Sports · Saturday, 14 November 2026

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Spain's football federation bans goalkeeper Jesus Owono for 12 matches, the most its rules allow, for the foul that killed Jesus de Miguel

31 stories 56 sources

Signals on this beat

Rule books deciding punishments High ↑

Spain's code capped Owono's ban at 12 matches. [6]
The FIA took a reporter's pass under its accreditation guidelines. [8]
An Abu Dhabi court jailed 8 people over a hotel brawl. [9]

Tennis money split unevenly Building ↑

The US Open earned $637.9 million in 2025, up 14%. [10]
The WTA expects its own revenue to fall to $112 million in 2026. [11]

Leagues overruling their members Building →

The SEC told Oklahoma to play on Sunday or forfeit the game. [12]
MLS owners voted on who may buy the San Jose Earthquakes. [13]

Coaches and bosses changing jobs High ↑

Manchester United will pay US Soccer $10 million to release Mauricio Pochettino. [14]
Big 12 head Brett Yormark is leaving to run a Milan sports group. [15]

The stories

31 on this beat today.

Every story told the same way: what happened, who is involved, why it matters, how it works, the truth and the good news.

01
Spain's football federation bans goalkeeper Jesus Owono for 12 matches, the most its rules allow, for the foul that killed Jesus de Miguel

12

matches banned, the most Article 102 allows

the committee cited the case's seriousness [2]

15

matches allowed under Article 103, for aggression meant to hurt

it is usually used when nobody is playing the ball [6]

€213,160

raised for De Miguel's family by a fundraiser

set up by Hercules forward Fran Sol [2]
What happened
- Spain's football federation banned goalkeeper Jesus Owono for 12 matches on Friday, 13 November. [1]
- His challenge led to the death of Jesus de Miguel, a striker for Tenerife. [1]
- They collided on 2 November, and De Miguel, 30, died in hospital on 3 November. [1]
- Owono plays for FC Andorra, a club in Spain's second division. [2]
- In the 96th minute, a long pass sent De Miguel clear towards goal. [3]
- Owono rushed far outside his area and struck him in the chest. [4]
- Tenerife said the impact stopped De Miguel's heart. [3]
- The game was abandoned, and the federation says the 2-2 score will stand. [5]
- The committee said it must judge only "the facts expressly recorded in the referee's report". [5]
- The referee wrote that Owono struck De Miguel's chest with excessive force while the ball was in play. [1]
- The committee called the death public knowledge and said "the maximum sanction, 12 matches of suspension, is justified". [1]
- The ban also carries the fines the federation's code sets for it. [2]
- Spanish law opens a court inquiry into any death without a clear natural cause. [6]
- Police are gathering the facts for a court in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. [6]
- Owono, 25, has 47 caps for Equatorial Guinea, and pulled out of their squad this month. [2]
- His coach, Carles Manso, says Owono is "completely free to make any decision" about playing again. [7]
Who is involved
- Jesus Owono FC Andorra goalkeeper, 25, an Equatorial Guinea international; banned for 12 matches
- Jesus de Miguel Tenerife striker, 30; died the day after the collision
- The police gather the facts
- The court receives their report
- The federation's disciplinary committee the Spanish body that hands out bans; it gave the maximum
- Carles Manso FC Andorra's coach; says Owono will decide whether to return
- Jose Luis Sanchez-Jauregui Santa Cruz de Tenerife's chief prosecutor; said a criminal case is very unlikely
How it unfolded
1. 2 Nov the collision
2. 3 Nov De Miguel dies in hospital, aged 30 [1]
3. 13 Nov the ban
4. 14 Nov FC Andorra play Almeria, their first game since [7]
5. 2 Nov Owono and De Miguel collide in the 96th minute [3]
6. 13 Nov the federation bans Owono for 12 matches [1]
Why it matters

The same rule, with the same top ban of 12, covers a challenge that seriously injures. [6]
De Miguel leaves a wife, Maria, and a daughter, Carla, born in 2025. [3]
Think it through
1. 1
  Why only 12 matches, when a man died?
  
  The committee used Article 102, on violent play during a contest for the ball. [2] It allows 4 to 12 matches. [6]
  1the lowest4 matches
  2Owono's ban12 matches
2. 2
  
  Is there a rule that allows a longer ban?
  
  Article 103 allows up to 15 matches. [6] It is usually for aggression meant to hurt, when nobody is playing the ball. [6]
  
  Article 102, top ban12 matches
  Article 103, top ban15 matches
  Owono's case fell under the first rule, so its top was 12.
3. 3
  
  So who decided which rule applied?
  
  The referee did, through what he wrote. [6] His report said the ball was in play, which points to Article 102. [6]
  
  The referee's wordsThe ball was in playArticle 102, top ban 12
4. 4
  
  Did the death change anything at all?
  
  The committee noted the death and said the case's seriousness justified the sanction "at its maximum level". [2]
5. 5
  
  Will a criminal court punish him too?
  
  Probably not. [6] Tenerife's chief prosecutor said a criminal case was very unlikely. [6]
6. 6
  
  So what is really going on?
  
