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Ireland to play controversial Israel Nations League fixtures after player vote

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The Republic of Ireland’s contentious Nations League matches against Israel will proceed as scheduled following a vote among the squad.

Doubts had surrounded Sunday’s opening fixture in Debrecen after a planned press conference was postponed until Saturday afternoon.

However, clarity was provided when the Football Association of Ireland released a statement confirming the games would go ahead.

It read: “The Football Association of Ireland confirms that the 2026-27 UEFA Nations League fixtures against Israel will be fulfilled.

“The Association made this decision following consultation with the Republic of Ireland players who shared different views and a majority expressed that the fixtures should be played.

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Jason Knight said earlier this week that the game should not go ahead
Jason Knight said earlier this week that the game should not go ahead (PA)

“The Association respects the views of all players involved and appreciates the level of sensitivity concerning these fixtures.”

Earlier in the day, a selection of squad members held discussions inside the team hotel. This led to them missing an initial media briefing set for 10.15am local time (09.15BST), as well as a practice session at the Nagyerdei Stadium 45 minutes afterwards.

Uefa representatives were initially unclear about what caused the delay, although the players had already stated their intention to meet on Friday to formalise their position. Following this, The Independent understands Ireland goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu refused to play as others considered joining him, resulting in Saturday’s vote.

Failure to meet fixture obligations risks warnings or financial penalties from Uefa.

Following Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Kosovo in Pristina to start their Nations League campaign, midfielder Jason Knight reflected on the circumstances.

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He said: “Look, it’s difficult. I don’t think the game obviously should be going ahead but it is going ahead. We’ll have a deeper talk about it and what that means, we’ll get our thoughts as a group and go from there.

“I’m quite experienced. None of us have gone through this scenario before but I’d like to think I’m experienced, thick-skinned and I can get through most things and that is what I will try and do.

“I’ll try and focus on the football as much as I can. I’ll give my view and my thoughts on it (the Israel games) when I see fit, but I’ll be trying to focus on the football as much as possible.”

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UFC Vegas 121 Predictions: Best Bets for Saturday’s Fight Card

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Sep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Raul Rosas Jr. of Mexico (red gloves) fights Aoriqileng of China (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn ImagesSep 14, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Raul Rosas Jr. of Mexico (red gloves) fights Aoriqileng of China (blue gloves) during Riyadh Season Noche UFC 306 at The Sphere. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

It’s back home to the Meta APEX for the UFC, as UFC Vegas 121 hosts fighters who may be the faces of tomorrow for the MMA promotion.

In the main event, rising bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. faces his toughest challenge yet as he takes on veteran Raoni Barcelos in a contenders’ battle.

Rosas is 12-1 as a fighter, including a 6-1 Octagon record and five straight wins entering this matchup. He last fought at UFC 326 in March, cementing contender status with a win over veteran Rob Font.

After a five-fight rough patch between 2021 and 2023, Barcelos enters this fight having won five straight as well. He last fought in April, scoring a split decision over Montel Jackson.

A women’s bantamweight battle features in the co-main event, as Norma Dumont takes on Allin Perez. Dumont had won six straight before dropping a decision to Joselyne Edwards this past April. Perez, meanwhile, still has her six-fight win streak, having last fought in a decision win over Macy Chiasson at UFC Mexico City in February.

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The rest of the main card will feature Luis Hernandez vs. Sedriques Dumas, as well as the bantamweight and women’s strawweight finals of The Ultimate Fighter season 34 – Mehemmedeli Osmanli vs. Ilimbek Akylbek Uulu and Melissa Amaya vs. Tina Black.

RAUL ROSAS JR VS RAONI BARCELOS

This is perhaps going to be the toughest test for Rosas. Yes, he’s faced a former contender in Font, but this fight with Barcelos isn’t just about facing a veteran – it’s also Rosas’ first five-round main event opportunity in the UFC. Rosas’ grappling has been his bread and butter for success. For instance, he managed to score multiple takedowns on Font and used his relentless wrestling pace to stay on top and in control for a majority of the fight. The problem is that Barcelos isn’t just a good striker; he also has good grappling, and a notable takedown defense percentage.

