12 h. ago Luke Donald eyes Ryder Cup history as he considers potential Tiger Woods showdown in 2027

Luke Donald has led Europe to victory in the last two editions of the Ryder Cup

Culture

15 h. ago Luke Donald to hold talks with Ryder Cup executives as he eyes third tilt at captaincy

Donald in Dubai and to discuss Adare Manor in 2027 Potential captain Justin Rose expected still to playLuke Donald will hold talks with senior officials at the European Tour Group this week in Dubai, as the Englishman edges closer to a third stint as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain. While no announcement is imminent, there is a rising sense Donald will seek to make history by leading Europe to three Ryder Cup successes in a row.Donald, who is in the field for this weekend’s Dubai Desert Classic, has taken time to consider his position since Europe retained the trophy at Bethpage in September. The former world No 1 had already been the captain when Europe prevailed in Rome two years earlier. “I think it’s Luke’s if he wants it,” said Shane Lowry, a key member of the European team. The next Ryder Cup takes place at Adare Manor next year. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Luke Donald urged to take 'huge dangling carrot' for 2027 Ryder Cup

Shane Lowry hoping former world No 1 will grab opportunity to make history at Adare Manor

Politics

18 h. ago ICC issues ultimatum to Bangladesh to take decision on India T20 World Cup tour or ‘be replaced by another team’

Bangladesh reportedly given 21 Jan deadline as ICC refuses to alter tournament schedule

Politics

38 h. ago Morocco to pursue legal action over loss to Senegal in Africa Cup of Nations final

Hosts believe Senegal walk-off affected game’s outcomeBrahim Díaz says his ‘soul hurts’ after Panenka dramaMorocco’s football federation has announced it will pursue legal action over Sunday’s chaotic and controversial Africa Cup of Nations final based on a belief that the decision of Senegal’s players to leave the pitch, causing a 15-minute delay, had a material impact on the result.Senegal secured their second Afcon title via a 1-0 victory at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, Pape Gueye scoring the only goal on 94 minutes. But that came after an incredible denouement to normal time, with Morocco awarded a penalty when El Hadji Malick Diouf was penalised, after a VAR review, for a pull on Brahim Díaz as he defended a corner. It was a somewhat harsh call and led to the majority of those in green, upon instructions from their manager, Pape Thiaw, walking off in protest. They eventually returned and, soon after, Díaz took the hosts’ spot-kick, only to miss after failing with ...

Politics

62 h. ago Crystal Palace consider sacking Oliver Glasner after outburst about board

Manager’s comments after loss have angered hierarchyPaddy McCarthy would likely take over as caretakerCrystal Palace are considering whether to sack Oliver Glasner after he accused the club’s board of abandoning him and the rest of his squad by selling captain Marc Guéhi to Manchester City 24 hours before they were due to face Sunderland.Glasner’s outburst following the 2-1 defeat, when the Austrian also admitted he doesn’t care if he sees out his contract until the end of the season having already confirmed he will leave Selhurst Park, is understood to have dismayed Palace’s chair, Steve Parish. He is said to be weighing up if there is any other option than parting company with the manager who led Palace to their first major trophy when they won the FA Cup only eight months ago, with a decision expected on Sunday after Glasner went public over his dissatisfaction in two extraordinary press conferences. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago African football chiefs accused of not consulting fully over controversial Afcon change

Tournament to be played every four years from 2028Federation denies statutes breached in making decisionThe Confederation of African Football (Caf) has been accused of pushing through its controversial decision to stage the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) every four years without properly consulting member federations.Several presidents of African football federations have told the Guardian they were not informed of the decision until it was surprisingly announced by the Caf president, Patrice Motsepe, on 20 December, prompting claims that the confederation breached its statutes by failing to seek approval at a general assembly. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Alejandro Garnacho shows true colours and hits back as Chelsea 'push ahead' with transfers

Chelsea star Alejandro Garnacho has hit back at two big decisions in the best possible way during a Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal

Sport

5 d. ago Auchinleck Talbot vs Celtic injury news: 5 out with O'Neill set for decision on four others in Scottish Cup

Here is the latest team news ahead of Auchinleck Talbot v Celtic in the Scottish Cup at Rugby Park on Sunday.

