“That ‘buy a TV Licence’ QR Code is killing me”

Millions of viewers received a TV licence fee alert during the BBC’s airing of the England and Ghana World Cup match on Tuesday (June 23).

Fans watching the game at home quickly took to social media to hit out at the notice, which appeared intermittently on screens along with a QR code urging them to ensure they had a TV licence.

Currently, the standard UK TV Licence fee is £180 per year for both homes and businesses. The licence is required for those watching or recording live TV on any channel, or if using BBC iPlayer.

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The BBC deployed the use of the interactive QR codes during the live airing of the match at Boston Stadium, with millions tuning in to watch the game live on Tuesday. Viewers took to X, formerly Twitter, to share their views, dubbing the move ‘cringy’ and ‘desperate’.

One BBC insider told The Times that the prompts were designed to be a “very soft reminder” that all viewers must pay if they were watching any of the broadcaster’s programming.

“We are expecting a very broad audience to be watching the football and there will be a small section who don’t often come to the BBC,” they told the newspaper.

“Buy a TV licence, err how about f*** off” one user wrote on X on Tuesday, as another commented: “That ‘buy a TV Licence’ QR Code is killing me, BBC better behave.”

“BBC begging people to buy a tv licence at half time is so desperate and cringy…” another posted, as a fourth wrote: “BBC putting a QR code in the corner telling us to buy a TV licence. Absolutely no shame.”

It’s understood the use of the on-screen QR codes has already been tested across a number of previous World Cup fixtures following a successful pilot at the FA Cup final.

A TV Licensing spokesperson said in a statement: “We regularly test new ways of supporting people to get and stay correctly licensed.” The body also posted a reminder on social media before the game, which read: “England take on Ghana tonight at 9pm on BBC One. Remember, you need a TV Licence to watch the game live. Buy your licence here.”

Ante Budimir guided Croatia to a 1-0 ​win over a stubborn Panama side in their World Cup Group L clash on Tuesday, giving the Balkan side a crucial three points and eliminating the Central Americans on a night where the stakes ⁠were high for both sides.

Croatia and Panama came into the match looking for their first points of the tournament and knowing that a loss would send them home early after England and Ghana drew 0-0 earlier in the other game in the section.

Toronto ⁠Stadium was painted red, white and blue – ​the ⁠colours of both countries’ flags – on a windy evening by Lake Ontario. Croatia’s faithful serenaded attendees with a moving rendition of Hrvatski Band ⁠Aid’s “Moja domovina” rally song before kickoff, setting the tone for a lively match.

Croatia ​finally ⁠found a way past Panama’s ‌organised back line in the second half when Marco Pasalic played a clever backheel to Josip Stanisic, who skipped forward and swung a cross into the ‌box that Budimir guided home to put Croatia ‌ahead and send their wall of fans behind the goal into a frenzy.

They nearly added another when Pasalic was played in all alone, though he could not beat goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera and ⁠then sent the rebound skyward.

Both teams went toe-to-toe in a physical midfield battle but it was Panama who gave Croatia plenty of scares in the opening period with their pace down the wings as Jose Luis Rodriguez and Amir Murillo sent crosses into the box, though no one connected.

The victory was a sweet finale on a special night for 40-year-old Croatia midfield maestro Luka Modric, ‌who made his 200th international appearance and was thrown in the ​air by his teammates to mark the achievement at the end ‌of the match.

While Panama have been ⁠eliminated, they still have a lot to play for in their final ⁠group-stage match as they continue to search for their first win at a World Cup, though ‌it is a difficult ​ask against Group L leaders England.

Croatia ‌face second-placed Ghana, who are level on four ​points with England, in their final group match on Saturday.

Additional reporting by Reuters

Manchester United are keen to bolster their midfield this summer and an unexpected opportunity could be about to present itself

Manchester United’s midfield is their top priority this summer and with the transfer window a little more than a week old, the Reds are already making good strides in that area. Atlanta’s Ederson will be the first new addition to the ranks after United agreed a £35m plus add-ons deal for the Brazil international.