  The federation's written code holds the power: the rule that fitted set 12 as the top. [6] The referee's words picked that rule. [6]
  
  The codesets the limit
  The refereepicks the rule
  The committeepicks the length
How it works

Lawyers call this the principle of legality: a punishment must come from a rule that existed before the act.
The committee could not invent a longer ban for this case, only reach Article 102's top of 12. [6]

Seen it before

A school's worst punishment for fighting may be a week at home. It cannot expel anyone under that rule.
The truth
- What is really going on Spain's football federation gave Jesus Owono the longest ban its Article 102 allows, 12 matches, for the challenge that killed Jesus de Miguel. [2]The written code and the referee's report set that limit, and a separate court inquiry is unlikely to bring charges. [6]
- Why it works on people A death makes any ban feel too small, so anger aims at the number of matches rather than at the rule that set the limit.
- Spanish media say the inquiry is also looking at De Miguel's medical care. [6] Nobody has suggested that care was poor. [6]
- Nobody knows yet
  What the police inquiry into De Miguel's death will find.
  
  The police send their report to a Tenerife court only when their inquiries are complete, and no date has been given. [6]
Good news
- A fundraiser for the family, set up by Hercules forward Fran Sol, has raised €213,160. [2]
What comes next

FC Andorra play Almeria on Saturday, 14 November, their first game since the death. [7]

02
US flight stop moves a college game
What happened
- The US Federal Aviation Administration grounded every flight in the country for more than 4 hours on Friday. [12]
- It was only the third full ground stop in US history. [12]
- Officials blamed communication problems at the centres that guide high-altitude air traffic. [12]
- Most college football teams fly the day before a game, so many were stuck. [16]
- The Southeastern Conference, or SEC, moved Ole Miss's game at Oklahoma from Saturday at 4:15pm Eastern to Sunday at 1pm. [17]
- Ole Miss's charter company could not fly the team late on Friday night. [17]
- When Oklahoma tried to keep Saturday, commissioner Greg Sankey said refusing would mean a forfeit: a loss without playing. [12]
- Oklahoma's athletic director, Roger Denny, said "this decision isn't fair to our athletes". [12]
How it unfolded
1. Sat 4:15pm the planned kick-off
2. Sun 1pm the new kick-off
Why it matters

Auburn went by bus to Mississippi State instead, and the SEC moved that kick-off from noon to 4.15pm Eastern. [16]
Teams that spent Friday night on buses may play without proper rest, CBS Sports noted. [18]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why can the league overrule Oklahoma's home game?
  
  Oklahoma's own director said the school is "obligated to play the game when directed". [12]
2. 2
  
  Why not just play later on Saturday?
  
  Ole Miss could not book another flight until Saturday at 4:20pm. [12]
  
  4:20pmSaturday, the earliest Ole Miss flight
3. 3
  
  Who decides which planes fly first?
  
  Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said bigger flights would go first, and told teams to book times with the FAA. [19]
  
  Airspace reopensBigger flights firstTeams book their slots
How it works

Lawyers call this a membership contract: a school that joins a conference agrees to follow its rulings.
So Oklahoma had to play on Sunday, over its own objection, or lose the game by forfeit. [12]

Seen it before

A player who joins a club team must turn up when the coach moves training, or lose their place.
Why a fatal foul drew the same top ban as a bad injury

Lawyers call it the principle of legality: a punishment must come from a rule written before the act, and it stops at that rule's limit.

The twist

Even a death could not take the ban past a limit that was written down before the match was played.

The picture

Article 102, top ban12 matches
Article 103, top ban15 matches
Owono's case fell under the first rule because the ball was in play. The second rule, for aggression when nobody plays the ball, goes higher.
Step by step
1. A rule book is written before the season starts
2. The referee's report picks which rule applies
3. That rule sets a range, here 4 to 12 matches
4. The committee picks inside the range, and chose the top
5. Anything more is for the courts, not football
The same force, elsewhere today

Where this chain is also running, in today's other stories.
- The FIA takes a reporter's pass
  
  the FIA acted by pointing to a written rule, its 2026 accreditation guidelines, which give it that power over passes
- The SEC moves Ole Miss at Oklahoma
  
  Oklahoma objected but must play on Sunday, because its own director says the school is obliged to play when the conference directs
- England's boxer misses the Worlds
  
  World Boxing's written rule required a sex test, so a missed test meant no fight, whatever the reason it was missed
Where you've seen this

School discipline

a pupil can get only the punishment the school's written policy lists for that offence

Criminal courts

judges sentence within the range the law sets for a crime, and not above it

Parking fines

the fine on the sign is the most a council can charge for that offence

The catch

A limit set in advance protects a player from a punishment made up in anger. If the limit was set too low, it can only be changed for future cases.

And the whole of it

Owono, De Miguel's family, the referee and the people who wrote the code years ago are all inside this one decision. Each of them saw only their own part of it, and the family lives with the result.
The truth
- Only one top-level game, Ole Miss at Oklahoma, left Friday and Saturday. [12]
- Who pays Air travellers across the US — Thousands of flights were delayed or cancelled before the FAA lifted the stop. [12]

03
Pochettino named Manchester United coach
What happened
- Manchester United appointed Mauricio Pochettino, 54, as head coach on Friday. [20]
- He coaches the US men's team against Haiti on Saturday and Tuesday first, then joins United on Wednesday. [20][14]
- United will pay US Soccer $10 million to release him, and about $2 million for his assistants. [14]
- United are 18th in the Premier League, with 8 points from 10 games. [20]
- Pochettino said United first made contact on Sunday. [21]
- He called it "one of the most difficult decisions of our careers". [21]
Who is involved
- Mauricio Pochettino new United coach, 54
How it unfolded
1. Sat USA v Haiti
2. Tue USA v Haiti
3. Wed joins United
Why it matters

US Soccer loses its coach a week after colleges voted down its plan for longer college soccer seasons. [22]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Who was paying for him in America?
  
