Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot pulled out of the Women’s Tour de France ahead of Saturday’s eighth and penultimate stage after feeling unwell.

The French rider’s Visma-Lease a Bike team said on X that the decision to pull her out of the race was made after consultation with the team’s medical staff.

“Unfortunately, Pauline was not feeling well this morning,” the team said. “It has been decided that she will not start today. We wish Pauline a speedy recovery.”

An Olympic champion in mountain biking at the Paris Olympics in 2024, she won the Women’s Tour de France on her debut last year.

She was in 14th place overall heading into Stage 8, a flat 172-kilometre (107-mile) route from Sisteron in southeast France to Nice made for sprinters.

Polish rider Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney was in the overall lead after taking the yellow jersey from Marlen Reusser with a brilliant solo climb to victory up Mont Ventoux on Friday.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

The Premier League is entering a new commercial era. As gambling companies begin to disappear from the front of Premier League shirts, clubs are looking beyond the traditional betting industry for the next generation of sponsors. Fintech companies, artificial intelligence firms, software businesses and sovereign-backed organisations are increasingly moving into football, bringing with them a very different sponsorship landscape.

A new report from Nielsen suggests that this change could be much bigger than a simple reshuffling of logos on football shirts. It could reshape the relationship between clubs, brands and supporters, particularly because football fans are among the most receptive audiences to sports sponsorship.

The Premier League’s collective decision in 2023 to end front-of-shirt gambling sponsorships takes effect from the beginning of the 2026-27 season. While the ban does not currently cover shirt sleeves or training kits, clubs are already looking towards other industries to fill the commercial space.

Nielsen believes the shift could eventually lead to a “Tech Gold Rush”, with software infrastructure companies potentially becoming the dominant front-of-shirt sponsorship category by 2028.

Football Has an Advertising Advantage

Football’s commercial appeal begins with its enormous global following.

According to Nielsen’s data, 51 per cent of people globally identify themselves as football fans. That places football comfortably ahead of basketball, which has 42 per cent global fandom, and swimming at 39 per cent.

The numbers become even more striking in individual markets.

Mexico has a football fandom rate of 64 per cent, while Saudi Arabia stands at 62 per cent. Spain records 59 per cent, the UK and Italy 56 per cent each, India 55 per cent, South Korea 53 per cent and Germany 51 per cent.

Brazil, one of football’s biggest markets, reaches an even higher 75 per cent.

Even markets where football has a lower percentage of overall fandom can provide enormous commercial audiences because of their population size. Nielsen notes that the United States has the fourth-largest football fanbase globally despite only 27 per cent of its population identifying as football fans. That translates into approximately 62 million people, around twice the size of some major European football audiences.

For brands, that scale makes football difficult to ignore.

Why Football Fans Respond Differently to Sponsors

The most important finding for brands may not simply be the number of football supporters, but how those supporters respond to sponsorship.

Nielsen found that 67 per cent of global football fans consider brands sponsoring their favourite competitions more appealing. The corresponding figure among the general population is 54 per cent.

That gap matters.

A sponsorship is not simply another advertisement placed in front of a football supporter. When a brand becomes associated with a competition, club or team that a fan already cares about, the commercial message can become part of the overall sporting experience.

A shirt sponsor is visible every time a supporter watches a match. A competition partner can appear throughout a tournament. Stadium advertising, digital campaigns, player activations and social media content can reinforce that association.

Over time, the brand can become familiar to the supporter without necessarily feeling like a conventional advertisement.

Trust Can Become Part of the Sponsorship

Nielsen’s findings also point towards another important advantage.

Football fans are more likely to associate sponsorship with positive characteristics such as trustworthiness and social responsibility.

That creates an opportunity for companies entering football from industries that may not traditionally have strong consumer recognition.

For an emerging fintech or technology company, for example, partnering with a globally recognised football club can provide credibility that would otherwise take years to build.

Andy Milnes, Nielsen’s market lead for sports in Britain and Ireland, said sponsorship is increasingly being used by challenger companies in sectors such as fintech and AI to establish global credibility.

The logic is straightforward: a relatively unfamiliar company enters an environment where millions of people already have strong emotional connections.

The club provides the platform. The fan provides the attention.

The New Premier League Sponsorship Race

The changing Premier League landscape is already providing examples of this transition.

Crystal Palace’s partnership with AI and enterprise technology company Temporal, Aston Villa’s agreement with Visit Rwanda and Everton’s deal with financial services company CMC Markets illustrate the increasingly varied industries entering the front-of-shirt space.

These deals represent a shift away from the dominance of gambling brands and towards businesses that want to use football as a global marketing platform.

Nielsen expects software infrastructure companies to potentially become the leading front-of-shirt sponsorship category by 2028.

