Jadon Sancho, who became a free agent in the summer after leaving Manchester United, now has the opportunity to move to Dubai
Jadon Sancho is among a group of high‑profile free agents offered the chance to link up with Arabian Falcons. The Dubai‑based club is led by former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey, who has made an impressive start to the new campaign.
The Falcons have also strengthened their off‑field structure, bringing in Crystal Palace FA Cup finalist Jason Puncheon as co‑owner and head of football operations, alongside Leicester City Premier League winner Danny Simpson. On the pitch, they are captained by ex‑Manchester United prospect Ravel Morrison, who joined the club last season.
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The project gives unattached players, including Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Paul Pogba and several others, an opportunity to maintain fitness and stay sharp while they search for their next move. Some may even choose to remain in Dubai long‑term, with the tax‑free environment adding to the appeal.
Delivering a rallying call, Shelvey exclusively told Mirror Football: “We’ve seen ex-Premier League players go months without a club and lose all their sharpness.
“There’s no reason for that to happen. Come to Dubai, train with us every single day, get proper minutes, and be ready the second the phone rings.”
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Simpson also added: “I know what it’s like waiting for the right move to come along. This is the perfect place to stay ready – the weather, the facilities, the lifestyle, the football. There’s no excuse not to be match fit out here.”
Sancho has been without a club since United released him at the end of June. The England international has undertaken loan spells at Borussia Dortmund, Chelsea and Aston Villa over the past three years.
All three clubs declined the chance to sign him on a permanent basis, with Chelsea even paying a £5million penalty fee to avoid triggering a £25m obligation-to-buy clause.
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The winger had been linked with moves to Fiorentina and Roma throughout the summer, while Brazilian outfit Palmeiras were also reported to have shown interest. He is not the only high-profile player to remain unattached.
His England colleague Sterling has similarly struggled to secure a new club, as has Pogba. Global stars Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Philippe Coutinho, Anthony Martial and numerous others also remain without a team.
The Falcons compete in the second tier of Emirati football, but have hit the ground running in the new campaign.
The club harbour ambitious plans to win promotion and establish themselves as an attractive destination for football stars seeking to prolong their careers in Dubai.
Deion Sanders is back on the sidelines for Colorado after a health scare in the offseason. Sanders got to nine wins in his second season in Boulder but he had quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter on that squad. Brent Key has steadily improved at Georgia Tech, winning at least seven games in each of the last three seasons.
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech betting odds (via DraftKings)
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech money line:
Colorado +220, Georgia Tech -270
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech over/under:
50.5 (Over -120, Under +100)
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech spread:
Georgia Tech -6.5
Colorado vs. Georgia Tech betting preview
Julian Lewis will take over as the starting quarterback for the Buffs, and he’s looking to replicate Sanders’ 2024 numbers. Lewis showed some flashes in 2025 but he will need to improve his accuracy to elevate Colorado’s skill group. The Buffs will get Micah Welch and Joseph Williams back to provide some familiarity at running back and receiver, while transfer DeAndre Moore Jr. was an ascending receiver at Texas before coming to Boulder. The defense is a different story entirely. Colorado was one of the worst defensive teams in 2025, and that entire unit is being churned through the transfer portal. It’s hard to imagine the Buffs being worse on that side of the ball but it’s going to take some time for the defense to work well together. If Lewis is the real deal, Colorado should be able to get to a bowl game in 2026.
King is gone and in steps Alberto Mendoza, brother of last year’s Heisman Trophy and national championship winner Fernando Mendoza. The Indiana transfer is unproven as a passer but if he can give Georgia Tech even half of what his brother gave Indiana, this team will be in good shape. Justice Haynes arrives from Michigan after some productive years in Ann Arbor, so expect the Yellow Jackets to be a run-first team. Georgia Tech was better at preventing opponents from scoring compared to how they let offenses move the ball, but this secondary was not creating turnovers. The good news is linebackers Kyle Efford and E.J. Lightsey both return to anchor that unit. If transfer receiver Isaiah Fuhrmann builds on his 900-yard campaign at Elon last year, this offense should be good enough to compete in an open ACC behind Miami. Use the BetMGM bonus code CBSSPORTS to get up to $1,500 in bonus bets for Week 1 college football:
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Colorado vs. Georgia Tech picks, prediction
Colorado-Georgia Tech Under 50.5
Neither of these defenses inspire much confidence for over/under betting but there are also two unproven quarterbacks taking the field. Lewis started some games a year ago but now he’s front and center in a tough road environment. Mendoza has the name recognition but not the production. Even with the Buffs having some key holdovers on offense and Georgia Tech picking up a great transfer with Haynes, this doesn’t look to have the makings of a shootout. These teams combined for 47 points a year ago, and both offenses figure to need some time to gel in 2026. The SportsLine Projection Model, which simulates every game 10,000 times, has the Under hitting in 61.5% of simulations.
