Over recent weeks, the England cricket hierarchy has been at pains to show it has learned lessons from a dismal Ashes in Australia. Chief executive Richard Gould, director Rob Key and captain Ben Stokes have led a charm offensive aimed at showing they really do care about county cricket, that they will not be giving failing England players any more leeway, and that preparing for a Test series might actually be a good thing.
Stokes grabbed more attention this week with another interview on the ECB website, in which he insisted his relationship with head coach Brendon McCullum is not strained by a difference of opinion on England’s approach, and that they are “95 per cent aligned”.
All of which has left former England captain Michael Vaughan perplexed. “I have no idea why that interview was released,” Vaughan says. “I don’t think there’d have been one person waking up that morning thinking, ‘Oh, Ben and Baz have got an issue’. Two hours later, that interview gets released, and it’s clear that they’ve had a bit of a problem in the winter.”
Vaughan was not convinced by Key and Gould’s PowerPoint presentation to the media at Lord’s that attempted to lay out England’s next steps and was dismissed as “management speak” in some quarters. “The corporate messaging was just corporate messaging,” says Vaughan. “Slideshows for slideshows’ sake, just to try and prove that they’re becoming more of an attention-to-detail organisation.
“If they really wanted to put on a front, then Ben Stokes, Rob Key and Baz McCullum should have been presenting those slides in front of the media. I have no idea why Richard Gould was talking about cricket. He’s the CEO. He’s what I call the bean counter of the game, and looks after the finances.”
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Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum insist they will be keeping a keen eye on the County Championship (Robbie Stephenson/PA)
The question now is whether England will really change. Can the bridge between the County Championship and the England Test team be rebuilt after it was left to decay for four years?
There are certainly places up for grabs when England take on New Zealand at Lord’s in June, in the first of three Tests. Zak Crawley’s position as an opener is in serious doubt. The bowling unit is not set in stone. Vaughan, who is speaking to promote the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup, a new national hardball competition for state schools, believes there must be changes at both ends of the line-up if England are to start afresh.
“They need tone-setters with bat and ball, so they need someone who opens the batting with Ben Duckett. You can’t expect to be the No 1 team in the world with someone who averages 31 from 64 games [Crawley]. We need to get away from just selecting players because they play in the vibe this era has created. Your opening batters have got to average over 40.
“And then I’d be looking at someone like Ollie Robinson. With the new ball in Australia, they were poor, and they need someone that’s going to set the tone. England needs to sit with Ollie and if it’s a mental thing, if it’s a fitness thing, if it’s an attitude problem that Ollie Robinson has, England have to iron it out. They’re not a good enough team to just put someone like Ollie Robinson on the scrapheap. You look at his numbers in Test match cricket, they’re up there.”
Vaughan at the launch of the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup at Lord’s this week (Jed Leicester)
There is plenty of time for County Championship players to catch the eye, with four more rounds of games before McCullum and Stokes pick their side. But there is already a familiar name at the top of the run scoring charts: Jamie Smith had an Ashes to forget with the bat and the gloves, but he has made a brilliant start to the season at Surrey, scoring two centuries in two matches batting at three.
The concern with Smith is that his teammate Ben Foakes is Surrey’s preferred wicketkeeper. Smith is likely to retain his place in the England Test team, even after some brainless shots down under, but his glovework needs attention. Vaughan says it is time for him to knuckle down and learn the art of the keeper, even if that means taking matters into his own hands.
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“He’s obviously not keeping for Surrey, which is a problem for me. Like Shoaib Bashir, he wasn’t getting in his county team, but he’s [an] England spinner, that can’t be right. But [Smith] should play because he’s too good … His batting’s going to be fine at seven – I’m sure he’ll end up maybe at six in time.
“But I just look at Matthew Prior, when he first started for England as a wicketkeeper-batter, and his keeping was a little bit flawed, and suddenly he went and worked away with [former England wicketkeeper] Bruce French, worked his nuts off every morning and drilled and caught loads of balls and became a brilliant wicketkeeper-batter. I look at Jamie Smith and think, ‘Go on, take a leaf out of Prior’s book’.”