Barcelos’ jiu-jitsu could force Rosas to work more for takedowns and cause more exchanges on the ground than Rosas may be comfortable with. Barcelos might be much older, but the experience can be a problem for Rosas if Barcelos keeps his distance, defends the takedowns, and works his punches. If Rosas can find success in putting Barcelos down on his back, then it’s a good sign for this fight – and perhaps Rosas’ UFC outlook.

BET: Fight to go OVER 3.5 rounds (DraftKings: -180)

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LUIS HERNANDEZ VS SEDRIQUES DUMAS

This is one of those notable Dana White’s Contender Series opportunities, as Hernandez, an active-duty law enforcement officer, only won his UFC contract less than two weeks ago. Now, he steps into competition on short notice against Sedriques Dumas after Mickey Gall was forced out of action this week. And yes, the “cop vs. convict” storyline is all over this one.

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Dumas is going from a middleweight bout against someone who is a grappling expert, and also doesn’t have the greatest of MMA records, to a light heavyweight bout against an unbeaten prospect who has shown a strong ability to mix it up. The bout boils down to who has the better short turnaround game planning. Dumas needs to avoid being drawn into a firefight to succeed in this one; he needs to push the fight at a pace that makes Hernandez uncomfortable, or else Hernandez’s abilities will be too much.

BET: Hernandez to win AND Under 1.5 rounds SGP (Caesars: -125)

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MEHEMMEDELI OSMANLI VS ILIMBEK AKYLBEK UULU

I’ve spent time watching and covering this season of TUF alongside my buddy and colleague Zain Bando. Osmanli was practically the star of the show for the bantamweights. Any time he fought, there was a lot of focus on him. Dana White and coach Michael Bisping talked him up as being one of the best all-around athletes on the show, and he proved it in his bouts. Merab Dvalishvili and Bisping even said Osmanli had a little Conor McGregor in him, and if you look at him during this season, it’s not hard to see.

Uulu is highly motivated, however, after already defeating Sean Mora in a grudge match and having confrontations with Osmanli in the final episode. Osmanli has some solid punching, and even more solid grappling work. But if Osmanli gets the better of Uulu, we could see some output like we saw when Osmanli landed the first buggy choke in UFC/TUF/DWCS history. Uulu should look to close the distance and fight in close.

The first grappling exchange could be something to watch out for here.

BET: Osmanli -3.5 (DraftKings & Caesars: -170)

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Chris Waller’s Five Colting Contenders Ready for 2026 Golden Rose

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Keeping colts focused on racing presents a significant challenge, making Chris Waller’s success in bringing five of them to the Group 1 Golden Rose a considerable accomplishment. The champion trainer’s contenders for Saturday’s stallion-making race are Campione D’italia, Tron Bolt, St Gotthard, Stormy Marco, and Central Europe, all of whom he describes as well-mannered and focused three-year-olds.

Waller attributes his horses’ performance not only to housing colts separately from fillies and mares but also to his staff’s expertise in keeping them content and stress-free, which he believes allows them to race at their best.

“They’re absolute gentlemen,” Waller said of his five Golden Rose contenders. “I’m going to give my team a wrap because it’s how they handle them, how they ride them, how they look after them. And I think it’s their ability as well, the horses. But if they’re not under pressure they’re enjoying life, and they’re not under pressure.”

St Gotthard is the current market favourite among Waller’s Golden Rose (1400m) squad at $4, coming off his first defeat in three starts when narrowly beaten by Saturday rival Warwoven in the Run To The Rose (1200m).

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James McDonald retains the ride, and Waller is confident the full brother to young sire Switzerland will handle the 1400m distance. “His first-up run was good. James was very pleased, so that gave us the confidence to press onto this race,” he commented. “The 1400 metres should be no problem. He relaxes well. He’s still learning. First-up he did a few little things wrong but once he irons them out, he’s a very good horse.”

Along with Castillo King, St Gotthard is one of the least experienced runners in the Rosehill feature. Waller suggests this inexperience can also signal untapped potential. “In my opinion, he’s still got upside as well. A lot of the horses he’ll be racing may have plateaued, where he is still on the up,” Waller noted. “So, while I see negatives with inexperience, I see a lot of positive things with him still improving.”