The hold up, despite both men having signed contracts earlier this year, is a disagreement over where the fight should take place.
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A proposed November 20 date is quickly approaching, so a resolution will have to be found very soon if it is to proceed, but it appears Fury is preparing a contingency plan.
Posting on social media, ‘The Gypsy King’ revealed that he won’t waste much longer on the Joshua clash, as he believes his long-term rival does not want to step through the ropes with him.
“One thing for sure is I won’t wait for a sausage who has been knocked spark out by Daniel Dubois for long.
“I’ve waited 10 years for this and I’ve been ready every single time. One thing I won’t be doing is wasting my later years at 38 year old with a freak who doesn’t want to fight.
“I will move on and there are plenty of world champions out there who do want to fight and do want to make some money so I’ll be giving them a knock. There are plenty of men.”
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‘The Gypsy King’ then listed three current heavyweight champions that he would be willing to face it the ‘AJ’ fight does not materialise.
“Agit Kabayel, Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois, whoever else there is, they’re all very brave men and all looking for a few quid. Maybe I’ll give them a call and they can fight me in November as this is going nowhere.”
Kabayel was elevated to WBC champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his titles earlier this year, while Hrgovic defeated Moses Itauma on Saturday to win the vacant IBF crown.
Hrgovic now looks set for a mandatory defence against Frank Sanchez next, while Dubois overcame Fabio Wardley in May to win the WBO strap, with the pair set to rematch in October.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, has said that there will be a resolution this week.
Though he has made it clear that their side wants the fight in the UK as per ‘AJ’s contract, Hearn has admitted that New York’s Madison Square Garden can happen if Saudi Arabia’s Sela sign an addendum.
Jul 28, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers closing pitcher Abner Uribe (45) throws against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images
When searching for reasons for the growing divide between the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers and the Chicago Cubs, the bullpen is a good place to start.
Milwaukee (87-53) relied on its relievers again on Wednesday to move a season-high nine games ahead of second-place Chicago (78-62) in the National League Central with 22 games remaining.
The teams will conclude their four-game series at Wrigley Field on Thursday night.
The Brewers have won two straight games since losing the series opener 17-3 on Monday. Jackson Chourio had four hits, including his 21st homer, in a 9-5 Milwaukee victory on Wednesday.
The Brewers overcame a shaky outing by ace Jacob Misiorowski, who allowed a season-high five earned runs in four innings. Five Milwaukee relievers combined for five shutout innings of one-hit ball to secure the win.
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“I think one of the big keys for the bullpen this year from day one has been, game by game, pitch by pitch, not trying to do too much,” Brewers reliever Abner Uribe said. “Just go out there and focus on the game we have that day and every single pitch.”
Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer and singled in two runs for the Cubs, who lost for the sixth time in their last eight games.
“We had very good at-bats,” manager Craig Counsell said. “I thought we did a pretty darn good job against Misiorowski, and then their bullpen pitched very well and kind of put the game in order.”
Milwaukee’s bullpen has allowed a total of one run over the last two games covering 9 2/3 innings, while Chicago relievers have struggled. Daniel Palencia, who returned from the injured list on Aug. 21, has surrendered a total of seven runs in his last four appearances.
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“We need Daniel,” Counsell said. “The results have not been good. The best thing we can do is get him out there as much as we can. We need our bullpen guys to get outs, and Daniel’s one of the key guys we need to get going. We’re going to keep putting him out there.”
The pitching matchup for the series finale will feature a pair of right-handers in Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson (9-2, 2.48 ERA) and Chicago’s Kevin Gausman (8-11, 4.52).
Henderson, 24, allowed only one hit — Danny Jansen’s home run — with no walks and seven strikeouts over seven innings in a 6-1 home win over the Texas Rangers last Friday.
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In 19 starts since debuting with the Brewers in April 2025, Henderson has not given up more than three runs in any outing.
“I mean, he’s been real consistent,” manager Pat Murphy said. “We love it when he’s out there. He’s a guy we trust, and he’s been very, very consistent his whole career.”
Henderson will face the Cubs for the first time.
Chicago will counter with Gausman, 35, who yielded five runs over five innings in a 17-5 home win over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday.
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Gausman is 3-1 with a 5.14 ERA in five starts since being acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays on Aug. 2.
