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Karl-Anthony Towns disagrees with coach on officiating in NBA Finals loss

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Shortly after the New York Knicks’ Game 3 defeat in the NBA Finals, Mike Brown turned his attention to the officiating.

“I talked to [the officials]. They outshot us 14-3 in the third quarter from the free throw line. I talked to them, and they said, well, this is a foul, this is a foul,” Brown told reporters after the San Antonio Spurs trimmed the Knicks’ series lead to 2-1. “That’s the question I had with them is, you’re right. Maybe we did foul. But they fouled, too.”

Karl-Anthony Towns, one of the catalysts behind New York’s postseason success, struck a different tone ahead of Game 4.

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Mike Brown looks on during the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden

New York Knicks head coach Mike Brown observes the game during the NBA Finals in Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

“Naw, that ain’t cost us the game,” Towns told reporters when asked about Brown’s comments. “Turned the ball over. Didn’t execute. Didn’t do what got us 13 straight wins in a row. That’s how you lose a game. We didn’t do what we’ve been doing for 13. We decided to do something different. … And throwing the ball away is a clear indication of how you’re going to lose the game, especially in the playoffs.”

The box score seemed to underscore Brown’s primary complaint, as the Spurs attempted three times as many free throws as the Knicks in the second half of Monday’s 115-111 victory.

BARRING GARBAGE OFFICIATING, THE KNICKS WILL GET REVENGE OVER THE SPURS IN GAME 4 OF THE 2026 NBA FINALS

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The Knicks were in the penalty for the majority of the fourth quarter. A cold-shooting second half saw New York connect on 36% of its field-goal attempts.

Karl-Anthony Towns defending Stephon Castle during NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden

Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks defends Stephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter of Game 3 in the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

While it remains to be seen whether officiating will play a role in Wednesday night’s game at Madison Square Garden, Brown appeared intent on making it part of the buildup to Game 4.

“It’s going to be that because I said it. The story is going to be there,” Brown continued during a news conference. “But there are some controllables that we did not do a good job of doing. We allowed them to hit first at the beginning of the game. We allowed them to hit first in the beginning of the second half.”

Mike Brown talking with New York Knicks players during a timeout at Madison Square Garden

Mike Brown talks with the New York Knicks during a timeout in the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in Game Three of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 8, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Towns finished Game 3 with 11 points and eight rebounds, a noticeable drop from his team-high 21-point performance in New York’s Game 2 victory over the Spurs. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks in scoring Monday with 32 points.

Game 4 tips off at 8:30 p.m. EDT, with the series returning to San Antonio for Game 5 on Saturday.

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Commonwealth Games 2026: Aziz Abdul, grandson of Idi Amin, disqualified for headbutt in Glasgow

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Before the super-heavyweight bout Abdul told the BBC he wanted to become the new ‘King of Scotland’ – in reference to Amin declaring himself that name in 1976.

After taking power in a coup in 1971, Amin ran a brutal regime during which an estimated half a million people were killed. He was also known as the Butcher of Uganda.

Abdul, who never met his grandfather, was chasing Uganda’s first Commonwealth boxing medal since Auckland in 1990 – something which would have been guaranteed had he beaten Thomas.

Instead, he was given warnings in the previous two rounds and was trailing on all of the judges’ scorecards.

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“All I can say about this is the decision is not right, I am not happy,” he said.

“He elbowed me. He caught me with the elbow.

“It [the head movement] was not intentional. I was trying to come back.

“How can I headbutt someone? I would not.

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“He was the person they wanted to win. He was the winner before.

“I knew if I did not get knockout I could not win the fight.”

BBC Sport has contacted Commonwealth Games organisers and World Boxing for a response to Abdul’s comments.

Thomas, who is now guaranteed at least a bronze medal, said it was “not the way” he wanted to win.

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“I can’t change what happened today but I can control how I box on Friday,” he said.

Amin, himself a boxer, harboured a fascination with Scotland after serving in the King’s African Rifles in his 20s.

At the height of the regime, he was fond of wearing a kilt and playing the bagpipes – and even declared himself “King of Scotland” in 1976.