While ten of the last 14 Golden Rose winners progressed through the Run To The Rose, Waller has opted for alternative paths for Campione D’italia and Stormy Marco. Stormy Marco finished second in the Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) first-up, conceding weight to winner Persian Wonder. Waller sees similarities to the preparation of his 2018 Golden Rose winner, The Autumn Sun, who was also defeated in his lead-up race, the then-named Stan Fox Stakes (1500m).

“The Autumn Sun came out of that type of race,” Waller recalled. “It was a distance he (Stormy Marco) was competitive over and he just peaked on his run with fifty to go with the big weight.” Waller is aiming for his fifth Golden Rose victory and second in succession, following Beiwacht’s win 12 months ago.

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David Benavidez linked with fight against former heavyweight champion for December

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The uncertainty surrounding Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua could, rather unexpectedly, present David Benavidez with a major opportunity at heavyweight.

There has, indeed, been much talk about Benavidez joining the big boys, with the Mexican-American having previously been linked to a clash with Oleksandr Usyk.

For the most part, though, the 29-year-old has highlighted this as an eventual progression, given that he is currently focused on crafting a distinguished legacy at 200lbs.

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He did, of course, make a successful cruiserweight debut in May, becoming a three-division world champion by dethroning Gilberto Ramirez with a sixth-round finish.

In doing so, he claimed the WBO and WBA titles and, now, ‘The Mexican Monster’ is expected to face newly-crowned WBC champion Michal Cieslak on December 12.

The only way he does not enter this unification match, it seems, is if Benavidez suddenly receives a phone call that Fury is available to square off the night before.

Or, at least, this is what The Ring’s Mike Coppinger is suggesting, as behind-the-scenes issues could reportedly prevent the long-awaited showdown between Fury and Joshua from taking place.

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This is in spite of their all-British heavyweight contest being announced earlier this week, with the pair expected to lock horns at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11.

As is often the case in boxing, however, things are not quite how they seem – or, rather, the arrival of an announcement does not necessarily mean the Netflix and Ring event will come to fruition.

It remains to be seen, meanwhile, whether Benavidez makes a move up to heavyweight sooner than expected.

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Asiad 2026 Sept 27: India full schedule, medal events time, live streaming | Asian Games 2026

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India’s September 27 schedule at the Asian Games 2026 will feature several medal opportunities, along with qualification rounds, knockout contests and group-stage matches across athletics, archery, shooting, equestrian, badminton, fencing, kurash, surfing, volleyball, hockey and other sports.

 

The day will begin early, with surfing, athletics, archery and shooting events starting before 5:00 am IST. India’s first medal opportunity will come in athletics, with Manju Rani and Priyanka Goswami competing in the women’s marathon race walk final at 4:00 am.

 

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Archery will have several elimination-stage contests during the morning, with Indian athletes competing in the compound men’s and women’s team events, as well as recurve and mixed-team events. These contests will determine progression to later knockout rounds.

  

Shooting will also be in focus, with Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh and Rahi Sarnobat competing in the women’s 25m pistol precision qualification at 6:10 am. India’s men’s and women’s trap shooters will also begin their campaigns, with Shapath Bharadwaj, Kynan Chenai and Ahvar Rizvi in the men’s event, and Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer in the women’s event.

 

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Equestrian will provide another medal opportunity at 6:00 am with the individual dressage final, following the team competition. Badminton will also enter the knockout stages, with Indian players and pairs scheduled to compete in the singles and doubles quarterfinals.

 

Surfing will feature Indian competitors in the quarterfinal stage, while fencing and kurash will also see Indian athletes in action. CA Bhavani Devi will be part of the Indian women’s sabre team as it begins its team campaign.

 

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Team sports will see India face Vietnam in a men’s volleyball preliminary-round match at 12:30 pm. The Indian women’s hockey team will then take on Singapore in a Pool B match at 3:30 pm.

 

Athletics will account for several important medal events later in the day. Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan Edappilly will compete in the women’s long jump final at 3:40 pm, while the men’s high jump final is scheduled for 4:45 pm. Other finals involving Indian athletes, subject to qualification, include the women’s and men’s 200m, women’s 100m hurdles and women’s javelin throw.

 

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The athletics programme will also feature the conclusion of the men’s decathlon, with Tejaswin Shankar and Thowfeeq Noushad scheduled to compete in the javelin throw and 1500m.

  

Here’s a look at the full schedule of India’s matches and events for September 27 at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya.