  Billionaire Ken Griffin covered much of his first $6 million yearly salary, FOS reports. [14]
  
  $6 millionhis first yearly salary
2. 2
  
  Did US Soccer see this coming?
  
  Sportico says his exit was planned for, judging by how friendly the split looks. [22]
3. 3
  
  What does United get for the money?
  
  A coach before the league returns on 21 November, with a trip to Liverpool on 22 November. [14]
How it works

Contract lawyers call this a release clause: a price, agreed in advance, that lets someone leave a contract early.
United's $10 million payment for the clause lets Pochettino leave, though he extended his US deal in August. [14]
04
San Jose Earthquakes sold at $625 million
What happened
- Heath Freeman agreed to buy the San Jose Earthquakes, a Major League Soccer club, at a $625 million value. [13]
- The price includes the club's stadium, PayPal Park. [13]
- Freeman co-founded Alden Global Capital, a firm that owns newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune. [13]
- The deal has not closed yet. [23]
Who is involved

Alden has come under fire for severe cost-cutting at its papers. [23]
- Heath Freeman buyer, Alden co-founder
- John Fisher seller, owner since 2007
How it unfolded

Fisher paid a $20 million fee to start the team in 2007. [23]
Fisher also owns baseball's Athletics, who plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028. [13]

Why it matters

Two Canadian clubs, the Vancouver Whitecaps and CF Montreal, are also for sale, and could move. [13]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why does a club cost so much more than in 2007?
  
  New clubs pay more each time: Nashville paid $150 million, Charlotte $325 million and San Diego $500 million to join. [13]
  
  $ million to join
  Nashville150
  Charlotte325
  San Diego500
2. 2
  
  Is $625 million a lot for this league?
  
  Not for MLS now: Sporting KC sold at a $700 million value this year. [13] Sportico had valued San Jose at $585 million. [23]
  
  $585 millionSportico's estimate
  $625 millionThe sale
3. 3
  
  Who decides who may buy a club?
  
  The league's owners do: they approved Freeman unanimously at a meeting in Miami this week. [13]
The truth
- Nobody knows yet
  How much cash Heath Freeman is paying for San Jose.
  
  Financial details were not disclosed; $625 million is a value given by people familiar with the deal, which has not closed. [56][23]
05
Warner calls sandpaper inquiry a cover-up
What happened
- Former Australia opener David Warner says Cricket Australia's 2018 sandpaper inquiry "stinks of a cover-up". [24]
- Usman Khawaja reopened the row with a new book saying the whole team knew. [24]
- Warner says that, as far as he knows, bowlers Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon were never interviewed. [24]
Who is involved
- Josh Hazlewood bowler
- Mitchell Starc bowler
- Nathan Lyon bowler
How it unfolded

In 2018, Australian players used sandpaper to tamper with the ball in a Test in Cape Town. [25]
Only Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were punished. [25]

Why it matters

The row threatens to split the 2018 generation of Australian cricket, ESPN says. [26]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why does a list of interviews matter now?
  
  If they were never asked, Warner says, how can Cricket Australia claim the bowlers did not know? [24]
  
  No interviewNo account from themWarner doubts the finding
2. 2
  
  What do the bowlers themselves say?
  
  Hazlewood, Starc, Lyon and Pat Cummins have always said they did not know of the plan. [24]
  
  4 of 4
  bowlers who say they did not know
The truth
- Two sources told the Sydney Morning Herald all three bowlers were interviewed. [27] Cricket Australia's statement did not say. [27]
What comes next

Khawaja's podcast interview was put back to Thursday. [27]
06
WTA faces a $23 million loss
What happened
- The WTA, which runs women's professional tennis, was on track for a $23 million loss in 2026, The Telegraph reported. [11]
- It could run out of cash reserves by mid-2027, the same report said. [11]
- WTA revenue rose from $103 million in 2018 to $143 million in 2024. [11] It expects $112 million in 2026. [11]
- The men's tour grew from $144 million to $294 million over the same years. [11]
How it unfolded

A deal to hold its Finals in Saudi Arabia, with $15 million in prize money, was cut short this year. [11]

Why it matters

The WTA promised equal prize money with the men at its biggest events by 2027. [11] It promised the same everywhere by 2033. [11]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  How can it match men's prizes on less money?
  
  That is the gap: it pays the same prizes from a revenue base less than half the men's. [11]
  
  Same prize moneyLess than half the incomeA loss
2. 2
  
  Why not sell more shares to investors?
  
  It sold 20% of its commercial arm to CVC, an investment firm, for $150 million in 2023. [11] Chair Valerie Camillo says no more stakes are planned. [11]
  
  20 of 100
  of WTA Ventures sold to CVC
3. 3
  
  So what is the plan instead?
  
  Run its own Finals, which move to Charlotte, North Carolina next year, and keep any profit. [11]
How it works

Economists call this a structural deficit: a gap between spending and income that does not close by itself.
Equal prize money is promised by 2027, while WTA revenue is expected to fall to $112 million in 2026. [11]
The truth
- Nobody knows yet
  When the WTA's $300 million revenue target will be reached.
  
