Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome James Reade, Professor of Economics at the University of Reading. He argues that FIFA’s reported proposal of private equity involvement in the FIFA World Cup represents far more than a financial restructuring. It raises fundamental questions about ownership, governance, and the very purpose of football’s most iconic competition. Reade suggests that introducing private investors risks crossing a red line: Private equity would completely reframe the World Cup as a commercial asset focused on generating returns for investors.

New India jersey (ANI Photo)

Bengaluru: Indian hockey has changed its colours. In place of the legacy blue, a norm since 1926 and a shade instantly identified with the country’s stickmen and women, is saffron, starting from the FIH World Cup in Belgium and the Netherlands in a fortnight. The new kits arrived at the national camps here last week.It is a pass from the deep that has sparked outrage from former players, hockey lovers and people across society. As the visuals of the new jerseys were released earlier this week, it blew up social media. Hockey India (HI) scampered into damage control mode, claiming that the blue was being discarded since it clashed with the colour of the turf and hampered visibility. Blue-coloured turfs have been in practice for 14 years now.“The decision was taken collectively by the players and coaches after we felt the blue jersey blended with the blue turf, making visibility difficult at times. We used the new jersey in training on Thursday, and it made it easier to identify teammates and communicate on the field,” men’s team skipper Harmanpreet Singh told TOI.Meanwhile, a few players TOI spoke to said there was no team meeting held to discuss the colour of the jersey, and they realised the colour change only when their kits arrived.Past masters who have donned the blue with pride, are hurt by the decision.Vasudevan Baskaran, the captain of the 1980 Moscow Olympics gold-winning team, questioned, “This entire generation has grown up playing on blue turf; have they suddenly gone colour blind? We have played in blue clothing since 1928; it is a colour we identify with when we say an India jersey. Why change it now? It is shameful.”Former India captain Viren Rasquinha was among the first to react, posting, “… This is embarrassing. The legacy and identity of the Indian team has always been blue. I wore the Blue jersey with pride for many years. Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic of orange?”Defending the change of colour, HI president Dilip Tirkey — a former India captain who played most of his 412 internationals in blue — told TOI, “I don’t understand why people are reacting negatively to the change in jersey colour. This is not the first time that we are playing in non-blue jerseys. The players and support staff felt a striking colour would ensure better visibility of the ball on the blue pitch.”On the colour that was eventually chosen, Dilip explained, “We had a choice of two colours, yellow and orange; we collectively went with the latter because orange is a part of the tricolour. Also, we haven’t said the team won’t wear blue ever again.”India have in the past worn different colours at various tournaments. They went with yellow and light blue jerseys at the World Cups in 2014 and 2018 respectively, while white with orange has been used as well in the past, including at the Olympics.The issue of ball visibility on a blue turf is rather subjective, given that the blue surface was introduced in 2012 and the citing and the colour of the jersey were not discussed.Outlining the importance of the blue jersey, Baskaran added, “In 1960, as a school boy, I watched Harbinder Singh and team play and told myself, ‘One day I want to wear the India blue.’ The colour is identified as the national sporting colour, and it is being taken away from the national sport.”A former hockey Olympic medallist, who did not want to be named, pointed out, “For 14 years, the team has been playing on blue turfs wearing the same colour jersey. If it was such a big problem, why wasn’t this discussed or implemented before? Also, the men’s team won two Olympic bronze medals wearing blue, and the women’s team’s best performance at the Olympics came in the same colours too. What’s changed now?”Harmanpreet urged people to focus on supporting the team. “We are always looking for ways to improve, and if a change benefits the team, we will make it. There is no politics behind this—it’s purely a sporting decision. I hope the focus remains on supporting the team as we prepare for the World Cup and aim to get the coveted trophy home,” the drag flick ace stated.

Cristina Ulbrich, the wife of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, died Sunday after a battle with cancer, the team announced.

“The Atlanta Falcons are heartbroken by the passing of Cristina Ulbrich, beloved wife of defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, after her courageous battle with cancer,” the Falcons wrote in a statement.

“Cristina was a devoted wife, mother and friend whose strength, grace and resilience touched all who knew her. She was a constant source of love and support to Jeff, their family and the broader Falcons community.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich of the New York Jets and his wife, Cristina Ulbrich, embrace before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium Oct. 14, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Getty Images)

“On behalf of the entire organization, we extend our deepest condolences to Jeff, their children and all who loved Cristina. During this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts and prayers are with the Ulbrich family. We ask that their privacy be respected as they grieve this profound loss, and we stand with them in support and remembrance of Cristina’s life.”

Ulbrich, 49, had not been spotted at Falcons training camp during practices Tuesday and Wednesday, according to multiple reports.