England were criticised for their lack of specialist coaches at the Ashes, with only a temporary bowling coach and no fielding coach on the tour, during which they dropped 18 catches. There was also no keeping coach to work with Smith directly on his struggles behind the stumps.
Jamie Smith has been in sublime form for his county this month (Getty)
“The coaching has to get better, it’s as simple as that,” adds Vaughan. “Baz McCullum has got to coach the team, and he needs to bring in expertise. And if Jamie Smith is working with Alec Stewart or Bruce French, whoever, Jack Russell, that wicketkeeper coach should be around the England team for the preparation days. And if I was the coach of England, which I’m not, I’d be fine with players bringing in their own coaches to make sure that they’re ready for the Thursday start.
“I’ve never, ever seen a keeper improve by not catching balls. You have to do all the drills. You have to catch loads of balls, and that’s on the Tuesday morning, the Wednesday morning, the Thursday morning, the Friday morning. Every single keeper that I see that gets to the top in their profession are catching balls all the time. I just need to see a bit more of that.”
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Over a thousand teams have signed up for the chance to play at Lord’s as stars encourage greater access to cricket in state schools. Find out more here.
Bernardo Silva has announced he will leave Manchester City this summer, bringing an end to nine years at the club.
The 31-year-old has made over 450 appearances, scored 76 goals and provided 77 assists, playing a key role in one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.
During his time at City, he won 19 major trophies: six Premier League titles, the Champions League, and the Treble in 2023.
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In a message shared on social media, Silva reflected on his journey at the club.
“When I arrived 9 years ago, I was following a dream of a little boy, wanting to succeed in life… much more than that, much more than I ever hoped for. What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart.”
He also thanked manager Pep Guardiola, his teammates, and his family.
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“To the fans, your unconditional support throughout the years is something that I will never forget… My main goal as a player was to always play with passion so you guys could feel proud and well represented on the pitch.”
Silva urged supporters to continue backing the team as the season closes.
“I arrived a City fan. I leave as one, supporting this amazing team, and I’m pretty sure they will bring you a lot of new fantastic memories in the future.”
Manchester City has confirmed his departure, while tributes have continued to come in from across the football fans.
Barcelona say refereeing “errors” cost them a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and have caused “significant sporting and financial harm to the club”.
As a result, the Spanish giants have made a second complaint to Uefa about officiating across both legs of the tie.
Barca had a player sent off in each leg of their 3-2 aggregate defeat by Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid, with their 2-1 win on Tuesday not enough to overturn a 2-0 deficit from the first game.
In both cases, a yellow card was upgraded to a red after the referee was instructed to review at a pitchside monitor the possible denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
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Pau Cubarsi was dismissed by Istvan Kovacs in the first leg, and fellow Barca defender Eric Garcia was sent off by Clement Turpin in the second.
Kovacs was also criticised by Barca after he and video assistant referee (VAR) Christian Dingert allowed play to continue when Atletico defender Marc Pubill handled the ball in his own penalty area.
Barca had already protested a “grave lack of VAR intervention” following the first leg, with Uefa deeming the club’s complaint “inadmissable”.
After filing a second complaint to Uefa, the club released a statement claiming that “several refereeing decisions were made that did not comply with the laws of the game”.
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Barca accused officials of “incorrect application of the regulations” and criticised the lack of VAR intervention “in incidents of clear significance”.
The statement added that “the accumulation of these errors had a direct impact on the course of the matches and on the final outcome of the tie, causing significant sporting and financial harm to the club”.
Barcelona forward Raphinha, who missed each game through injury, told reporters after the second leg: “For me, this match was a robbery. Not just this match but the other one as well.”
A Barcelona statement added: “Through this complaint, the club reiterates the requests previously made to Uefa and, at the same time, offers to collaborate with the organisation with the aim of improving the refereeing system to ensure a more rigorous, fair and transparent application of the laws of the game.”
Anfield Watch can exclusively reveal Liverpool are lining up a move for a new right-back ahead of the summer window.
As this season has unfolded, the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold at Anfield has grown more apparent.
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There are very few players in world football who can match his quality, especially in terms of distribution and creativity from deep and especially from right-back. His ability to dictate play and break down defences is unrivalled – there is no one like him.