Events

6 d. ago Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen decision backfires in painful Africa Cup of Nations semi

Morocco are on the cusp of history as they advanced to Sunday’s final, where the hosts will take on Senegal for a first Africa Cup of Nations title in 50 years

Events

7 d. ago ‘I think it was a great decision’: Dan Burn jokes about controversial VAR incident in Newcastle cup tie

Man City boss Pep Guardiola also challenged the decision makers after the game

Events

7 d. ago Xabi Alonso failed to control Real Madrid’s egos in brief and bitter reign

Hired as a systems coach, the manager was undermined at a club where players – and Florentino Pérez – call the shotsPep Guardiola sat in the press room at the Santiago Bernabéu and told Xabi Alonso to do it his way but around here, he knows, it tends not to work out like that, which is precisely why he said so. Saying it is one thing, doing it another, doing it successfully something else entirely, and a month and day after being offered that advice, handed that defence, Alonso was gone. On Monday afternoon, not long after landing from Saudi Arabia, a meeting was held at Valdebebas and then came the statement, short and unsentimental. He was a “legend” as a player, but no longer coach at Real Madrid.Alonso is the 11th manager to last less than a year in two decades under the president, Florentino Pérez. He had begun work only seven months before, and that was earlier than he intended. It had started with the Club World Cup in the US, his first big decision to accept the demand to ta...

Events

9 d. ago Man Utd make wonderkid JJ Gabriel debut decision ahead of FA Cup clash

JJ Gabriel has been a regular topic of conversation at Manchester United recently, and the 15-year-old is well known to caretaker manager Darren Fletcher, who managed the wonderkid in the under-18s

Politics

9 d. ago Why were FA Cup replays scrapped? Real reason for controversial decision

The Football Association and Premier League powers collaborated to end FA Cup replay fixtures in a decision that sparked backlash from plenty of supporters

Politics

9 d. ago Five Man United players set to miss Brighton FA Cup tie as Bryan Mbeumo decision made

Manchester United will be in FA Cup third round action at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, hosting Premier League opposition in the form of Brighton & Hove Albion

Sport

1 week ago Scarlets v Pau team news as star returns to give Wales Six Nations boost

Dwayne Peel's side have to win to remain in contention in Europe

Politics

1 week ago Manchester United make decision on head coach for Brighton FA Cup tie

Man Utd face Brighton in the FA Cup third round on Sunday and they have made a decision on who will be in charge for that game.

Sport

2 w. ago Gogglebox's Shaun Ryder shares health update after worrying collapse

Celebrity Gogglebox star Shaun Ryder has opened up about his recent health issues

Politics

2 w. ago Raducanu fails to last distance as Britain suffer bitter United Cup loss to Greece

British player ‘proud I put myself out there’ after injuriesBilly Harris also loses to Tsitsipas in decisive tieGreat Britain fell to a bitter 2-1 loss in their decisive United Cup tie against Greece in the round-robin group stage as Emma Raducanu fought hard to overcome her injury-ravaged preparation for the new season before fading physically in her first match of the year, losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 against Maria Sakkari.Raducanu’s defeat had been preceded by a courageous performance from the British men’s No 5 Billy Harris, who played one of the best matches of his career before falling 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-4) to the former world No 3 Stefanos Tsitsipas. In the mixed doubles dead rubber, Neal Skupski and Olivia Nicholls defeated Despina Papamichail and Stefanos Sakellaridis 6-2, 3-6, 10-4. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says Kyiv cannot win without US support as Putin orders advance in Zaporizhzhia

Ukrainian president calls latest talks with Trump productive; Zelenskyy says attack on Putin’s residence is ‘lies’. What we know on day 1,406Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine cannot win its war against Russia without US support and accused Moscow of trying to sabotage peace talks after the Kremlin said it had foiled a Ukrainian drone attack on Vladimir Putin’s residence. Zelenskyy described the claim as “typical Russian lies” after his two-hour meeting on Sunday with Donald Trump in Florida, Luke Harding and Sammy Gecsoyler report. The Ukrainian president said Russia was “at it again” and using “dangerous statements” to undermine “diplomatic efforts” with the US to end the conflict. He added: “This alleged ‘residence strike’ story is a complete fabrication intended to justify additional attacks against Ukraine, including Kyiv, as well as Russia’s own refusal to take necessary steps to end the war.”Zelenskyy later said his Sunday meeting with Trump was productive. “Can we win with...

Politics