Women's football heads for $1bn a year, but Fifpro finds the typical top-flight player earns $1,669 a month

The rest of the day

36 more stories on this beat.

Each with its own sources. None of these is a link to the story above.

1. 02

   England's football regulator finds 94% of clubs lose money

   The Independent Football Regulator, created by a UK law to oversee English men's football, publishes its long-awaited State of the Game report on Tuesday. [18] According to the Guardian, the 250-page draft finds that 94% of the top 116 clubs make a loss. [18] It will recommend tighter controls on costs, and an eight-week public consultation starts this week. [18] The final version follows in the spring. [18]

   Why it matters — The Premier League has offered the English Football League, the three divisions below it, 180 million pounds a year for 10 years, and the EFL wants 207 million. [18] The regulator can impose a deal if the two cannot agree, so both are likely to use the report as evidence. [18]

2. 03

   Europe's golf tour shuts its door to LIV players

   The DP World Tour, Europe's main men's golf tour, said on Monday that players who join LIV Golf in 2027 cannot be its members. [19][6] Only its members can play for Europe in the Ryder Cup, the team contest against the United States, held next year at Adare Manor in Ireland. [6][20] LIV is in bankruptcy after Saudi Arabia's state fund stopped paying for it, and needs players signed by 25 October. [6] Its events offered prize money of at least $25m in its first five seasons, and LIV 2.0 is likely to offer $10m or less. [19]

   Why it matters — About 15 LIV players with European status, including Tyrrell Hatton and Tom McKibbin, must now pick one tour by 16 November. [6] The BBC says the tour objects to LIV giving players a share of ownership, and that the move likely also strengthens its hand in alliance talks with the PGA Tour, America's main tour. [6]

3. 04

   England hand out a record 39 contracts

   England's men's cricket team named a record 39 central contracts on Monday: 30 full deals, up from 26, and nine development deals that top up a player's pay from his county. [14] The retirements of Ben Stokes and Mark Wood left more money to share out, the Guardian reports. [14] Stephen Fleming starts as Test head coach in South Africa this winter. [14] Brydon Carse keeps his deal, though the Cricket Regulator, which enforces English cricket's conduct rules, has charged him over a nightclub incident in August. [21]

   Why it matters — A bigger list lets England control how much its players bat and bowl, around set windows for two short-format leagues, the Indian Premier League and the Hundred. [14] Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith got only one-year deals, which Rob Key, England's director of cricket, says is meant to get the best out of them. [14]

4. 05

   Ollie Pope pulls out of Afghanistan's new league

   England batter Ollie Pope withdrew from the draft for the first Afghanistan Premier League, a short-format competition due in the United Arab Emirates later this year. [7] An English player needs a No Objection Certificate from the England and Wales Cricket Board to play in it. [7] The board has refused to arrange series against Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, and its chair has condemned the Taliban's treatment of women and girls. [7] Rob Key said it was legally hard to stop players going, and that he personally would not go. [7]

   Why it matters — Pope was the only centrally contracted England player in the draft. [7] Former England batter Dawid Malan stays in, and said a cricketer also has to pay his rent. [7]

5. 06

   Brewers lead the Dodgers 2-0

   The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-4 on Monday and lead the National League semi-final, a best-of-seven series, by two games to none. [22] William Contreras hit a tying home run and then drove in the winning run. [22] Brewers relief pitchers threw five perfect innings, the most perfect innings by a bullpen in one post-season game. [23] Teams 2-0 down in this round have won the series 8 times out of 59. [24]

   Why it matters — The Dodgers spend $433.1m on players, more than the Brewers, Rays and Guardians together, and that gap sits at the centre of baseball's fight over a salary cap. [17] The Athletic reports the Dodgers are considering benching Shohei Ohtani, who has three hits in 20 at-bats this post-season. [25]

6. 07

   A Jordan shirt sells for $14m

   A Chicago Bulls shirt Michael Jordan wore in Game 2 of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $14m in a private sale, Hunt Auctions said on Monday. [26] It is the most ever paid for a piece of basketball memorabilia. [26][15] Among sports items, only the shirt Babe Ruth wore for his 1932 'called shot', sold for $24.1m in 2024, has cost more. [15] Jordan's Game 3 shirt from the same series sold for $12.3m two weeks earlier. [15]