India’s Asian Games 2026 schedule for September 27
Time (IST) Sport Event/stage Indian participation/opponent Status/news
3:30 am Surfing Men’s shortboard, Round 3 Kishore Kumar, Sivaraj Babu Next round subject to qualification
4:00 am Athletics Women’s marathon race walk final Manju Rani, Priyanka Goswami Medal event
4:30 am Archery Compound men’s team elimination Sahil Jadhav, Kushal Dalal, Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru Later rounds subject to qualification
4:30 am Archery Compound women’s team elimination Jyothi Surekha Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi, Prithika Pradeep Later rounds subject to qualification
5:30 am Sepak Takraw Women’s doubles, Day 1 Leirentonbi Devi Elangbam/Prity Langoljam/Menenu Tsukru Preliminary stage
6:00 am Badminton Women’s doubles quarterfinal Indian pair(s) Semifinal subject to qualification
6:00 am Badminton Mixed doubles quarterfinal Indian pair(s) Semifinal subject to qualification
6:00 am Equestrian Dressage individual final Indian dressage team Medal event
6:00 am Fencing Women’s sabre team CA Bhavani Devi and team Later rounds subject to qualification
6:00 am Kurash Women’s 57kg, preliminary rounds Bharti, Sangita Balhara Later rounds subject to qualification
6:00 am Kurash Men’s +90kg, preliminary rounds Vishal, Yash Kumar Later rounds subject to qualification
6:10 am Shooting Women’s 25m pistol, precision qualification Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, Rahi Sarnobat Qualification
6:30 am Shooting Men’s trap, Day 1 Shapath Bharadwaj, Kynan Chenai, Ahvar Rizvi Qualification
6:30 am Shooting Women’s trap, Day 1 Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat, Manisha Keer Qualification
6:45 am Archery Recurve mixed team elimination India mixed team Later rounds subject to qualification
6:45 am Archery Compound mixed team elimination India mixed team Later rounds subject to qualification
7:54 am Surfing Women’s shortboard quarterfinals Indian surfer(s) Semifinal subject to qualification
9:30 am Badminton Men’s singles quarterfinal Indian player(s) Semifinal subject to qualification
9:30 am Badminton Women’s singles quarterfinal PV Sindhu/Indian player(s) Semifinal subject to qualification
9:30 am Badminton Men’s doubles quarterfinal Indian pair(s) Semifinal subject to qualification
10:00 am Archery Recurve men’s team elimination Dhiraj Bommadevara, Neeraj Chauhan, Yashdeep Bhoge Later rounds subject to qualification
10:00 am Archery Recurve women’s team elimination Ankita Bhakat, Kirti Sharma, Kumkum Mohod Later rounds subject to qualification
10:06 am Surfing Men’s shortboard quarterfinals Indian surfer(s) Semifinal subject to qualification
12:30 pm Volleyball Men’s preliminary round, Match 7 India vs Vietnam Group-stage match
3:30 pm Hockey Women’s Pool B India vs Singapore Pool-stage match
3:35 pm Athletics Men’s decathlon javelin throw Tejaswin Shankar, Thowfeeq Noushad Decathlon event
3:40 pm Athletics Women’s long jump final Shaili Singh, Ancy Sojan Edappilly Medal event, subject to qualification
4:05 pm Athletics Women’s 200m final Harita Bhadra/Unnathi Aiyappa Bolland, if qualified Medal event, subject to qualification
4:15 pm Athletics Men’s 200m final Animesh Kujur, if qualified Medal event, subject to qualification
4:45 pm Athletics Men’s high jump final Aadarsh Ram Jothi Shankar, Sarvesh Kushare Medal event
4:50 pm Athletics Women’s 100m hurdles final Jyothi Yarraji, Nandhini Kongan, if qualified Medal event, subject to qualification
5:05 pm Athletics Men’s 800m, Round 1 Krishan Kumar, Mohammed Afsal Pulikkalakath Next round subject to qualification
5:30 pm Athletics Women’s javelin throw final Indian athlete(s), if qualified Medal event, subject to qualification
5:40 pm Athletics Men’s decathlon 1500m Tejaswin Shankar, Thowfeeq Noushad Final decathlon discipline
5:50 pm Athletics Women’s 3000m steeplechase final Ankita Dhyani, Parul Chaudhary Medal event
6:15 pm Athletics Women’s 4x100m relay heats India relay team Final subject to qualification
6:42 pm Athletics Men’s 4x100m relay heats India relay team Final subject to qualification

India’s medal events on September 27

India will have several medal opportunities on September 27. The first will come in athletics, with Manju Rani and Priyanka Goswami competing in the women’s marathon race walk final at 4:00 am IST.

