RSA

Defiant Khawaja defends re-igniting ball-tampering scandal

  • Khawaja, who retired this year after 88 Tests, defended waiting so long to make the claims, denying it was a marketing ploy to sell his book.
  • Usman Khawaja insisted Sunday he did not "throw anyone under the bus" by claiming the entire Australian team was in on the 2018 "Sandpapergate" plot and defended taking eight years to go public.
  • Khawaja, who retired this year after 88 Tests, defended waiting so long to make the claims, denying it was a marketing ploy to sell his book.
Usman Khawaja insisted Sunday he did not "throw anyone under the bus" by claiming the entire Australian team was in on the 2018 "Sandpapergate" plot and defended taking eight years to go public.
The retired batsman re-ignited the infamous ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town on Saturday ahead of the release of his autobiography this week, where a chapter is dedicated to the issue.
He alleged that it was not just Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft -- who were all subsequently banned -- who were responsible.
"It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us," he said.
Khawaja claimed Australia also employed the tactic during the previous Test at Port Elizabeth.
In response Darren Lehmann, who was head coach at the time, denied there was widespread knowledge of the plot while Cricket Australia said it was "comfortable" with the findings of its original investigation.
That probe found only Smith, Warner and Bancroft were in the know.
"When I mentioned it was all of us, that's implying that whether we like it or not, we're all responsible for what happened together as a team," Khawaja said in a lengthy Instagram post on Sunday.
"We need to take that collectively. That is all."
He added: "I haven't thrown anyone under the bus.
"The guys that are currently in the team right now and the other people that were there on the South African tour, including me, we're not the victims. 
"These three guys (Smith, Warner and Bancroft) took the blame for all of us. 
"They're the victims ... people telling them that they're cheats, getting nailed by the crowd. Public humiliation."
Khawaja, who retired this year after 88 Tests, defended waiting so long to make the claims, denying it was a marketing ploy to sell his book.
He said he wanted to go public in 2018 once Smith, Warner and Bancroft were suspended.
"But Smudge (Smith) being the man and leader he was, he talked me out of it.
"He wanted to take the blame. I argued with him, but he was having none of it. That's the first time I tried to come out."
Khawaja said he again almost spoke up in 2021 when bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon all denied publicly that they knew about the ball-tampering.
But after extensive talks with then-coach Justin Langer he decided not to.
The 39-year-old said he never felt comfortable talking after that while back in the Australian team from 2022.
"Call me a chicken or whatever you want. I didn't know how to do it because I was still in the team," Khawaja said. "I was always conscious of putting my team first, but I'm not in that team anymore."
mp/abs

Sports

Nuggets hold off Pacers in NBA Mexico City game

  • Cameron Johnson added 18 points and Jamal Murray chipped in 16 for the Nuggets, who saw a 27-point lead sliced to seven midway through the fourth quarter but held on for the victory before a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 at Mexico City's Arena CDMX. Indiana's Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 23 points.
  • Denver star Nikola Jokic scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Nuggets held off Indiana's second-half surge to triumph 114-102 on Saturday in the NBA's Mexico City game.
  • Cameron Johnson added 18 points and Jamal Murray chipped in 16 for the Nuggets, who saw a 27-point lead sliced to seven midway through the fourth quarter but held on for the victory before a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 at Mexico City's Arena CDMX. Indiana's Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 23 points.
Denver star Nikola Jokic scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Nuggets held off Indiana's second-half surge to triumph 114-102 on Saturday in the NBA's Mexico City game.
Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic added eight assists, coming up just shy of a triple-double.
Cameron Johnson added 18 points and Jamal Murray chipped in 16 for the Nuggets, who saw a 27-point lead sliced to seven midway through the fourth quarter but held on for the victory before a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 at Mexico City's Arena CDMX.
Indiana's Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 23 points.
The league headed south of the border for its 16th regular-season contest in Mexico.
Along with 19 pre-season games, the country has hosted the most NBA games outside of the United States and Canada.
The Pacers, again playing without injured Tyrese Haliburton, jumped to a quick 5-0 lead and were up 7-4 when the Nuggets produced a 10-0 scoring run to seize a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
Denver pushed the advantage to as many as 27 on the way to a 64-41 halftime edge.
The Pacers hit back with a 37-point third quarter and pulled within 102-95 on a Jarace Walker running basket with 7:27 remaining.
The Nuggets responded with a quick basket from Spencer Jones and a thunderous Aaron Gordon dunk as they kept the Pacers at bay.
The game was one of seven on Saturday's slate, which also featured the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the defending champion New York Knicks.
It's the second heavyweight clash in as many nights in Cleveland, where the Cavs beat LeBron James and the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers on Friday.
It's a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference finals, in which the Knicks swept the Cavs on the way to their first NBA title since 1973.
bb/js

media

Trump offers UFC boss press secretary post, urges criminal probes of Democrats

BY PAUL BLAKE

  • Trump on Saturday also ordered the Justice Department to investigate Democrats for "extortion at the highest level."
  • Facing an incoming Democratic congress, US President Donald Trump struck a combative tone Saturday, offering friend and "violent fighter" Dana White the White House press secretary job and ordering the Justice Department to investigate his opponents.
  • Trump on Saturday also ordered the Justice Department to investigate Democrats for "extortion at the highest level."
Facing an incoming Democratic congress, US President Donald Trump struck a combative tone Saturday, offering friend and "violent fighter" Dana White the White House press secretary job and ordering the Justice Department to investigate his opponents.
Democrats handed Trump's Republicans a blowout defeat in midterm elections this week and will take control of both chambers of Congress in January. They are promising robust investigations of Trump and his administration.
Trump, however, showed no signs of being chastened.
He offered the press secretary post to White, a loyal supporter who is head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) mixed martial arts organization.
"Dana, please take the job!" Trump posted on social media, describing White as a "violent Fighter and Warrior."
Speaking to reporters following a boxing event in London late Saturday, White said he was flying to Washington "right now" and will meet with Trump on Monday.
"I'll have more to talk about after that," he said.
White had earlier shared a photo -- possibly AI-generated -- showing him behind the lectern in the White House press briefing room, captioned "On to the next chapter."
Trump on Saturday also ordered the Justice Department to investigate Democrats for "extortion at the highest level."
"The Democrats are going around threatening a lot of people," he wrote, adding that he was ordering the Justice Department to "look into this criminal act."
Denying that anyone in his administration had committed impeachable offenses, Trump called for prison time for "these EXTORTIONISTS."