  Chair Valerie Camillo gave no timeline or breakdown for it. [11]
07
Svitolina ends Sabalenka's season
What happened
- Elina Svitolina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the WTA Finals semi-finals on Friday. [28]
- It was her first win over Sabalenka in 6 years. [28]
- Sabalenka made 35 errors, ESPN counted. [28] She lost the last 6 games. [29]
Who is involved
- Elina Svitolina won, into the semis
- Aryna Sabalenka lost, season over
- Linda Noskova Wimbledon champion
How it unfolded

The Finals are at Indian Wells, California, after a deal to hold them in Riyadh ended early. [30]

Why it matters

Sabalenka ends 2026 without a major title, her first such season since 2022. [29]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  How did she finally beat her?
  
  Svitolina won 6 of 8 break points, chances to win the other player's serve. [28]
  
  6 of 8
  break points won
2. 2
  
  Why does this event matter to the WTA?
  
  It is the WTA's flagship event, and the tour wants to restore its standing after Riyadh. [30]
Good news
- Elina Svitolina, who became a mother four years ago, is back in the WTA Finals semi-finals for the first time since 2019.
What comes next

Svitolina, 32, plays Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in Saturday's semi-final. [29][28]
08
US Open earns a record $637.9 million
What happened
- The US Open earned $637.9 million in 2025, up 14% on the year before. [10]
- That is more than double its 2016 revenue. [10]
- The US Tennis Association, which runs the tournament, took in $707.6 million in revenue in all. [10]
- Expenses were $324.6 million, leaving about $313 million of operating profit. [10]
- Ticket sales grew 21% in 2025 and are up 50% since 2022. [10]
Who is involved
- US Tennis Association runs the US Open
Why it matters

Top players have asked the Grand Slams for a bigger share, reportedly 16%. [10]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  How much of it reaches the players?
  
  The 2026 prize money was $108 million, 17% of the previous year's revenue. [10]
  
  17 of 100
  of revenue paid as prize money
2. 2
  
  Who pays for the growth?
  
  Fans: complaints about rising ticket prices did not let up in 2026, Sportico says. [10]
3. 3
  
  Why is the WTA short while this grows?
  
  The Grand Slams are run apart from the tours, and have done better at earning from tennis's popularity. [11]
  
  The Grand Slamsgrowing
  The WTAa loss
How it works

Economists call this pricing power: a seller with no close rival can raise prices and still sell.
Ticket income rose 50% since 2022, even as fans complained about prices. [10]

Seen it before

The only ice-cream van on a busy beach can charge more, and people still queue.
09
Betting logos move off the shirt front
What happened
- Premier League clubs stopped putting betting firms on the front of their shirts this season. [31]
- A University of Bristol study of the opening weekend found the ban removed about 10% of gambling messages. [31]
- About half of that cut came back on sleeves, training kits and pitch-side screens. [31]
- Clubs' sleeve and training-kit deals rose from $176 million to $206 million a year, one analyst estimates. [31]
How it unfolded

The league chose the ban itself in 2023, before the UK government could force one. [31]

Why it matters

Fans still see thousands of gambling messages in every live match broadcast. [31]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why do betting firms want football so much?
  
  Shirt deals bring them customers directly, and they paid about twice what other firms offered. [31]
2. 2
  
  Who gains from a ban the league chose itself?
  
  Clubs kept the money, betting firms kept the screens, and the UK government could point to action, FOS says. [31]
How it works

Regulators call this displacement: ban an advert in one place and it moves to the next place allowed.
The ban covered only the shirt front, so Stake, a betting firm, moved to sleeves. [31]

Seen it before

Ban phones at the dinner table, and people check them under it.
The truth
- The UK government let lower-league clubs keep betting money, fearing a ban could make several collapse. [31]
10
Abu Dhabi court jails brawl fighters
What happened
- An Abu Dhabi court convicted 10 people over Wednesday's hotel brawl involving fighter Merab Dvalishvili. [9]
- 6 of them, including Russian fighter Usman Nurmagomedov, got 6 months in prison. [32]
- They were each fined Dh300,000 and will be deported after prison. [9]
- 2 more got 6 months for filming the fight and posting it online. [9]
How it unfolded

The feud goes back to 2025, when Dvalishvili beat Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311. [9]
1. 2025 Dvalishvili beats Umar Nurmagomedov
2. Wednesday the hotel brawl
Why it matters

Nurmagomedov, recently signed by the Professional Fighters League, now faces prison and deportation. [32]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why punish the people who filmed it?
  
  The court said posting the video broke privacy law, and ordered the phones taken and the footage deleted. [9]
2. 2
  
  Can Dvalishvili still compete this weekend?
  
  Yes: he was released and is due to wrestle Marlon Moraes at RAF Abu Dhabi, a wrestling event, on Saturday. [33]
How it works

Lawyers call this a public offence: the state, not the victim, decides whether to prosecute.
Dvalishvili said he would not press charges. [33] The court convicted all 10 anyway, most for disturbing public security. [9]

Seen it before

A teacher can punish a fight in the corridor even after both pupils say it is settled.
11
Blood test points to CTE in the living
What happened
- Scientists found a protein in blood that marks advanced CTE, a brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head. [34]
- A Washington University team in St Louis tested blood from 11 people whose CTE was confirmed after death. [34]
- Levels rose with how severe the disease was, but the test missed early CTE. [34]
How it unfolded

Today CTE can only be diagnosed after death, from brain tissue. [34]

Why it matters

In one study of nearly 400 donated NFL players' brains, 93.5% showed signs of CTE. [34]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Can players be tested now?
  