Some years later, those predilections even spawned an Oscar-winning film, The Last King of Scotland, starring Forest Whitaker and James McAvoy.

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In a previous interview, Abdul said he was “inspired” by Amin, although it was not entirely clear whether he was talking about his boxing feats or not.

Speaking to the BBC, he refused to answer when asked if he was proud to be the dictator’s grandson, but he did address the question of how he feels when he is linked to someone with such a sinister reputation.

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Senegal Sports Ministry Refuses to Pay Any Compensation if Coach Pape Thiaw Is Sacked

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A fresh dispute has broken out in Senegalese football after the country’s Ministry of Sports reportedly said it will not pay any compensation if national team coach Pape Thiaw is dismissed.

Reports say the Ministry has officially informed the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) that it will not accept any financial responsibility if the federation decides to end Thiaw’s contract.

The Ministry stated that the decision to sack the coach belongs entirely to the FSF and that the federation must cover any compensation owed under his contract.

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The decision could create more pressure for the federation, which may have to use its own funds if it chooses to part ways with Thiaw.

The disagreement is the latest challenge facing Senegalese football and has added more uncertainty over the future of the national team’s coaching situation.

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Daniel Susac hits first two homers, helps Giants torch Brewers

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Jul 29, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (62) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn ImagesJul 29, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb (62) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Daniel Susac belted the first two home runs of his career, Luis Arraez and Heliot Ramos stroked four hits apiece and the San Francisco Giants captured the season series over the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers with a 16-3 shellacking Wednesday afternoon.

Susac finished with three runs and four RBIs, while Ramos and Jung Hoo Lee collected three RBIs apiece, helping the Giants complete the three-game home series with two wins and the seven-game season series with a 4-3 edge.

Susac’s first homer — a three-run blast in a scoreless game — came in the second inning and was all the Giants’ scoring until the sixth, when a seven-run uprising turned a one-win margin into a 10-2 lead.

The early homer came off Brewers left-hander Thomas Pannone (0-1), who was called up from the minors earlier in the day to allow scheduled starter Shane Drohan to get two additional days off. Drohan was rescheduled for Friday’s series opener in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels.

Pannone, who hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2023, worked the first three innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and three hits. He walked two and struck out two.

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The Giants broke the game open against the Milwaukee bullpen in the sixth, which featured a two-run double by Lee, a two-run single by Ramos and single-RBI hits by Christian Koss and Arraez.

Webb (6-7) was pulled at that point, having limited the Brewers to two runs on five hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out four.

The win improved the 29-year-old’s record against Milwaukee to 6-0 in nine career starts.

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Arraez capped his 24th career four-hit game with an RBI single in a three-run seventh, before Susac greeted Andrew Vaughn with his second homer leading off a three-run eighth. Susac had entered the game without a home run in his first 131 big-league plate appearances

Koss joined Susac with three runs scored for the Giants, whose run total was a season-high at home and third-highest anywhere.

Brice Turang had two hits and two RBIs for the Brewers, who hadn’t allowed more than 14 runs in any previous game this season. Jake Bauers also had a pair of hits for Milwaukee, which was out-hit 17-8.

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FIFA hit by furious backlash over plans to sell stake in competitions

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There was a furious backlash on Wednesday to FIFA’s controversial plans to sell a stake in the business operations of the World Cup and its other competitions through the creation of a private subsidiary. FRANCE 24’s James Vasina reports.

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FIFA Offers Member Nations $40m to Back New Commercial Plan

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino has written to all 211 member associations, offering each of them up to $40 million if they support his controversial plan to sell minority stakes in FIFA’s major competitions.

According to a letter seen by the BBC, member associations that approve the proposal by 19 September will receive an initial $20 million from 1 January 2027. A further payment would follow later.

FIFA wants to create a new commercial company to manage its biggest competitions, including the FIFA World Cup. Private investors would be allowed to buy minority shares in the business.

  • Olumide AjiboladeOlumide Ajibolade

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In his letter, Infantino defended the proposal, saying it would help football grow around the world.

“It is my duty and responsibility as FIFA president to present such game-changing opportunities to you, our members,” Infantino said.

He added:

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“It is equally my duty and responsibility to ensure such proposals are sufficiently complete and feasible, replete with substantiated figures and clear terms to assist you in the decision-making process.”