Combative

Saturday's announcements came a day after Trump appointed Stephen Miller to be his next chief of staff, describing the combative senior adviser as "a great fighter." 
He replaces Susie Wiles, whose departure marks the first staffing fallout from the Republican election debacle.
The pugilistic posts echoed comments Trump made after a smaller midterm defeat in 2018, when he said his White House would assume "a war-like posture" against any investigations. Trump was subsequently impeached in 2019 and 2021.
The White House has been without a press secretary since October 16 when Katie Zacharia left the position after less than a week on the job.
White, 57, is president and CEO of the UFC, the largest and most successful company in the world of mixed martial arts whose violent cage fights are broadcast across the globe.
Trump listed six UFC fighters that he hoped White would bring to the White House as advisers, "even though some are not from our Country."
"We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left," he said of the fighters, who include two Russians and one Brazilian.
Trump and White are old friends, and the US leader has often tried to associate his MAGA brand of politics with the hugely popular UFC.
On his 80th birthday in June, UFC held a bloody cage match on the White House South Lawn. He has also attended bouts in Miami, New York and New Jersey since winning his second White House term.
When Trump won reelection in 2024, White appeared alongside the Republican for his victory speech.

'Criminal act'

If White formally accepts, he will have his work cut out for him.
Trump faces a radically transformed and hostile political landscape after Democrats seized both the House of Representatives and the Senate in Tuesday's midterms.
With control of committees in both chambers, Democrats can summon officials, demand documents and hold public hearings, potentially putting Trump and his senior aides under intense scrutiny.
Likely probes include the Trump family's business and cryptocurrency dealings, government contracts involving billionaire Elon Musk, cuts to federal agencies, immigration enforcement, the conduct of the Iran war and the handling of files related to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
"Lawyer up," wrote incoming House Oversight Committee chairman Robert Garcia on X as results became clear on election night.
Democrats could pursue a third impeachment against Trump, though party leaders have not promised it.
While the House needs only a simple majority to impeach the president, removing him is a far larger obstacle that requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate -- far beyond the party's majority.
pnb/acb/dw

QAT

Security concerns as Australia name under-strength squad for Mideast friendlies

  • "For the match against Jordan, we will continue to assess the security environment and provide players and staff with timely, comprehensive updates, including relevant safety advice and risk assessments," he added.
  • Football Australia said it was continuing to assess security ahead of the Socceroos' two upcoming friendlies in the Middle East, with an under-strength squad named amid player safety concerns.
  • "For the match against Jordan, we will continue to assess the security environment and provide players and staff with timely, comprehensive updates, including relevant safety advice and risk assessments," he added.
Football Australia said it was continuing to assess security ahead of the Socceroos' two upcoming friendlies in the Middle East, with an under-strength squad named amid player safety concerns.
Australia are scheduled to play Qatar in Doha on November 13 and Jordan four days later in Amman, but the latter game is in doubt given unrest in the region.
Football Australia chief Martin Kugeler said in a statement late Saturday "the safety and wellbeing of our players and staff remains our highest priority".
"For the match against Jordan, we will continue to assess the security environment and provide players and staff with timely, comprehensive updates, including relevant safety advice and risk assessments," he added.
The games were meant to be preparation for the Asian Cup which has been postponed from January to December 2027 due to security worries in host country Saudi Arabia which has been targeted by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.
Professional Footballers Australia, which represents the players, on Friday said the Jordan match should not go ahead in Amman.
"With the full support of the PFA, the players have overwhelmingly expressed their view that the Jordan match should be rescheduled or relocated," said chief executive Beau Busch.
Only 11 members of Australia's World Cup squad were included in the 25-strong lineup for the two games.
Coach Tony Popovic named seven potential debutants including Diesel Herrington -- the brother of Hull City defender Lucas Herrington.
Two other brothers -- Tete Yengi and Kusini Yengi -- were also included.
"We will have an eye on continuing to evolve the squad for the future, with our World Cup 2030 qualifying campaign and the Asian Cup both now in the second half of 2027," said Popovic.
"This camp gives us another chance to work with new players and see how they fit into what we are building."
Australia squad: Eli Adams (Gamba Osaka/JPN), Kealey Adamson (Queens Park Rangers/ENG), Daniel Arzani (Ferencvaros/HUN), Patrick Beach (Troyes/FRA), Aziz Behich (Melbourne City/AUS), Kasey Bos (Excelsior Rotterdam/NED), Alessandro Circati (Benfica/POR), Joe Gauci (Lincoln City/ENG), Jason Geria (Albirex Niigata/JPN), Tom Glover (Omiya Ardija/JPN), Diesel Herrington (Central Coast Mariners/AUS), Lucas Herrington (Hull City/ENG), Nestory Irankunda (Sporting SP/POR), Jacob Italiano (Grazer AK/AUT), Sam Klein (St Pauli/GER), Riley McGree (FC Koln/GER), Connor Metcalfe (St Pauli/GER), Paul Okon-Engstler (FC Koln/GER) Harry Souttar (Leicester City/ENG), Gianni Stensness (Viking FK/NOR), Thomas Waddingham (Portsmouth/ENG), Patrick Yazbek (Nashville SC/USA), Kusini Yengi (Sanfrecce Hiroshima/JPN), Tete Yengi (Machida Zelvia/JPN), Marcus Younis (Brondby/DEN)
mp/abs

CAN

Messi's Miami cling to second spot on dramatic final MLS day

  • That means Vancouver would be the home team if there should be a rematch of last year's MLS Cup final against Inter Miami.
  • Lionel Messi's Inter Miami clung on for second place in the Eastern Conference with a wasteful 3-3 draw against Charlotte on the final day of the MLS regular season Saturday.
  • That means Vancouver would be the home team if there should be a rematch of last year's MLS Cup final against Inter Miami.
Lionel Messi's Inter Miami clung on for second place in the Eastern Conference with a wasteful 3-3 draw against Charlotte on the final day of the MLS regular season Saturday.
The Argentine superstar set up the first two goals at Miami's Nu Stadium, both from corners, to procure the reigning champions home-field advantage in at least their opening two rounds of the playoffs.
Ian Fray, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul racked up three first-half strikes for Inter Miami before Liel Abada's brace soon after the break sparked a comeback sealed by Rodolfo Aloko's late strike in a game characterized by awful defending at both ends.
A single point proved enough. Miami finished the regular season second on 60, as third-place New England Revolution failed to take advantage with a surprise 1-0 loss at Orlando, finishing on 58.
Messi's men will now face the Columbus Crew to begin the playoffs.
Runaway leaders Nashville broke the all-time MLS points record with a whopping 77 after beating Cincinnati 2-0.
Though he did not get on the scoresheet himself Saturday, Messi's 26 goals this season are still almost certain to seal his second straight golden boot award.
Petar Musa, whose FC Dallas were in action later Saturday, would need to score five to prevent Messi becoming the first player to win back-to-back MLS Golden Boots.
Charlotte had an early goal ruled out in the Miami clash for handball against Idan Toklomati, who set up Abada after intercepting Casemiro's weak defensive header back to the goalkeeper.
In the 14th minute, Messi's corner fell unexpectedly to Charlotte's Luca de la Torre, who spooned it up for Fray to open the scoring for Miami.
Another Messi corner in the 33rd minute found Suarez wide open at the near post. The Uruguayan glanced in his header for 2-0, with Messi picking up the assist.
De Paul made it three before halftime, given time and space by Charlotte's defense to slam a long-range shot low to the goalkeeper's right and into the side netting.
Early in the second half Abada pulled back a goal for the visitors, blasting home substitute Tyger Smalls' sharp cut-back pass from Ashley Westwood's incisive aerial through ball. 
Minutes later, Messi uncharacteristically steered wide a straightforward header from the edge of the six-yard box. 
Abada bagged a second in the 55th minute, stunning a crowd that had been in party mood moments earlier, with a first-time finish after a one-two with Pep Biel who played a smart backheel return pass.
In the 90th minute, Aloko bagged the equalizer, responding first to the ball as Smalls' shot ricocheted off the post.
A visibly frustrated Messi hit the post in stoppage time before Aloko came inches from bagging an unlikely winner with a thunderous shot into the outside netting.
Elsewhere on 'Decision Day', with all 30 MLS teams in action, the Western Conference champion Vancouver Whitecaps beat Canadian rivals Montreal 2-0 to seal the second overall seed.
That means Vancouver would be the home team if there should be a rematch of last year's MLS Cup final against Inter Miami.
Columbus took advantage of in-form Cincinnati's stumble with a last-gasp 4-3 win at Chicago to finish seventh and avoid the wild card round.  
amz/js