Jeff and Cristina share three children together — Samantha, Jax and Jace.

ANDY REID PROVIDES UPDATE ON WIFE OF ERIC BIENIEMY, WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY SHOT BY OWN SON

The couple met during the former linebacker’s recruiting visit to Hawaii in 1997, according to The Athletic.

Ulbrich became the Falcons’ defensive coordinator last season after serving in the same role with the New York Jets since 2021.

It’s his second stint with the Falcons, the team he joined in 2015 to become a linebackers coach. He was a part of the infamous loss in the 2017 Super Bowl, when the New England Patriots stormed back from a 28-3 deficit to defeat the Falcons in overtime to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich of the New York Jets and his wife, Cristina Ulbrich, embrace before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Oct. 14, 2024. (Getty Images)

In 2020, Ulbrich was promoted to assistant head coach and linebackers coach, and in October of that year, he was named defensive coordinator under interim head coach Raheem Morris.

Ulbrich eventually joined Robert Saleh in New York in 2021, and, in 2024, he was named interim head coach after the Jets fired Saleh. Ulbrich finished 3-9 as interim head coach that year before rejoining Morris, who was named full-time head coach, last season to serve as his defensive coordinator.

Morris was fired after one season, but the Falcons kept Ulbrich in his role while hiring Kevin Stefanski as their next head coach for the 2026 season.

Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich of the New York Jets and his wife, Cristina Ulbrich, embrace before a game against the Buffalo Bills at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., Oct. 14, 2024. (Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Before coaching, Ulbrich spent 10 years in the NFL as a linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers from 2000-09.

He got his first coaching job with the Seattle Seahawks after retirement and also spent time as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator with the UCLA Bruins.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Given Keith herself was a tad surprised she scooped up a medal here, her grandad’s take on the event ought to be a good one.

The 10,000m is her preference, but the longer distance final did not go to plan on Monday and she finished seventh.

The Inverness athlete said she was faced with the ‘can Megan win a medal?’ talk earlier this week, but with that weight of expectation lifted – combined with experience of the home crowd and “the help of two other Scots in the race” – she was freed from the shackles to soar to a classy and courageous run.

“If you look at Monday on paper, that was pretty disappointing,” the 24-year-old added.

“I don’t think you’d put me in the running for a 5km medal since the 10km is normally closer to being my strength, so that definitely helped, the removal of that pressure.

“I think I knew if I felt horrendous and dropped out or fell off the pace again it wouldn’t really matter so I may as well shoot my shot.”

And shoot she did. Biding her time in the middle of the congested pact, Keith made her move with four laps to go, weaving past early pacesetters from Kenya and Uganda.

She was afforded a bit of breathing space with two hurls around the track to go. But as expected, the exceptional Australian duo of Rose Davies – who made it a double gold at these Games with her 10km – and Jessica Hull, the 1500m Olympic silver medallist, entered another gear in the final lap.

While the cameras focused on the tremendous tussle between the pair in the matching yellow vests, the majority of the crowd had their eyes a wee bit further back, bawling at Keith on the final stretch.

She was home safe and sound. And swiftly searching for a saltire.

Once that was draped over her shoulders, and she’d caught up with fellow Scots Eloise Walker and Laura Muir, who finished 15th and 16th respectively, she was darting back around the track – the wrong way, this time – in search of her grandad.

He was eventually found for a quick hug, but a bigger debrief – and the declaration, surely, that this topped any other Scotstoun occasion – is still to be had.

The second round of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open kicks off early Friday morning at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. Here’s everything you need to know to watch the tournament on Friday, including full AIG Women’s Open TV coverage, streaming info and Round 2 tee times.

How to watch AIG Women’s Open on Friday

LPGA star Jeeno Thitikul fired a Women’s Open record seven-under 64 on Day 1 Royal Lytham and St. Annes to charge into an early two-shot lead.

The former World No. 1, who is 23, has an accomplsihed career so far, having already won nine LPGA events. But there’s one thing missing from her resume: a major championship title.

With 54 holes to go, Thitikul is in great shape to make it happen this week.

You can watch the second round of the AIG Women’s Open on TV via Golf Channel and USA, with Golf Channel opening the coverage at 4 a.m. ET on Friday. USA’s telecast will start at 8 a.m. ET.

Below you will find everything you need to know to watch the second round of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open.

How to watch on TV Friday

USA and Golf Channel will air second-round TV coverage of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open. Golf Channel’s Friday telecast runs from 4-8 a.m. ET, followed by USA from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. ET.

How to stream online Friday

Additional streaming coverage for the second round of the 2026 AIG Women’s Open will be available via Golfchannel.com, the Golf Channel App and the NBC Sports App.

