The Asian Games will pose a different challenge for the Indian women’s hockey team, with lower-ranked opponents likely to offer more scoring opportunities than the top sides they faced at the World Cup, coach Sjoerd Marijne said. Apart from China, all other teams competing at the Asian Games are ranked below India. At the World Cup, World No. 8 India faced higher-ranked sides such as Australia and Netherlands. “In the World Cup we had top-ranked teams, except South Africa, in our pool, while here that is not the scene. You would play lower-ranked opponents and get more opportunities to score, so we have to be effective in that way.
“It’s a different approach to keep being sharp and focused. The focus should be on us — what can we do better from the last match, which was against Germany in the World Cup? “How can we create opportunities and do better against the next opponent, Uzbekistan?” Marijne told PTI in an exclusive interview from Japan.
India’s women’s team finished fifth at the World Cup last month, its best performance since the inaugural edition in 1974.
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The Salima Tete-led team lost only one match in the tournament, but a goalless draw against Australia cost them a place in the last four.
Marijne now wants his players to use the disappointment of missing out on a World Cup semifinal as motivation to win the Asian Games gold.
“You don’t get to play many World Cups and to come that close to a medal and miss it is disappointing. I told them that not reaching the semis should be a motivation for the gold in the Asian Games,” the Dutch coach said.
“We wrote history in the World Cup. It is important that they realise they have done something extraordinary, which had not happened after 1974. Now the target is the Asian Games and let’s do even better there.” The coach said increased expectations following the World Cup should be seen as a compliment rather than pressure.
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“It’s nice to come into a position when people expect more from you. I don’t see it as pressure, but as a compliment.
“The main thing is the mental side — staying focused on our job, the challenge ahead and how can we do better. If we are able to do that, the chance of a good outcome is bigger and better,” said the 52-year-old.
Marijne also stressed the importance of acclimatisation in Japan, which is more humid than Europe, but added that adapting to different conditions was not a major concern for a team that has played across continents.
“It’s a little more humid in Japan, so acclimatisation was important. We also did some fun things like playing mini golf and team activities.
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“Other teams are also coming from different countries and it’s normal to constantly adjust according to the conditions, like we have played in Australia, Argentina, Europe and now Japan in different conditions,” he said.
Marijne identified India’s disciplined defence as one of its biggest strengths from the World Cup.
“Our strong defence can make it very difficult for the opponents to score. I don’t want to jinx this, but the discipline and culture we are focusing on is the basis of the success and we must not forget that.
“It’s important to keep the basics right and that’s what we did in the World Cup.” Marijne, under whose tutelage Indian finish fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, also urged his players to remain humble despite their newfound confidence.
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“The team has confidence from the World Cup, which is good, but too much confidence is arrogance. I told them that we need to stay humble and there is no room for overconfidence. We have to keep working hard. I tell them to be connected with each other. Being a team is about continuing to work on connecting with each other and the girls are doing well in that aspect,” he said.
Marijne said the team’s emphasis on unity would continue to be symbolised by its “unity thread” and “crystal ball”, which he introduced to the players and support staff during the World Cup.
“That will not change. It reminds them of what is required as a team and that they are there for each other,” he said while showing his unity band.” PTI MJ APA APA
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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Somehow, despite not possessing a first-round draft selection, the Jaguars were the talk of the 2026 NFL Draft. Jacksonville selected Texas A&M’s Nate Boerkircher, and what followed was a generational run at the tight end position. Following Boerkircher at pick 56, six more tight ends were taken inside the Top-100.
One week into the 2026 season, that Boerkircher selection seems to have changed the very nature of the Jaguars’ offense. Opponent specific gameplan’s change from week to week, but the Week 1 tendencies provide a general idea of this new offense.
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Let’s take a peek at what’s changed in Liam Coen’s system.
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With Boerkircher, the hypothesis was the Jaguars would run more 12 and 13 personnel. And boy did they ever against Cleveland.