ENG

England's injured Tongue out of Australia white-ball tour

  • "Josh Tongue has been ruled out of the white-ball tour of Australia due to a left big toe injury," team officials said.
  • England fast bowler Josh Tongue has been ruled out of their white-ball tour of Australia with a toe injury and will return home for treatment, the team said Sunday.
  • "Josh Tongue has been ruled out of the white-ball tour of Australia due to a left big toe injury," team officials said.
England fast bowler Josh Tongue has been ruled out of their white-ball tour of Australia with a toe injury and will return home for treatment, the team said Sunday.
Tongue arrived in Perth last week ahead of England's three-match ODI and five-game T20 series, but sat out their 92-run one-day warm-up win over Western Australia on Saturday.
"Josh Tongue has been ruled out of the white-ball tour of Australia due to a left big toe injury," team officials said. "Tongue will return to the UK to undergo further assessment."
Batsman Jacob Bethell, who is returning from knee surgery, also missed the game, where Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid excelled.
Pace spearhead Archer took 3-34 and spinner Rashid 4-35 as Western Australia were bowled out for 159, having been set 252 to win.
Ben Duckett cracked 59 and Liam Dawson an unbeaten 44 for England, who open the ODI leg of the tour in Perth on Friday before the series moves to Adelaide and Hobart. 
It is England's first time back in Australia since being crushed 4-1 in the 2025-26 Ashes Test series.
mp/abs

FRA

Galthie laments Ntamack loss as France fly-half troubles mount

  • "There are also many talented fly-halves in this France team."
  • France coach Fabien Galthie admitted on Saturday he has a conundrum to solve as he prepares to face world champions South Africa without a host of top fly-halves.
  • "There are also many talented fly-halves in this France team."
France coach Fabien Galthie admitted on Saturday he has a conundrum to solve as he prepares to face world champions South Africa without a host of top fly-halves.
Romain Ntamack made his long-awaited return to the France team in Saturday's 54-17 Nations Championship victory against Fiji but lasted just over half an hour.
He injured his shoulder as he stretched for the line just before France scored their third of eight tries.
"Romain went off with this injury and we won't have him for the rest of the competition," Galthie told TF1.
"I won't go into the details but I think that's the competition over for him. He has a pretty serious shoulder injury."
With Matthieu Jalibert, Antoine Hastoy and Thomas Ramos, a full-back who is an able fly-half, all out injured, Galthie has a headache ahead of next Friday's Springboks clash.
"We have a French team without its first choice (fly-half), without its second choice, without its third choice, without its fourth choice," Galthie said.
Scrum-half Maxime Lucu filled in for Ntamack in the playmaker role once the Toulouse man went off -- a role he has played in before for Bordeaux-Begles.
"We consider Maxime a scrum-half who plays at number 10 for his club," Galthie said.
"That allowed us, with a six-two bench split, to have a good balance.
"We have the youngster from Pau (Axel) Desperes, who is training with us. We'll work on it, we'll try to find a solution at fly-half."
Lucu said he would be willing to play wherever Galthie puts him.
"Me, I play where I'm asked to play, so every time I'm very happy to wear the French jersey," Lucu said.
"Today it was at number 10, so if I'm asked to do it, I'll do it with pleasure.
"There are also many talented fly-halves in this France team."
Galthie was otherwise satisfied with the performance in Lyon, which was somewhat error-prone.
"It's a good result, it's a long time since we've scored so many points against Fiji," said Galthie.
"It's a good preparation match for six days' time," he added about the South Africa clash.
After that, France will face Argentina.
They currently top the northern hemisphere standings by two points from Ireland, putting them in pole position to reach the final in three weeks' time.
"This is a new competition format, we knew that it was important to take the win given the other nations' results," said winger Theo Attissogbe, who scored one of France's tries.
"We took five points, that's the best score possible. So, we're delighted, we'll keep going."

Crowd is 'big advantage'

Fiji remained bottom of the southern hemisphere table after a fourth straight defeat in the competition.
Their South African coach Jake White said Fiji need to improve their maul to be more competitive at this level.
"If you look at the French maul, they score lots and lots of maul tries," he said.
"It is something that we have identified going forward to the World Cup.
"We know that Fiji can play rugby, we know that Fiji can score tries, we know that Fiji are very good with the ball in hand.
"But the things they need to work on is the maul."
As for France's chances next week against his countrymen, White said Les Bleus would always have a shot when playing at home.
"When you see how important that crowd is, and how they help the team, it's a very big advantage," he said.
"I'm sure next week, when they play in the Stade de France against South Africa, it will be even bigger, even more noise.
"It's going to be a good Test match."
bc/iwd

Liga

Real Madrid beat Valencia as Spanish football honours De Miguel

  • De Miguel's funeral took place on Thursday and around 400 mourners attended, including Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
  • Real Madrid pulled level with La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 3-0 win at Valencia on Saturday, as Spanish football paid tribute to Jesus de Miguel.
  • De Miguel's funeral took place on Thursday and around 400 mourners attended, including Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Real Madrid pulled level with La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 3-0 win at Valencia on Saturday, as Spanish football paid tribute to Jesus de Miguel.
Tenerife striker De Miguel died Tuesday after a collision with Andorra's goalkeeper in a Spanish second division match on Monday, and matches across the country were stopped in the ninth minute to pay homage to the number nine.
In Tenerife, fans and players gathered at the stadium for a memorial and farewell to De Miguel.
"You knew what it meant to work towards a common goal, you understood football as something that went far beyond oneself," said Tenerife captain Enric Gallego in an emotional speech.
"Just a few days ago, we were sharing all of that with you -- today we have to speak of you in the past tense. It's terribly unfair."
De Miguel's funeral took place on Thursday and around 400 mourners attended, including Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
Spain's footballers' union had asked for all weekend matches to be paused as a mark of respect, but most games went ahead.
There was a minute of silence before kick-off for De Miguel and matches were stopped for a minute's applause in the ninth minute -- his shirt number.