   Babe Ruth shirt, 2024$24.10m

   Jordan Game 2 shirt$14m

   Jordan and Bryant card$12.90m

   Jordan Game 3 shirt$12.30m

   Why it matters — The buyer is Ron Firman, a Miami property investor, and the auction house now calls Jordan items an asset class like famous art. [26] Separately, a restored 1909 Honus Wagner baseball card passed $1m at Heritage Auctions. [27]

7. 08

   James Madison leaves before the exit fee rises

   James Madison University, in Virginia, said on Monday it will leave the Sun Belt for the American, another college sports conference, by 1 July 2028. [28] ESPN reported that the Sun Belt plans to vote this week on raising the fee a school pays to leave, which sped up the move. [28] James Madison expects to pay a $5m exit fee and a $23m fee to join, from privately raised money. [28]

   Why it matters — The American gets a 14th full member, and the Sun Belt loses a school that joined it only in 2022, when it moved up a level. [28]

8. 09

   SEC writes one contract for paying players

   Presidents of the SEC, one of US college sport's biggest 'power' conferences, voted on Monday to use one standard contract for paying athletes, effective at once. [8] The Big Ten, another of those conferences, already does the same. [8] Schools may share up to $21.6m with athletes this year under the House v. NCAA court settlement, which since July 2025 lets schools pay athletes directly, and athletes received nearly $1.8bn last year. [8] An earlier SEC draft barred players under contract from talking to other schools. [8]

   Why it matters — Signed contracts let schools chase players who leave early: Arkansas sought $200,000 from quarterback Madden Iamaleava after he left. [8]

9. 10

   Disney fills its Super Bowl with extra broadcasts

   Disney, which owns ESPN, will show the Super Bowl on 14 February on ESPN, ABC, Disney+ and several other versions, including the Manning brothers' commentary and a Pat McAfee show. [16] Every version counts toward the official audience measured by Nielsen, the TV ratings firm. [16] The US record is 127.7 million viewers, for the 2025 game on Fox. [16] Disney says its adverts are sold out, most reportedly at $8m to $9m for 30 seconds. [16]

   Why it matters — Adding channels serves Disney's stated aim of a record audience. [16] ESPN is also still negotiating with commentator Troy Aikman, paid $18m a year, whose deal ends after this season. [29]

10. 11

    WNBA finalists may play in a 3,500-seat hall

    The Atlanta Dream plan to host their WNBA Finals games at Gateway Center, a source told Front Office Sports. [30] It seats about 3,500 and is the smallest arena in the WNBA, the US women's basketball league. [30] Their bigger home, the 17,000-seat State Farm Arena, is booked on those dates for a concert and two games of the Atlanta Hawks, the city's NBA team. [30] The Finals against the Golden State Valkyries start on 17 October. [30]

    3,500Gateway Center

    vsvs

    17,000State Farm Arena

    Why it matters — The Hawks, not the Dream, run State Farm Arena. [30] The Valkyries moved a concert to keep their own dates, because their owners also own and run their arena. [30] Atlanta's fans averaged about 9,700 a game in the bigger arena in these play-offs. [30]

11. 12

    Team tennis returns, paying players in shares

    World Team Tennis, a men's and women's team event last held in 2021, returns in December with three teams in New York, Florida and Toronto. [31] It is the first tennis event to give players equity, a share of ownership, and has signed 15 stars including Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz. [31] Gauff also owns part of the Florida team. [31] It moved from mid-summer to December to stay clear of the main tennis season. [31]

    TGL (golf)$1,000m

    Unrivaled (basketball)$650m

    Why it matters — Two other new events, golf's TGL and basketball's Unrivaled, signed stars the same way and are now valued at $1bn and $650m. [31]

12. 13

    Experts say top footballers play too much

    Twenty-five Premier League players played all 360 minutes of four internationals during the three-week break, BBC Sport found. [12] Five England players, including Declan Rice and Cole Palmer, pulled out of the squad before it. [12] Maheta Molango, head of the PFA, England's players' union, wants a mandatory three-week summer break. [12] A sports psychologist said no single body controls the calendar, so nobody can enforce one. [12]