The plan has already faced strong opposition from several football organisations, who say they were not properly consulted before the announcement.

A spokesperson for England’s Football Association said:

“We were completely unaware of this proposal and have no substantive details, including what the proposition actually is and what conditions are attached.”

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The statement added:

“Based on the limited information, we are deeply concerned about the lack of process and governance to get to this point.”

UEFA has also criticised the proposal, saying it had “crossed a line”. European football’s governing body plans to hold an emergency meeting with its 55 member associations later this week to discuss its response.

The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) also expressed concern.

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“We are deeply concerned by the lack of due process,” the organisation said.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) called for greater transparency.

“While the AFC recognises the importance of exploring innovative approaches that can strengthen the future of global football, initiatives of this scale and consequence must be founded upon the principles of good governance, transparency and meaningful consultation.”

La Liga president Javier Tebas accused Infantino of trying to win support ahead of the next FIFA Congress.

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“It doesn’t seem like a reform. It seems like an electoral campaign financed with the future of football,” Tebas said.

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter also criticised the proposal, writing on X:

“The close relationship between the FIFA president and the US President has reached a financial dimension that is deeply damaging football. No-one has the right to sell our game.”

The proposal has sparked one of the biggest debates in world football in recent years, with several football bodies demanding more consultation before any final decision is made.

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The LPGA’s dream is in sight. But Charley Hull must achieve hers first

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Has FIFA finally gone too far?

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 “While you divide, we unite,” Gianni Infantino wrote on social media on Monday, in a long missive aimed at his detractors. By Tuesday, he had united the football world — albeit in opposition to his latest scheme. 

Shortly after reports emerged in UK newspapers The Times and the Financial Times on Tuesday, FIFA confirmed its plans to create a new subsidiary, named FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). This would enable it to sell a minority stake in the World Cup‘s operations to private investors for billions of dollars.

Chief among FIFA’s proposed investors is the investment vehicle, Thrive Eternal, headed by Joshua Kushner — younger brother of Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump‘s son-in-law.  

Why is FIFA’s new World Cup plan controversial? 

Other than the potential conflict of interest connection to Trump, with whom Infantino has grown close, there are significant concerns about transparency, corruption and whether FIFA has the remit to make such a move unilaterally.  

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“The World Cup is one of the few truly global sporting events, and that comes with a responsibility beyond maximizing revenue,” Bret Myers, a professor of sports business practices at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, USA, told DW.  

The US connection is important, with the model echoing the way that many US sports operate. Formula 1 too went through a similar process when it was bought by Liberty Media in 2017. Greg Maffei, a former Liberty CEO, has been a “key commercial adviser” to FIFA on the FFE plan. 

“North American sports have long operated within a more commercial framework, where private ownership, franchise valuations, and investor involvement are widely accepted,” Myers added.

“Football, particularly in Europe, has a much stronger tradition of clubs and competitions being viewed as cultural institutions rather than purely commercial assets.” 

Folarin Balogun walks off after receiving red card against Bosnia
USA striker Folarin Balogun’s red-card ban during the World Cup was suspended after Infantino got a call from Trump Image: Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire/IMAGO

More fundamentally, the concern is that this is the first step towards the World Cup, football’s biggest prize, becoming privately owned. 

“A minority investment is very different from relinquishing control,” Myers said. However, it does represent a significant shift in how the World Cup is financed and managed commercially.” 

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World football’s global governors are a nonprofit organization but sit on cash reserves of an estimated $8 billion (€7.02 billion) after a World Cup that saw ticket prices skyrocket.  

Given FIFA’s remit lies in developing football, rather than purely profiting from it, there is a sense that this is a move designed to shore up Infantino’s power and, perhaps, encroach on the turf of the continental football federations he failed to include in the planning.  

How do Infantino and FIFA aim to sell the plan? 

FIFA has promised to invest profits back into the game, mostly by offering all 211 member associations a flat fee of $20 million in 2027, rising to $24 million by 2035. Associations must decide whether to accept those payments by September 19 or risk them being reduced or retracted.  