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Although Conor Bradley has often been seen as the natural heir, ongoing injury issues have raised concerns about his reliability as a long-term first-choice option.
There’s no doubt he still has a role to play within the squad, but Liverpool need more certainty in such a vital position.
Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong has yet to prove himself as a dependable defensive presence, with his strengths clearly better suited to more advanced, attacking roles.
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That lack of confidence in Frimpong and the doubts over Bradley’s fitness has forced Liverpool into action and they will be tempting to reinforce the right-back position this summer in order to replace Alexander-Arnold ‘properly’ once and for all.
So, who could Liverpool be targeting?
Anfield Watch can exclusively reveal that one of the club’s top targets for the position is Daniel Banjaqui and Liverpool are exploring a potential move for the 18-year-old right-back, who is seen as an ideal profile for the football the Reds want to play.
Banjaqui has only made two senior appearances for Benfica’s first-team under Jose Mourinho, but he has caught the eye in those games.
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In his first ever start, he won the most tackles (4) and the most duels (12) in the game, but perhaps the most important aspect of his performance was his assist, a clever cross finding Anisio Cabral to help Benfica to a 4-0 victory.
Banjaqui also caught the eye at the U17 World Cup, where he played a key role in Portugal triumphing in the tournament, playing all of his country’s eight matches en-route to lifting the trophy and becoming a world champion.
Liverpool had a lot of scouts present at that tournament in Qatar, and the Reds have already signed two players from the tournament in Ifeanyi Ndukwe and Mor Talla Ndiaye.
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In terms of his playing style, Banjaqui is quick, and he loves to bomb forward but he’s also a very good defender. In many ways, you can draw similarities with his style of play to that of his compatriot Nuno Mendes who came through the ranks at Sporting CP and plays for Paris Saint Germain.
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Mendes was a player Liverpool really liked at Sporting but never ended-up signing because at the time they had Andy Robertson.
The reason why Liverpool are ready to move for Banjaqui now, who recently penned a new deal with Benfica until 2031, is because securing him this summer will ensure that he could become a homegrown player by the time he turns 21-years-old as per current Premier League squad registration rules.
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The same will apply to Giovanni Leoni, and the aforementioned Ndukwe and Ndiaye.
It would be a genius move from Liverpool, who believe Banjaqui would be ready to play a role in the first-team immediately.
With less than three months left for the FIFA World Cup 2026, India remains without an official broadcaster, an unusual situation for one of the world’s biggest sports markets. While private media companies hesitate due to valuation concerns, attention is now turning toward an unexpected name: Prasar Bharati, which has already held preliminary discussions with FIFA.
A senior government official confirmed that exploratory talks have taken place to understand the pricing structure and feasibility of acquiring the rights.
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Private broadcasters hold back as valuation gap widens
FIFA launched its India media rights sale process in mid-2025, bundling the 2026 and 2030 World Cups to attract buyers. However, negotiations have stalled despite multiple rounds of discussions.
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The governing body is believed to have reduced its asking price from nearly $100 million to around $35 million for both tournaments. Even after this revision, no agreement has been finalized.
On the other side, industry estimates suggest that the merged entity JioStar values the package at closer to $25 million, significantly lower than FIFA’s expectations. For comparison, Viacom18 had paid about $62 million for the 2022 World Cup alone, highlighting the sharp correction in perceived market value.
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Prasar Bharati emerges as a possible alternative buyer
Prasar Bharati has previously stepped in to broadcast major FIFA events in India. In 2023, Doordarshan aired the FIFA Women’s World Cup through a sub-licensing arrangement with US-based partner 1Stadia, bringing the tournament to a wide audience across the country.
Officials argue that the public broadcaster operates under a different framework than private networks, where commercial returns are not the sole priority. Instead, large-scale sporting events are often viewed as part of its public service mandate.
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With DD Free Dish reaching a massive television audience and the WAVES OTT platform expanding its digital presence, Prasar Bharati now has a stronger distribution setup than in earlier years.