    Why it matters — Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk played 55 club games last season and is on a similar pace again. [12]

13. 14

    Arsenal lose two players after a match

    Arsenal's Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi hurt their ankles in a training session held straight after Saturday's 2-1 win over Leeds. [13][32] The session was for players who had not played enough minutes in the game. [32] Both miss Tuesday's Champions League game against Lille, and Hincapie's injury looks worse. [13] Manager Mikel Arteta said he would not change the routine. [13]

    Why it matters — Arteta said players who sit out lose their rhythm, which is why the extra session exists. [13]

14. 15

    Australia need six wickets to win in Durban

    Australia set South Africa 421 to win the first Test, a five-day match, in Durban and had them at 102 for four at the close of the fourth day. [33][34] Matt Renshaw, back after three years out, followed his first-innings 190 with quick runs before Australia declared. [34] South Africa must bat through the final day to draw. [34] Bad light cut each of the first three days short and cost more than 60 overs. [35]

    Why it matters — A rule change a week earlier lets teams agree before a Test to use the easier-to-see pink ball, but neither side asked for it in Durban. [35] Former South Africa bowler Shaun Pollock said it would have meant 45 more overs. [35]

15. 16

    Zverev will end the year as world No 1

    Alexander Zverev of Germany is sure to finish 2026 as the top-ranked man after Carlos Alcaraz lost 7-5 7-6 to Belgium's Zizou Bergs at the Shanghai Masters on Monday. [36] Jannik Sinner, the current No 1, is out for the year with a knee injury. [36] Zverev won the French Open and the US Open this year, his first Grand Slam titles. [36] He is the first German man to end a year on top. [36]

    Why it matters — Sinner and Alcaraz shared the top of men's tennis for two seasons, and Zverev rose while both were injured. [36]

16. 17

    A missile alert delays Ronaldo's match

    Al-Nassr's Asian Champions League game in Riyadh started an hour late on Monday after a missile was fired at the city. [9] The Houthis, an armed group in Yemen backed by Iran, have hit Riyadh's airport several times. [9] A Saudi-led military coalition said it destroyed the missile, and Cristiano Ronaldo scored in a 3-1 win over Neftchi Fergana of Uzbekistan. [9] WWE says its 7 November show in Riyadh goes ahead, with backup plans. [10]

    Why it matters — Formula One's last two races, in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, also depend on the region; this year Saudi Arabia's race was cancelled and Bahrain's was moved to Malaysia. [11]

17. 18

    Most Russian gymnasts still lack visas

    The world artistic gymnastics championships start on 17 October in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. [37] A Russian gymnastics official told Forbes that only 38 of the 61-member team had visas by 12 October, and only four of those were athletes. [37] Without the missing visas, Russia's women cannot enter the team event. [37] The Russian federation says World Gymnastics, the sport's governing body, has not answered it. [37]

    38 of 61

    of Russia's 61-member team had visas by 12 October

    Why it matters — Defending all-around world champion Angelina Melnikova is among those still waiting. [37]

18. 19

    Britain drops a top sprint cyclist

    British Cycling withdrew Matt Richardson from its team for the track world championships in Shanghai, which run from 14 to 18 October. [38] The Times reported that he is under investigation for misconduct, and British Cycling gave no reason. [38][39] Richardson, 27, switched from Australia to Britain after the Paris 2024 Olympics, where he won two silvers and a bronze. [38] He was expected to race for three medals. [38]

    Why it matters — He was seen as central to Britain's plans for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. [39]

19. 20

    Saracens sack the player in the Stokes incident

    Saracens, an English rugby club, sacked Totoa Auvaa, a 21-year-old academy player, after an incident in St Albans at the weekend. [40][41] In June, in a London nightclub, Auvaa threw a punch at England cricketer Gus Atkinson that missed and hit an England security guard. [40] England stood Atkinson and captain Ben Stokes down for a Test, and Stokes later retired from international cricket. [40] Police are looking into an alleged assault early on Sunday. [40]

    Why it matters — Saracens had not punished him for the June punch, but he was on a final warning after other drinking incidents. [40]

