall, Indian judokas Asmita Dey, Harsh Singh and Yamini Mourya also deserve special mention. A sport that has often struggled for attention in the past appears to be finding its footing.If judo can continue on this trajectory, the possibilities are immense. With 15 medal events at the Olympics and proper investment and a cleaner administrative setup, India has genuine medal potential at the world level too.

Roulette King has taught Trevor Rogers the value of saying no, a lesson the Cranbourne trainer never envisioned would result in an expansion of his small racing stable.

The reward for his unwavering stance against selling the untapped four-year-old came when a persistent potential buyer, unable to acquire Roulette King, offered Rogers a horse to train instead.

Rogers accepted the offer, gaining a horse from one of the many well-resourced owners who had been keen on Roulette King. He views this as a bonus, particularly as Roulette King remains in his care.

“I actually had one of the last bidders on the horse more or less said, ‘if I can’t buy him can I give you one’, so he gave me a horse to train,” Rogers stated. “It’s worked out good for me.”

Winsilence, a four-year-old by Ghaiyyath, arrived at Rogers’ stable from Lindsay Park and is close to breaking his maiden status, following a third and a fourth at Sale.

It was at Sale where Roulette King recorded his first victory at his second start, embarking on a four-race winning streak that ultimately led to the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on March 21.

The significant offers began to pour in after that performance, heightening Rogers’ enthusiasm for the future prospects of the Casino Prince colt, who was secured by owners for $50,000 at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Roulette King is expected to be among the nominations for the spring’s premier weight-for-age contest, the $6 million Cox Plate (2040m), when they are released on Tuesday. However, Rogers has his sights set on an even more lucrative event.

With the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) restricted to four-year-olds, Rogers is keen to give Roulette King the opportunity to prove his worthiness for this unique chance.

He is scheduled to reappear at jumpouts midway through this month before a potential return in the $175,000 Listed Tontonan Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on September 12.

“It’s hard to go past a race like the Golden Eagle,” Rogers said. “I’m going to probably give him on a run in a benchmark 100 or the Tontonan over 1400 at Flemington to see if he’s got enough ping in his step when he’s fresh to take on those type of horses. If he can race well in that, that gives me plenty of time to freshen him up and take him to Sydney for the 1500. We’ll obviously experiment here first to make sure we’re not going up there for no reason. This preparation is going to tell us a lot about the horse. Everything we’ve asked him, he’s done everything and beyond, so who knows?”

The Golden Eagle, which will be run at Group 1 level for the first time this year, is set to take place at Randwick on October 31.

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Sen. Ted Cruz is confident the Protect College Sports Act will hit the Senate floor this week. Whether it actually does is another matter.

Cruz, speaking with CBS Sports on Monday, was resolute. The bill received a significant boost late Friday when the Big Ten and SEC endorsed the legislation, giving it new momentum after weeks of negotiations. Cruz, one of three authors of the bipartisan legislation, said he has spoken directly with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and President Donald Trump multiple times and believes the Senate will stay in session until the bill passes.

“This bill is going to pass,” Cruz said, “and it’s going to pass this week out of the Senate.”

But between confidence and a floor vote stands a procedural labyrinth. As of late Monday afternoon, the text of the bill had yet to be finalized. “Final details are still being worked through,” said a spokesperson for Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., a co-author of the bill.

Cloture, the step required to schedule a vote in the Senate, could drag on for several days or longer, according to a Republican Commerce Committee aide. Even if Thune filed cloture on Monday evening, that would potentially schedule the bill for a late-week vote at the earliest.

The Senate’s final week before its August recess is already congested. A spending bill, budget resolution and three or four additional competing items are fighting for floor time. The Senate is tentatively scheduled to recess Aug. 7, though that date could be extended into the weekend, sources told CBS Sports.

Big Ten, SEC join to support Protect College Sports Act, breathing new life into landmark legislation

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Cruz has a bigger vision for where this ends: President Trump signing the bill into law before a college football game kicks off later this fall.

“It is my hope that President Trump will sign this bill into law on ‘College GameDay’ this fall when the House comes back and passes it with a big bipartisan vote, following the big bipartisan vote we’re going to get in the Senate, I believe, this week,” he said.

Trump told reporters Monday that “the NIL, or whatever it is, is very close to getting solved.”