Guaranteed exposure through public service broadcasting rules
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Under India’s Sports Broadcasting Signals (Mandatory Sharing with Prasar Bharati) Act, key sporting events classified as “national importance” must be shared with the public broadcaster. This ensures that marquee matches such as semi-finals and finals are likely to be shown on Doordarshan regardless of the primary rights holder.
This regulatory framework effectively guarantees Prasar Bharati access to the tournament’s most high-profile content.
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JioStar still seen as frontrunner despite delays
Despite the uncertainty, industry experts continue to view JioStar as the most likely eventual rights holder. The combined strength of Star Sports on television and JioHotstar on digital platforms gives it strong monetisation potential across India’s fragmented media landscape.
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In the previous World Cup cycle, digital platforms showed strong revenue potential, with JioCinema (Now JioHotstar) reportedly generating substantial advertising income through brand partnerships during the 2022 tournament.
However, analysts say the current deadlock is less about interest and more about price alignment. While FIFA wants a higher valuation, broadcasters are waiting for a correction before committing.
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Final outcome depends on pricing compromise
Industry insiders believe a resolution will eventually be reached, but only once either side adjusts its expectations. If negotiations continue to stall, broadcasters like JioStar may still enter the deal closer to the tournament window, when FIFA’s bargaining position weakens further.
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For now, India’s FIFA World Cup 2026 broadcast rights remain in limbo, with no confirmed partner despite growing urgency.
One of the biggest questions going into WWE WrestleMania 42 has to do with Stone Cold Steve Austin’s potential involvement, and recent reports regarding the topic are sure to excite fans.
With WrestleMania 42 just two days away, there’s growing buzz around a potential appearance by Stone Cold Steve Austin. The Texas Rattlesnake schedule has not aligned with WWE Wrestlemania events in recent years, but that could change this weekend. According to a report from Bodyslam, Austin is currently scheduled to be backstage at the event. While it’s unclear whether he’ll simply be present or take part in an on-screen segment, his involvement hasn’t been ruled out. Adding to the speculation, Austin is also advertised for meet-and-greet sessions across both days at WWE World.
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Whether Stone Cold Steve Austin does make an on-screen appearance at WrestleMania 42 or not is a question that remains unanswered for now.
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Stone Cold Steve Austin has previously spoken about a WWE return
While Stone Cold does want to return to the active WWE scene, he is not quite interested in a full match.
Speaking on Busted Open, The Texas Rattlesnake stated that his legs were good now after a replacement surgery, but he was not looking to put them through the grinder of another match. He said:
“It’d be to go back for one of those moments. Not a match itch… I got a left knee replacement a little over a year ago and God dang, my leg feels good. I’m glad I got it done. But, yeah, I get the itch for certain moments but, to try to do a match? No.” Austin was asked who he would want that moment to be with, and he replied, “Sh*t, line ‘em up and let me Stun ‘em. All those guys that are selling the tickets now, put ‘em in a line, f*ck ‘em,” he laughed. “I don’t know. It’s not something that I think about. I’m so far gone. I’m happy that 3:16 Day is here and lasts with wrestling fans. I’m happy for the career I had but, in my current life, I don’t think about (it),” he said.
It remains to be seen what his plans are for the future.
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Braxton Berrios has nothing to say about the Alix Earle-Alex Cooper drama. However, the Houston Texans receiver is making headlines for a different reason. He was spotted leaving Bird Streets Club in Los Angeles on Wednesday night with model Hollie Ford.
Berrios and Ford appeared comfortable together and dressed casually for the outing. The Texans star was seen opening the door for the blonde model before the pair climbed into his G-Wagon.
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Photographers peppered Berrios with questions about the celebrity feud involving his ex-girlfriend and podcast star Alex Cooper. Berrios played it smartly and refused to take the bait. He said he had no new information to offer.
The Alex Cooper-Alix Earle catfight was one of the most talked-about things across social media this past week. Over the months, there had been rumors of tension between the two, but Cooper finally called out Earle directly in a TikTok video on Monday.
“You’re gonna need to get specific and just say what you gotta say about me,” Cooper said.
She outrightly accused Earle of taking “passive-aggressive” shots while also dismissing speculation that Earle was staying quiet for legal reasons.