20. 21

    Mullins fined after a Cheltenham drug test

    Willie Mullins, one of the most successful racehorse trainers, was fined 1,100 pounds and his horse Final Demand lost its second place in a race at the Cheltenham Festival in March. [42] The horse had mepivacaine, a local anaesthetic, in its body, and Mullins had not declared it. [42] A panel of the British Horseracing Authority, which runs racing in Britain, said there was no suggestion Mullins or his staff knew. [42] Cheltenham was fined 5,000 pounds because camera footage of the stables was not kept. [42]

    Why it matters — The panel could not find out how the drug got into the horse. [42]

21. 22

    Coventry win a top-flight home game after 25 years

    Coventry City beat Newcastle 4-1 on Monday for their first home win in England's top division in 25 years. [43] It was their second win in a row and lifted the newly promoted club out of the bottom three to 14th. [44] Jack Rudoni scored a penalty, and Ellis Simms and Stephen Mfuni added late goals. [44] Newcastle would have gone fourth with a win. [44]

    Why it matters — Frank Lampard's side are level on points with Manchester United after six games. [43]

22. 23

    The UK prime minister lists his City meetings

    Andy Burnham, the UK prime minister, had one formal meeting with Manchester City's chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, while he was mayor of Greater Manchester, his old office said. [45] It was in October 2021, at a UK government investment summit. [45] Burnham promised the details after he was criticised for comments he made when the club was found guilty of breaking Premier League money rules. [45] An independent commission found City used sham sponsorship deals to put more than 830 million pounds into the club. [45]

    Why it matters — Louie French, the Conservative shadow sports minister, said the statement was far from full transparency. [45]

23. 24

    A row over how Peterborough hired Savage

    Dale Vince, owner of Forest Green Rovers, said Peterborough United made an illegal approach for his manager, Robbie Savage, who joined them on 2 October. [46] Vince said he first refused permission, and Peterborough then talked to Savage directly. [46] Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony said the process was fully correct. [46] Forest Green have not said whether they have complained to the Football Association. [46]

    Why it matters — Savage won 3-1 at Leicester on Saturday and has his first home league game this weekend. [46]

24. 25

    Callum Smith to fight Bivol in Russia

    Britain's Callum Smith, 36, will fight Dmitry Bivol for three world light-heavyweight titles in Yekaterinburg, Russia, on 12 December. [47] The UK government advises its citizens against all travel to Russia. [47] Bivol holds the WBA, IBF and Ring belts, three of boxing's world titles. [47] Smith lost to Artur Beterbiev in 2024, in his first try at a unified title. [47]

    Why it matters — British heavyweight Joe Joyce also fought in Moscow in July, and lost. [47]

25. 26

    Lauren Price to defend three belts in Cardiff

    Olympic champion Lauren Price will defend her WBA, WBC and IBF welterweight titles against Michaela Kotaskova of the Czech Republic in Cardiff on 20 November. [48] Talks for a fight with Claressa Shields, the undisputed heavyweight champion, broke down, Price said. [48] She has not fought since April. [48]

    Why it matters — Price says a win could set up a much bigger fight early in 2027. [48]

26. 27

    UCLA lose their quarterback for the season

    UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, CBS Sports reported on Monday. [49] He was hurt in Saturday's 17-15 win at Oregon, then ranked 13th. [50] UCLA are 5-0 under Bob Chesney, the first Bruins coach to win his first five games. [50] His replacement, Ty Dieffenbach, had never played at the top college level before. [49]

    Why it matters — UCLA were picked to finish 13th in the Big Ten and are now one of its two unbeaten teams. [50]

27. 28

    The Harrison trade terms change

    The Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans changed the terms of their trade of receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. [51] Houston now gets Harrison and a 2027 sixth-round pick, and Arizona gets a 2027 second-round pick and a seventh. [51] First reports had Arizona getting the sixth-round pick and Houston the seventh. [51] The deal still waits on Harrison's medical check. [51]

    Why it matters — Arizona gets slightly less for the fourth pick of the 2024 draft than first reported. [51]