'This team smells good'

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe scored for the seventh match running in the win over 10-man Valencia.
Reigning champions Barca visit Atletico Madrid, third, on Sunday, aiming to move back clear of the chasing pack.
Jose Mourinho's Madrid largely dominated at Mestalla stadium as they secured an eighth win in a row across all competitions.
Federico Valverde and Arda Guler's first half goals put Madrid in the driving seat and Mbappe added a third in the second half.
"From my experience, this team smells good," Mourinho told reporters.
The Madrid coach said his team did not lose their heads after their last defeat, by Atletico Madrid on September 20, after which their winning run began.
"We never had chaos, we've been calm, we understand why we lost that game," said Mourinho.
"I always fight for people to be balanced in the good moments, I always tell them that winning games in a team like Real Madrid, you can't be taken up in a whirlwind of joy, winning games at Real Madrid has to be normality."
Los Blancos were without winger Vinicius Junior, who was serving the final game of a four-match ban.
Madrid have thrived in his absence, putting heavy pressure on Barca, whom they beat in the Camp Nou Clasico on October 25.
Valencia's Guido Rodriguez had a goal disallowed for offside before Mourinho's side took control.
Valverde drilled Madrid ahead from outside the area after Mbappe's free-kick was blocked by the Valencia wall and fell to the Uruguayan.
Guler soon doubled the lead, after Jude Bellingham's cross was deflected kindly into his path.
Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski saved from Guler, Mbappe and Jude Bellingham as Madrid tried to find a third to kill off the game.
Eventually Mbappe produced it, bursting onto a dangerous pass by Guler to dart past Dimitrievski and squeeze home his 13th league goal of the campaign.
It was the forward's 17th goal in 16 games across all competitions. Mbappe has netted in his last seven appearances for Madrid.
Valencia captain Jose Gaya was dismissed with around 10 minutes remaining for a late sliding foul on Mbappe to further spoil Javier Aguirre's team's night. Los Che are 19th, a point from safety.
"We knew it would be a tough game, facing Madrid at their best moment of the season," Gaya told DAZN.
"We tried in the second half, changed our system... but we couldn't get into the game."
Earlier new Espanyol coach Eder Sarabia's side were held to a goalless home draw by Deportivo La Coruna.
Osasuna snatched a late 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao, while Racing Santander came from behind to beat Malaga 2-1.
rbs/ea

FRA

France thump Fiji but lose Ntamack to injury

BY FRANçOIS BENEYTOU

  • Fiji, who started the match in Lyon with 10 France-based players, including their entire backline, were typically physical but slumped to a fourth straight defeat in the inaugural Nations Championship.
  • France stormed back to the top of the northern hemisphere Nations Championship table with a dominant but flawed 54-17 victory over Fiji on Saturday.
  • Fiji, who started the match in Lyon with 10 France-based players, including their entire backline, were typically physical but slumped to a fourth straight defeat in the inaugural Nations Championship.
France stormed back to the top of the northern hemisphere Nations Championship table with a dominant but flawed 54-17 victory over Fiji on Saturday.
Victory came at a cost, with fly-half Romain Ntamack, aligned alongside captain Antoine Dupont at half-back for the first time since March 2025, seemingly dislocating his shoulder in the build up to France's third try.
With Matthieu Jalibert already out injured, France will face world champions South Africa next week without either of their best fly-halves.
And they will need to put in a vastly improved showing to stand any chance of avoiding a 10th defeat in their last 11 clashes with the Springboks.
Props Jean-Baptiste Gros and Sipili Falatea, winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, centre Kalvin Gourgues, full-back Theo Attissogbe, replacement forward Charles Ollivon and Dupont crossed the whitewash, with a penalty try making it eight scores for the hosts.
They are two points ahead of Ireland in the standings ahead of England's clash with Australia on Sunday.
Fiji, who started the match in Lyon with 10 France-based players, including their entire backline, were typically physical but slumped to a fourth straight defeat in the inaugural Nations Championship.
Their much-vaunted backs struggled to fire, although centre Vinaya Habosi beat four defenders to score and Selestino Ravutaumada added a second consolation try.
The Top 14's most prolific finisher, Jiuta Wainiqolo, who was playing in his adopted home, was unable to make an impact, though.
Neither did France's own wing wizard, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, although he did set up one try.
 

Visibly in pain

 
Fiji showed early ambition, turning down a straight-forward three points to kick to touch, but France stole the line-out.
After a breathless and error-strewn start to the game, Gros burrowed over for the opening try on 15 minutes, only his second for France.
That changed the complexion of the game, with France gradually starting to purr.
A penalty try soon followed, with Mesake Vocevoce sent to the sin-bin for collapsing a maul, and then Falatea burst through tacklers to score.
In the phase before Falatea's score, Ntamack injured his shoulder as he stretched for the line.
The Toulouse playmaker left the field visibly in pain.
Grandidier-Nkanang secured the attacking bonus point before half-time after Vilimoni Botitu, a late change to the Fiji starting XV as Isikeli Rabitu was reportedly sick, spilled the ball in his 22.
The hosts led 26-3 at the break, with Simione Kuruvoli's penalty Fiji's only reward.
France, though, were error-prone in the second half and struggled to turn their dominance into points.
It took them 19 minutes to add to their tally, with Gourgues going over in the corner on his first start for Les Bleus.
That seemed to open the floodgates as Bielle-Biarrey sent Attissogbe away for France's sixth try.
But Habosi struck next out of the blue before Ollivon barged over from close range.
Ravutaumada added a breakaway score but Dupont had the final word.
bc/iwd

Sports

PSG march on with 11th straight win

BY ANDY SCOTT

  • Their 11-game winning streak in all competitions is their longest run of consecutive victories under Luis Enrique, who was appointed in 2023.
  • Illia Zabarnyi scored the only goal of the game as a weakened Paris Saint-Germain claimed an unspectacular 1-0 win over Troyes in Ligue 1 on Saturday to make it 11 consecutive victories in all competitions.
  • Their 11-game winning streak in all competitions is their longest run of consecutive victories under Luis Enrique, who was appointed in 2023.
Illia Zabarnyi scored the only goal of the game as a weakened Paris Saint-Germain claimed an unspectacular 1-0 win over Troyes in Ligue 1 on Saturday to make it 11 consecutive victories in all competitions.
Ukraine defender Zabarnyi headed in Senny Mayulu's cross to break the deadlock in the 39th minute at the Parc des Princes, and that proved sufficient to beat their newly-promoted opponents who lie in the bottom three.
PSG were without a host of key players, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, Nuno Mendes, Maghnes Akliouche and captain Marquinhos all injured while Achraf Hakimi was rested and Joao Neves started as a substitute.
They still had enough to beat their dogged but limited opponents, with Troyes expected to struggle to secure Ligue 1 survival despite the backing of the City Football Group.
Fresh from hammering Villarreal 6-0 away in the Champions League in midweek, Luis Enrique's PSG side have now won seven games on the bounce in Ligue 1 and are now three points clear of Paris FC at the top of the table.
Their 11-game winning streak in all competitions is their longest run of consecutive victories under Luis Enrique, who was appointed in 2023.
"It is so difficult and rare to achieve," Luis Enrique said of the winning run.
"Football is always a really hard game to control. But I am happier to have won the eight games since the last international break than the 11 in a row overall.
"After the players come back from international duty we will try to keep doing the same thing."
Zabarnyi's goal, which followed a quickly-taken Desire Doue corner, was his second of the season and the expectation was that PSG would go on to run out emphatic winners.
However, Spain World Cup final hero Ferran Torres failed to make the most of several promising openings -- he has now gone eight games without a goal after netting seven times in his first six PSG appearances.
"There's no need to be worried for him. It's normal. What matters to me is that the attacking players keep getting chances, and today their goalkeeper played very well," Luis Enrique added.