That could mean that the next generation of Premier League shirts will carry fewer betting logos and more names associated with cloud technology, artificial intelligence, financial platforms and other digital industries.

How Fans Can Benefit

For supporters, sponsorship is not necessarily a one-way relationship in which brands simply gain exposure.

When partnerships are structured effectively, fans can also benefit from the money and resources flowing into the sport.

A successful sponsorship can provide clubs with additional commercial revenue, which can in turn support investment in players, academies, training facilities, women’s football, community programmes and digital services.

Technology partnerships can have an even more direct impact.

An AI or software company working with a club can potentially introduce new digital experiences, data-driven fan engagement tools and improved online services. Financial companies may develop supporter-focused products or experiences around clubs and competitions.

The exact benefits will depend on individual partnerships, but the broader principle is clear: commercial investment can help expand the resources available to the sport.

Sponsorship Can Make Fans More Engaged

The relationship can also work at an emotional level.

Nielsen found that football fans are particularly receptive to companies involved in sports sponsorship. They are more likely to remember companies associated with things they are interested in than companies encountered through traditional outdoor advertising.

That creates a different kind of advertising relationship.

A billboard may be seen for a few seconds while a person is travelling somewhere. A football sponsor can remain visible for an entire match, across highlights, social media posts, interviews, merchandise and discussions among supporters.

For a highly engaged football fan, the exposure can be repeated week after week.

That repetition, combined with an emotional connection to the sport, can make sponsorship considerably more memorable.

But Sponsorship Is Not a Guarantee of Goodwill

The strength of the relationship also creates a responsibility for clubs and brands.

Fans may be receptive to sponsorship, but that does not mean they will automatically approve every partnership.

A sponsorship can become controversial if supporters believe the company does not align with the values of the club or the wider community. Aston Villa’s agreement with Visit Rwanda, for instance, has already attracted criticism.

This is particularly important as the Premier League moves beyond gambling sponsors.

Replacing one controversial category with another will not solve the underlying issue. Clubs need to consider not just how much a sponsor is willing to pay, but what the association means for supporters.

The strongest partnerships are likely to be those where the commercial relationship feels credible to the audience.

The End of the Betting Era?

The departure of gambling companies from Premier League front-of-shirt sponsorship marks the end of an era, but it does not mean the commercial influence of sponsors is disappearing.

Instead, football appears to be entering a more diverse phase.

Technology, fintech, AI and sovereign-backed organisations are competing for the same highly valuable audience that betting companies previously targeted.

And the reason is clear: football fans are not passive consumers.

They follow clubs intensely, identify emotionally with teams and competitions, and pay attention to the companies that become part of that ecosystem.

For brands, that makes football one of the world’s most powerful commercial platforms.

For clubs, it creates an opportunity to diversify their revenues.

And for fans, the next sponsorship era could bring something more valuable than a new logo on a shirt, provided clubs choose partners capable of investing in the sport, its communities and the supporters who make it commercially attractive in the first place.

In August, Vikings news isn’t scarce. Some of the updates therefore get missed in the normal coverage.

Earlier in the week, Vikings Territory considered a free agent putting pen to paper and losing out on a different free agent. Kyler Murray is sitting at a low point in his career, the sledgehammer at fullback is doing well, and the team’s 1st-Round selection is breaking through with starters. Kevin O’Connell even had to fend off some Cris Carter quarterback commentary. Check out some of the news that got missed.

5 Quick Vikings News Updates

No. 1 — The Jordan Addison Price Tag Comes into Focus

Baltimore receiver Zay Flowers has proven to be better than Jordan Addison. Note: not more talented, but a better player. How is that going to impact Addison’s payday?

Adam Schefter with the news: “Baltimore’s two-time Pro-Bowl WR Zay Flowers reached agreement today with the Ravens on a four-year, $140 million extension that includes $108 million guaranteed.” At present, Jordan Addison couldn’t reasonably ask for the same compensation.

No. 2 — A Vikings Legend (Not Really) Retires

Brock Lesnar has done a lot in his career. He got a shout out from the team’s social media:

We live in a bizarre world. The Vikings and Lesnar on social media do little to lessen that sense of oddness.

No. 3 — Kyler Murray Donates a Nice Chunk of Change

A tip of the cap to you, Mr. Murray.

The 29-year-old quarterback sent along some of his money to support a good cause. Consider the update from Schefter: “To celebrate his 29th birthday Friday, Vikings quarterback and Dallas native Kyler Murray, through the Kyler Murray Foundation, is donating $29,000 to the Dallas Independent School District’s Family and Community Engagement Department to support the Parent Support Specialists who serve students and families across the district.”

No. 4 — Brian O’Neill’s Deal Looking More Modest

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Chicago has a good offensive lineman in Darnell Wright. Is he considerably better than Brian O’Neill, the man who just got signed for four more years at a total compensation sitting at $96 million?