“The president controls this huge pot of money and uses it to reward those that are loyal to him, that support him, and punish those that are not supportive of him,” Miguel Maduro a former chairman of FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee, told DW. 

“FIFA could do lots of good things with money. But there is no system of checks and balances and accountability to make us sure that the money is actually going to be well spent by all national football associations.  Everything that that’s happened in the past makes me suspicious of how this money will end up being spent.” 

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What has the reaction been from the footballing world? 

Almost universally negative. National federations, world leaders and fan groups have all come out against the idea, with federations particularly peeved about the lack of consultation.  

But perhaps the most surprising reaction came from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), who released a statement confirming it was “not consulted on the proposal and is disappointed” by the way in which it was released. Asia  and Africa, are where Infantino’s main power base lies, as together they have 101 of the 211 national associations — with each getting a vote on the president. 

Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump
The close friendship between Infantino and Trump has raised alarm bells for someImage: Kai Pfaffenbach/REUTERS

Similar misgivings were expressed by a number of powerful national football associations, including Germany’s DFB. 

“A line is being crossed here. There is a strong consensus among the member associations on this matter, as evidenced by several conversations I have had in recent days with Aleksander Ceferin [president of Europe’s football governors UEFA] and other colleagues,” said Hans-Joachim Watzke, a DFB vice president. 

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“If European football stands united in opposing these plans, it carries significant weight.” 

Who might oppose FIFA’s World Cup plans? 

UEFA seems in the best position to lead any revolt  and has hit out at the plans, saying football is “not FIFA’s to sell.” It was a strongly worded statement of the type UEFA has released several times in recent months as its battle with FIFA plays out in public. Reports suggest UEFA will meet as soon as Wednesday to discuss their options.  

Maduro backs UEFA’s stance but said he’d like the current climate to serve as an opportunity for broader reform.  

“I don’t think UEFA has the same severity of problems that we find in FIFA, but I do think it also suffers from serious governance problems and that they need to be addressed,” he said. 

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“Simply getting rid of Mr. Infantino but leaving the entire structure and model of governance of sports will be removing a couple of bad apples but leaving the tree that produced them in place.” 

Aleksander Ceferin
Aleksander Ceferin’s UEFA has been a strong critic of FIFA in recent yearsImage: Mike Egerton/PA/picture alliance

How could this change football? 

That the AFC and the CONCACAF (which governs North, Central America and Caribbean football) have criticized the way the latest plans were released, may have strengthened UEFA’s hand in any thoughts of breakaway or boycott.  

It may also lead to the continental federations uniting to find someone to oppose Infantino in next year’s presidential election or in threats of boycotting next year’s Women’s World Cup. 

But Maduro thinks such talk is often designed to appease the public before intentions are quietly shelved. 

“What we’ve seen so far for the most part is that these statements, where they distance themselves from these kinds of initiatives of FIFA, are made under the pressure of public opinions. But then they actually never follow through.” 

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Maduro went on to say that UEFA’s increasingly strident opposition to FIFA is, at least in part, a reaction to an increased threat to its own highly lucrative Champions League. Should the proposed changes go through, Maduro expects World Cups to be more frequent and a further expansion of FIFA’s recently expanded Club World Cup. 

“They will want to transform that into the big international football competition of clubs instead of the Champions League. That’s what they will try to do because it will be in their commercial interest,” he said. 

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

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Kate O’Connor rewrites Commonwealth Games history for Northern Ireland to kickstart golden summer

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Kate O’Connor rewrote the history books but is keen to add another chapter to another storied summer before next month is out.

The absence of two-time world champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson from the Commonwealth Games heptathlon made O’Connor the one to beat, a new feeling for the Northern Irish athlete.

Her silver medal at last year’s World Championships in Tokyo underlined her potential, but there’s winning on paper and winning in practice.

She’s the first Northern Ireland team member to win gold here, the first track and field athlete to top the podium in 40 years and the first woman to do so since Dame Mary Peters in 1974.

And while the emotion of her first major senior championship title came in a blur, there won’t be long to reset her focus before the European Championships in Birmingham in just 13 days.