Paris FC give chase

As PSG fans let off fireworks at one point in the second half, Troyes saw Renaud Ripart put a great chance wide before Lucas Maronnier had a late effort disallowed for offside.
PSG are next in action after the international break away to Nice in a fortnight, before the reigning European champions host Roma in the Champions League.
Earlier on Saturday, PSG's neighbours Paris FC won 1-0 away to Auxerre thanks to a second-half goal by in-form striker Lassine Sinayoko.
Mali forward Sinayoko, a summer signing from Auxerre, opportunistically turned in an assist by Pablo Pagis, who was called up to the France squad for the first time by new coach Zinedine Zidane on Friday.
Sinayoko, 26, is the top scorer in Ligue 1 with nine goals in 10 games. Liam Rosenior's Paris FC are second, three points behind PSG.
However, Lille and Lyon are both within striking distance of the two capital clubs before they play on Sunday.
Also on Sunday, Lens play host to Marseille seeking to erase the nightmare memory of Wednesday’s 9-1 Champions League loss at home to Como, which was a record-equalling defeat in the competition.
as/iwd

Liga

Real Madrid beat Valencia to level Liga leaders Barca

  • "I always fight for people to be balanced in the good moments, I always tell them that winning games in a team like Real Madrid, you can't be taken up in a whirlwind of joy, winning games at Real Madrid has to be normality."
  • Kylian Mbappe scored for the seventh match running as Real Madrid pulled provisionally level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after a 3-0 win at 10-man Valencia on Saturday.
  • "I always fight for people to be balanced in the good moments, I always tell them that winning games in a team like Real Madrid, you can't be taken up in a whirlwind of joy, winning games at Real Madrid has to be normality."
Kylian Mbappe scored for the seventh match running as Real Madrid pulled provisionally level on points with La Liga leaders Barcelona after a 3-0 win at 10-man Valencia on Saturday.
Reigning champions Barca visit Atletico Madrid, third, on Sunday, aiming to move back clear of the chasing pack.
Jose Mourinho's Madrid largely dominated at Mestalla stadium as they secured an eighth win in a row across all competitions.
Federico Valverde and Arda Guler's first half goals put Madrid in the driving seat and Mbappe added a third in the second half.
"From my experience, this team smells good," Mourinho told reporters.
The Madrid coach said his team did not lose their heads after their last defeat, by Atletico Madrid on September 20, after which their winning run began.
"We never had chaos, we've been calm, we understand why we lost that game," said Mourinho.
"I always fight for people to be balanced in the good moments, I always tell them that winning games in a team like Real Madrid, you can't be taken up in a whirlwind of joy, winning games at Real Madrid has to be normality."
Los Blancos were without winger Vinicius Junior, who was serving the final game of a four-match ban.
Madrid have thrived in his absence, putting heavy pressure on Barca, whom they beat in the Camp Nou Clasico on October 25.
In the ninth minutes the match stopped for players and fans to pay tribute to Tenerife striker Jesus de Miguel, who tragically died on Tuesday.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a smart save to deny Aaron Mayol, who had picked Aurelien Tchouameni's pocket in a dangerous area.
Valencia's Guido Rodriguez had a goal disallowed for offside before Mourinho's side took control.
Valverde drilled Madrid ahead from outside the area after Mbappe's free-kick was blocked by the Valencia wall and fell to the Uruguayan.
Guler soon doubled the lead, after Jude Bellingham's cross was deflected kindly into his path.

Putting the game to bed

Guler had a good chance for the third in early in the second half but Valencia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski grabbed the ball as the midfielder tried to round him.
Minutes later Dimitrievski saved well from Mbappe as the French striker ran through and tried to dink the ball over him.
Bellingham powered his way through the defence and was also denied by the goalkeeper, as was Mbappe following up with an overhead kick, as Madrid tried to find a third to kill off the game.
Eventually Mbappe produced it, bursting onto a dangerous pass by Guler to dart past Dimitrievski and squeeze home his 13th league goal of the campaign.
It was the forward's 17th goal in 16 games across all competitions. Mbappe has netted in his last seven appearances for Madrid.
Valencia captain Jose Gaya was dismissed with around 10 minutes remaining for a late sliding foul on Mbappe to further spoil Javier Aguirre's team's night. Los Che are 19th, a point from safety.
"We knew it would be a tough game, facing Madrid at their best moment of the season," Gaya told DAZN.
"We tried in the second half, changed our system... but we couldn't get into the game."
Earlier new Espanyol coach Eder Sarabia's side were held to a goalless home draw by Deportivo La Coruna.
Osasuna snatched a late 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao, while Racing Santander came from behind to beat Malaga 2-1.
rbs/ea/iwd

Prix

Hamilton says tension with Ferrari teammate Leclerc 'squashed'

  • It was me and Charles.
  • Lewis Hamilton said he and his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc had "squashed" the tension between them that followed their first lap tangle in Mexico.
  • It was me and Charles.
Lewis Hamilton said he and his Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc had "squashed" the tension between them that followed their first lap tangle in Mexico.
He said they had resolved to work together for the team in Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix. 
The seven-time champion spoke after qualifying 11th in Saturday's rain-hit qualifying at Interlagos where he will start Sunday's race from the back of the grid after taking a penalty for using two new engines. 
When asked if his relationship with Leclerc was improved after team boss Fred Vasseur held clear the air talks with them on Thursday evening, Hamilton said: "Fred hasn't cleared the air. It was me and Charles.
"We sat and we spoke, we squashed it. And we're moving on. We still have a huge amount of respect for each other. 
"I'm glad we had a chat and now we move on. We've been getting along just fine, as normal.
"Sometimes in those certain scenarios, it just takes having a conversation.
"There's been no demands from either side. It's just been both of us giving our points in areas we can do better and support each other.
"I'm hoping to have better races now, moving forward."
His comments came amid much discussion of Ferrari's need to introduce "rules of engagement" for their drivers, a notion resisted by Vasseur.
Of his qualifying, he said: "I love qualifying and getting to drive in the rain – and this is such an amazing track to race in all conditions, but in the wet particularly.
"It was really a bit of a practice for me in case it is wet again tomorrow."
Leclerc, who had returned to Monaco after Mexico for the birth of his daughter, qualified fourth but will start 14th due to serving a 10-place penalty for taking a new engine.
He agreed he and Hamilton had sorted out their problems.  
"When we speak, things are much better straightaway," he said.
"Of course, there is some tension. We want to finish ahead of each other and sometimes we are not going to do things right, but it's OK to disagree sometimes on the way you see things. 
"But discussing things helps a whole lot."
str/ea/iwd