According to SumerSports, the Jaguars ran 60.4% of their Week 1 plays out of multi-TE sets, second-most of any team in Week 1. That figure is over double the 24.9% from a season ago. The Jags’ use of 13 personnel in particular jumped from 2.9% in 2025 to 17.9% against the Browns.
With more multi-TE sets, the Jags (and the NFL on the whole) ran far more plays under center in Week 1. Last year, the Jags ran 38.3% of plays from under center. Their under-center rate in Week 1? A whopping 60.4%, fourth-highest in the NFL.
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Of the 32 plays under center, 23 were of the rushing variety. The run-game struggled mightily towards the end of the 2025 season, and the Jags are hopeful the combination of multiple tight end sets and plays from under center will help the run-game.
A strong run-game from under-center breeds play action. The Jags ran more play-action (48%) in Week 1 than any other team. For comparison, that number is up from 25% a year ago.
Again, this is just a one-game sample size, but it offers an idea of what the Jaguars want to do on offense. It was assumed the Jags would run far more multi-TE packages, but a jump from 25.9% to 60.4% is quite the escalation. The Jags are also getting an immediate return on their investment as Nate Boerkircher led all rookie tight ends in snaps in Week 1.
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Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel had a huge smile on his face as he returned to the Leigh Sports Village dressing room last week.
Gabriel had just scored a hat-trick against Sabah’s youth team. His manager, Adam Lawrence, raved about him after the final whistle, saying he was in a “good place”, but his social media was wiped an hour later.
United were removed from Gabriel’s bio, with ‘@nikefootball’ remaining. It felt like something may be afoot, which is why Tuesday’s bombshell that Gabriel had requested to leave the club was not a complete surprise.
The revelation still shocked United. There has been internal confusion about why Gabriel has now requested to leave, especially given that the plan was to include him in the squad tomorrow night ahead of a potential debut, which would have made him the club’s youngest debutant.
United still feel the situation is rectifiable given the timeframe on his contract. Gabriel cannot be de-registered, but next summer will be an opportunity for him to leave, and the club do not want to lose him.
Following the bombshell of Gabriel’s request, an industry insider suggested the situation may still be smoothed over with one thing: money. But whether that would be enough to keep Gabriel, and how much more United are even prepared to offer, remains to be seen.
United have done everything they can to show Gabriel there is a pathway to the first-team, as he has been on an accelerated development plan, receiving unprecedented backing for a player of his age.
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It all started on the day Gabriel was brought to the club when he was unveiled alongside Cristiano Ronaldo’s son in the Old Trafford press conference room, the first of many concessions to make him feel valued.
United held a call between Gabriel and Marcus Rashford when he was still just a boy. They introduced him to Ruben Amorim in a meeting at Carrington, organised a brief chat with Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford and have invited his family into the directors’ box on a few occasions.
A photo of Gabriel and Amorim circulated on social media after their meeting. The former United boss was unhappy that his father had shared the image publicly. It was deleted, but it had already spread far and wide.
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The club have always known that whatever they might do, it might not be enough to keep Gabriel because his father, who forged a professional career before retiring early due to injury, has dreamt of his son starring for Barcelona.
The Manchester Evening News revealed in April 2025 that Gabriel was set to make his Under-18 debut. He was 14. A few months later, he came close to leaving the club and would have if not for an eleventh-hour meeting.
Shortly after that meeting, the MEN revealed that Jason Wilcox (director of football) and Omar Berrada (CEO) had been present, which showed the high regard in which Gabriel is held by top brass.
What happened in the meeting was extraordinary considering Gabriel’s age. United reiterated that he could become the face of the club and promised other concessions, so it was eventually agreed that he would remain in Manchester, but key to Gabriel staying was his desire to remain at the club.
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Sources said that he had tears in his eyes on that day and was emotional at the prospect of leaving. Gabriel loves representing United and is naturally really close to some of his academy peers.
Staff members have been struck by his politeness and humility, but ultimately, a young player always relies on family and advisers at the start of their journey.
Gabriel’s camp has decided to attempt to leave United. They will be free to do so next summer, but he is under contract until the end of the season, which is why the request for him to become a free agent now is bizarre.