2026 AIG Women’s Open Round 2 tee times (ET)

Tee No. 1

1:30 a.m. – Jing Yan, Agathe Laisne, Lauren Walsh
1:41 a.m. – Kelsey Bennett, Weiwei Zhang, Kajsa Arwefjall
1:52 a.m. – Erika Hara, Chiara Tamburlini, Melanie Green
2:03 a.m. – Nanna Koerstz Madsen, Kana Nagai, Esme Hamilton
2:14 a.m. – Shiho Kuwaki, Helen Briem, Lucy Li
2:25 a.m. – Anna Huang, Jenny Bae, Paula Martin Sampedro (a)
2:36 a.m. – Lilia Vu, Shuri Sakuma, Rose Zhang
2:47 a.m. – Ariya Jutanugarn, A Lim Kim, Casandra Alexander
2:58 a.m. – Hinako Shibuno, Georgia Hall, Valentine Delon (a)
3:09 a.m. – Gaby Lopez, Chisato Iwai, Celine Boutier
3:20 a.m. – Ruoning Yin, Nasa Hataoka, Jennifer Kupcho
3:31 a.m. – Miyu Yamashita, Jeeno Thitikul, Lauren Coughlin
3:42 a.m. – Charley Hull, Hannah Green, Brooke Henderson
3:58 a.m. – Maja Stark, Jin Hee Im, Allisen Corpuz
4:09 a.m. – Min-sol Kim, Patty Tavatanakit, Megan Khang
4:20 a.m. – Pajaree Anannarukarn, Youmin Hwang, Leona Maguire
4:31 a.m. – Ashleigh Buhai, Fuka Suga, Dewi Weber
4:42 a.m. – Min Sun Kim, Mi Hyang Lee, Nicole Broch Estrup
4:53 a.m. – Chanettee Wannasaen, Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, Yu Liu
5:04 a.m. – Ryann O’Toole, Robyn Choi, Charlotte Naughton (a)
5:15 a.m. – Nataliya Guseva, Noora Komulainen, Lauren Crump (a)
5:26 a.m. – Carla Tejedo Mulet, Diksha Dagar, Yana Wilson
5:37 a.m. – Daniela Darquea, Polly Mack, Gina Kim
5:48 a.m. – Aunchisa Utama, Ana Pelaez Trivino, Vanessa Bouvet
6:14 a.m. – Alice Hewson, Amanda Doherty, Chloe Williams
6:25 a.m. – Amelia Garvey, Leonie Harm, Smilla Tarning Soenderby
6:36 a.m. – Wei-Ling Hsu, Aditi Ashok, Darcey Harry
6:47 a.m. – Anna Nordqvist, Cassie Porter, Sayaka Takahashi
6:58 a.m. – Minami Katsu, Yealimi Noh, Stephanie Kyriacou
7:09 a.m. – Carlota Ciganda, Karis Davidson, Maria Jose Marin (a)
7:20 a.m. – Ina Yoon, Alison Lee, Yunseo Yang (a)
7:31 a.m. – Jiyai Shin, Auston Kim, In Gee Chun
7:42 a.m. – Linn Grant, Jin Young Ko, Kiara Romero (a)
7:53 a.m. – Sei Young Kim, Rio Takeda, Yuna Araki
8:04 a.m. – Hyo Joo Kim, Minjee Lee, Mao Saigo
8:15 a.m. – Lottie Woad, Aki Iwai, Andrea Lee
8:26 a.m. – Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda, Haeran Ryu
8:42 a.m. – Hye-Jin Choi, Grace Kim, Mimi Rhodes
8:53 a.m. – Somi Lee, Esther Henseleit, Ayaka Furue
9:04 a.m. – Lindy Duncan, Amy Yang, Julia Lopez Ramirez
9:15 a.m. – Sophia Popov, Jenny Shin, Perrine Delacour
9:26 a.m. – Yan Liu, Shannon Tan, Yuka Saso
9:37 a.m. – Yani Tseng, Nastasia Nadaud, Alexandra Forsterling
9:48 a.m. – Arpichaya Yubol, Cara Gainer, Minji Kang
9:59 a.m. – In Kyung Kim, Manon De Roey, Carolina Chacarra
10:10 a.m. – Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Anna Zanusso, Justice Bosio
10:21 a.m. – Sara Kouskova, Soo Bin Joo, Annabell Fuller
10:32 a.m. – Pia Babnik, Anna Foster, Bel Wardle

We have four more men to put in order after having spent the last month ranking all the position groups in the NFC North division. More specifically, it’s the men in charge: the NFC North head coaches.