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Equestrian will provide another medal opportunity at 6:00 am, when India competes in the individual dressage final.

 

Badminton will enter the quarterfinal stage, with Indian competitors in the men’s and women’s singles and doubles events. Progression from the quarterfinals will determine places in the semifinals.

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Athletics will provide the bulk of India’s medal opportunities later in the day. Shaili Singh and Ancy Sojan Edappilly will compete in the women’s long jump final at 3:40 pm. The men’s high jump final is scheduled for 4:45 pm, while the women’s 200m and men’s 200m finals are scheduled for 4:05 pm and 4:15 pm, respectively, subject to qualification.

 

The women’s 100m hurdles final is scheduled for 4:50 pm, while the women’s javelin throw final will take place at 5:30 pm, subject to Indian athletes qualifying for the finals.

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Ankita Dhyani and Parul Chaudhary will compete in the women’s 3000m steeplechase final at 5:50 pm. India will also have opportunities in the men’s and women’s 4x100m relay, with the heats scheduled in the evening.

Asian Games 2026 September 27 India events live streaming details

The live streaming of Asian Games 2026 events on September 27 will be available on the SonyLIV app and website in India. SonyLIV is carrying live coverage of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games across individual sports and team events.

Asian Games 2026 September 27 India events live telecast details

The live telecast of Asian Games 2026 events will be available on the Sony Sports Network in India.

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Erling Haaland update given after Man City striker U-turn as 115 charges verdict public

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Erling Haaland was away on international duty when the news of Manchester City’s guilty verdict pertaining to their 115 Premier League charges landed

Stale Solbakken has revealed that Erling Haaland is doing well despite his absence from Norway’s press conference this weekend as a result of the Manchester City 115 charges verdict landing. The striker has joined his international team-mates as they look to give a good account of themselves in the Nations League.

Norway kickstarted their campaign with a 3-2 win over Denmark on Thursday evening, Haaland proving invaluable as he bagged a brace. However, the news broke on Saturday that the 26-year-old will be missing from his nation’s pre-match presser looking to Sunday’s game against Portugal.

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And now, Solbakken has explained that he has been granted absence to concentrate on his game, rather than the outside noise regarding Manchester City’s guilty verdict on all but one of the 115 charges they were slapped with back in 2023.

The head coach said: “Of course, it is because we want to concentrate and give him the best possible conditions to concentrate on the match. You all know what the topic has been for the last 24 hours.

“It has nothing to do with the Nations League and what we are going to do. A good example of that was the press conference Rodri had yesterday.”

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He added: “Therefore, I think it is timely that he concentrates on what he should do, and that is to score goals for Norway. And I think we all agree that that is the most important thing.”

It comes as Rodri was peppered with questions regarding the guilty verdict by reporters during Spain’s pre-match press conference on Friday evening, to the point where the team’s player representative cut short the meeting altogether.

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Solbakken also noted that he was not the person who made the decision regarding Haaland’s absence, that the centre-forward should be free to start against Portugal on Sunday evening, and that “it’s going well,” for the talent within the Norway camp.

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It comes as Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak released an open letter to fans on Saturday afternoon, highlighting how the club will continue to assert their innocence, as they have consistently done. The club are also expected to appeal Friday’s verdict.

His letter read: “I have been part of this Club for 18 years. I have had the privilege to stand with you in the Etihad, at Wembley, and in Istanbul. This Club matters to me, and you have shown and told me – time and time again – how much Manchester City matters to you. This is why I am writing to you today.

“Following Friday’s media reporting, many of you will have spent your evening answering questions and responding to messages from friends, family and colleagues. So have I. Here’s what I said to my family: The Premier League process still has a long way to run, and our confidence and intent in proving the Club’s innocence is just as strong as when this began.