The 26-year-old’s late call-up to the World Cup has halted the progression of the deal. However, there is nothing to concern United fans and Ederson will be joining once his nation’s tournament ends. With one midfielder all but signed, the Reds have continued their hunt elsewhere.

Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson is admired by United but a deal looks set to be too much for the Reds. Manchester City’s rejected offer of £120m was always going to be well over what Ineos would agree to spend.

So the attention turned to West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes. The Hammers’ relegation to the Championship has put them in a tricky spot financially. They already declared in their most recent financial results that they would need to sell players in a bid to avoid Financial Fair Play (FFP) sanctions.

Understandably, Fernandes would be keen to remain in the Premier League next season and considering West Ham’s predicament, United will be confident they can eventually agree a deal with the Championship side. However, the Reds are not the only ones keen on the central midfielder.

Tottenham have been credited with interest in the 21-year-old, thus ensuring a move for Fernandes won’t be straightforward. With pressure building to sign Fernandes or risk having to move onto another target, an unexpected opportunity has opened up for the Reds.

According to reports, Real Madrid are now understood to be open to selling Aurelien Tchouameni this summer. It has been a month of change for Los Blancos with Jose Mourinho taking over and appearing to be wasting little time overhauling the squad.

From United’s perspective, this news will be a major shock. It is understood Real had been set on keeping Tchouameni despite him being at the centre of a squad disagreement earlier in the year.

However, were the midfielder to become available, as is claimed, United would be interested in signing him. That is no surprise either when you look at the defensive midfielder’s CV.

He has won the Champions League, La Liga, Club World Cup, Copa del Rey and two UEFA Super Cups while still being just 26. For the most part, the France international has been a key figure during this success.

That kind of experience is highly desirable for the Reds. They do not have a host of players who have been there and done it at the highest level.

Despite this, United’s interest in Fernandes makes the most sense. He is 21, played two full seasons in the Premier League and impressed in both, albeit those clubs were relegated to the Championship.

At the right price, Fernandes offers United a good opportunity to make a profit on his re-sale, should they wish to. Essentially, the midfielder is a ‘plug and play’ signing, who could fill in immediately next season, at an age where his best years are still to come.

On the other hand, Tchouameni is 26 and is in the peak of his career. This makes Real’s stance surprising, considering he featured so regularly for them last season. If a deal is there for the Reds, they would like to get it done though.

He would be a dream addition for United but there’s a long way to go before a deal can be completed. In the meantime, expect the Reds to keep digging away at a move for Fernandes.

Austria manager Ralf Rangnick was full of praise for Lionel Messi after Monday’s 2-0 defeat to Argentina, but he also felt a key refereeing decision played a role in the result.

While acknowledging Argentina’s quality, Rangnick questioned whether the opening goal should have counted.

Speaking after the match, the Austria boss pointed to what he felt was a foul on Xaver Schlager in the build-up.

“For the first goal, I would’ve asked the fourth official to do what he did before the penalty kick; he should have looked, and he would’ve seen what everyone saw: a foul on Xaver Schlager.”

The comments came after referee Amin Omar reviewed an earlier penalty decision involving Messi through VAR, leading Rangnick to question why a similar review was not carried out before Argentina’s opener.

Despite his frustration over the goal, Rangnick acknowledged the difference Messi made once again on the biggest stage.

“We knew he was on a level of his own, and Lionel Messi showed he’s one of the best, or even the best.”

Messi’s brace secured victory for Argentina and moved him clear as the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer with 18 goals.

The Austrian coach also admitted his side was at fault for the second goal.

“I think we participated in the second goal, that’s our own fault.”

But he remained convinced that the opening goal deserved a closer review.

For Austria, the result was disappointing but not disastrous. The defeat leaves Rangnick’s side with work to do in their final group-stage match, while the debate over Argentina’s first goal is likely to continue.

As far as the Austria coach is concerned, one decision changed the course of the game.

Michael Kent Jnr is optimistic that Think Giant will ultimately compete in races of greater significance than the one scheduled for him this Saturday at Caulfield, viewing it as a suitable starting point for his Australian campaign.

The imported four-year-old gelding is set to make his debut on Australian soil in the $130,000 benchmark 78 event over 1700 metres.

