Punjab Kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Josh Inglis, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Arjun Tendulkar, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer has written to TNT Sports, urging the broadcaster to make the upcoming Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain free to watch.

TNT (owned by Warner Bros Discovery) hold broadcast rights for the Champions League in the UK and have made the final available to stream for free in previous years. However, earlier this month it caused outrage by confirming that viewers will only be able to watch the clash at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday 30 May on either its own platform or HBO Max, both requiring a subscription.

The broadcaster said subscriptions to HBO Max were available from £4.99, calling it “exceptional value”.

However, this will be the first time since the European Cup rebranded to the Champions League back in 1992 that the final won’t be available to watch for free. It was shown on ITV from 1992 to 2015 and then streamed for free by TNT Sports and its forerunner, BT Sport, for the past decade.

Prime Minister Starmer, who is a huge Arsenal fan, has now decided to intervene by writing an open letter to TNT imploring them to make the game available without cost – although insists he would have done the same even if his beloved Gunners, who have reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2006, weren’t involved.

“I was saddened to see that, for the first time since the competition started 34 years ago, TNT Sports has decided that the Champions League final will not be free to watch for football supporters here in the UK,” wrote Starmer.

“The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country – the home of football. I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not.

“Obviously, I want as many fellow fans as possible to be able to watch our team in this historic final for the first time in 20 years. However, this is bigger than that. This is about supporters of all teams coming together in living rooms and pubs in every corner of the country to watch the most elite players in Europe battle it out.

“Hard-working people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude.”

In response, a TNT Sports spokesperson said: “It has been a privilege to bring Uefa club competitions to sports fans across the UK throughout the season. Having three Premier League clubs reach the finals shows the strength of English football and something that we are proud to continue to support.

“We have made all three Uefa finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max that also includes the great entertainment on the service. This represents exceptional value for fans to watch the conclusion of the competitions.”

Arsenal have reached the Champions League final for just the second time in their history, and the first since 2006, with reigning champions PSG standing in the way of Mikel Arteta’s men, who will try to seal a remarkable double after outduelling Manchester City to clinch a first Premier League title for 22 years.

According to a report in The Guardian, governing body Uefa is irritated at TNT Sports’ decision to charge fans to watch not only the Champions League final, but also the Europa League and Conference League finals – which also involve English teams – despite having made the showpieces available to stream for free in previous seasons. The Guardian’s sources at Uefa say the decision breaks the spirit of a contract that states “best endeavours” should be made to ensure the finals are available for free.

TNT Sports can be accessed through HBO Max, BT, Sky, Virgin Media or Amazon PVC, with subscriptions typically costing between £25 and £34 a month, while a separate HBO Max plan in the UK starts from £4.99.

And Starmer has appealed to TNT to make watching football more affordable for fans, citing a similar plea to Fifa to lower World Cup ticket prices.

“We should be putting supporters first,” continued Starmer. That is why I have already encouraged Fifa to do more to make tickets more affordable at this summer’s World Cup.

“That is also why I want to strongly urge you to reconsider and make the final next Saturday free to watch for the millions of passionate football fans in this country.”

TNT Sports are set to lose TV rights to all three European competitions from the 2027-28 season, having been outbid by Paramount for the Champions League and by Sky Sports for the Europa League and Conference League in Uefa’s media rights auction last year.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant have recalled all of their players from the Indian national team camp ahead of the upcoming Unity Cup, scheduled to take place from May 26 to May 30. The tournament will feature India, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and Jamaica.

Eight players from Mohun Bagan had initially been named in the preliminary squad for the competition. The list included Vishal Kaith, Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Ashique Kuruniyan, Sahal Abdul Samad, Anirudh Thapa, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco and Suhail Ahmad Bhat.

Injury Concerns Behind Club’s Decision

The Kolkata-based club reportedly raised concerns over the timing of the Unity Cup fixtures, which fall outside the official FIFA international window. Since clubs are not protected under FIFA regulations during non-international windows, Mohun Bagan feared potential financial and medical liabilities in case of player injuries.

According to reports, the club’s insurance provider also flagged concerns surrounding player safety and compensation, prompting the decision to withdraw the players from the national camp.

Previous Injury Experiences Influenced Move

Sources close to the club reportedly pointed to past injury setbacks involving Subhasish Bose and Ashique Kuruniyan, which allegedly forced the club to spend nearly ₹2.5 crore on salaries and rehabilitation during their recovery periods.

Interestingly, the club has clarified that it has no objection to releasing players for India’s June international friendlies, which fall within the official FIFA international calendar.

India Set for Unity Cup Campaign

The Indian national team, also known as the Blue Tigers, have already assembled in Bengaluru for a preparatory camp before travelling to London on May 24.

India are scheduled to face Jamaica in the second semifinal on May 27, while Nigeria will take on Zimbabwe in the first semifinal. The losing sides will contest the third-place playoff on May 30, with the final set to be played on the same day.

India is close to finalising broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Zee and Jio expected to be among the frontrunners to secure the television and digital rights for the tournament from FIFA.