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There is a trail of breadcrumbs that helps paint a picture of why the request has been made, though. The MEN reported in March that Gabriel would be involved during pre-season, and the youngster was first included in a first-team tour squad when United played Rosenborg in Trondheim.
Gabriel did not get onto the pitch as United trounced Rosenborg 5-0. The player himself was still thrilled to be involved. He politely said ‘thank you’ when congratulated on being in the squad as he left the stadium, and he enjoyed a special moment with his mother as they took a photo with his shirt.
Michael Carrick handed Gabriel his pre-season debut against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm. Again, the youngster looked delighted, but what those around him made of that being his only pre-season minutes is another matter.
The perks from United have been important in showing Gabriel that he is valued, but first-team minutes count for more, and the suspicion has been that his father has wanted his son to become one of the youngsters ever appearance-makers in the record books.
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Ethan Nwaneri (15 years, 181 days), Max Dowman (15 years, 235 days), and Jemery Monga (15 years, 271 days) are the youngest debutants in the Premier League.
Gabriel was not old enough to play in the topflight last season, but he was 15 years and 320 days when United played Hull City on the opening day of the season.
Hull was not a realistic chance to give him a cameo, given they were leading 2-0 at half-time, but Ipswich would have been seen as an opportunity to give him minutes, and he was 15 years and 328 days when that game was played.
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Gabriel would have become the fourth youngest Premier League appearance maker if he’d come on from the bench that day, and those around him view him as a better talent than Nwaneri, Dowman and Monga.
United feel they have done all they can to prove to Gabriel that he is the club’s future. He will no longer be given the chance to become the club’s youngster ever player against Brighton tomorrow night, but that will also mean less compensation will be owed to United if he leaves.
Carrick was prepped to face a question about Gabriel during his press conference ahead of Brighton because the fixture was an opportunity to include him in a matchday squad for the first time, and the club are aware of the huge media interest in him.
The press conference took place after the Manchester derby, so no question was asked about Gabriel, with the 15-year-old at the back of minds following a controversial defeat to Manchester City, but it’s a certainty the United boss will be asked about the situation after tomorrow’s game.
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It’s madness that a 15-year-old’s future has caused such an uproar, but Gabriel is no ordinary teenager.
The Rules of Golf are tricky! Thankfully, we’’e got the guru. Our Rules Guy knows the book front to back. Got a question? He’s got all the answers.
To scare waterfowl away from the lake shores, our course uses fake birds on slender poles attached by string and wire that can “fly” with the breeze—soaring, dipping, turning, and so on. A few of these fake birds can be in the line of play from a tee box or near a green. What happens if a shot hits one of these “birds”? It is possible to take the pole out of the ground, play the shot, and replace the pole before hitting, though this can slow the pace of play quite a bit. Movable obstruction? Immovable? Help! —Bill Spahn, via email
You’re trying to sneak in a multipart question, Bill! We’re almost rooting for the waterfowl at this point.
As to the first question, if you play near one of those “birds” and hit one, you’ll have to play the ball as it lies — no different than bouncing off a moving cart or a stationary pole, per Rule 11.1.
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As far as being able to remove them, that depends on how they’ve been installed and, potentially, if the course has decided to treat them as immovable (versus, say, temporary immovable obstructions).
With no specific Rules in effect, if the “birds” can be moved with reasonable effort and without causing damage to the course or “bird,” then you can move them. If not, they’re immovable obstructions and must not be moved if doing so improves your situation (in particular here, line of play).
Check out Rule 8.1, 15.2 and Definition of Movable Obstruction. If the course has decided to treat the “birds” as temporary immovable obstructions, line of sight relief would be allowed, though this doesn’t apply if the “birds” are permanently installed — see Model Local Rule F-23.
Rules Guy is now going to fly off for a well-deserved nap.
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For more obstruction-related guidance from our guru, read on …
My ball lies in a red penalty area. It’s playable, but there’s a fence between the ball and the green. The fence is out of bounds, my ball is not. Do I get relief from an immovable obstruction? If so, must I drop within the penalty area, or just within two club-lengths of the closest point of relief? —Gary Ahlstrom, Charlotte, NC
First things first, Gary: No, you do not get free relief from an immovable obstruction if your ball is in a penalty area, per Rule 17.3.