“I’m really tired of waking up and seeing you using this fake drama to distract from other s*** going online for you,” she added. I know what happened and so do you… Unless you actually have something to say, I’m out. This is over,” Cooper concluded.
Earle also responded in the comments with a short message:
“Okay on it!!”
The “Call Her Daddy” host hinted that more is happening behind the scenes.
Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) lines up during game action against the Arizona Wildcats, Nov. 28, 2025, at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, competing in the 99th Territorial Cup rivalry matchup as Arizona State battles its in-state opponent in a late-season showdown. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
The NFL draft is now one week away, and according to SI.com, the Minnesota Vikings have a very specific dream scenario, which includes drafting Jordyn Tyson (WR), Dillon Thieneman (S), and Jake Slaughter (C).
The proposed Minnesota outcome would give the front office help at receiver, safety, and the interior offensive line.
Most teams had a simpler scenario, but Gilbert Manzano wants those three guys in Minnesota.
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A Three-Player Haul Would Cover Major Ground
The trio would certainly cross off roster needs.
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) celebrates a touchdown during first-half action against the TCU Horned Frogs, with Sep 26, 2025 marking the game at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Tyson reacted to quarterback Sam Leavitt’s scoring play while helping fuel the Sun Devils’ offensive momentum early. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Reiner-Imagn Images.
Manzano’s Dream Scenario for MIN
Every team received a “dream outcome” from Manzano, with the Vikings looking like this: “Dream Scenario: Stars align with Tyson, Dillon Thieneman, Jake Slaughter. The Vikings don’t necessarily need a wide receiver, but they shouldn’t reach to fill a roster need with their No. 18 pick. Tyson is a versatile playmaker who can make plays on the inside and outside.”
“Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison need a wideout who can get open in a hurry to set up more downfield shots. There’s a chance that Thienemen slips to the second round because teams tend to avoid drafting safeties early. And Slaughter is the best true center in the draft, and he could be available in the middle rounds. That’s three starters right there for Minnesota.”
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If that exact selection combination plays out, no Vikings fan would be too upset.
Jordyn Tyson (WR)
Tyson, listed at 6’2″ and 205 pounds, wins with finesse. He consistently creates separation with sharp route-running and reliably finishes catches through contact, even in tight coverage. Quarterbacks can trust his timing and placement, knowing he’ll be where he needs to be, and his hands are reliable.
However, concerns exist regarding his availability and potential. Recurring injuries are a problem, his speed isn’t a significant threat to defenses, and his decision to skip both the Combine and Arizona State’s Pro Day raised questions.
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He accrued 711 yards and 8 touchdowns last year. The Ringer‘s Todd McShay on Tyson: “Tyson is a slightly taller version of Stefon Diggs. That’s what I see on tape — a smooth yet ultra-sudden route runner with an insatiable approach to hunting down the football.”
“Like Diggs, he’s not nearly as dangerous after the catch as he is a skilled downfield route runner. But also like Diggs, he’s a WR1 with inside-out versatility.”
The Vikings must decide a) do they want a wide receiver when they already have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison headlining the enterprise b) are the injuries fears worth it?
Dillon Thieneman (S)
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Thieneman is a mainstay in Round 1 of mock drafts — basically everybody’s — and that’s just been the way of it since his fantabulous Combine showing. It’s quite wild for Manzano to assume that Thieneman slips into Round 2 — and all the way to the Vikings’ pick at No. 49. That’s probably not happnening.
If Thieneman turns into a Viking next week, it will be because the club picked him with the 18th pick, not the 49th.
Purdue defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) pauses for a drink during a team practice session, with Aug 1, 2024 marking workouts at Bimel Outdoor Practice Complex in West Lafayette, Indiana. Thieneman prepared for the upcoming season while continuing development as a key piece in Purdue’s secondary. Mandatory Credit: Alex Martin-Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK.
Still, fans would enjoy the Thieneman pick; his 4.35 forty, the 41-inch vertical are to die for. At 6’0″ and 200 pounds, he immediately impresses with his range and versatility. He capably plays single-high safety, drops into the box, and offers a defensive coordinator flexibility in both coverage and run support.