  Not yet: the test is not approved for diagnosis, and larger studies must confirm it. [34]
2. 2
  
  Why does a test in living people matter?
  
  Doctors could watch players at risk and run trials of drugs to treat it, the scientists say. [34]
  
  A blood testPlayers watched over timeDrug trials possible
3. 3
  
  Who is waiting for an answer?
  
  Former rugby players with brain injury diagnoses are still suing, among them World Cup winner Steve Thompson. [34]
How it works

Doctors call this a biomarker: something measured in the body that signals a disease. [34]
Here it is a protein fragment found at higher levels in Alzheimer's disease, and also in CTE. [34]
The truth
- Nobody knows yet
  Whether the CTE blood test works on early cases.
  
  It could not reliably find early-stage CTE in the 11-person study, and the larger studies needed have not been done. [34]
Good news
- Study co-leader Kanta Horie said it is "potentially opening a new door" for treating CTE in living patients. [34]
12
Athletes who move twice graduate less
What happened
- The NCAA, which runs US college sport, studied about 36,000 top-division athletes. [35]
- About 24,500 stayed at one college, 7,700 moved once and 3,800 moved more than once. [35]
- 88% of those who stayed graduated within 6 years, 81% who moved once, and 71% who moved more. [35]
- For top-level football players the gap was wider: 85% against 58%. [35]
- In the second tier of college football, the rates were 83%, 72% and 62%. [35]
Why it matters

The data could be used in court cases over the NCAA's eligibility rules, Sportico says. [35]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Does moving cause the drop?
  
  Not proven: the data shows the two go together, not that one causes the other. [35]
  
  Moving oftenLower graduationCause not shown
2. 2
  
  Why would the NCAA want this study now?
  
  It is fighting lawsuits over its eligibility rules, and graduation data could be its evidence. [35]
13
FIA takes a reporter's pass
What happened
- The FIA, which runs Formula 1, withdrew a Daily Mail reporter's pass for the season's last 3 races. [8]
- Jonathan McEvoy had called Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc a crude name in a 4 November column. [8]
- The FIA said the column "falls short of the standards of professionalism" it expects. [8]
- The Daily Mail called it "an unprecedented and outrageous attack on the freedom of the press". [8]
- The paper can still send another reporter to Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. [8]
Who is involved
- Jonathan McEvoy Daily Mail reporter
- Charles Leclerc Ferrari driver
Why it matters

The FIA's pass decides which reporters get into races, and its guidelines give it the final say. [8]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  What rule did the FIA use?
  
  Its 2026 accreditation guidelines, which let it use its own discretion over passes. [8]
2. 2
  
  Is this the first clash over F1 reporters?
  
  In March, Max Verstappen refused to start a press conference until a Guardian writer left. [8]
How it works

Lawyers call this discretion: a written rule that lets an official decide case by case.
The guidelines let the FIA withdraw a pass, and it judged this column unprofessional. [8]

the FIA acted by pointing to a written rule, its 2026 accreditation guidelines, which give it that power over passes
The idea, in story 02: Why a fatal foul drew the same top ban as a bad injury →
14
Salah breaks Egypt's scoring record
What happened
- Mohamed Salah scored twice as Egypt beat Malawi 5-0, taking him to a record 70 goals for Egypt. [36]
- It was Ali Maher's first game as Egypt's coach, 6 days after he took over. [36]
- Salah, 34, now plays for Trabzonspor in Turkey, with 9 goals in 11 league games. [36]
- The game was a qualifier for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. [37]
- Nigeria beat co-hosts Tanzania 3-1, with 2 goals from substitute Tolu Arokodare. [37]
Why it matters

Nigeria sit 1 point behind group leaders Guinea-Bissau, with only one place on offer. [37]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  What does the win do for Egypt's chances?
  
  It puts Egypt 3 points clear of Angola in their group. [37]
  
  3 pointsEgypt's lead over Angola
2. 2
  
  Who could miss out instead?
  
  Tunisia, at a record 17 straight finals, are bottom of their group after losing 2-0 at home to Libya. [37]
  
  2Libya
  0Tunisia
15
Argentina lose first game without Messi
What happened
- Argentina lost 2-1 at home to Uruguay on Friday, 13 November, their first game since Lionel Messi left the team. [38]
- Uruguay, coached by Diego Forlan, went 2-0 up early in the second half, the first an own goal. [38]
- Julian Alvarez scored Argentina's only goal. [38]
Who is involved
- Julian Alvarez scored Argentina's goal
How it unfolded

Messi played his last game for Argentina against Benin on 6 October. [38]
1. 6 Oct Messi's last game
2. 13 Nov loss to Uruguay
Why it matters

There were gaps in the stands at La Bombonera, the Buenos Aires stadium. [38]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  What is Argentina rebuilding for?
  
  A new team for the 2030 World Cup, SI says, and coach Lionel Scaloni began it with doubts. [38]
  
  Messi leavesA rebuild beginsThe 2030 World Cup
2. 2
  
  Why would one player's exit empty seats?
  
