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Tribunal says RCB went ahead with the IPL victory celebrations without seeking or getting necessary regulatory permissions

Nagraj Gollapudi01-Jul-2025A two-person bench of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has observed that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise was “responsible” for the gathering of about “three to five lakh people” outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium on June 4, a day after RCB had won their maiden IPL title.Eleven people died and over 50 were injured as a result of the stampede caused outside Chinnaswamy stadium, after the police did not have any means to control the swelling crowd.The two-person bench of CAT comprising Justice BK Shrivastava and Santosh Mehra said RCB, which is owned by Diageo, had “created nuisance” by going ahead with the IPL victory celebrations without seeking or getting necessary regulatory permissions. The remarks were part of the 29-page order issued on Tuesday by CAT, which was hearing a case filed by Vikash Kumar, Inspector General and Additional Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru (West).Related

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Vikash, along with four other cops, were suspended by the Karnataka government which alleged “substantial dereliction of duty” and not seeking “guidance” which led to the situation going “out of control, meant a lot of misery, loss of precious life and embarrassment” to the state government. Vikash challenged his suspension, and the CAT quashed the government order saying the top cop should be reinstated.The CAT order stated that neither RCB nor M/S DNA Entertainment Network Private Limited, the franchise’s event management firm, had sought any permission formally to conduct the victory parade at Chinnaswamy stadium, which has been the home base for the team since beginning of the IPL in 2008. To organise any event like that, the CAT pointed out that under the Licensing and Controlling of Assemblies and Public Procession (Bengaluru city) order, 2009, an application has to be made seven days prior (excluding the date of submission and the event). No such application was filed by RCB or DNA. ‘Gathering of immense proportion’The order said that on June 3, the day of the IPL final, Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) chief executive officer Shubhendu Ghosh wrote a letter, on behalf of DNA Network, to the Inspector at Cubbon Park Police Station (adjacent to Chinnaswamy stadium) that in case RCB won the IPL, there would be “potential victory parades” around the ground which would “end with victory celebrations” inside the stadium. The victory parade route was submitted in the same, but no permission was sought.The CAT order said that when the letter was submitted, it was “not certain” RCB would win the final and importantly it did not contain “any request for granting the permission” to organise the victory parade and celebrations.”The organiser did not wait for the response of the Police,” the order said. “At the eleventh hour, they submitted a letter and started the scheduled programme.”The order also put out the sequence of announcements made by RCB on June 4 on the franchise’s various social media handles starting with the “victory parade is scheduled in Bengaluru” post.The first post was put out at 7.01 am, the order said, and at 8 am RCB “posted a link” on their Instagram: “Army, We can’t wait to be back to the Home of Champions and celebrate with all of you today. Details out soon.” At 8.55 am, the same post was issued again, this time accompanied with a statement from Virat Kohli, RCB’s most senior player.The order said at 3.14 pm on June 4, RCB issued another post on all three social media handles saying the victory parade was being held at 5 pm IST the same day and would be followed by celebrations at Chinnaswamy stadium. The CAT pulled up RCB for “unilaterally” putting up information on celebrations without “obtaining the permission” or without the “consent” of the police.While the RCB post advised fans to “follow guidelines set by police and other authorities” so the roadshow would be enjoyed peacefully, it also said there were free passes being issued on the franchise website with a “limited entry” disclaimer. The order said since the post had no information about “disbursement of passes” it “implied” the event was “open to all”.According to the order, the first post (7.01 am) received 16 lakh views, second (8 am) 4.26 lakh views, the third (8.55 am) 7.6 lakhs views while the fourth (3.14 pm) 17 lakh views.The order said all that resulted in the “gathering of immense proportion” with nearly three lakh people gathered around Chinnaswamy Stadium, whose official capacity is 35,000. The order also stated the police machinery was already stretched having had to regulate in the night immediately after RCB’s victory in the IPL final against Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on June 3.It was hard for the police to control the large number of people who turned up to catch a glimpse of RCB•Associated Press’Police are not God or have magic powers’The burden on the cops increased further with the Karnataka government organising a felicitation programme. “Therefore, prima facie it appears that RCB is responsible for the gathering of about three to five lakh people,” the order said. “RCB did not take the appropriate permission or consent from the Police. Suddenly, they posted on social media platforms and as a result of aforesaid information the public were gathered. Because of the shortage of time on 04.06.2025, the Police was unable to do the appropriate arrangements. Sufficient time was not given to the Police. Suddenly, RCB created the aforesaid type of nuisance without any prior permission.”The order defended the police saying cops are also “human beings” and they are “neither God (Bhagwan) nor Magician and also not having the magic powers like “” which was able to fulfil any wish only by rubbing a finger.”CAT is a quasi-judicial body which deals with issues related to government and public servants. RCB itself is not part of the proceedings. The tribunal’s observations will have no bearing on the inquiry set up by the Karnataka government to probe the stampede. The inquiry is being conducted by former High Court Justice Michael da Cunha.

The leaves are beginning to change colors, wild-card races are flaming hot and October baseball is just around the corner. Only a week and a half remains in MLB's regular season and much has yet to be determined. Unlike the field of contenders for the World Series, which is seemingly wide open, candidates for the award races in MLB have separated themselves from the pack. At least one player has emerged as the favorite to take home the MVP and Cy Young awards in both leagues.

The Rookie of the Year award races however, seemingly foregone conclusions just a few months ago, have ramped up.

In the AL, New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells emerged as a two-way presence behind the plate—and a dark horse to take home the hardware. His teammate, the even-keeled Luis Gil, pitched steadily in the second half to remain a contender. And the early favorite, Baltimore Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser, remains a factor despite his bat cooling somewhat in the second half.