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“There are so many things that I would like to be able to share with you to help you understand why we feel so confident in our position. But the strict confidentiality of the legal process and our determination to respect it means I cannot do that at the moment. Even this letter underwent several legal checks to make sure it complies.

“I ask you to please carefully read the statement below, which we gave on Friday, and the statement we issued in February 2023 (also below). Every word matters and holds true.

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“While some people have been quick to reach their own conclusions, and there is so much noise swirling around us, nothing has changed. We have faced challenges together before and have prevailed. There remain many who want to undermine the momentum of our Club. We will not give them that opportunity.

“We have some exciting moments to look forward to after this international break. We travel to Anfield in a fortnight, and then host Paris St Germain in the Champions League back at Etihad Stadium – moments that give us an opportunity to celebrate the strength of the Manchester City family. Thank you, as always, for your constant support.”

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2026 Week 4 CFB Game Summaries for Teams in West

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  By Staff, SuperWest Sports


Teams from the West competed in 19 games in Week Four.

You probably didn’t have time to watch them all, but fortunately, you don’t have to—you can read about them below.

Here are brief game summaries for each matchup.

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[[2026 SuperWest Combined College Football Standings]]

Click on the link to the summary you want to see or scroll down.

Friday, September 25, 2026

Clemson 24, California 10

California Memorial Stadium

The Tigers downed the Golden Bears 24-10 Friday on the road in Berkeley. Clemson’s Gideon Davidson rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Bryant Wesco Jr. returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown for Clemson. Jerome Carter led the Tigers with eight tackles, and Elliot Washington II pulled down two interceptions. Kingston Lopa paced Cal with 11 stops. Clemson generated more explosive plays than Cal with an explosiveness rating of 1.33.

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Up Next: California takes on UNLV on the road

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Shafali Verma hails India’s team effort after Asian Games gold defence | Cricket News

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India’s women’s cricket team has continued its successful run in major tournaments by defending its gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Sri Lanka in the final. Having already won the 2025 ODI World Cup and the Asia Cup, the team is now looking to carry its momentum into upcoming international assignments, including the T20 World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

 

Opening batter Shafali Verma, who was instrumental in India’s gold medal defence, believes India’s recent achievements reflect the collective effort of the players and support staff, particularly the emphasis on fitness, fielding and team coordination.

 

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The 22-year-old, who scored her maiden T20I century against Bangladesh in the Asian Games semi-final, also highlighted the importance of the team’s preparations ahead of the tournament.

 

Batting with Mandhana strengthens India’s top order

Shafali, while talking to the media in a round table conference organised by JSW Sports, said that her long-standing partnership with Smriti Mandhana has become one of the strengths of India’s batting unit. The pair have played together since 2019 and have developed an understanding that allows them to adapt their roles depending on the bowler and match situation.

 

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Their left-right combination also makes it difficult for opposition bowlers to settle into a rhythm. Shafali explained that the two are comfortable giving each other the strike when one batter has a better match-up, keeping individual ambitions aside in favour of the team’s requirements.

 

The understanding has been particularly valuable at the top of the order, where India have regularly looked to establish a strong platform before accelerating later in the innings.

Shafali finds greater control without losing aggression

The India opener also reflected on the change in her batting approach over the past year. She believes she has become more mature in assessing which deliveries need to be attacked and which ones require patience.

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Shafali acknowledged that she had previously played attacking shots that were not always beneficial to the team. Her focus now is on assessing the score and situation before deciding how aggressively to bat.

 

That has allowed her to retain her natural attacking game while becoming more comfortable taking singles and spending time at the crease when the ball is not in her preferred hitting area.

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Maiden century adds to memorable Asian Games campaign

Shafali’s maiden white-ball century against Bangladesh in the semi-final was one of the standout moments of India’s campaign. She said the landmark became particularly emotional because it brought back memories of the work she had done throughout her career.

 

While approaching three figures, Shafali remained focused on India’s overall score rather than the personal milestone. Once she reached the century, however, the achievement reminded her of the effort that had gone into rebuilding and improving her game.

 

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She described the moment as her happiest in cricket and said she hoped to experience it repeatedly in the future.

Family remains an important part of Shafali’s cricket

The opener has also developed a habit of analysing her own performances through video and discussions with her family. She has gone back to footage from the early years of her international career to identify mistakes and areas where she can improve.