  SI says the empty seats showed how many fans came for Messi himself. [38]
  
  Messi leavesFewer fans comeEmpty seats
16
Germany and the Netherlands set up a decider
What happened
- Germany beat Serbia 3-1 in Belgrade in the Nations League, under coach Jurgen Klopp. [39]
- Germany scored through an own goal by Serbia's Srdan Babic, then Florian Wirtz and debutant Brajan Gruda. [39]
- The Netherlands beat Greece 7-0, with a first-half hat-trick from Tijjani Reijnders. [39]
- Serbia finished with 9 men after 2 late red cards. [39]
Who is involved
- Florian Wirtz scored
- Brajan Gruda scored on debut
Why it matters

Germany will probably need to win on Monday to reach the quarter-finals. [39]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why is a draw probably not enough?
  
  The Dutch 7-0 win means Germany will probably need victory, unless Serbia beat Greece. [39]
  
  Dutch win 7-0Better goal differenceGermany must win
2. 2
  
  What happens to a side that falls short?
  
  Switzerland show it: they are in the second tier for the first time. [39] A 0-0 draw with Slovenia kept their climb back on course. [39]
  
  Fall shortDrop to the second tierFight to climb back
What comes next

Germany and the Netherlands meet in Berlin on Monday to decide who tops the group. [39]
17
France beat South Africa 21-19
What happened
- France beat South Africa 21-19 at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday. [40]
- They won despite losing almost every scrum and barely winning a line-out. [40]
- Galthie had called talk of mind games with South Africa's coach, Rassie Erasmus, "comic-book stuff". [40]
- The game ended on a missed conversion kick. [40]
How it unfolded

It was France's first win over South Africa at that stadium in 21 years. [40]

Why it matters

It shows France can beat the side the Guardian calls the best in the world, even out-muscled up front. [40]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Was France's team news a bluff?
  
  Coach Fabien Galthie said Antoine Dupont would play fly-half, but Maxime Lucu did that job instead. [40]
2. 2
  
  How did South Africa lose while winning the scrums?
  
  Their coach, Rassie Erasmus, said: "We weren't just outplayed, we were out-thought." [40]
18
England keep the wheelchair rugby league title
What happened
- England beat France 50-38 to win the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in Wollongong, Australia. [41]
- They are the first country to win it 3 times. [41]
- Joe Coyd, brother of coach Tom Coyd, scored a hat-trick. [42]
Who is involved

The sport lets disabled and non-disabled players compete alongside each other. [42]
- Disabled players compete
- Non-disabled players compete alongside
How it unfolded

They won the last final too, in Manchester in 2022. [41]

Why it matters

England and France had shared the last 4 titles, and now England lead. [42]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Who made the difference when it was level?
  
  Rob Hawkins, named the world's best player for a record third year running, scored straight after France drew level. [42]
2. 2
  
  Why does it matter beyond the trophy?
  
  Finlay O'Neill joined after watching the last World Cup, once told he could no longer play the running game. [42]
How it works

Psychologists call this framing: the words used for a goal change how people go after it.
Coach Tom Coyd found the word "defend" passive, so for 4 years he told the team to attack. [41]
Good news
- England's wheelchair rugby league team beat France 50-38 to win the World Cup for a record third time. It is a sport where disabled and non-disabled players compete side by side.
19
US women's hockey team wins 14-0
What happened
- The US beat hosts Denmark 14-0 to reach the women's ice hockey world championship semi-finals. [43]
- Their 85 shots set a tournament record, beating 82 by the US against Sweden in 1997. [43]
- Denmark's first goalkeeper stopped 51 shots before she was replaced. [43]
- Caroline Harvey and Haley Winn each scored twice and made 3 assists. [43]
- US goalkeeper Gwyneth Philips needed only 8 saves for the shutout. [43]
Who is involved
- Caroline Harvey 2 goals, 3 assists
- Haley Winn 2 goals, 3 assists
Why it matters

Denmark's home tournament ends in the quarter-finals. [43]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  What does the win set up?
  
  A semi-final on Sunday against Finland, last year's bronze medallists, as the US defend their title. [43]
2. 2
  
  Is anyone closing the gap on the top two?
  
  A little: the Czechs lost only 3-2 to Canada, their first time scoring more than once in 6 meetings. [43]
  
  3Canada
  2Czech Republic
20
A 15-year-old captains in T20 cricket
What happened
- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi became the youngest captain in top-level men's T20 cricket on Saturday. [44]
- He was 15 years and 232 days old, leading his state side Bihar. [44]
- He beat the record of Zach Vukusic, who captained Croatia at 17 years and 311 days. [44]
- Bihar lost to Saurashtra by 5 wickets, and he made 18 from 12 balls. [44]
How it unfolded

At 14 in 2025, he became the youngest player in the Indian Premier League, India's top T20 league. [44]
1. 2025 youngest IPL player
2. July India debut
3. Saturday youngest captain
Why it matters

He is already India's youngest men's international, after his debut against England in July. [44]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  How good has he been?
  
  He was this year's top run-scorer in the Indian Premier League. [44]
2. 2
  
  What comes next for him?
  
  The Rising Stars Asia Cup, a 50-over tournament for young players in Doha, later this month. [44]
  
  IPL recordsIndia debutRising Stars Asia Cup
21
England plan a Test in Zimbabwe
What happened
- England have agreed in principle to play a Test in Zimbabwe between 2027 and 2031. [45]
- It would be England's first Test there since 1996. [45]
- The match would be at a new ground at Victoria Falls, due to open next year; no date is set. [45]
How it unfolded

England stopped arranging games there for more than 20 years, in protest at its government under Robert Mugabe. [45]
1. 1996 England's last Test there
2. 2027-2031 the planned return
Why it matters

The ground will also stage 4 games at next year's 50-over World Cup, which Zimbabwe co-hosts. [45]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why did England stay away so long?
  