Zee and Jio emerge as contenders

According to media reports, Zee and Jio are in contention to acquire the broadcast rights for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in India. The formal announcement regarding the rights holder is expected in the coming days.

The deal is reportedly valued between $30-35 million and would secure access to television and digital audiences across the country for the tournament.

Expanded World Cup to feature 48 teams

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. It will mark the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams, up from the previous 32.

As a result, the number of matches will increase significantly from 64 to 104, making it the biggest World Cup in the competition’s history.

India remains a key football broadcast market

Despite the national team’s struggles in international football, India continues to be an important market for global football broadcasters.

Football viewership in the country has grown steadily over the years, driven by strong interest in European leagues and FIFA World Cup coverage. Cities such as Kolkata, Kochi, Goa and Bengaluru remain major football hubs with large followings.

Global rights strategy sees shifts

According to reports, FIFA has adopted a more flexible commercial approach in certain Asian markets. China is understood to have secured rights for the 2026 World Cup at a significantly lower valuation compared to previous cycles.

The FIFA World Cup remains one of the most valuable sports broadcasting properties globally, particularly across major football markets.

Indian football faces challenges amid rights developments

The race for broadcast rights comes at a time when Indian football continues to face on-field and structural challenges.

India’s men’s national team has slipped in the FIFA rankings following a difficult run of results, while issues related to grassroots development, governance and competitive depth remain under focus within the domestic football ecosystem.

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch died Thursday from complications related to “severe pneumonia [that] progressed into sepsis,” according to a family statement obtained by FOX Sports on Saturday.

“The medical evaluation provided to the Busch Family concluded that severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications,” the statement, according to FOX Sports’ Bob Pockrass, read. 

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

RCB’s Jacob Bethell and skipper Rajat Patidar (ANI Photo)

Jacob Bethell has cut short his IPL 2026 campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru after suffering a finger injury, creating fresh concern for England cricket team ahead of their upcoming Test series against New Zealand cricket team.The 22-year-old missed RCB’s final league game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, with captain Rajat Patidar confirming after the match that Bethell had injured his finger.Despite suffering a heavy 55-run defeat to SRH at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Bengaluru still finished the league stage at the top of the IPL 2026 table and secured a place in Qualifier 1. RCB are now set to face Gujarat Titans in Dharamshala on Tuesday.Bethell featured in seven matches during the campaign, scoring 96 runs while providing depth to RCB’s batting unit.However, the bigger concern now surrounds his availability for England’s first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, beginning on June 4. Bethell had emerged as a strong contender to bat at number three after impressing during the Ashes earlier this year, including a brilliant century against Australia in January.The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Saturday that Bethell would return home for further medical assessment.“The England and Wales Cricket Board has agreed with Royal Challengers Bangalore that top-order batter Jacob Bethell will return to the UK after sustaining a left ring finger injury while playing in the Indian Premier League,” the ECB said in a statement.The board also revealed that England’s medical team will closely monitor the young batter before making a decision on his availability for the Lord’s Test.“He will be fully assessed and monitored by the England Men’s medical team on his return to determine his availability for selection for the Rothesay first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, starting on Thursday June 4.”Bethell’s injury now leaves England facing an anxious wait just days before the start of a crucial home summer.

The New Day’s WWE run came to an end when last month Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods announced their exit. Meanwhile, the duo’s departure has raised uncertainty, and Tyler Breeze recently addressed it.

After WrestleMania 42, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods announced their exit from WWE and officially parted ways with the Stamford-based promotion. The decorated tag team’s departure did create a void in the tag team division, but there was hope that Woods might not go away entirely.

According to a report, the company was trying to cut a deal where Xavier Woods would work for them and cover content around their games. Speaking on Love Wrestling, Tyler Breeze was asked about the multi-time WWE Tag Team Champion and what’s next for UpUpDownDown.

The former NXT Tag Team Champion wasn’t able to give a straight answer, as he was not in the place to answer on behalf of Woods. However, Breeze, similar to the audience, isn’t sure what’s next for UpUpDownDown and uncertain on what’s next for the show.

“He’s just chilling, you know what I mean? Like, he’s been on the grind; business stuff happens. Not my place to talk on any of it. So, you saw as much as I saw, you know, where’s he at now, and that’s kind of where we’re at. So, I’ll be waiting to see the headlines when you see them as well,” Breeze said.

Why did The New Day decide to leave WWE?

In 2014, The New Day was created under WWE’s old regime, and the trio of Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods took over the tag team and singles division in the coming years. E and Kingston have won the WWE Championship in the past, and Woods has dominated tag team wrestling with the duo on different occasions.

According to reports, the duo of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were asked to restructure their deals, which they signed last year in the promotion. The two weren’t on the same page with the promotion and decided to leave instead of taking less pay.

The decision might benefit the legendary tag team, as several promotions, primarily AEW, are interested in the duo. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods in the industry following their exit.

If you use quotes from the article, please credit Love Wrestling and provide an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription.