Sports broadcaster Gary Lineker has said his “marriage” with the BBC had started to “run out of love” by the time he left the corporation.

The former England footballer, 65, was the presenter of BBC’s Match Of The Day for 26 years until he stepped down in May last year following criticism over him airing his political opinions on social media.

His departure came after a row following an Instagram post he made about Zionism, which featured a depiction of a rat, historically an antisemitic insult.

Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Lineker said the incident sped up his exit from the corporation, describing his relationship with the broadcaster as like a marriage that had run its course.

He said: “I was going anyway, but we just brought it forward. I thought it seemed to be the sensible thing to do.

“I think it’s like a marriage with the BBC. We’d been together for a long time and we were starting to run out of love for each other. I’ll always love the BBC. It’s an amazing, amazing corporation.”

The sports broadcaster apologised for the post, adding that he did not see the rat visual and that he did not think “anyone actually believes I would’ve posted that”.

He said: “Obviously, I learned about that pretty quickly after that. But that one I felt bad about because that was my mistake. That was my mistake because it was not with intent, but I could see why some people would be upset by that.”

The former Barcelona striker fronts The Rest Is Football podcast alongside former footballers Micah Richards and Alan Shearer with the series airing as a daily TV show on Netflix for the 2026 World Cup to cover events in the US, Canada and Mexico, where the tournament is being held.

Last week, Lineker’s media enterprise, Goalhanger, was named Britain’s fastest-growing company, highlighting a successful transition from traditional punditry to the burgeoning podcast industry.

Research for the annual Sunday Times 100 revealed the production firm generated £37.9 million in sales in 2025. This impressive figure reflects an average annual sales growth of approximately 321% over the last three years, positioning it as the top performer among all companies scrutinised.

Adrien Broner has named who he sees as the sport’s current flagship fighter, better than the likes of Oleksandr Usyk, Naoya Inoue and Shakur Stevenson.

Most would argue that the No.1 pound-for-pound spot belongs to either Usyk or Inoue, with both having become two-division undisputed champions.

More recently, Inoue has closed the gap by successfully defending his super-bantamweight crown against Junto Nakatani, who he unanimously outpointed at a sold-out Tokyo Dome last month.

Usyk, meanwhile, was also in action last month, only his performance against former kickboxer Rico Verhoeven did not quite live up to the vast majority of expectations.

Rather controversially, though, former world champion Broner has rejected both the Japanese sensation and masterful Ukrainian as his leading fighter.

Instead, he continues to regard Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, who has not fought since March 2025, as the most complete package in the sport today.

The 31-year-old’s last outing saw him retain his WBA lightweight title with a dubious draw against Lamont Roach, who was denied a clear 10-8 round after flooring his man in the ninth frame.

‘Tank’ was then set to face Jake Paul in an exhibition match last November, only to be removed from the lucrative opportunity due to a series of domestic violence allegations.

Subsequently, the WBA downgraded his status to “Champion in recess”, yet Broner has nonetheless told FightHype that he still sees Davis as the top pound-for-pound fighter.

“Tank [is the best fighter in the world]. Everything that them boys [other fighters] got, he got. But the s**t he [Davis] got, [they don’t have].”

Perhaps Broner is referring to the American’s considerable knockout power but, either way, it seems a stretch to rank Davis in any pound-for-pound list.

Bruno Fernandes can go one step further if Manchester United give him the dream midfield partner

Bruno Fernandes can look to break his own Premier League assists record next season thanks to Kobbie Mainoo.

The Manchester United captain made history against Brighton on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign by claiming a record-breaking 21st league assist. Fernandes’ corner was headed home by Patrick Dorgu in the 33rd minute to give Michael Carrick’s side the lead.

But it was clearly more important than any regular goal to the United players as they mobbed their skipper, who had been tied with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne on a record 20 assists beforehand.

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Fernandes’ milestone capped off an incredible individual campaign alongside playing a crucial role in the team securing Champions League qualification again, with his heroics clinching the Premier League Player of the Season and FWA Footballer of the Year awards.

And yet there is still scope for the 31-year-old to do better next season. Fernandes’ best form this term came when sharing the field with young midfielder Mainoo, who missed the majority of the season while Ruben Amorim was still in charge.

Amorim oddly shunned the Englishman throughout his Old Trafford tenure but Mainoo enjoyed a resurgence under interim boss Carrick from January onwards. With Mainoo on the pitch, Fernandes recorded a whopping 17 assists.

He incredibly notched 12 assists in 16 games when Mainoo started, showing how fruitful the partnership will be for United again across a full season, despite an expected summer of midfield incomings.

Mainoo’s regular involvement will be crucial if Fernandes hopes to stand a chance of shattering the record he set just last month next term.

Astonishingly, Fernandes’ assists fell drastically when Mainoo was not on the pitch to just four. That again shows Fernandes is most effective when playing alongside the deeper Mainoo, who was misprofiled as a No.10 by Amorim previously.

The 21-year-old is expected to play an important role again next campaign due to the permanent appointment of Carrick.

There is, of course, the caveat that around half of the goals set up by Fernandes in the league came from corners. Nevertheless, should the duo start the full 38 games together next term, the Portugal international is projected to exceed even 21 assists.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Texas A&M continues to collect postseason recognition even after its playoff exit, and this time one of the youngest Aggies is in the spotlight. On Monday, true freshman third baseman Nico Partida was named to the Freshman All‑American First Team by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), adding another major accolade to his breakout debut season.

After the Aggies reshuffled the infield following the 2025 campaign, Partida seized the starting third‑base job from day one an important development that allowed Gavin Grahovac to shift to first base, a preseason concern for the coaching staff. Partida not only stabilized the position but thrived in it, remaining a fixture in the lineup until suffering an injury late in the year.

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That injury ultimately derailed his chances at national Freshman of the Year, but up to that point he was widely viewed as a frontrunner. He earned Perfect Game’s Midseason Freshman of the Year, received an invitation to the 2026 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp, and was named to the Freshman All‑SEC Team.

The numbers back up the praise. In 49 games, Partida slashed .306/.408/.550 with 55 hits, eight doubles, 12 home runs, and 43 RBI. He recorded 17 multi‑hit games and 12 multi‑RBI performances, highlighted by a dominant outing against Georgia in which he tallied four hits, six RBI, and a grand slam.

Nelly Korda won the biggest title of her career over the weekend, besting the field at Riviera Country Club for a one-shot victory at the U.S. Women’s Open. But unlike so many of the victories in her career, she did not look totally in control of her swing throughout the week.

Her stubbornly uncooperative swing was apparent during her opening round of the championship on Thursday afternoon as she posted a two-over 73. In that opening stanza, Korda lost strokes to the field with her approach play — a rarity for one of the best ball strikers in the game.

“I hit it really good Monday through Wednesday, so I have honestly no idea where this came from,” she said. “So I’m going to go to the range.”

Joining her on the range was her sister, six-time LPGA winner Jessica. And as the duo searched in the dirt for the missing ingredient in Korda’s swing, Jessica noticed something. Her sister’s grip was looking a little weak, with her trail hand creeping too much on top of the shaft. In an effort to correct it, she suggested strengthening her grip and putting that trail hand a little more underneath the shaft.

Grip changes are some of the most difficult tweaks you can make to your golf swing, and most pros avoid them at all costs. When you are used to holding the club a certain way, even the slightest adjustment can send you spiraling, and it can change delivery dynamics pretty aggressively if not done correctly. But after the poor performance in Round 1, Korda decided to give it a shot.

“I just kind of keep laying it off at the top,” Kords said. “It felt super funky today, but I just trusted and went with it.”

The results were immediately evident. In Round 2, Korda’s iron play returned to its previous form. She gained over a shot on the field with her approach play, posting a 67 to get herself right back in the mix. She matched that number on Saturday to share a piece of the 54-hole lead, and headed into the final round in prime position to claim the title she craved most.

“I think the grip change is one of the hardest things to do,” Korda said in a TV interview after her round. “The trust level is definitely high with [Jessica]. I know I can always count on her. She’s been there through my warmups and warm downs almost every single day, so she’s been a great support system.”

The mid-tournament grip change was a risky move, and as a fellow professional golfer, Jessica knew how uncomfortable the adjustment must’ve been. Shortly after finishing off her one-shot victory, Korda met with the press and shared that Jessica “could barely sleep” from the thought of ruining her sister’s swing with the advice.

In the end, the risky move paid off. Korda posted a final-round 69 on Sunday to hold off the charging Charley Hull and Gabby Lopez, adding the biggest bullet point to her hall-of-fame-worthy resume.

A Somali referee set to become his country’s first to officiate a World Cup match has been denied entry into the US, ending his involvement in the football tournament.

Omar Artan was turned away on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport and told to return to Istanbul, from where he had flown. He was named Africa’s best referee in 2025.

United States Customs and Border Protection said Artan was denied entry due to “vetting concerns” that made him “inadmissible.”

Artan said he remained positive despite the circumstances and was focused on his next refereeing challenges.

“I thank FIFA and CAF for their support and will maintain my refereeing standards as I look ahead,” he said. “I ​want to thank the football family for their messages and wish my colleagues all the best success during the World Cup and I look forward to joining them again in future competitions.”

FIFA: Artan unable to officiate at 2026 World Cup

World football’s governing body said it could not influence the US decision and confirmed Artan’s removal from the World Cup.

“FIFA can confirm that match official Omar Abdulkadir Artan will be unable to train and officiate at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after he was denied entry into the United States,” a FIFA spokesperson was quoted by AFP as saying.

Ciise Aden Abshir, a senior adviser at Somalia’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, criticized the move, saying it damaged not only Artan but also “football’s commitment to fairness, merit, and the spirit of fair play.”