The urgency is real, though nothing about this bill has moved on schedule. It was on life support late Thursday as the Big Ten and SEC wrestled with lawmakers over language on associated entities and the revenue-share cap before a breakthrough Friday provided the two conferences with the clarity they needed.

Cruz credited the White House with playing a decisive role in forcing the breakthrough. He described what he called “very intense” conversations over the weekend involving Big Ten and SEC commissioners, university presidents, Trump adviser Randy Levine and Cody Campbell, who leads the President’s commission on college sports.

“At the end of the day, everyone recognized  No. 1, the crisis, and No. 2, that this bill is the only viable path to addressing the crisis,” Cruz said.

“I think Randy and I are common-law married in 12 states; we’ve spent so much time talking,” Cruz joked.

The associated entities provision is the mechanism meant to prevent schools from routing money to athletes through corporate sponsors and multimedia rights partners to circumvent the revenue-share cap. The final deal raised the revenue-share cap to $48.8 million, including $21.3 million from the House settlement, a $22.5 million retention pool and $5 million for non-revenue sports.

Senate passage this week and a signing ceremony on college football’s biggest weekly stage remain aspirational. Sen. Eric Schmitt, one of the three authors of the bill, appeared on CBS Sports’ College Football Insiders and said he believes the bill could snag 80-plus votes in the Senate because of the Big Ten and SEC’s endorsement. The bill still requires at least 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, and if it clears the Senate, it would still need to pass the House before reaching the President’s desk.

Without a Senate vote before the August recess, the chances for passing the bill into law would shrink considerably. Most lawmakers will be focused on the federal budget and campaigning for mid-term elections when the Congressional recess ends. 

Cruz acknowledged the legislation isn’t perfect. It’s the product of three years of negotiation and months of daily sessions with Cantwell, the bill’s Democratic co-author. He said Monday the Big Ten and SEC endorsement fundamentally changed the bill’s prospects in Washington, D.C.

“Many of the hurdles this faced in the House were because of concerns the SEC and Big Ten had,” Cruz said. “And now broadening that coalition, I think it makes it much easier for Republicans and Democrats to support the bill.”

The coalition behind the bill now includes 27 athletic conferences, more than 360 colleges and universities, the NCAA, NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, the players associations for both the NFL and NBA, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, Cruz said.

The bill would provide a limited antitrust exemption for the NCAA and its schools to enforce a cap on payments to athletes and rules related to eligibility and transfers. The bill also creates an opportunity for schools to sell media rights as one large entity rather than on a conference-by-conference basis. The Big Ten and SEC do not want to participate in the media pool and sought language making clear participation is voluntary. Smaller conferences believe that pooling media rights will help fund less-profitable sports and close the financial gap between the rest of college sports and the two biggest conferences.

“If we ended up in a world with a mini NFL, the giant powerhouses would continue to survive, but all of the rest of the schools would have their programs decimated,” Cruz said. “And when college football gets destroyed, it doesn’t just take football down with it.”

Brock Lesnar suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of Oba Femi at SummerSlam 2026, and it now looks like his in-ring career is done for good. The Beast Incarnate has been officially moved to the alumni section of WWE’s roster, potentially signaling the end of his tenure with the global juggernaut.

Lesnar was initially believed to have retired at WrestleMania 42, where he had lost to Femi as well. However, that turned out to be a ruse, and he later returned to reignite the feud. Following a win over the former NXT Champion at Clash in Italy, a third and decisive match between the two was finally set up for last weekend’s SummerSlam 2026.

The Hell in a Cell match more than lived up to the expectations. It featured multiple false finishes, with Brock Lesnar at one point even evoking his inner Undertaker. However, as fate would have it, Oba Femi eventually emerged victorious in a win that truly seemed like a passing-of-the-torch moment.

Immediately following the match on SummerSlam Night 1, fans began to wonder what lay ahead for Lesnar. It now seems like Lesnar might be hanging up his boots for good. The legendary star has been moved to the alumni section of the WWE’s roster alongside other reputed names who have worked for the company in the past.

While the promotion has yet to acknowledge Lesnar’s status, this is enough to send fans into overdrive. If SummerSlam 2026 did indeed mark the final hurrah of Brock Lesnar‘s illustrious career, it’s safe to say he’s going out on top. The match was the highlight of Night 1 and arguably even more entertaining than the headlining contest between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes.

One can only wait for WWE or Lesnar to issue a clarification on the rumors swirling online.