Prix

Antonelli 'ready for anything' in Sao Paulo Grand Prix

  • We will try to be ready for anything."
  • New world champion Kimi Antonelli said he will be "ready for anything" in Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix when he starts alongside 2025 champion Lando Norris on the front row.
  • We will try to be ready for anything."
New world champion Kimi Antonelli said he will be "ready for anything" in Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix when he starts alongside 2025 champion Lando Norris on the front row.
Elevated one place thanks to Mercedes team-mate George Russell's five-place penalty for taking new power unit parts, the 20-year-old Italian was satisfied, but self-critical after finishing third in Saturday's rain-hit qualifying. 
"I was a bit too cautious I think," he said.
"I was trying to understand this track in the wet for the first time and it has always been dry here so far in the past. But I felt good in the dry and not so good in the wet!
"I made two big mistakes and it wasn't ideal, but all in all I think that tomorrow, we have a good chance."
He added that he felt cautious about the weather ahead after the long stormy session on Saturday. 
"It was very tricky. To be fair, I didn't really know what to expect. Obviously, I have never driven here in the wet, so I didn't know what was coming and I struggled a little bit on the inters.
"I made a big mistake, almost went off in Turn Five, but it still was enough for P3, so I’m happy with that.
"Let's see what the weather is – but overall, you know, I am going to be ready for anything as the weather has been very unpredictable. We will try to be ready for anything."
Russell, who qualified second, was unhappy not to take pole after being told by his Mercedes race engineer to ease off on his final flying lap.  
"I felt more like myself and I could fight for pole on every lap," said the British driver.
"It's the first time I've felt that confident in the car for a while and it's in the wet so I don't understand that.
"Congrats to Lando – but that lap was definitely a pole lap! It was a misjudgement on our side and we need to understand what happened. Yes, the rain was coming down but we should have finished the lap."
str/ea

RouteduRhum

Route du Rhum boats diverted after skipper sends SOS

  • The statement did not explain why Sineau activated his beacon.
  • As race leader Tom Laperche cruised toward the Route du Rhum finish line in Guadeloupe there was drama behind him on Saturday as several of his pursuers diverted to help Benoit Sineau who had activated a distress beacon.
  • The statement did not explain why Sineau activated his beacon.
As race leader Tom Laperche cruised toward the Route du Rhum finish line in Guadeloupe there was drama behind him on Saturday as several of his pursuers diverted to help Benoit Sineau who had activated a distress beacon.
The 55-year-old Sineau, who is competing in the race for the first time, is skippering Ekinox-Rhetores in the fourth-tier Class 40 monohull category, most of which were just passing the Azores. 
Sineau was later picked up by French competitor Jules Bonnier, organisers said.
"Race management immediately initiated rescue procedures... Among the competitors in the vicinity, the skipper of Plastic Odyssey was diverted to the area... and succeeded in bringing his fellow competitor aboard, safe and sound," the organisers said.
The statement did not explain why Sineau activated his beacon. His boat was not showing up on the race's live tracking, but at 1800 GMT, Bonnier's Plastic Odyssey was 430 nautical miles (800 km) west of the Azores, heading southeast.
Meanwhile, at his last reported location at 1900 GMT, Laperche in his Ultim multihull was 70 nautical miles away from the line off Pointe-a-Pitre and on course for a record-breaking time. 
After racing more than 3,470 nautical miles, the 29-year-old was more than 356 nautical miles ahead of his closest pursuer Frenchman Thomas Coville.
A total of 115 boats set off from Saint-Malo last Sunday for the high-speed crossing of the Atlantic.
According to the latest estimates from race control, Laperche should reach Pointe-a-Pitre around 10:00pm local time on Saturday (0200 GMT Sunday).
He must arrive before 07:49 GMT on Sunday to beat the record set in 2022 by Charles Caudrelier of 6 days and 19 hours -- and he is on track to do so.
jac/ah/pb/ea/dmc

USA

World No.1 Rybakina withdraws from WTA Finals due to virus

  • A WTA spokesman later confirmed that the official reason for Rybakina's withdrawal "is a viral illness."
  • World number one Elena Rybakina withdrew from the WTA Finals at Indian Wells on Saturday due to a viral illness.
  • A WTA spokesman later confirmed that the official reason for Rybakina's withdrawal "is a viral illness."
World number one Elena Rybakina withdrew from the WTA Finals at Indian Wells on Saturday due to a viral illness.
Defending champion Rybakina said in a statement that she was "not physically ready to compete" in the traditional season-ender, which starts Sunday, and would focus on resting and recovering for her 2027 campaign. 
"I am really sad to inform all my fans and supporters that I unfortunately have to withdraw from the WTA Finals this year," Rybakina said in a statement.
"I've had an incredible season but my body is just not physically ready to compete.
"I'm going to spend some time resting and recovering at home and getting myself ready for the 2027 season."
A WTA spokesman later confirmed that the official reason for Rybakina's withdrawal "is a viral illness."
Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk will take Rybakina's place in Group One at the tournament.
Rybakina rose to the top of the world rankings for the first time in September with a victory at the US Open in New York, where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the final.
But last month, Rybakina withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo with a neck injury, a day after she secured the year-end world number one ranking with a win in her opening match.
The achievement capped a year in which Rybakina also won the Australian Open in January.
She now has three Grand Slam titles, her first coming at Wimbledon in 2022.
Rybakina went undefeated at the 2025 edition of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as the last qualifier. 
This year's WTA Finals were originally scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia, but in July were moved to Indian Wells, California.
The decision was taken following US military strikes on Iran in February and the subsequent war in the region.  
Several more sports events in Saudi Arabia have been cancelled or postponed in recent weeks following attacks on the country.
"The WTA Finals is a very special tournament and I wish everyone the best of luck this week. Can't wait to be back in Indian Wells in March," said Rybakina in a statement released by the WTA.
amz/bb