This outing will mark the Lope De Vega gelding’s first start since achieving a fourth placing in a Group 1 race at Cologne in September last year, and Kent is looking forward to seeing where his Southern Hemisphere career leads.

“He’s lovely, scopey horse who is far from the finished product,” Kent said.

“He’s 16.2 (hands) and all leg and I think he’ll keep filling out over the next 12 months or so.”

“Like all of the imports, we’re not forcing him, we just want to let him come to hand naturally and expect that he’ll get better for the prep and be better next preparation.”

Think Giant was purchased in partnership with OTI for €280,000 (approximately AU$457,000) at The Arc Sale at Arqana in France, following his fourth-place finish behind Sibayan in the Preis Von Europa (2400m).

This performance followed a third placing over 2400m at Listed level in France, which was his second Black Type placing after finishing runner-up over 1600m at Group 3 level in Germany as a two-year-old.

Kent noted that Think Giant required some time to acclimate, but a spell with Steven Pateman at Thirteenth Beach aided his settling process, and he and co-trainer Mick Price have observed a considerable turnaround in recent weeks.

“It’s been the last five weeks really where he’s just got it,” Kent stated.

“Now he walks out of the barn and he walks home, whereas he used to jig-jog everywhere.”

“He’s a real stayer, but he’s going the right way finally.”

Think Giant’s preparations have included a couple of Cranbourne jumpout wins, one over 1200m and another over 1400m, which Kent considered encouraging.

“We haven’t tuned him up for a first up win or anything like that, we’ve just brought him along gently and let everything happen naturally for him,” he commented.

“I don’t think the trials he won at Cranbourne were particularly strong, but he stayed on well on wet ground.”

“He’ll get back and then run on, but I think he’ll be looking for 2000 metres pretty quickly and we have got a bit of weight there on Saturday as well.”

Think Giant will carry 61kg at Caulfield, with Tom Stockdale booked to ride. Explore the available racing betting markets for this exciting debut.

As expected, the Washington Wizards have begun the 2026 NBA Draft by selecting BYU’s AJ Dybantsa with the first overall pick. 

In a draft class loaded with “cant-miss prospects,” Dybantsa stood out above the rest, as the 6-foot-9, 217-pound forward put on a show with the Cougars in his one and only collegiate season. 

Dybantsa averaged 25.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game, while shooting 51% from the field for BYU. He became the fifth Division-1 player in the last 40 seasons to average at least 25 points while shooting 50% from the field in a single season. 

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NBA Draft Prospect, AJ Dybansta poses for a portrait during the content circuit as part of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 22, 2026 at the Lotte Palace Hotel in New York City, New York York.  (Steve Freeman/NBAE)

The other top prospects in the draft, including Kansas’ Darryn Peterson and Duke’s Cam Boozer, were in contention for the top pick. But considering the Wizards had already locked up Trae Young on a massive extension prior to the draft, it was clear Washington was looking to go with a dynamic forward that could enhance their playoff hopes right away. 

Dybantsa fits the bill, especially when it comes to his shot creation. His short BYU career proved that he can create no matter where he is on the floor, using his 7-foot wingspan to his advantage, whether it be rising over his defender or slicing through the lane.

THE 2026 NBA DRAFT CLASS HAS THE ‘BEST’ AND ‘DEEPEST’ CROP OF FRESHMEN, ESPN BROADCASTER SAYS

Dybantsa has also shown a flair for the big moment, most notably in the first round of the NCAA Tournament when he drilled a deep three-pointer to force overtime. Unfortunately, the Cougars were eliminated in their opening game, leaving fans to wonder what might have been after Dybantsa’s brief March Madness showcase.

AJ Dybantsa declares for the NBA Draft during an event at the Davis K-8 School in Brockton, Mass., on April 23, 2026. (Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe/Getty Images)

But there is no question the Boston, Mass. native is ready for the biggest stage in basketball, even at 19 years old. He will need to tighten his game and develop more — his ball-handling skills have been something brought up during the pre-Draft process — but the ceiling is very high for Dybantsa as he slots into the Wizards’ roster. 