Under President Donald Trump, the US administration has imposed travel bans on nationals from several countries as part of its immigration crackdown. Somalia is among those affected, though exceptions can be granted.

Did national teams face any issues?

Artan’s case is not the only problem faced by teams and officials traveling to the US for the tournament, which will also be hosted by Mexico and Canada.

Iran’s national team was forced to move its base camp from the US to Tijuana, Mexico, after Washington denied visas to more than a dozen delegation members. The decision came amid the joint US-Israeli war with Iran.

Iran’s players, coaches and staff will now only be allowed into the US on matchdays, creating travel demands that could affect performance. Iran is scheduled to play New Zealand and Egypt in Los Angeles, with a potential group decider against Belgium in Seattle.

Coach Amir Ghalenoei criticized the treatment of his team.

“Usually in these tournaments, before technical matters, ethical and human considerations must be respected — which I think for us it was not the case,” he said.

Other teams have also faced difficulties.

Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was questioned for seven hours after arriving at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. An Iraqi photographer traveling with the team was denied entry.

The World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada, is the largest ever, featuring 48 national teams.

The tournament kicks off on Thursday, with Mexico facing South Africa in Mexico City.

Edited by: Louis Oelofse

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Stephen Holt (right) and Ginebra went on a hot start that Rey Nambatac and TNT could not overcome. —PBA IMAGES

The TNT Tropang 5G fully understand what it takes to beat Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals—Game 3 of the best-of-seven series proved them right again.

But there’s a difference between knowing and doing something about it.

The Gin Kings went on another hot start and then fought off their opponents’ attempts to rally en route to a 2-1 series edge.

“That’s the biggest problem when you face Ginebra,” Roger Pogoy told the Inquirer after their 116-102 loss at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday. “If they start strong and build a big lead, it’s hard to catch up, so you should stick to them to have a bigger chance of winning.”

According to Pogoy, once you allow Ginebra to go on those fast first-quarter starts, you basically dug your own grave.

And on Sunday, that’s what the Tropang 5G did. They fell behind, 35-16, after 12 minutes of action as Stephen Holt fueled the Ginebra’s burst with 15 of his 23 points coming in the first period.

Pogoy tried to rally TNT—he finished with 28 points—but the Tropang 5G couldn’t climb out of the early hole, which went as deep as 22 points at one point.

“We can’t afford to have Ginebra start like that. We’ve faced them a lot in the Finals, and it’s proven that every time they start well, they just keep on going,” Rey Nambatac said, echoing Pogoy’s sentiments.

“That’s the kind of lapses that we should minimize in Game 4 and this series. Hopefully, we find a way to adjust for that.”

After playing well in the first two games of the series, Nambatac was held scoreless in Game 3.

Much of his struggles came because he was in foul trouble early in the game. He finished with five fouls in a limited 17-minute performance. He was averaging 14.5 points per game before Game 3. INQ

The ref was set to be the first from his country to officiate at the World Cup

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Jun 8, 2026

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Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Scottie Thompson during Game 3 vs TNT Tropang 5G in the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals. –PBA IMAGES

Scottie Thompson’s triple-double in Barangay Ginebra’s Game 3 victory over TNT had a lot of “first since” written all over it.

Thompson finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in the Gin Kings’ 116-102 win at the Mall of Asia Arena, recording the 12th triple-double of his PBA career.

According to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon, Thompson became the first player since teammate Justin Brownlee to reach 12 career triple-doubles. More significantly, he is the first local player to record at least 12 career triple-doubles since PBA great Ramon Fernandez achieved the feat in the 1980s.

It was also the league’s first triple-double since Brownlee posted one in Game 6 of the 2022-23 Commissioner’s Cup Finals against guest team Bay Area.

Thompson’s all-around effort helped Ginebra seize a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 3 also saw Thompson become the 103rd player in PBA history to score 5,000 career points after converting a layup midway through the opening quarter.

Still, Thompson’s milestones took a back seat to the performances of Stephen Holt and Brownlee. Holt snapped out of an offensive slump to score 23 points, while Brownlee erupted for 41 to power the Gin Kings.

“I got to tip my cap to our players,” coach Tim Cone said. “It was the third game in five days, but we basically only played five or six guys in heavy minutes. They really dug deep, knowing this could be a pivotal game in the series.

“A lot of things happened for us and we’re pleased to come away with the victory,” Cone added, while also praising RJ Abarrientos for his floor leadership.

Abarrientos scored 15 points and added five rebounds and six assists. He also hit a crucial four-point play against TNT import Chris McCullough that helped blunt the Tropang 5G’s fourth-quarter rally.

McCullough finished with 44 points in the loss, putting him on the other side of another statistical rarity.

Mangonon noted that Brownlee and McCullough became the first opposing players to score at least 40 points each in a PBA Finals game since Alaska import Ron Riley and Purefoods import Derrick Brown did so in 2002.

Riley scored 43 points while Brown had 45 in Alaska’s 106-102 double-overtime victory in Game 2 of the Governors’ Cup Finals. inq