Wright is making a decent amount more, per Schefter: “the Chicago Bears and right tackle Darnell Wright reaching agreement Tuesday on a historic four-year, $116 million extension that includes $93M guaranteed.” At 24, Wright offers more potential years of service.

He’s making a good bit more than Mr. O’Neill. Chicago may yet be proven wise, though, for locking him up for a while longer. Good player who could become better and better.

No. 5 — Another Edge Rusher Stolen Out of Free Agency

Ogbo Okoronkwo has been a good football player. He used to play for the Rams, winning a Super Bowl alongside Kevin O’Connell back in that 2021 season.

Since then, the 31-year-old pass rusher has been around the NFL. He has been a Rams, Texans, Browns, and Eagles employee. His latest deal takes him to San Francisco to be a 49er, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler: “Veteran edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo is signng with the 49ers today. Reunites with DC Raheem Morris from their time together with Rams.”

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The Vikings boast Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner as the top edge rushers. Next up are some combination of Ty Ingram-Dawkins, Eric Wilson, and Jake Golday. All of these guys are being pushed to the edge rusher spot even if it’s not their main position. There’s then a group of talent consisting of Bo Richter, Tyler Batty, and Chaz Chambliss.

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Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

Devdutt Padikkal assured his spot in India’s playing XI for the opening Test with a stylish century on the second day of the warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI, while seasoned campaigner Rishabh Pant and his understudy Dhruv Jurel failed to make the most of favourable batting conditions. At the end of the second day, India finished their first innings at 357/6 in 90 overs. Padikkal’s artistic unbeaten 142 and a gritty 63 (retired out) by veteran Ravindra Jadeja were the highlights, while Manav Suthar (41) also impressed with the bat on his maiden overseas assignment.

The pitch had become much easier to bat on, and Padikkal took full advantage, hitting 18 delectable boundaries to show that he is ready to reclaim his place now that first-choice No. 3 batter Sai Sudharsan has been ruled out of the series after failing to recover in time from his big toe injury.

With Yashasvi Jaiswal (0) falling off the second delivery of the day while attempting to flash at left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando (1/42), KL Rahul (40) and Padikkal added 96 runs for the second wicket.

While Rahul played himself in, the sinewy Padikkal was a treat to watch, opening with a couple of cover drives off fuller deliveries before unleashing some delectable cuts both in front of and behind point. He was particularly severe on right-arm pacer Ishitha Wijesundara, who was hit for multiple boundaries. Anything short from the pacers or spinners was pulled with disdain. The famous ‘Nataraja Shot’ also made an appearance against the pacers.

The hallmark of Padikkal’s batting was the extra second he seemed to have while deciding on his execution. His defence has also become tighter, and his footwork against the spinners has been exemplary. A pull shot off off-spinner Ramesh Mendis brought up his century in just 121 balls before he was asked to retire.

By then, he had added 72 runs for the third wicket with Jadeja, who again showed why he is a valuable asset as a middle-order batter overseas, even as his spin-bowling stocks have depleted considerably.

The biggest disappointment of the day was certainly Rishabh Pant (2), who once again played an indiscreet shot against off-spinner Mendis (2/77), trying to hit him against the turn over long-on. The leading edge flew to long-off.

If Pant perished while attempting to attack, Dhruv Jurel’s (1) technical shortcomings against off-spin were exposed once again after the South Africa Test series. A forward defensive prod resulted in an inside edge that flew to the short square-leg fielder, who caught it on the second attempt.

But Manav Suthar, who is impressing everyone with his heart and commitment, joined Jadeja as the duo added 76 runs to steady the ship.

Towards the end, Padikkal came out to bat again and added four more boundaries to his tally of 18 in the company of Saransh Jain (22 retired out)

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His comments immediately triggered speculation about what had affected him away from football, with several reports linking his emotional state to his father’s health. The Messi family subsequently confirmed that Jorge was dealing with health problems and was under medical supervision.

At the time, the family had urged the media and public to respect Jorge’s privacy, expressing concern over the reports and speculation surrounding his condition.

That earlier moment now carries a far more poignant significance following Jorge Messi’s death.

Messi family asks for privacy

The family revealed that Jorge Messi was under medical supervision and recovering, while expressing concern over the way details of the private matter were being discussed publicly.

“The Messi family wishes to inform you that Jorge Messi is currently dealing with health problems. He is currently under medical supervision and is recovering well,” the family said in a statement.

“Given the reports, rumours and speculation that have been circulating in recent hours, the family wishes to express its deep concern about the lack of sensitivity, respect and discretion with which some people have treated a strictly private family matter.”

The family thanked supporters for their concern while asking that Jorge and his relatives be given privacy.

Messi’s MLS absence adds to concern

The situation appeared to remain significant for Messi in the weeks that followed.