Further, since the fence is out of bounds, even if the ball wasn’t in a penalty area, you still wouldn’t get free relief from it. Alas, this renders your follow-up question moot, although it never hurts to ask!
Got a question about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he won’t throw the book at you.
One of AEW’s top talents and champions, Andrade, sent a message to a WWE superstar shortly after the latter’s World Heavyweight Title match against Roman Reigns. El Idolo appeared to applaud the performance of Penta this week on Monday Night RAW, even though the former Death Triangle member failed to unseat The OTC.
This past August, WWE held a tournament to crown the #1 contender for Roman Reigns’ World Heavyweight Championship. After defeating Laredo Kid in the opening round and La Parka in the semifinals of the tourney, the fan-favorite defeated his tag team partner and brother Rey Fenix in the finals to earn his shot at the Head of The Table. This past Monday on RAW in Mexico City, the erstwhile Pentagon Jr. challenged Reigns for his strap in the Mexico City Arena, and pushed the leader of The Bloodline to his limits.
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Unfortunately, Penta was unable to dethrone The Tribal Chief, who managed to retain his World Heavyweight Championship in a hard-fought victory. With fans still buzzing over the former Intercontinental Champion’s performance against Reigns, the masked luchador received a message from AEW National Champion Andrade El Idolo, who took to X/Twitter to seemingly recognize Penta’s effort against Roman with a fist-bump emoji.
The Real Latino Man has shared the ring with the former Penta El Zero Miedo on multiple occasions, both in AEW and in WWE.
Andrade El Idolo has been busy and successful in AEW lately
Last month at All In: London, Andrade El Idolo participated in and won a Men’s Casino Gauntlet Match to earn a contract for a future shot at the AEW World Championship. Days later on AEW Dynamite, the beloved star teamed with his United Empire stable-mates Callum Newman, HENARE, Francesco Akira and newly crowned AEW Men’s World Champion Will Ospreay to defeat The Demand and The Dogs in a ten-person tag team bout.
On the September 5 episode of AEW Collision, El Idolo retained his National Championship against Gabe Kidd. Last week on Dynamite: Rebel Heart, he once again successfully defended his strap against The Beast Mortos.
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It remains to be seen when Andrade might execute his World Title contract for a match against The Aerial Assassin.
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Canelo Alvarez is set to challenge for the WBC super-middleweight world title next month in an attempt to regain the 168lb throne. Should he be successful, a ‘firefight’ could be waiting for him.
Terence Crawford brought an end to Canelo’s reign as the undisputed super-middleweight world champion 12 months ago, but ‘Bud’ retired shortly after the win and the belts were subsequently reassigned, whilst Canelo was sidelined through injury.
On Halloween, Canelo seeks to dethrone one of those new champions as he collides with WBC titleholder Christian Mbilli, atop a mammoth ‘Mexico vs. The World’ bill in Riyadh, which already features three world title bouts.
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On the Mr Verzace Podcast, reigning WBO super-middleweight world champion Hamzah Sheeraz shared his keenness for a unification clash against the Mexican superstar, if he is able to get the better of Mbilli.
“Absolutely, [I want Canelo if he beats Mbilli]. Listen, I have got to keep doing my thing, keep winning, keep putting on big performances, moving forwards and he has got to do the same.
“He is a legend of the sport. If the fight happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I will continue to be the best version of myself that I could be, but yeah it would be an absolute honour to share the ring with him.
“I think that it would be a firefight, for sure.”
Canelo-Mbilli is set for October 31. Sheeraz has been ordered to take on his mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly next in order to avoid being stripped of his world title, with a purse bid hearing scheduled for this Wednesday, September 16.
The Vermont Principals’ Association (VPA) has announced updates to the 2026 fall high school championship schedule for field hockey, soccer and volleyball in an email sent out on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The main change is that no field hockey or soccer championship games will be hosted at the University of Vermont and instead will be at high schools around the state.