NFC North Head Coach Rankings for 2026

— Check back on the position rankings through the following links QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, iDL, EDGE, LB, CB, S —

In keeping with everything else in the division there is very little to choose between the four head coaches. All four have an NFC North division title to their name, and all four will be hungry for more post-season success, which is what will eventually separate these coaches.

1. Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears)

It might be early to make this claim but any doubts that he could take his success from offensive coordinator to the head coach role were quickly put to bed. Ben Johnson led the Bears to an 11-win season that secured the division title (first since 2018) and then a playoff win (first since 2010) over the Packers. Chicago would eventually fall in the divisional round to a narrow 20-17 loss to the LA Rams in overtime.

Following up a great first season could be an issue especially with the Bears having a very tough schedule on paper, but Johnson has proven he can adapt his offense in the past. If Johnson can keep the good times rolling in Chicago in his second year, he will quickly thrust his name into the conversation about the best coaches in the league.

2. Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings)

He has his flaws but dragging his team to nine wins last season should be seen as impressive as the 13 and 14-win seasons of 2022 and 2024.

Kevin O’Connell has a new QB to work with in 2026 in Kyler Murray. O’Connell has had lots of success with many different QBs but the fact that there have been so many is also the problem. The Vikings are in desperate need of stability at the QB position to allow the 2024 Coach of the Year to get the best out of his offense.

The biggest question mark hanging over the Vikings’ head coach is his poor playoff record. Two visits to the playoffs following dominant regular seasons have yielded zero playoff wins. That needs to change.

3. Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers)

Matt LaFleur had a great start to life as Green Bay’s head coach, winning the division three times and making the NFC Championship Game twice.

Since then, with the departure of future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers – who had back-to-back MVP seasons in that run – LaFleur has kept the Packers competitive only missing out on the playoffs once in the last four seasons, but also only winning one playoff game. The Packers have been set up to win it throughout LaFleur’s tenure and if anything they’ve been getting further away.

This feels like a pivotal season for his future with the Packers and how he is viewed as a head coach.

4. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)

Some people might have him at the top of this list but I’m not a huge Dan Campbell fan.

Don’t get me wrong; his “us against the world” shtick that took a Lions franchise that had been suffering for decades to back-to-back division titles was impressive. I always had questions over what would happen after the success when you can’t rely on the poor downtrodden Lions’ motivation anymore and what would happen when he lost his coordinators – with both Johnson and Aaron Glenn both leaving last season.

What happened is Campbell took one of the most talented rosters in the NFL from first to worst and finished bottom of the division. The Lions did manage a winning season but 2026 is a big test of Campbell’s credentials. A return to the playoffs and we can put last year down to a hiccup, another disappointing season and it will look even more like Johnson was the brains behind Detroit’s success all along.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

Kawhi Leonard‘s trade hasn’t been finalized as the NBA‘s investigation of the LA Clippers hasn’t concluded yet. This summer, Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two future second-round selections.

Leonard and the Clippers are being investigated for allegedly improperly using an additional $28 million in off-the-books endorsement money to get around the salary cap. This has put the NBA star’s future with the Raptors at risk.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on Thursday that Toronto is being given a choice regarding the risk of what the NBA’s conclusion of the investigation.

“This was the Toronto Raptors being given a choice of are you willing to assume the risks of something happening with Kawhi Leonard after the investigation is completed? And they are not willing to assume those risks,” Shelburne said. “If they’re not, and we get to the end of the summer and there’s not a resolution here and there’s nobody from the NBA who can say with 100% certainty that there won’t be any fallout for Leonard, specifically. Then, it’s up to the Raptors.

Shelburne said that there is a chance that Kawhi Leonard could start the 2026-27 NBA season with the Clippers.

“I can see a world in which Kawhi Leonard is back on the Clippers if this trade doesn’t go through. And the Clippers, quite frankly, are fine with that.”

Shelburne added that the Raptors and Clippers are fine with the trade not falling through. LA is willing to accept Leonard back since the issue between them is the contract extension negotiations.

The Raptors Had an Opposite Stance on the Kawhi Leonard Trade

The Raptors addressed their current situation with the Leonard trade on Thursday. According to the statement, the team is willing to assume the risk once the NBA’s investigation ends.

“Regarding our planned trade with the L.A. Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the team stated.

They added that the franchise is “eager” to bring Leonard back to the team. They consider him a major part of their future as they try to contend for the championship.

If he gets traded, it will be Leonard’s second stint with the Raptors. Back in the 2018-19 season, he was traded to the franchise by the San Antonio Spurs. Although he only played one season, it was productive, and he led the team to its first championship. After that, the NBA star joined the Clippers.