  In 2003, England's players refused to play a World Cup game in Harare, citing security fears. [45]
2. 2
  
  Where was this agreed?
  
  The two boards talked at the International Cricket Council's meeting in Bali this week. [45]
22
England bowled out for 131 in Perth
What happened
- England were bowled out for 131 and lost to Australia by 7 wickets in Perth on Friday. [46]
- Coach Brendon McCullum said the bouncy pitch was "a bit like batting on a trampoline". [46]
- Kevin Pietersen, England's former star batter, will lead the team's review before leaving the tour. [46]
Why it matters

Bouncy pitches await at next year's World Cup in southern Africa, McCullum warned. [46]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Is this one bad day, or a pattern?
  
  A pattern: England lost 4 of their 5 games in the recent tri-series in Pakistan. [46]
  
  4 of 5
  games lost in Pakistan
2. 2
  
  Who loses out when the pitches change the plan?
  
  Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, England's second-highest ODI wicket-taker, lost his place to Liam Dawson for these pitches. [46]
What comes next

The second one-day game is in Adelaide on Sunday. [46]
23
Dejounte Murray asks to leave New Orleans
What happened
- New Orleans Pelicans guard Dejounte Murray asked to be traded, the team said on Friday. [47]
- It came a day after he hit back at fans' criticism in a post he later deleted. [47]
- The Pelicans had lost 145-111 to the Brooklyn Nets, their 4th defeat in a row. [47]
- Murray is averaging 13.4 points, his lowest since his third season. [47]
Why it matters

The Pelicans must now decide whether to trade a former All-Star mid-season. [47]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Can Murray force a trade?
  
  No: the team said it will only weigh trades "in the best interest of our organization". [47]
2. 2
  
  Does anyone want him?
  
  The Phoenix Suns have "registered interest", reporter Chris Haynes said. [47]
24
Santander apologises for anti-Muslim posts
What happened
- Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander apologised for anti-Muslim videos he shared online. [48]
- He said the content "caused hurt", and he has deleted it. [48]
- Club president Mark Shapiro said the Blue Jays are "deeply sorry" to the Muslim community. [49]
- General manager Ross Atkins had said publicly he was deeply disappointed. [49]
How it unfolded

The posts came after Abdul El-Sayed won in Michigan, the first Muslim elected to the US Senate. [49]

Why it matters

The club met leaders of Toronto's Muslim communities this week. [49]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Will he be punished?
  
  It is not clear whether he will face more discipline, FOS says. [49]
2. 2
  
  What does the club have riding on him?
  
  A 5-year, $92.5 million contract running to 2029, though he missed all of 2026 injured. [49]
  
  $92.5 millionhis 5-year contract
25
Josh Hart buys into Napoli Basketball
What happened
- New York Knicks guard Josh Hart has bought a stake in Napoli Basketball, an Italian club. [50]
- He will join the club's board, and the price was not disclosed. [50]
- It is the most he has put into any private company, Sportico says. [50]
Who is involved

Hart won the NBA title and the NBA Cup with the Knicks last season. [50]
- Josh Hart Knicks guard, new part-owner
How it unfolded

Hart has earned more than $105 million in his NBA career, Spotrac says. [50]

Why it matters

The club was conditionally approved to join the EuroLeague, Europe's top basketball competition, as it expands. [50]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Who is behind the club?
  
  Its majority owner, Underdog Global Partners, wants to build a group of sports clubs in Naples. [50]
2. 2
  
  Is he in it for a quick profit?
  
  Hart says he sees "10-plus years of greatness in Naples". [50]
26
Yormark to run AC Milan's sports group
What happened
- Brett Yormark, head of the Big 12 college league, will run a new Milan sports group for RedBird Capital. [15]
- The group, Milan Sports & Entertainment, would hold AC Milan, its planned stadium and a tennis venue. [15]
Who is involved
- Brett Yormark leaving the Big 12
- RedBird Capital owns AC Milan
How it unfolded

RedBird bought AC Milan in 2022 in a deal valuing it at $1.3 billion. [15]

Why it matters

The extra businesses are meant to bring money that helps AC Milan compete at the top. [15]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Is Milan's income growing already?
  
  Its revenue grew from $299 million in 2022 to $463 million in 2024-25. [15]
  
  2022$299 million
  2024-25$463 million
2. 2
  
  Why pick a college sports boss?
  
  He ran the Brooklyn Nets' parent company for 14 years, including the team's move to Brooklyn. [15]
What comes next

Yormark stays with the Big 12 until the end of January. [15]
27
Wallaroos captain hits out at Rugby Australia
What happened
- Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu criticised Rugby Australia, the sport's governing body there, in a pay dispute. [51]
- Players pay for their own health insurance, and can wait to be repaid. [51]
- Chief executive Phil Waugh said RUPA could use about $5 million it holds to fund insurance. [51]
- The top-paid Wallaroos can earn up to $72,458 a year from Rugby Australia. [51]
Who is involved
- Siokapesi Palu Wallaroos captain
- Rugby Australia governing body
Why it matters

The two sides could still end up in the New South Wales Supreme Court. [51]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  What do the players actually want?
  
  Palu said: "we are asking for professional standards". [51]
2. 2
  
  Why does it matter now?
  