 

Shafali said her father and brother remain the people she most often discusses cricket with. Their feedback has helped her assess her performances and understand what works for her at the crease.

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She has also written down the factors that have contributed to her current mental state, hoping to reproduce the same approach in future series and tournaments. 

India’s bowling unit impressed Shafali

India’s bowling performance was another major positive from the Asian Games campaign. Shafali highlighted the way the bowlers operated in partnerships and consistently attacked the opposition’s wickets.

 

The team had also worked extensively on its fielding and fitness before the tournament, while the players’ willingness to back one another helped create a positive environment throughout the campaign.

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That collective approach proved particularly important in the final against Sri Lanka, as India converted their strong batting effort into a comprehensive victory and retained the gold medal.

T20 World Cup remains an unfinished target

Despite India’s recent success, Shafali acknowledged that the team still has an important gap to fill. India have failed to reach the semi-finals of the last two T20 World Cups, making the global title in the shortest format one of the next major objectives.

 

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She believes the team has the ability to win the trophy if it continues to maintain the same preparation and collective approach.

 

The inaugural Women’s Champions Trophy, to be played in India, will provide another opportunity for the side to build on its recent success. The players are also looking ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where cricket will feature as part of the programme.

 

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For Shafali, the Asian Games gold is another milestone in a period of sustained success for Indian women’s cricket. The challenge now is to carry the confidence and lessons from that campaign into the next generation of major tournaments.

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Oscar De La Hoya names the one fighter from this era he’d like to face: “Walk in the park”

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Oscar De La Hoya has identified one modern great who, he suspects, would not stand a chance at winning their hypothetical mega fight.

Once considered the ‘face of boxing’, De La Hoya crafted a Hall of Fame fighting career before assembling a major promotional stable under his Golden Boy banner.

Remarkably, he managed to become a six-division world champion and, in doing so, was generally embraced as one of America’s biggest sporting stars.

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Such widespread attention eventually contributed to his money-spinning showdown with Floyd Mayweather, who managed to edge their super-welterweight contest by split decision in 2007.

Back then, De La Hoya was no longer in his prime and, despite his controversial middleweight triumph against Felix Sturm in 2004, was typically more successful in the lower divisions.

If he was to choose any active fighter as an opponent, though, then it would nonetheless face Canelo Alvarez on a Cinco de Mayo weekend.

With Canelo’s best performances arguably arriving at super-middleweight, De La Hoya would perhaps be contending with a size disadvantage but, even so, the Mexican-American has told Carl Froch that, stylistically and commercially, he could not wish for a more ideal dance partner.

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“From this era, the only guy I would’ve picked is probably Canelo. He’s made a legacy for himself; he’s had longevity in his career; he’s been the face of boxing for quite a while now. So I think I would’ve loved to take him on.

“That would’ve been a walk in the park. What I would’ve done to Canelo is not even funny. His flat-footed stance would’ve been so easy to just dissect. Do I knock him out? I don’t know, because he’s got a good chin. But do I outclass him? Yeah – look at what Mayweather did to him. Our era was just different.”

While others would certainly make De La Hoya a favourite against Canelo, the Golden Boy promoter’s insistence on a dominant victory could be somewhat explained by his sour relationship with the four-division world champion.

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Betr Picks Promo Code: Get Up to $200 in Betr Bucks + a Free Pick for College Football Saturday

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New players can sign up at Betr Picks, deposit $10, and receive four No Sweat tokens and a free pick, with no promo code required. And today offers one of the greatest college football slates in years, so it’s the perfect time to snag this bonus.

Claim up to $210 in bonuses at Betr Picks

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The promotion consists of four $50 max tokens; if the entry loses, you will receive your entry fee back in Betr Bucks (max $200 total). Must be 18+ (19+ in AL & CO; 21+ AZ, MA, & VA) and physically located in a jurisdiction where Betr Picks operates. Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. T&Cs apply. For more details, please visit betr.app. Concerned about your play? Call the NCPG at 1-800-522-4700.