28. 29

    Debrunner breaks her own marathon world record

    Switzerland's Catherine Debrunner won the women's wheelchair race at the Chicago Marathon in 1 hour 33 minutes 16 seconds, a world record. [52] She beat her own record, set in Berlin in 2023, by a minute. [52] Wins in Tokyo, London, Berlin and now Chicago gave her this year's World Marathon Majors title. [52] Marcel Hug won the men's race in a course record, his seventh Chicago win. [52]

    Why it matters — Debrunner also won the Paralympic marathon in Paris in 2024, one of six medals there. [52]

29. 30

    Anna Leigh Waters wins her 200th title

    Anna Leigh Waters won her 200th professional title in pickleball, a paddle game played on a small court, at the Professional Pickleball Association's Chicago Cup. [53] She won three events that weekend, including women's doubles with Anna Bright. [53] Roscoe Bellamy won the men's singles. [53]

    Why it matters — Forbes calls Waters the sport's greatest player. [53]

30. 31

    Sky Brown wins silver in an Olympic qualifier

    Britain's Sky Brown, 18, won silver in women's park skateboarding at the World Skate Games in Asuncion, Paraguay. [54] She scored 89.50, behind Japan's Mizuho Hasegawa on 91.00. [54] The event gives ranking points toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. [54] Brown won bronze at the Tokyo Games at 13, Britain's youngest Olympic medallist. [54]

    Why it matters — She is chasing a third Olympic Games. [54]

31. 32

    IndyCar's 2028 car runs on a road course

    IndyCar tested its new car, the IR-28, away from Indianapolis for the first time, at Sebring in Florida on 12 October. [55] Alex Palou, the five-time champion, drove it to find weak points before it races in 2028. [55] A fuel-system fault sent it in for repairs with backup parts, and then he completed long runs. [55] Alexander Rossi drives on the second day. [55]

    Why it matters — The Sebring test was designed to find the car's weak points on a bumpy track before it races. [55]

32. 33

    Mexico's driver academy struggles with costs

    Escuderia Telmex, the Mexican programme that helped launch drivers including Sergio Perez, says it is getting harder to fund new drivers. [56] Its director, Jimmy Morales, said keeping drivers in top series uses up the money meant for beginners. [56] Costs rise every year, he said, and more sponsors are needed. [56] The academy also places drivers in NASCAR and endurance racing. [56]

    Why it matters — It comes as Mexico looks for drivers to follow the path Perez opened. [56]

33. 34

    Hockey clubs hire number people as bosses

    The New Jersey Devils made Sunny Mehta, a former professional poker player and financial trader, their general manager in April. [57] He was once the club's director of analytics, using data to judge players. [57] He then won two Stanley Cups, the NHL's title, as an assistant with the Florida Panthers. [57] Front Office Sports reports that more owners in the NHL, North America's top hockey league, now hire such managers instead of former players. [57]

    Why it matters — Mehta says his job is predicting how players will perform, and he has already traded away the team's starting goalkeeper. [57]

34. 35

    England forward speaks on racist abuse

    England start the Rugby League World Cup against Tonga on Saturday. [58] Wigan forward Junior Nsemba, 22, spoke for the first time about racist abuse he received online after a game this summer. [58] Police dealt with it and a 56-year-old man was arrested. [58] Nsemba, whose parents came from Cameroon, said he wants to inspire young black people. [58]

    Why it matters — He is one of England's most watched young players going into the tournament. [58]

35. 36

    Texas A&M coach apologises to fans

    Mike Elko, Texas A&M's football coach, apologised on Monday for calling critics on a fan website a 'cesspool' after a 27-6 loss to Missouri. [59] Texas A&M started the season ranked eighth and are now 1-3 in their conference. [59] They went 11-2 last season. [59]

    Why it matters — He apologised to Billy Liucci, co-owner of the TexAgs fan site his remark named. [59]

36. 37

    Cagliari make their best start in 50 years

    Cagliari, from Sardinia, have won four of their first five games in Serie A, Italy's top league, their best start in more than half a century. [60] They have finished in the top half only once in 30 years. [60] Coach Fabio Pisacane, a former player who once reported an attempt to bribe him to fix a match, took over in 2025. [60] Lazio are level with Inter at the top although their fans are staying away from home games. [60]

    Why it matters — Most of Cagliari's regular players are 25 or younger. [60]