Milwaukee’s Andrew Vaughn is 3-for-12 with a homer against Gausman, who is 2-0 with a 1.99 ERA in eight career games (six starts) vs. Milwaukee. He allowed three runs over five innings in a no-decision against the Brewers as a member of the Blue Jays on April 14.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Ho Thi Bich Diep during a game vs PLDT High Speed Hitters in the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference. –PVL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Sixteen-year-old spiker Ho Thi Bich Diep and Vietnamese squad Ho Chi Minh City are eager to learn from the Philippine pro clubs in their rare overseas stint in the 2026 PVL Invitational Conference.
Team captain Dang Thi Kim Thanh also powered the Vietnamese club with 19 points as they improved to 1-2 and joined Farm Fresh in a three-way tie with PLDT.
For Ho Chi Minh, its participation in the PVL is integral to the program’s growth and the young Vietnamese aim to learn from the Filipinos as well as Thai club Est Cola.
That’s why Ho is soaking in all the lessons she can pick up in every game.
“I was trying hard to follow this high-level of play, being young and as a rookie,” Ho said through a translator. “I’m grateful for the more experienced veterans that are on the court, reminding and pushing me, giving me the support, so that I can play comfortably, and to be able to keep at the same level of the team.”
Ho was also grateful for the veteran Vietnamese players who are guiding them in their PVL campaign, including their captain Dang, who had a national team call-up.
“I’m happy that I got the support and trust of my teammates, motivating me to accomplish what I did tonight, and for the future games,” she said.
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Ho Chi Minh has two more games, facing Nxled on Friday before EST Cola on Sunday, with the top two teams advancing to the final.
The young spiker is slowly getting her groove in the week-long PVL tournament.
“A lot of the younger players had a really good time experiencing older players, more experienced players, understanding the high technical level, the attack patterns, and how to adjust and how to adapt to this high-level play. I’m grateful for the experience and being able to adapt when it comes to these challenges,” Ho said.
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There’s the Premier League and then there’s everyone else. The 20 Premier League sides spent more than €4 billion this summer in the transfer market, setting a new record. Manchester City broke the record for the most spent by a single club in one summer, with more than €500 million spent on new signings. That’s almost as much as the 18 French Ligue 1 clubs combined (€605 million).
Also in this edition:
Lionel Messi will get his tribute after announcing his retirement from the Argentina national team. In Germany, Bayern Munich comfortably secured their place in the round of 32 of the German Cup.
The US Open continues in New York, with Daniil Medvedev and Arthur Rinderknech advancing to the third round. There was a major upset as Rafael Jodar was eliminated after losing to lucky loser Yunchaokete Bu.
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In cycling, British rider Matthew Brennan claimed his third stage victory at the 2026 Vuelta.
HYBE Chairman and founder Bang Si-hyuk has been referred to prosecutors according to a report by Chosunbiz. It was done over allegations that he and four others had misled investors before the company’s stock market debut and subsequently obtained about 263.1 billion won in alleged illicit gains.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Financial Crimes Investigation Division referred Bang to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office without detention on September 3, 2026. Four others were also referred in connection with the case, including a HYBE executive, former chief financial officer Kwon, Eastone PE CEO Yang and New Main Equity CEO Kim.
The allegations center on events in 2019, when HYBE was still known as Big Hit Entertainment and was preparing for its eventual initial public offering. Investigators allege that Bang and other HYBE officials gave existing shareholders the impression that there were no immediate plans for an IPO.
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Between August and October 2019, some shareholders allegedly sold their stakes to a private equity fund linked to people close to Bang. Police further allege that the same parties later told investors in the fund that an IPO was being planned, helping the fund raise money to purchase HYBE shares.
HYBE eventually went public in October 2020. According to investigators, Bang Si-hyuk and others had reached a confidential arrangement that allowed them to receive part of the profits made when the private equity fund sold its HYBE shares after the listing. Police estimate the resulting alleged unfair gains at 263.1 billion won.
A court has approved an order preserving the full amount ahead of possible forfeiture. Such an order prevents assets believed to be connected to alleged criminal proceeds from being transferred or disposed of before the case is resolved.
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Police said the alleged conduct involved concealing IPO-related information from existing shareholders while using it to benefit management and private equity participants.
Bang Si-hyuk’s IPO related case moves to prosecutors as investigation concludes
The case began with a preliminary inquiry in December 2024 and was formally converted into a full investigation in May 2025. Police later described July 2025 as the start of their full-scale probe. South Korea’s Securities and Futures Commission also filed a complaint concerning the transactions, bringing financial authorities further into the investigation.