All three field hockey championship games will take place Sunday, Nov. 1, at Burr and Burton Academy in Manchester. Game times are set for 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., with the order of the finals based on travel time of the participating schools.
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Counting the 2020 COVID season, this year will mark just the third time the field hockey hockey finals will not be played at UVM’s Moulton Winder Field, which opened in fall 2005.
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“Due to the ongoing success of UVM athletics, their field availability this year is not conducive for VPA Championships,” VPA Executive Director Lauren Young said in an email to the Free Press. “Also, in order to be geographically considerate we are trying to have multiple locations for schools and fans.”
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
The Rice defense gets ready for a penalty corner during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
The Rice defense gets ready for a penalty corner during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
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(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice’s Violet Clough and CVU’s Emery Thompson battle for a loose ball during the Green Knights 7-0 win over the Redhawks on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice’s Claire Robblee sends the ball up the field during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
CVU senior Stella Soucy chaces down a loose ball during the Redhawks 7-0 loss to Rice on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
CVU’s CJ Johnson gathers the ball during the Redhawks 7-0 loss to Rice on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
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(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice’s Finley Sifers controls the ball during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice’s Claire Robblee stops the ball during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice captain Eliza Fischer sends a pass across the field during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
CVU’s Stella Soucy brings the ball up the sidelines during the Redhawks 7-0 loss to Rice on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
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(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
CVU’s Emma Hamble brings the ball up the field during the Redhawks 7-0 loss to Rice on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
CVU’s Lilly Irons brings the ball up the field during the Redhawks 7-0 loss to Rice on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice’s Annabelle Rumsey sends a pass across the field during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice’s Clare Hamilton and CVU’s Kendal Fagnant battle for a loose ball during the Green Knights 7-0 win over the Redhawks on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
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(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice’s Ellie Larkin and CVU’s CJ Johnson battle for a loose ball during the Green Knights 7-0 win over the Redhawks on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice senior Eliza Fischer works the ball up the sidelines during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
CVU’s Madeline Bessette watches the ball head up the field during the Redhawks 7-0 loss to Rice on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
CVU goalie Cici Kenny makes a save during the Redhawks 7-0 loss to Rice on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
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(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
CVU captain Emery Thompson gets to a loose ball during the Redhawks 7-0 loss to Rice on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice senior Violet Clough winds up for a shot during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Rice goalie Molly McGibney makes a diving save during the Green Knights 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
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Champlain Valley vs Rice in Vermont field hockey matchup
Nico Murnaghan chases down a loose ball during Rice’s 7-0 win over CVU on Saturday morning at John P. Larkin Turf at Bill Landers Field.
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(Paul Lamontagne/Special to the Free Press)
This year there will be soccer championships from Friday, Oct. 30, through Sunday, Nov. 1. South Burlington High School will be hosting the games on Oct. 30 and 31 while Rutland High School hosts a four-game slate on Nov. 1. The VPA will determine who plays where based on geography of the schools who reach the finals.
Game times on Oct. 30 are set for 5 and 7 p.m. while Oct. 31’s slate is set for noon and 2 p.m. The games at Rutland are set for 11 a.m., 1:30, 4:00 and 6:30 p.m.
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In the same email, the VPA also announced that all three volleyball championships will be played at St. Michael’s College on Sunday, Nov. 1. Specific game times are still being finalized.
Manchester boxer Pat Brown will fight for the for the British and Commonwealth titles in front of a home crowd at the Co-op Live arena this month
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Manchester’s own Pat Brown will fight for his first major title in front of a home crowd later this month. The Sale-born boxer will face Essex’s John Hedges for the vacant British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight Titles at the Co-op Live arena on September 19.
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Brown, who fought for Team GB at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024, is on a stellar run of six knockouts from six professional fights. His opponent boasts a clean record of 12-0 (3 KOs) and was previously trained by Ricky Hatton.
Here’s everything fans need to know about Hedges vs Brown, including how to get tickets and watch on TV.