  The Wallaroos become a full-time squad in January, before a home World Cup 2 years later. [51]
How it works

Labour economists call this collective bargaining: a union agrees one deal for all its members.
Palu says Rugby Australia refused to bargain the standard contract with RUPA, the players' union, or even share it. [51]
Good news
- The Wallaroos, Australia's women's rugby team, become a full-time professional squad in January.
28
Boxer missed Worlds over a forgotten test
What happened
- English boxer George Francis, 18, was barred from the under-19 World Championships last month. [52]
- Francis, a schoolboy and junior national champion, was due to box at 60kg in Budva, Montenegro. [52]
- England Boxing admitted an "administrative oversight": nobody arranged his sex test in time. [52]
- Francis says he was told only hours before the draw. [52]
How it unfolded

World Boxing extended its sex-testing rule to male boxers in January. [52]
1. Weeks before no test booked
2. Hours before the draw told he cannot box
Why it matters

He has now missed his chance to try for the Olympics, and plans to turn professional. [52]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  How was he missed?
  
  He turned 18 four days before flying, and thinks nobody checked the system in time. [52]
  
  Turns 18Test not bookedRuled out
2. 2
  
  What happens now?
  
  England Boxing says it will strengthen its processes to stop it happening again. [52]
How it works

World Boxing's written rule required a sex test, so a missed test meant no fight, whatever the reason it was missed
The idea, in story 02: Why a fatal foul drew the same top ban as a bad injury →
29
Jerry Jones expects an 18-game NFL season
What happened
- Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said an 18-game NFL season could come "next year, maybe". [53]
- The NFL played 16 games from 1978 to 2020, then 17 from 2021. [53]
- Jones would cut pre-season games to make room. [53]
- Commissioner Roger Goodell said in February: "We have not had any formal discussions about it." [53]
- The NFL's current TV deals, signed in 2023, are worth $110 billion over 11 years. [53]
Why it matters

The players' contract with the league runs to 2030, so the union must agree. [53]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why do owners want more games?
  
  More games would let the NFL ask TV companies for more money, CBS Sports says. [53]
  
  More gamesMore TV to sellBigger TV deals
2. 2
  
  What would players risk?
  
  Players' bodies: in April a league source warned of more season-ending injuries. [53]
30
Spirit share their stadium on playoff day
What happened
- The Washington Spirit play their NWSL semi-final at noon on Saturday at Audi Field. [54]
- A college football game, the Secretaries Cup, kicks off at 4:30pm in the same stadium. [54]
- Workers have about 90 minutes to switch the stadium between the games. [54]
How it unfolded

The stadium booked the football game in spring 2025, before the league's playoff schedule came out. [54]
1. Noon NWSL semi-final
2. 4:30pm college football
Why it matters

A sponsor covers some of the cost, and DC United, the club that runs the stadium, pays the rest. [54]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why not move the football game?
  
  The football game kept its slot partly because a night game would cancel its military flyover. [54]
  
  A night kick-offNo military flyoverSo it stays at 4:30pm
2. 2
  
  And why not move the soccer?
  
  The Spirit's game had to fit the league's TV slot on CBS. [54]
31
Swans player helps a hurt rival
What happened
- Sydney beat Geelong 8.2 (50) to 7.5 (47) for their first AFLW semi-final win. [55]
- Geelong's Piper Dunlop fell after an accidental knock to the temple. [55]
- Sydney's Lexi Hamilton, a trained paramedic and nurse, held Dunlop's head still until medics arrived. [55]
Who is involved
- Lexi Hamilton Sydney, trained paramedic
- Piper Dunlop Geelong, hurt
Why it matters

Geelong are out of the finals after 2 losses by less than a goal. [55]
Think it through
1. 1
  
  Why did a rival step in?
  
  Swans coach Colin O'Riordan said her first thought was "How can I help someone?" [55]
2. 2
  
  What does the win set up?
  
  Sydney's first preliminary final, against two-time reigning premiers North Melbourne. [55]

More Sports editions

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Across the beats

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Spain's football federation bans goalkeeper Jesus Owono for 12 matches, the most its rules allow, for the foul that killed Jesus de Miguel

31 on this beat today.

Spain's football federation bans goalkeeper Jesus Owono for 12 matches, the most its rules allow, for the foul that killed Jesus de Miguel

US flight stop moves a college game

Why a fatal foul drew the same top ban as a bad injury

Pochettino named Manchester United coach

San Jose Earthquakes sold at $625 million

Warner calls sandpaper inquiry a cover-up

WTA faces a $23 million loss

Svitolina ends Sabalenka's season

US Open earns a record $637.9 million

Betting logos move off the shirt front

Abu Dhabi court jails brawl fighters

Blood test points to CTE in the living

Athletes who move twice graduate less

FIA takes a reporter's pass

Salah breaks Egypt's scoring record

Argentina lose first game without Messi

Germany and the Netherlands set up a decider

France beat South Africa 21-19

England keep the wheelchair rugby league title

US women's hockey team wins 14-0

A 15-year-old captains in T20 cricket

England plan a Test in Zimbabwe

England bowled out for 131 in Perth

Dejounte Murray asks to leave New Orleans

Santander apologises for anti-Muslim posts

Josh Hart buys into Napoli Basketball

Yormark to run AC Milan's sports group

Wallaroos captain hits out at Rugby Australia

Boxer missed Worlds over a forgotten test

Jerry Jones expects an 18-game NFL season

Spirit share their stadium on playoff day

Swans player helps a hurt rival