BRA

Norris grabs pole in rainswept qualifying for Sao Paulo Grand Prix

  • "That was my first time driving the car in the wet so I think I figured it out pretty quickly," said the outgoing 2025 world champion. 
  • McLaren's outgoing world champion Lando Norris grabbed pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix with a brave and well-judged drive in Saturday's rainswept qualifying at Interlagos.
  • "That was my first time driving the car in the wet so I think I figured it out pretty quickly," said the outgoing 2025 world champion. 
McLaren's outgoing world champion Lando Norris grabbed pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix with a brave and well-judged drive in Saturday's rainswept qualifying at Interlagos.
The 26-year-old Briton outpaced Mercedes' George Russell by 0.204 seconds to claim his third consecutive pole at Interlagos in a storm-hit session that lasted two-and-a-half hours. 
New world champion Kimi Antonelli was third for Mercedes, but he will start Sunday's race from the front row as Russell faces a five-place grid penalty for taking new power-unit components. 
"That was my first time driving the car in the wet so I think I figured it out pretty quickly," said the outgoing 2025 world champion. 
"It was very windy as well the last couple of laps so it is certainly a good day for learning for me.
"It's good to take into tomorrow. These guys -- Mercedes -- are also very quick. Today is just about getting on pole, doesn't matter how you do it so very pleased with that."
It is the 20th pole position of Norris's career and his third in succession in Brazil. 
"It's been a long day," said Norris.
"It's been a great qualifying, to be on pole again here, two years in a row! Different conditions to last year, but I am very happy.
"It was about getting two laps in and not making a mistake and that is exactly what we did so it has been a very good day."
Russell was disappointed not to take pole after being told by Mercedes to ease off on his final push lap.
"Congrats to Lando, but it was definitely my pole lap. We should have finished the lap."
Antonelli said: "It was very tricky out there and, to be fair, I didn't know what to expect as I have never driven here before in the wet. I made a mistake and I nearly went off!"
Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari but also faces a penalty of 10 places for taking a new engine. 
Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson was fifth ahead of Audi's Nico Hulkenberg, Isack Hadjar of Red Bull and Oliver Bearman's Haas.
Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was ninth for Aston Martin and Alex Albon 10th for Williams. 
Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari qualified 11th, but also faces a penalty for taking two new engines on Saturday and will start from the back of the grid while four-time champion Max Verstappen, who also has a 20-place penalty, was 16th for Red Bull.
 

90-minute delay

 
 
The session began after a 90-minute delay in treacherous conditions with high plumes of spray rising from the cars. 
Valtteri Bottas led out in his Cadillac with a 1:42.314 to set the bar with team-mate Sergio Perez soon improving on that before Haas’s new boy Brazilian Rafael Camara hit the barriers, but continued.  
Verstappen then went top ahead of Hamilton as conditions improved. Aware that there was more rain on the way, the teams warned their drivers that these were the best conditions. 
Remarkably, they completed Q1 with Norris on top in 1:30.939, Camara through in 13th and both Alpines eliminated along with Lance Stroll of Aston Martin, both Cadillacs and local hero Gabriel Bortoleto who damaged his Audi's rear wing. 
For Pierre Gasly it was his first Q1 elimination this year. 
Verstappen, set to start from the back of the grid after taking a new power unit, decided not to go out again and instead saved his tyres. 
In the end, a red flag halted Q2 when Camara smacked the wall at Juncao, leaving Russell on top ahead of Lawson while Hamilton, set for his 400th Grand Prix, went out in 11th with McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Camara, Racing Bulls' Arvid Lindblad and Carlos Sainz of Williams. 
Antonelli survived in 10th while Alonso made Q3 for the first time this season. 
Alonso led the queue, but he did not have the pace as Norris and then Russell went top as the rain arrived and Norris regained the initiative. 
str/ea/dmc

Pr

Delap double condemns Man City to third straight defeat

  • The only crumb of comfort for City is that Forest's victory dumps Manchester United into the relegation zone ahead of their clash against Aston Villa on Sunday. kca/ea
  • Manchester City slumped to a third consecutive Premier League defeat on Saturday as Liam Delap's double lifted Nottingham Forest out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win at the City Ground.
  • The only crumb of comfort for City is that Forest's victory dumps Manchester United into the relegation zone ahead of their clash against Aston Villa on Sunday. kca/ea
Manchester City slumped to a third consecutive Premier League defeat on Saturday as Liam Delap's double lifted Nottingham Forest out of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win at the City Ground.
Oliver Glasner's men had not scored at home at all this season, but pounced on City's defensive errors to strike twice in the first 20 minutes through Jair Cunha and Delap.
Rayan Cherki's stunning strike gave City hope, but their title challenge is rapidly wilting even before the potential effects of a major points deduction.
Delap sealed just Forest's second win of the season on the night that could launch his career for the two-time European champions, after a difficult start since his club-record £50 million ($67 million) move from Chelsea.
Defeat leaves City six points adrift of leaders Arsenal and with questions over whether the uncertainty surrounding the club is playing a part in their on-field slump.
Found guilty on over 100 Premier League charges of breaking financial rules, the 10-time English champions face a severe points penalty unless they can overturn that verdict on appeal.
"It's quite clear, first half we were not good enough to match the intensity that this kind of games require," said City boss Enzo Maresca.
"We concede two and then we try to react, but most of the time in football when you are 2-0 down it's too late."
Glasner warned his players he would make big changes after a disappointing start to his reign saw them start the match in the bottom three.
The Austrian got the response he craved as Forest burst out of the blocks to pounce on City's sloppiness at the back.
"I think everybody felt huge happiness but also relief," said Glasner.
"It can be a turning point but we have to prove it."

Clinical Forest

 
Cunha robbed Josko Gvardiol midway inside the City half and was allowed to bear down on goal before slotting past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Forest's first home goal in 511 minutes was celebrated wildly with owner Evangelos Marinakis jumping out of his chair in celebration.
Elliott Anderson had a night to forget on his first return to the City Ground since a reported £116 million move to City.
Xaver Schlager beat Anderson to the ball in midfield and set Delap running from inside his own half before unleashing an unstoppable drive past Donnarumma for his first home goal for the club.
Maresca became the first Premier League manager to win his first seven games in charge of a new club in a blistering start to the daunting task of succeeding Pep Guardiola.
However, he has been hit with the task of trying to keep his players motivated when they do not know if they will even be in the English top-flight next season.
Maresca showed his frustration with a double change at half-time with the introduction of Nico O'Reilly and Matheus Nunes helping to spark a brief City rally.
Cherki smashed home a sweet strike from Jeremy Doku's deflected cross to halve the arrears.
Erling Haaland then nearly levelled when the Norwegian flashed a shot just wide.
City, though, remained vulnerable to the Forest counter-attack and were picked off again for the decisive goal 15 minutes from time.
Morgan Gibbs-White fed Delap who drilled another brilliant finish past the helpless Donnarumma, this time on his left foot.
The only crumb of comfort for City is that Forest's victory dumps Manchester United into the relegation zone ahead of their clash against Aston Villa on Sunday.
kca/ea