Where to buy tickets for John Hedges vs Pat Brown
Plenty of tickets for John Hedges vs Pat Brown are still on sale at several retailers, with both general admission and VIP hospitality packages up for grabs. At Ticketmaster tickets range from £49.50 for the arena’s Level 1 to £233.50 for ringside seats.
VIP tickets are also available for £118.50, which provides access to ‘The Club, the Co-op’s premium area with exclusive bars and dining options. More affordable hospitality packages are sold through Seat Unique, where £59 includes access to the exclusive Seat Unique Suite before, during and after the fight.
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It also includes ‘premium’ seats directly outside the lounge on Level 1. There’s also the £59 Seat Unique Suite Bar Seats package with bar seating at the back of the lower tier.
This VIP area serves a range of drinks and food, but they must be purchased separately on the night. Seat Unique offers a Private Suite too, but at time of writing price and availability is yet to be confirmed.
Fans can also find a number of tickets on resale sites like viagogo and Stubhub, where tickets listed by fans range from £62 to £230. Most seats are situated on Level 1, while some also include access to ‘The Club’ hospitality area.
How to watch John Hedges vs Pat Brown on TV
John Hedges vs Pat Brown will be broadcast live on DAZN, meaning fans will need a DAZN subscription to tune in. With a new limited-time deal, DAZN’s flexible monthly-rolling plan now starts at £9.99, down from the usual £25.99.
John Hedges vs Pat Brown is included with a DAZN subscription from £9.99 in a limited-time deal on the broadcaster’s monthly-rolling plan.
This saves 62% from the standard price but will revert to £25.99 after the first month unless cancelled. DAZN’s 12-month plans are £15.99 when paying monthly or £119.99 annually.
The fight is also included with the new DAZN Ultimate subscription, which provides at least 12 pay-per-view fights each year including Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley 2 (October 17) and Canelo Alvarez vs Christian Mbilli (October 31). This premium package is £24.99 per month or £249.99 annually, both of which require a 12-month commitment.
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According to DAZN, Ultimate members can save £320 per year compared to the price of DAZN Monthly Flex and 12 PPVs. Both DAZN standard and DAZN Ultimate unlock access to more than 185 fight nights every year from promoters like Matchoom, Queensbury and MisFits.
Hedges vs Brown will broadcast exclusively on DAZN so it won’t be shown on TNT Sports or Sky Sports.
Reports indicate that FIFA may favour a Normalization Committee as a way to address the leadership crisis in Nigerian football.
The development followed consultations between the FIFA and CAF delegation currently in Nigeria and key stakeholders in the country’s football administration.
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Four of the five NFF stakeholder groups consulted reportedly backed a Normalization Committee instead of a Caretaker Committee. They include the Players’ Union, Football Coaches Association of Nigeria, league bodies and Nigeria Referees Association.
This has weakened the position of some State FA chairmen who have been calling for a Caretaker Committee following the resignation of several NFF leaders, including the General Secretary.
One major issue in the debate is the FIFA Statutes.
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While a Normalization Committee is a recognised FIFA arrangement that can be used in special situations to restore order in a member association, a Caretaker Committee is not provided for in the FIFA Statutes.
FIFA also places strong importance on the independence and proper governance of its member associations. Any temporary arrangement must therefore follow FIFA rules and the statutes of the football federation involved.
The latest consultations suggest that the Normalization Committee option is gaining more support among stakeholders.
The committee, if approved, could be given the task of restoring stability, reviewing the NFF’s governance structure where necessary and preparing the federation for a return to elected leadership.
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The FIFA and CAF delegation is expected to continue its consultations on Tuesday with members of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), former NFF presidents and former NFF General Secretaries.
The delegation will also meet with the National Sports Commission before ending its visit to Nigeria and returning to FIFA headquarters in Zurich.
The outcome of the meetings is expected to provide more clarity on the next step for the NFF and how FIFA and CAF plan to resolve the current leadership crisis.
For now, the balance of opinion among key stakeholders appears to favour a Normalization Committee over the Caretaker Committee being proposed by some State FA chairmen.
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