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Betr Picks promo code

None needed; click here to claim

New user offer

Up to $210 back in bonus and a free pick

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Bonus type

Four No Sweat Tokens, $50 max each, and one free pick, valued at $10

Minimum deposit

$10

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Paid in

Betr Bucks, expiring after 30 days

Age

18+, rising to 19+ or 21+ in some states

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Eligible states

Wherever Betr Picks operates; check the in-app list

Information verified on

September 26, 2026

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No Sweat Tokens provide players with Betr Bucks, up to $50 per token and $200 across all four tokens. If you use this token for a contest and lose, you get the contest entry fee back (up to $50) in Betr Bucks.

Also, just for creating an account and making a deposit, you get a free entry into a $10 contest of your choice.

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  • New customers only: 18+, rising to 19+ or 21+ depending on the state.

  • Minimum deposit: $10 to trigger the tokens.

  • Token value: each covers an entry of up to $50, refunded in Betr Bucks if it loses.

  • Playthrough: players must play through their first deposit before they can withdraw winnings.

  • Betr Bucks: expire after 30 days and cannot be withdrawn.

  • Payout difference: entries funded with Betr Bucks pay one multiplier lower than cash entries.

The Betr app is quite user-friendly.

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  1. Click through from this page and download the Betr app.

  2. Complete identity verification.

  3. Deposit at least $10 to release the tokens.

  4. Apply a token to your first pick’em entry.

Get four No Sweat Tokens

The promotion consists of four $50 max tokens; if the entry loses, you will receive your entry fee back in Betr Bucks (max $200 total). Must be 18+ (19+ in AL & CO; 21+ AZ, MA, & VA) and physically located in a jurisdiction where Betr Picks operates. Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. T&Cs apply. For more details, please visit betr.app. Concerned about your play? Call the NCPG at 1-800-522-4700.

College football takes center stage today. Here are three of my favorite Betr picks on the slate:

Player

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Projection

My pick

Arch Manning, TX

247.5 passing yards

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Under

Jadan Baugh, FL

118.5 rushing yards

Higher

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Dante Moore, ORE

271.5 passing yards

Higher

Texas has a 12:00 PM ET road kickoff this week against Tennessee, who hasn’t yet allowed 247.5 passing yards to a quarterback. Arch hasn’t eclipsed 200 yards since the Longhorns’ Week 1 win over Texas State. So I favor the under here.

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Baugh and the Gators kick off at 3:30 PM ET against Ole Miss. He’s carried the ball 54 times in three games and has hit 160 yards against both of Florida’s FBS opponents.

Moore completed fewer than half of his passes against Oklahoma State, but threw for 378 yards in the Ducks’ opener against Boise State and 280 in an 84-0 demolition of FCS Portland State. Oregon will kick off at 7:30 PM ET against USC, whom they haven’t lost to since 2016. It feels like a shootout in the making.

Use a No Sweat Token on these picks

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The promotion consists of four $50 max tokens; if the entry loses, you will receive your entry fee back in Betr Bucks (max $200 total). Must be 18+ (19+ in AL & CO; 21+ AZ, MA, & VA) and physically located in a jurisdiction where Betr Picks operates. Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. T&Cs apply. For more details, please visit betr.app. Concerned about your play? Call the NCPG at 1-800-522-4700.

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No. The tokens refund losing entries with up to $200 in Betr Bucks. The free pick covers the remaining $10 in Betr Bucks.

No. They can only be used on entries, expire after 30 days, and pay one multiplier lower than cash entries.

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India vs Japan Men’s Hockey Highlights, Asian Games 2026 Medals And Results: Harmanpreet Singh And Co. Marches Into The Semis With 2-0 Win vs Japan

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India vs Japan Men’s Hockey Highlights, Asian Games 2026: India are into the Asian Games 2026 semi-finals with a gritty 2-0 win over hosts Japan in a Pool A men’s hockey match. Harmanpreet Singh and and Abhishek were the scorers for India. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side was made to work hard by the hosts. After a disappointing FIH Hockey World Cup campaign earlier this year, where they finished eighth, the Indians appear to have rediscovered their rhythm at the right time. They have now registered four wins in as many matches and currently sit atop the Pool A standings with 12 points, ahead of Japan. India began their campaign with commanding victories over Indonesia (13-1), Sri Lanka (16-1), and South Korea (8-2), underlining their dominance in the competition so far. (Asian Games Medal Tally)

India vs Japan Men’s Hockey, Asian Games Highlights, Medal Tally and Match Results Updates: 

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