Authorities have examined transactions involving HYBE shares, a private equity fund and an alleged undisclosed agreement under which Bang reportedly received about 30% of profits from the transactions. Police estimate the alleged amount involved at around 190 billion won, approximately $129 million. The referral does not mean Bang Si-hyuk has been indicted or found guilty, as prosecutors will now assess the evidence and determine the next steps.
Investigators are examining whether a private equity fund sold HYBE shares following the company’s 2020 stock market debut and whether Bang later received approximately 30% of the resulting profits through an undisclosed arrangement. Police have estimated the alleged profits connected to the transactions at roughly 190 billion won.
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Authorities are investigating the allegations under South Korea’s Capital Markets Act, which prohibits deceptive or misleading practices in financial transactions. Police say the case concerns conduct they believe could undermine the fairness and credibility of the country’s capital markets.
Investigators searched the Korea Exchange in June 2025 for documents connected to HYBE’s listing review. They raided HYBE’s Seoul headquarters the following month and collected documents and other materials related to the transactions.
Bang Si-hyuk underwent five rounds of questioning between September and November 2025. His first session on September 15 lasted more than 14 hours, followed by questioning on September 22 and November 5, 7 and 9. No further summons involving Bang Si-hyuk were reported after November.
Police sought an arrest warrant for Bang twice in April 2026. Prosecutors returned both requests, citing insufficient grounds for detention and requesting additional investigative work. Police subsequently decided to refer Bang’s case to prosecutors without taking him into custody.
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Bang Si-hyuk has been under a travel restriction since August 2025. The measure drew renewed attention in April 2026 after the U.S. Embassy in South Korea reportedly asked the Korean National Police Agency to cooperate with Bang’s travel to the United States in connection with BTS’s ongoing world tour.
A former HYBE chief investment officer surnamed Kim is being handled separately. Kim reportedly left South Korea while the investigation was underway, prompting police to obtain an arrest warrant and seek a wanted notice and an Interpol Red Notice.
Bang Si-hyuk’s defense team has argued that investigators’ concerns can be addressed through objective evidence and supporting materials. The team said it expects the allegations to undergo transparent examination during the prosecution stage.
The investigation has also influenced investor sentiment toward HYBE. The company’s shares reportedly fell 2.9% after reports that authorities had sought Bang’s arrest, while the broader KOSPI index rose 1.8%.
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The case now rests with prosecutors, who can seek an indictment, request additional investigative measures or take other legal action after reviewing the police file. Bang Si-hyuk has not been convicted of any wrongdoing.
Under the Capital Markets Act, fraudulent trading involving financial investment products can carry significant penalties. Where alleged unlawful profits reach at least 5 billion won, the law permits punishment ranging from a minimum five-year prison sentence to life imprisonment.
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Cam Schlittler gave up one run and two hits in eight superb innings, and the New York Yankees scored five two-out runs in 10th in a 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.
New York loaded the bases with one out in the 10th when Jose Caballero singled, the automatic runner holding at third, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. walked against reliever Luke Murphy (0-2).
Murphy got Luis Garcia Jr. to pop out, but Austin Wells stroked a two-run single to right, Cody Bellinger hit an RBI single to centre, Trent Grisham hit an RBI single to left, and Ben Rice had an RBI single to right for a 6-1 lead.
David Bednar (7-3) struck out three in a scoreless ninth for the win. Yankees reliever Michael Fulmer gave up a two-run homer to Moisés Ballesteros in the bottom of the 10th.
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A marquee matchup between two of baseball’s best pitchers did not disappoint, Schlittler striking out nine and walking none and Angels left-hander Reid Detmers allowing one run and six hits in seven innings, striking out eight and walking none.
Schlittler, who has an AL-best 2.04 ERA, retired 20 of the first 21 batters he faced, his only blemish a soft single to left by Vaughn Grissom in the second.
But he grooved a 95-m.p.h. cutter to Grissom in the seventh, and the Angels first baseman drove it over the center-field wall for a solo homer and a 1-1 tie.
It was Schlittler’s franchise-record 19th start in which he has allowed one or no runs, moving him ahead of Ron Guidry (1978), Whitey Ford (1964) and Jack Chesbro (1904), who had 18 each.
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Detmers, who has a major league-best 1.52 ERA since the All-Star break, gave up a run in the fourth on Amed Rosario’s RBI double.
The game was delayed for about 10 minutes in the sixth when a 79.5-mph line drive off the bat of Rice hit a photographer in the head in the first-base camera well. The photographer was able to walk to a medical emergency vehicle and shake Rice’s hand before being carted away.