Across 39 games at Purdue and Oregon, he tabulated 306 tackles, 8 interceptions, and 10 tackles for loss. His time in the Big Ten established him, and his transfer to Oregon further elevated his profile heading into 2025.
On film, Thieneman covers ground quickly and reads developing plays with uncommon confidence for a young safety. Though occasional hesitation is present, it’s typical for a player still gaining experience. Overall, his processing speed and closing burst suggest a player with Round 1 draft stock, not Round 2.
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Jake Slaughter (C)
Slaughter possesses ideal size at 6’4,” 300 pounds, and a strong resume, having started for three years at Florida. If the Vikings prioritize college production in this year’s draft — there are reports of that as their preference — Slaughter fits the bill and could be on their radar next week.
Florida offensive lineman Jake Slaughter (66) embraces a teammate following a matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers, with Nov 22, 2025 marking the game at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida. Slaughter showed postgame emotion after Florida’s 31-11 loss while anchoring the offensive line. Mandatory Credit: Alan Youngblood-Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Turning 24 as a rookie, he will likely see playing time early, especially given his strength in run blocking, where he excels at moving defenders and creating lanes. However, teams will want to see improvement in his pass protection.
If Manzano has it wrong, the draft will also feature three other promising centers: Sam Hecht (Kansas State), Logan Jones (Iowa), and Connor Lew (Auburn).
Last year’s center, Ryan Kelly, retired last month, and if the season started tomorrow, veteran lineman Blake Brandel would reportedly hold down the center position.
On Wednesday afternoon, after reporting from several news outlets cast doubt over LIV Golf’s future, the league’s CEO, Scott O’Neil, sent his staff an email that later in the day made its way to reporters. The message read in part: “Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle. While the media landscape is often filled with speculation, our reality is defined by the work we do on the grass.”
O’Neil was responding to reports from several outlets — including the Financial Times, New York Times and Wall Street Journal — that indicated LIV’s financial backer, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, was on the verge of pulling its funding.
Those reports came on the same day that the PIF announced a strategic shift for the next five years by which the fund said it would transition from “a period of rapid growth and acceleration to a new phase of sustained value creation, with a strengthened focus on maximizing impact, raising the efficiency of investments, and applying the highest standards of governance, transparency and institutional excellence.” (On Thursday, the PIF announced that it has sold off its 70 percent stake in the Saudi Pro League soccer club, Al Hilal.) The reports also came against the backdrop of the war in Iran, which has led to significant cuts in the Kingdom’s oil production, which largely funds the PIF.
As the news buzzed around the golf world, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and the rest of LIV’s players were in Mexico City for this week’s LIV event. An on-site source told GOLF.com that the scene at Club de Golf Chapultepec was “business as usual.” Rahm and his teammates played a practice round Tuesday. Tee times for Thursday’s opening round were released, right on schedule, and a pro-am played out on Wednesday. Asked in a press conference about the reports, Sergio Garcia said, “We haven’t heard anything other than what Yasir [Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor] told us at the beginning of the year. That he’s behind us, that they have a long-term project. You know there are always a lot of rumors, and I can’t tell you anything more than what we already know.”
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But behind the scenes, weighty discussions reportedly were afoot. According to James Corrigan of The Telegraph, LIV executives were summoned to LIV’s New York City offices Wednesday for an emergency meeting. One agent told GOLF.com he flew to Mexico City Wednesday morning in response to speculation about the intent of that meeting.
The Wednesday reports came just three days after the conclusion of the Masters, where O’Neil was in attendance and there was no indication on the grounds that LIV was facing such a crisis. In recent months, in fact, LIV appeared to have been gaining momentum with a wave of new sponsors and other corporate partners. Beginning this season, LIV players became eligible for Official World Golf Ranking points, creating more pathways for its players to qualify for the majors. Last month, in South Africa, the league conducted one of its most successful events to date. And earlier this year, Al-Rumayyan approved for LIV a $266.6 million capital injection.