At the end of July, the Inter Miami star did not participate in the MLS All-Star Game. While no official reason was publicly given at the time, reports suggested that Messi used the opportunity to spend time with his father.

The 38-year-old subsequently returned to action for Inter Miami in MLS.

For a player whose career has been defined by extraordinary moments on the pitch, Messi’s recent actions offer a reminder that even football’s biggest stars have personal battles away from the spotlight.

And amid the speculation surrounding Jorge Messi’s health, the family’s message has remained consistent: concern and support are welcome, but privacy should come first.

FILE–Scotty Pippen Jr. #1 of the Memphis Grizzlies goes to the basket against LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at FedExForum on April 12, 2024 in Memphis, Tennessee. Justin Ford/Getty Images/AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. was among the many who didn’t see LeBron James opting to go to the Philadelphia 76ers coming.

James made the surprising move to sign a two-year contract with the 76ers in what he described as his “last decision.”  

“I would say surprising. I think it’s definitely crazy, the team they’re building over there. So it’s exciting to see what they do this year,” said Pippen recently during his visit in Manila.

Scotty Pippen Jr. on LeBron James joining the Sixers and the competition this NBA season. @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/uxVTs3Xmr3

— Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) July 30, 2026

The 41-year-old James declined offers from his former teams, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat, where he would’ve formed a “Big Three” with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.

Pippen believes James’ move to Philadelphia to team up with former MVP Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and rising star VJ Edgecombe, plus Antetokounmpo in Miami, to challenge the NBA champion New York Knicks in the same conference make up for an intriguing and unpredictable NBA season.

READ: NBA: Scotty Pippen Jr. ready for bigger role with Grizzlies

“I think both East and West are really competitive this year. I think previously the West has been super competitive, but East teams have won. So I think the whole NBA right now is pretty balanced and a lot of good teams, a lot of good players,” the 25-year-old Pippen said. “So I think it’s going to be interesting to see who wins it all this year.”

Pippen Jr. was a former teammate of James with the Los Angeles Lakers, where the second-generation player had a short stint during the 2022-23 NBA season. He signed a two-way contract with the Lakers, splitting time with the team’s G League affiliate South Bay Lakers, after going undrafted in 2022.

Pippen, son of NBA legend and six-time NBA champion Scottie, was waived by the Lakers in October 2023. He rejoined the South Bay Lakers before getting a call-up midway through the season from the Grizzlies, who then rewarded him with a four-year contract in 2024 after averaging 12.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.7 steals in 21 games.

File photo of Sarfaraz Khan© AFP

Trainer Tim Fitzsimmons, now based in Bendigo, brought a number of his former Singaporean gallopers back to Australia when racing ceased in the island nation almost two years ago.

While those horses are gradually reaching the end of their racing careers, Fitzsimmons holds a particular affection for Black Storm, who is set to compete in the Ladbrokes Mega Multi Handicap (1500m) at Caulfield Heath this Saturday.

Black Storm recorded two wins from his nine starts in Singapore and has added another four victories since transferring to Bendigo.

He has also achieved ten runner-up finishes from his 24 starts.

“He’s been ultra-consistent and he’s probably been a bit stiff not to have one more of those Cup races,” Fitzsimmons commented.

“He never runs a bad race and he’s the best one, form wise, that I brought back.”

Fitzsimmons recalled, “He missed his whole four-year-old season up there because he had a foot problem. He was heading towards the Derby, and I had to pull the pin. He didn’t race for nearly a year, and I think that benefitted him as he might have won another three or four up there and he would have had a higher rating.”

The trainer believes the gelding is well-suited to upcoming races, stating, “He’s going to be that nice, second-tier country cups horse over a mile for the next six months as there’s plenty of races around, you just have to travel them.”

Black Storm’s most recent start saw him lead and then be run down by Run Harry Run in the Mildura Cup, following a ninth-place finish over 1700m at Caulfield in his preceding race.

Fitzsimmons has opted to utilize the 3kg apprentice claim for jockey Holly Durnan on Saturday.

“I think he’s right on his mark and that is why we’ve claimed this week to take some weight off his back,” Fitzsimmons explained. “I thought this race, being around the Heath, might really suit.”

He further noted, “He doesn’t have to lead. In Singapore we never led on him, but there doesn’t seem to be as much pace here. The 1700 (metres) was too far last time, but in saying that he drew 14 and had to work pretty hard to get across and he was still there at the 150 (metres). I would say the mile is just far enough and over the 1400 (metres), they’re a bit sharp and can keep up with him. So, the 1500 (metres) on the Heath, it might be perfect.”

With Black Storm’s consistent performances, he is expected to make his presence felt at Caulfield Heath. Those keen on the race can find comprehensive betting markets for the race at leading Australian betting sites.