That roster not only has Young locked up, but they also traded for Anthony Davis last season, and he figures to be a key piece of this rebuilding puzzle, granted he remains healthy. Alex Sarr, who the Wizards took second overall out of France in 2024, will look to take steps forward, while veterans like D’Angelo Russell will also play a role. 

BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) dribbles the ball against Clemson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, in New York.  (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

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The Wizards have not won more than 18 games in each of the past three seasons, and they’re desperate to return to the playoffs for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign.

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Panama were eliminated from World Cup contention after Croatia kept their hopes of progressing to the last 32 alive with a hard-fought 1-0 win on Tuesday.

Croatia, who made it to the last four of the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, were looking to bounce back after their opening Group L match, a 4-2 defeat to England in Dallas.

In the end, Ante Budimir’s 54th-minute goal proved enough to see off the spirited Central Americans.

Croatia’s most celebrated player, Luka Modrić, was making his 200th international appearance, but his early headed effort on goal sailed over the bar.

Under Danish-born coach Thomas Christiansen, Panama have implemented a tight defensive structure that helped them secure their second-ever World Cup appearance.

But it was the Panamanian offence that almost made the difference in the first half.

In the 23rd minute, José Luis Rodríguez guided a header towards goal but the outstretched fingertips of Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livaković redirected the ball off the bar.

Read moreWorld Cup 2026: England held by Ghana in goalless Group L stalemate

The second half marked a clear momentum shift, and the capacity crowd of 43,000 in Toronto, with a strong Croatian majority, erupted when Budimir tapped in a cross from Josip Stanišić.

Croatia should have been two up minutes later, when a perfectly weighted pass from Modrić sent Marco Pašalić alone speeding towards goal.

Pašalić’s first effort was stopped by goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera and, although the rebound came back to him, he blazed an off-balance second attempt well over the bar.

Panama kept pressing for the equaliser but they ultimately failed to find the net, extending their World Cup goalless streak.

They face England in what will be their final match of the tournament on Friday.

Croatia have three points and will face Ghana, who moved onto four points after holding England to a goalless draw earlier, for a place in the final 32.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

While Tom Charlton has a Group 1 winner entered for the feature race at Rosehill this Saturday, a stablemate competing in a supporting race could prove to be the stable’s premier staying prospect.

King Pedro is set to compete over 2400 metres for the first time this preparation in the $160,000 Stayer’s Cup. The New Zealand-bred son of Eminent has not experienced much fortune in his three runs this campaign, including a narrow second place over 2000m at Rosehill on June 13, and Charlton is hopeful for a turnaround.

“He probably hasn’t had a lot of luck for his past four runs, to be fair,” Charlton commented. “You could make a case that he’s been unlucky in all of them, but he’s building into the preparation very well.”

King Pedro finished second at Gosford over 2100m two starts ago, having been narrowly beaten by Monopolistic after an early surge. This followed a seventh-place finish on debut over 1600m at Randwick on Anzac Day, where he encountered traffic problems in the straight but was ultimately beaten by only a length.

The Stayer’s Cup will be King Pedro’s first start at the 2400-metre distance since another close second in benchmark 78 grade at Randwick on December 20.

King Pedro’s recent misfortune means he has accumulated only two wins from 14 starts and holds a rating of 77, which accounts for his 54.5kg weight on Saturday. Charlton indicated that if he performs well this weekend, he could be considered for Stakes grade.

“We toyed with going to the Caloundra Cup (next week), but if he was to run well in the Stayer’s Cup he could go to the Grafton Cup two-and-a-half weeks later,” Charlton noted. “He’s clearly got a good future, probably at a grade better than this, and he should stay well.”

Maison Louis, last year’s Queensland Derby winner, will also be at Rosehill. He aims to recover from a poor showing in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) and will compete in the $200,000 Listed McKell Cup over 2000m. “His runs prior to last weekend have all been with plenty of merit, just with barriers draws and things not working out, so I would be confident he can run well at Listed grade.”

Place your bets on the Stayer’s Cup with Australian betting sites and support King Pedro’s bid for a change of luck.