The league also has shaken up and, in some ways, reinvented the upper rungs of the men’s professional game. The ubiquitousness of $20-plus million purses, the prevalence of team golf and increased importance of the major championships all are correlated with LIV Golf’s arrival.
But the league also has faced considerable challenges, beginning with its bottom line. Since its 2022 inception, LIV reportedly has posted losses climbing into the hundreds of millions. (On Wednesday, Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard reported that several LIV players and vendors told him that they had not been paid “for the last few weeks”; LIV has not responded to GOLF.com’s inquiry on the matter.) The league’s viewership numbers have been light, particularly in the U.S. And a couple of the league’s stars, in Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed, have moved on.
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LIV and the PGA Tour have tried but failed to find a path forward together. After the leagues agreed to pursue a partnership in June 2023, discussions continued all the way to the White House in February 2025, where President Donald Trump hosted Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Al-Rumayyan and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. While the meeting was publicly deemed “constructive,” it was one of the final, if not the final, times the sides would meet.
Much of the last year has been spent with each side going its own direction, with little talk of reunification. The Tour hired a new CEO, Brian Rolapp, and is taking an aggressive route to recreate itself with a new competitive structure based on fewer events with harsh promotion and relegation. LIV Golf pursued scale with its international events and occasionally found success, particularly in golf markets, like Australia and South Africa, that the PGA Tour has not visited for years. But a few key factors matter more than on-site attendance, namely how many events draw meaningful broadcast audiences and generate big-time sponsor interest.
LIV’s players are contracted to play 14 events annually. The league has settled into a yearly calendar where most of its first half of events are played abroad and its summer events in the States. In 2025, LIV saw big crowds at plenty of its domestic events, setting records in Chicago and Indianapolis last August. But hosting events in the winter and spring in far-reaching corners of the world has been challenging when it comes to attracting U.S. television audiences. The time-zone differential between, say, Saudi Arabia for the league’s season-opener, and the American East Coast, requires tee times be scheduled late to serve U.S. fans … or ignoring that audience all together.
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As GOLF.com’s James Colgan reported last spring, the Tour has out-rated LIV repeatedly by a scale of 10x to 11x. For any number of reasons — like the decades-old viewing habits pushing golf fans to CBS and NBC, not FOX Sports — golf viewers have not tuned in to LIV competition like they have for other pro events. Considering that more than half of the PGA Tour’s core revenues are tied up in television rights, similarly to other major pro sports leagues, the value LIV could accrue from a small TV audience was a glaring void on its profit and loss sheet.
Despite that, LIV continued to spend lavishly to host its tournaments. From its debut event — outside London in 2022 — it was clear that few costs had been spared in building its futuristic fan village, locking in courses and, most important, paying for talent. Those expenditures continued to this day, with LIV landing superstar DJ Calvin Harris’s first-ever performance on the African continent.
The cost of creating mega-wattage events with massive musical acts and building out a different version of what golf tournaments could look like has not been cheap. According to business filings in the United Kingdom, LIV’s international events business incurred losses of more than $460 million in 2024 alone, and north of $1 billion over the last four years. LIV’s rate of loss had slowed in recent the years, but O’Neil explained to the Financial Times in early 2026 that he didn’t see the league turning a profit in the next five years, or maybe even 10 years. And yet, the money always been there. Business filings in the U.K. show steady capital support from LIV’s backers.
If the PIF does divest from LIV, the league will, of course, need new investors to stay operational beyond this season. One path forward could be selling minority ownership stakes in LIV teams, which earlier this year league officials and players said was a possibility. Partnering with another tour or tours might also be an option.
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This week marks LIV’s sixth event of its 2026 season. Next on the schedule is the league’s first U.S. tournament of the year, at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia, from May 7-10. The following week, LIV’s top players will convene in Philadelphia for the PGA Championship at Aronomink.
Gary Lineker has opened up on Cristiano Ronaldo unfollowing him on Instagram, with the former England striker giving his opinion
Gary Lineker believes Cristiano Ronaldo unfollowed him on social media due to his assertion that Lionel Messi is the superior footballer. The Messi versus Ronaldo debate remains one of football’s most enduring rivalries.