Yankees: LHP Max Fried (4-4, 2.80 ERA) was set to face Padres RHP Walker Buehler (8-6, 4.66 ERA) Friday night in San Diego.
Angels: RHP Ryan Johnson (3-7, 5.47 ERA) was scheduled to oppose Pirates RHP Jared Jones (2-6, 4.83 ERA) Friday night in Pittsburgh.
NAM vs ZIM Live Updates: Zimbabwe face a must-win clash against Namibia in the fifth match of the tri-series, with their place in the final at stake. Zimbabwe have lost twice to South Africa but edged Namibia by five runs in their previous meeting. Namibia, meanwhile, can seal a final spot with a win. The last encounter was a thriller, with Ryan Burl rescuing Zimbabwe after a dramatic collapse before Namibia’s Zane Green and Alexander Busing-Volschenk nearly pulled off a stunning chase.
Namibia Squad: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Gerhard Erasmus(c), Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, JJ Smit, Ruben Trumpelmann, Zane Green(w), Alexander Volschenk, Bernard Scholtz, Jack Brassell, Max Heingo, Waldo Smith, Junior Taanyanda, Jan Balt, Michael van Lingen, Malan Kruger
Zimbabwe Squad: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Innocent Kaia, Wesley Madhavere, Sikandar Raza(c), Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani(w), Brad Evans, Wellington Masakadza, Newman Nyamhuri, Kundai Matigimu, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Graeme Cremer
Mike Dean has admitted he would play secret mini-games while refereeing Premier League matches in a mystifying revelation that has outraged fans.
Dean has not refereed since retiring in 2022 after a 22-year officiating career, during which he took charge of 553 top-flight games.
While one of the most recognisable in his field, the 58-year-old was also a notably controversial figure for his unique manner of refereeing, with on-pitch gags and his self-admitted “arrogance” sometimes seeing him end up under the spotlight.
Pundit Garth Crooks famously blasted Dean as “petulant schoolteacher” in a now widely-shared clip on BBC’s Final Score in 2015, saying: “He wants to be the star too often. It’s really getting on my nerves because he’s spoiling great games. It’s not about you, Mike, it’s about the games.”
And now, Dean has found himself on the end of a torrent of criticism after saying he would set himself side-quests during matches, such as waiting as long as possible to blow his whistle.
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Speaking on Jamie Vardy’s Having a Party podcast, he said: “There used to be games that we used to have, as a laugh, we used to say, ‘Right, we’ll kick off now, right? See how long we can go without blowing a whistle.’
“Done that a few times in the Premier, before VAR obviously. Went 20–25 minutes without blowing a whistle a few times. Let it go, let it go, let it go.
“I used to do another thing in the Premier League. I used to stand in the centre circle and see how long I could stay in the centre circle before I had to leave.
“That was just me joking about. The lads used to be on the line saying ‘you can’t’. I said ‘I’ll try it’. I just used to run around but don’t come out of it. Got about 15 minutes once in one game, without leaving the centre circle.”
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This has sparked uproar on social media, with supporters blasting Dean’s actions as “unprofessional” and “disgusting”, while also calling into question his integrity.
English refereeing governing body Pro Ref, formerly known as PGMOL, has been contacted for comment.
Dean suggests the incidents came in a pre-VAR era, which was introduced fully in 2019, which would indicate the refereeing body was under previous leadership.
Former India batter and Director of Cricket at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, VVS Laxman, is set to travel with the Indian men’s team to Japan and will take charge as head coach in the absence of Gautam Gambhir for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya later this month.Gautam Gambhir will remain with the senior side for India’s home ODI series against the West Indies. The first ODI is scheduled to be played on September 27.Laxman will be assisted by former India spinner Sunil Joshi, Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Subhadeep Ghosh, according to the list of coaches released by the Sports Ministry. The development was earlier reported by TimesofIndia.com in July.Laxman has previous Asian Games experience, having coached the Indian men’s team at the 2023 edition in Hangzhou, China, where India won the gold medal.
India to defend Men’s and Women’s Asian Games cricket titles
The cricket competition at the Asian Games will begin on September 24, with India scheduled to play its opening men’s match on September 28. India will defend its men’s T20 title under captain Shreyas Iyer, with teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also part of the squad. The men’s team will face the second-placed side from Group A, which comprises Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal.The Indian women’s team will also enter the tournament as defending champions and will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur. The women’s side will enter the competition at the quarterfinal stage and face hosts Japan. Amol Muzumdar will continue as the head coach of the women’s team, with bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi and fielding coach Munish Bali completing his support staff.
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