Pr

City slump again as Arsenal extend Premier League lead

BY JOHN WEAVER

  • City, who won their first seven league games under new manager Maresca, know that even if they close the gap to Arsenal, it might ultimately all be in vain.
  • Manchester City suffered a third consecutive Premier League defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest on Saturday, allowing Arsenal to stretch their lead at the top of the table to six points.
  • City, who won their first seven league games under new manager Maresca, know that even if they close the gap to Arsenal, it might ultimately all be in vain.
Manchester City suffered a third consecutive Premier League defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest on Saturday, allowing Arsenal to stretch their lead at the top of the table to six points.
Enzo Maresca's men desperately needed a win at the City Ground to keep pace with the in-form champions, who have taken 27 points from a possible 30, but lost 3-1.
City had a mountain to climb after falling two goals behind in the 18th minute following strikes from defender Jair Cunha and forward Liam Delap.
The visitors were much improved after the break and Rayan Cherki cut the deficit with an emphatic strike into the roof of the net, underlining a shift in momentum.
But Delap restored Forest's two-goal advantage in the 73rd minute, rifling home with his left foot past the outstretched hand of Gianluigi Donnarumma, sparking a celebratory touchline sprint from manager Oliver Glasner.
Maresca said his team had failed to match Forest's intensity in the first half, even if his side improved after the break.
"I'm always concerned, even when we win games," he said. "Again, we need to have a balance. 
"We won seven in a row. Now we lost three in a row. So we need balance on that just during the international break -- try to understand what we can do better and try to start again after the international break."
Glasner, whose team had not previously scored a Premier League goal at home this season, praised their spirit. 
"It was a very good day to play Manchester City but, to be honest, today the energy in the team and at the City Ground was so incredible that it would have been tough for every team in the world to play against us," the Austrian told Sky Sports.
City, who won their first seven league games under new manager Maresca, know that even if they close the gap to Arsenal, it might ultimately all be in vain.
The 10-time English champions are still waiting to discover their fate after being found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules -- with a huge points deduction one potential punishment.

Odegaard strikes

Arsenal, red-hot favourites to win back-to-back titles for the first time since the 1930s, look as though they might turn the Premier League race into a procession.
But they made hard work of defeating struggling Hull, needing a goal from Martin Odegaard to break the deadlock in the 72nd minute.
Frustration mounted as the second half unfolded but the captain came to his side's rescue, netting his first goal since early September with a poacher's finish after Konstantinos Tzolakis spilled Noni Madueke's shot.
Arsenal manager Arteta praised his players but wants them to be more clinical after they recorded a third 1-0 win in four league games.
"That's the next step, to have bigger margins and when we have them, the opportunities, put them away to make sure that we don't have to hang in there the last few minutes," he said.
In the early kick-off, Leeds struck in the 79th minute through substitute Noah Okafor to beat Tottenham 1-0, ending the visitors' three-match winning run.
The major talking point in the first half was a challenge by Leeds defender Jayden Bogle on Spurs winger Mathys Tel, which was reviewed for a potential red card by VAR officials before eventually being cleared.
Tel had to leave the field shortly before half-time.
The BBC reported Tottenham are to make a formal complaint to referees' chiefs over the incident, which was not reviewed on the pitchside monitor by referee John Brooks.
Elsewhere, Jacob Murphy put Newcastle on course for a much-needed win with a spectacular strike at Craven Cottage but substitute Rodrigo Muniz levelled just three minutes later to earn a 1-1 draw.
Forest's win against City means Michael Carrick's Manchester United will kick off against Aston Villa on Sunday in the relegation zone.
jw/kca/iwd

media

Trump offers press secretary role to UFC chief Dana White

  • "I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
  • US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was offering a press secretary role to mixed martial arts executive and "violent fighter" Dana White.
  • "I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was offering a press secretary role to mixed martial arts executive and "violent fighter" Dana White.
"I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
"Dana, please take the job!" he said.
While White did not explicitly accept the job, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) boss posted a photo -- possibly AI-generated -- that showed him behind the lectern in the White House press briefing room, captioned "On to the next chapter."
The White House has been without a press secretary since October 16 when Katie Zacharia left the position after less than a week on the job.
White, 57, is president and CEO of the UFC, the largest and most successful organization in the world of mixed martial arts. UFC's violent cage fights are broadcast across the globe.
Trump also listed six UFC fighters that he hoped White would bring to the White House as advisers, "even though some are not from our Country."
Two of the fighters mentioned are Russian and one is Brazilian.
The White House amplified the announcement by publishing a screenshot of the president's post on one of its official accounts.
Trump and White are old friends, and Trump has often tried to associate his MAGA brand of politics with the hugely popular UFC.
On his 80th birthday in June, UFC held a bloody cage match on the White House South Lawn. He has also attended bouts in Miami, New York and New Jersey since winning his second White House term.
When Trump won reelection in 2024, White appeared alongside the Republican for his victory speech.
Since Trump's reelection, White has joined the board of directors of Meta, which many saw as a sign of the tech company's conservative shift.
pnb/acb

WAL

Lakes says Wales won't accept 'mediocrity' after edging Japan

  • "We have almost said: 'we're not accepting mediocrity anymore'," hooker Lake told S4C.  "We've had enough time together to no longer be a team that's building, improving.
  • Wales captain Dewi Lake insisted that his side are "no longer accepting mediocrity" after Saturday's 28-21 victory over Japan in the inaugural Nations Championship.
  • "We have almost said: 'we're not accepting mediocrity anymore'," hooker Lake told S4C.  "We've had enough time together to no longer be a team that's building, improving.
Wales captain Dewi Lake insisted that his side are "no longer accepting mediocrity" after Saturday's 28-21 victory over Japan in the inaugural Nations Championship.
Wales's success, thanks to a Josh Adams double, was their second in the tournament after overcoming Fiji in July before losses to Argentina and South Africa.
It marked just a fourth victory in 13 Tests since Steve Tandy took charge as head coach last year.
"We have almost said: 'we're not accepting mediocrity anymore'," hooker Lake told S4C. 
"We've had enough time together to no longer be a team that's building, improving. At some time, we have to put the foot down and say it's not good enough. 
"This is the campaign to do that."
Adams crossed either side of the interval with prop Archie Griffin and fellow winger Louis Rees-Zammit also on the scoreboard.
Wales entertain New Zealand next weekend, eyeing an unlikely first victory over the All Blacks since 1953.
Eddie Jones's Japan remain on just one success from four fixtures in the tournament.
Replacement scrum-half Kenta Fukuda's 75th-minute effort caused Wales a late scare but was only enough to secure a losing bonus point.
 

'Missed opportunity

 
The Brave Blossoms head to England next Saturday.
"That could have been a historic win for us," Jones told reporters.
"We weren't quite good enough. 
"It was a missed opportunity."
Tandy started with physical pair Eddie James and Max Llewellyn in midfield, prioritising power over the playmaking ability of Ben Thomas.
Australian Jones made five changes from the defeat to Fiji two weeks ago, including handing fly-half Riku Kitahara a Test debut.
A sparse crowd was present at the Millennium Stadium, underlining the negative atmosphere surrounding Welsh rugby due to poor results from the Test team and the threat of losing one of the country's four professional sides.
Wales took the lead three times during the first half, first through Griffin and then the 31-year-old Adams.
But Japan hit back through Ben Gunter and Warner Dearns.
Rees-Zammit stepped over moments ahead of the break for his first Test try in a year.
Adams's match-winning score came with 11 minutes to go after a superb break from deep by full-back Blair Murray, and a final pass from influential scrum-half Tomos Williams, who had also set up Griffin early on.
With seconds left on the clock, Adams showed his defensive ability, claiming a turnover penalty to make sure of the victory.
bur-iwd/bc