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Kate O’Connor won gold for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games
Kate O’Connor won gold for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games (Getty)

A rested Johnson-Thompson, who prioritised that event over Glasgow, awaits, along with Swiss star Annik Kälin and others in a stacked field. Triple Olympic and European champion Nafissatou Thiam is not competing as she continues a cautious comeback from injury.

O’Connor’s winning score of 6,569 points at Scotstoun was well short of Kälin’s world-leading 6,819, but the 25-year-old didn’t just have to battle the new pressures of expectation here – she also had to contend with the elements. At times it didn’t just rain; it was biblical.

“I came here wanting to score somewhere in the 6,700s, or even higher, because I felt I was in that kind of shape,” she said.

“My coaches reminded me that championships aren’t about big scores – they’re about competing. You have to deal with whatever conditions you’re given, and with the rain and cold I think I produced a very good score. Hopefully at the Europeans in Birmingham it’ll be warmer and I’ll have another chance to chase that bigger total.

“I’m not worried about the turnaround before Birmingham. I’ll just treat these last few days as really good training.

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“It’s not a difficult journey home and my body feels good. I feel healthy and I don’t think I emptied the tank out there, so I’m looking forward to what’s next.

“Being one of the favourites was a completely new experience for me. Last year I learned what it was like to carry the expectation of being in medal contention, but this was the first time I’d gone into a championships as someone people expected to win gold. That brings a different kind of pressure.”

O’Connor finished eighth in 2018 and claimed silver behind Johnson-Thompson four years later in Birmingham.

But it was only last year that her life changed: pentathlon silver and bronze at the World and European Indoor Championships, gold at the World University Games and that famous silver in Tokyo.

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Records and personal bests were rewritten and then rewritten again, with her Irish national record of 6,714 points meaning she ended the season ranked second in the world.

After admitting her frustration with her opening day, she recorded a solid leap of 1.82m in the high jump, a season’s best 52.85m in the javelin and won the concluding 800m at a canter. Her winning margin over England’s silver medallist Jade O’Dowda was a huge 291 points.

“As an athlete you’re always looking ahead to the next competition, so you don’t always stop to appreciate what you’ve achieved,” she added. “Hearing those things makes you realise just how special it is.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, more than £33m is raised every week for good causes. It’s because of you that sport, arts, heritage and community projects, as well as our athletes competing at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, are supported across the UK.

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NFL news: Lions star Jahmyr Gibbs skips training camp practice

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The Detroit Lions were without one of their biggest stars when training camp began Wednesday.

Running back Jahmyr Gibbs was not on the field for the Lions’ opening practice. The 24-year-old is eligible for a contract extension.

“You guys know how we feel about Gibbs and all of our guys,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday, via The Athletic.

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Jahmyr Gibbs warms up before a game at Ford Field.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs warms up before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on Dec. 4, 2025. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

“This will kind of continue. It’ll come as it comes. I think that’s the best way to say it. This is both sides working through something, and we’ll take it as it comes, but that’s where it is.”

Gibbs did report to camp and is not listed on the Lions’ Physically Unable to Perform or Non-Football Injury list, suggesting he is holding out for a new contract.

The Lions selected Jahmyr Gibbs with the No. 12 overall pick in 2023 NFL Draft and electrified the team’s offense immediately, and quickly emerged as an integral part of the offense. In his rookie year, he ran for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns while catching 52 passes for 316 yards and one touchdown in 15 games.

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Reddy Steward tackles Jahmyr Gibbs during a Cowboys-Lions game at Ford Field.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Reddy Steward (27) tackles Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich., on Dec. 4, 2025. (IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)

Gibbs took his game to another level in 2024, rushing for 1,412 yards and 16 touchdowns while catching 52 passes for 517 yards and four touchdowns.

Last season was the first time Gibbs started every single game, and was up to the task. In 17 games, he ran for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns while catching 77 passes for 616 yards and five touchdowns.

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Jahmyr Gibbs with teammate Tate Ratledge

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) celebrates his touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with teammate guard Tate Ratledge (69) during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

He has made the Pro Bowl in all three seasons of his career.

Atlanta Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson was also missing from the team’s first day of training camp. His absence is contract-related, according to The Athletic’s report.

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Commonwealth Games medal table and results

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The latest medals table for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

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