The two icons have amassed 13 Ballon d’Or titles between them, with Messi claiming eight and former Manchester United star Ronaldo collecting five throughout their illustrious careers.
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Lineker, who spent considerable time at Barcelona, has consistently maintained his view that Messi is above Ronaldo as the greater of the two.
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Speaking on the Rest is Football Podcast, Lineker said: “He doesn’t like me very much, Cristiano Ronaldo. I didn’t upset him by anything I said about him.
“Other than the fact I’m honest and think overall Messi’s a better football. He unfollowed me on Instagram. I’ll get over it.”
After the remark drew laughter from co-hosts Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Lineker joked: “I will always like him. I’ve met him a lot of times. I know he’s got the hump with me. But that’s OK. And on that note… Please Cristiano… give me a call. Let’s be friends again.”
For Ronaldo, however, the question of who betters Messi is no laughing matter. During a Spanish television interview in February last year, he elaborated at length on why he considers himself the superior player.
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Ronaldo told LaSexta TV: “I’m the best player in football history. I haven’t seen anyone better than me in football history, and I’m saying truth from my heart.
“I’m talking about numbers. I think I’m the most complete player to have existed. In my opinion, I think it’s me. I do everything well in football: with my head, free kicks, left foot. I’m fast. I’m strong.
“One thing is taste. If you like Messi, Pele, Maradona, I understand that and I respect that, but saying Ronaldo isn’t complete … I’m the most complete. I haven’t seen anybody better than me, and I say it from the heart.”
Following his achievement of becoming the highest goalscorer in history after netting twice in Al-Nassr’s 4-0 win over Al Wasl in the AFC Champions League last year, he further remarked: “Who’s the best goal scorer in history? It’s about numbers. Full stop.
“Who’s the player in history who’s scored the most goals with their head, their left foot, penalties, free kicks?
“I was looking the other day, and not being left-footed, I’m in the top 10 goal scorers with their left foot in history – and with my head and with my right foot and penalties. All of them.”
Arriving at his training session, Cole was all business, talking mostly in English while throwing in Italian phrases.
One local staff member was impressed by his willingness to tidy up the equipment, which he said was uncommon for a player who had enjoyed such a successful playing career.
To Cole, a former schoolboy from east London, that behaviour is normal. Even his new title – ‘Mister’, bestowed on all managers in Italy – is something he is still getting used to.
“I don’t see myself above anyone at this club,” he said. “Of course I have to be the leader of the group, but I’ll pick up a cone.”
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Cole had some awareness of what he was arriving into in Emilia‑Romagna – nicknamed Italy’s ‘food valley’ and famous for parmigiano reggiano, balsamic vinegar from Modena and prosciutto di parma – with his wife Sharon Canu an important sounding board.
“I certainly didn’t go looking for an Italian wife [when he joined Roma in 2014], but I came back with one,” he joked.
“Sharon has been great for me. She’s from Rome, but she understands that people in smaller cities really love the club where they live. I have to embrace that.”
One example is Cole’s routine of buying a five euro ‘piadina’ – an Italian flatbread sandwich – from a stall outside Cesena’s stadium before his media conferences. The food stand also regularly feeds the squad after home matches.
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In this working‑class town of fewer than 100,000 people, Cole’s side are underdogs in Serie B – something he identifies with.
“I liked that the owners have a similar background to me – hard work, graft, underdogs nobody believed in – but they created a really successful business,” he said.
“They also wanted someone to believe in them and give them a chance.”
Cesena, like most Italian clubs, rent their stadium and training facilities from the local authority, but Cole has innovated where he can.
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He created a video analysis room and uses a high-angle tactical camera to film his sessions, which he watches back in full every day.
“I came here thinking something had to change,” Cole said. “We hadn’t won away from home for a long time, so that had to change – it wasn’t working.
“We’d gone a number of games without a win, so that had to change too. We needed higher intensity in training and matches. The style of football had to change.
“We had to be more adaptable to the different styles we come up against, and we needed more control in games through possession.”
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In his first media conference, Cole also called out Italy’s failure to qualify for three consecutive World Cups as a sign they needed to be open to new styles of football, which he is implementing before a trip to face Palermo on Saturday.
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