Then, there's the NL. Flamethrowing Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, who seemingly makes history every time he toes the rubber, leads the three-horse race for Rookie of the Year. But power-speed threat outfielders Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres, and Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers, are nipping at Skenes's heels.

All this to say, the Rookie of the Year races are going to be difficult to predict. But where would the fun be in trying to forecast them?

So here's to taking on the enviable task of predicting the top three finishers for the American League Rookie of the Year, and the not-so-enviable task of doing the same for the National League.

Predicting the Top Three Finishers in NL Rookie of the Year Award Race1. Paul Skenes (SP, Pirates)

Can we just hand out an award to Skenes and Jackson Merrill and call it a day? If posed the question as to who the NL ROY is just a few months ago, Skenes would be the obvious choice. But Merrill's emergence, and to a certain degree, Chourio's, has tightened this race considerably. Yes, voting history favors either Merrill or Chourio over Skenes since they’re position players. Even the current odds favor Merrill over the Pirates ace.

But it's difficult to give this award to Skenes.

The 6'6" right-hander boasts a triple-digit fastball, a sinker-splitter hybrid called the "splinker" and three different breakers—a sweeper, slider and curveball. Skenes even has a changeup in his arsenal. Keeping track of all the pitches he throws is almost as hard as hitting them. Just ask opposing MLB hitters, who, as of Friday, are batting just .204 against him. Skenes' splinker is also legitimately one of the best and most unhittable pitches in the game.

Among hurlers with at least 100 innings pitched, Skenes's K/BB percentage ranks third in MLB while his 2.07 ERA ranks second. Here's the real kicker. Skenes' adjusted ERA of 203 would rank among the 100 best single-season marks dating as far back as 1884, were he to qualify in terms of innings.

The fact that Skenes—who was called up in May—has only pitched 126 innings may work against him, but it shouldn't. This is not just one of the best pitching seasons we've ever seen by a rookie. It's not just one of the best pitching seasons this year. It's quite literally one of the best seasons by any pitcher that we've ever seen. Give him the award.

2. Jackson Merrill (OF, Padres)

Seriously, can we just hand out an award to Skenes and Merrill and call it a dayIf anythingMerrill's standout season proves there should be a separate ROY award for pitchers and hitters. But that's another argument for another day.

The case for Merrill winning ROY is simple. The 21-year-old has been the best second-half hitter on a playoff-contending Padres team that features six-time All-Star Manny Machado, two-time All-Star Fernando Tatis Jr. and two-time batting champ Luis Arraez. But that's not all. Since the All-Star break, Merrill ranks in the top 10 in all of MLB in batting average, OPS, barrel rate and wRC+. Simply put, we are talking about one of the best hitters in baseball over a half-season sample size. And it's not like Merrill's overall slash line of .292/.323/.504 is anything to be ashamed of.

Plus, Merrill, a natural shortstop, impacts the game positively at a premium position in center field, as he ranks 12th among all players at the position in outs above average.

Recently, the voters have favored position players. There is a good chance, then, that Merrill wins this award. But there would be no shame in finishing second to one of the best pitching seasons we've ever seen from a rookie.

3. Jackson Chourio (OF, Brewers)

Chourio is the dark horse to take home the NL ROY after he has rebounded from a dismal first half that saw him post a 23.3% strikeout rate and .678 OPS. But, much like Merrill for the Padres, Chourio has been the best second-half hitter on a playoff-bound Brewers team.

The 20-year-old has shaved points off of his first-half strikeout rate and has hit the ball on the ground far less since the All-Star break. Elevating the ball more has made Chourio a deadly hitter. Just ask the Brewers' scoreboard.

Since the Midsummer Classic, Chourio owns a .944 OPS, ahead of NL MVP candidate Francisco Lindor and just behind NL MVP favorite Shohei Ohtani. He ranks in the top 15 in batting average and wRC+ and his post-All-Star 2.9 WAR ranks just ahead of Merrill. Oh, and Chourio also became the youngest player in MLB history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a single season.

Chourio has bounced between left and right field, where he has been one of the best defenders in the game. Skenes and Merrill get all the headlines but don't overlook Chourio in this race.

Honorable MentionsShota Imanaga, (SP, Chicago Cubs)

Imanaga ranks sixth in MLB in ERA and ninth in adjusted ERA.

Masyn Winn (SS, St. Louis Cardinals)

A defensive ace at shortstop with a cannon for an arm who has also hit 14 homers and swiped 11 bags.

Tyler Fitzgerald (IF/OF, San Francisco Giants)

Fitzgerald has appeared in just 87 games for the Giants but has posted a .861 OPS while belting 14 home runs and stealing 17 bases.

Predicting the Top Three Finishers in AL Rookie of the Year Award Race1. Luis Gil (SP, Yankees)

Since this is a predictions piece, why not predict something bold that has happened just four times since the ROY award was introduced in 1947? A pitcher will win both the AL and NL ROY awards for the first time since 2011. And Gil, who has been the best and most consistent starter on a playoff-bound Yankees team, will take home the hardware in the AL.

Gil was utterly dominant over the course of his first 14 starts, as he pitched to a 2.03 ERA and looked to be making an early case for the AL Cy Young award. He has come back down to Earth a bit since then, and, as of Friday, has only pitched 140 2/3 innings as he has dealt with an injury and workload concerns coming off of rehab from 2022 Tommy John surgery. But Gil has been remarkably steady throughout the year.

Plus, among AL starting pitchers who have pitched at least 100 innings this year, Gil ranks 10th or better in ERA and strikeout rate. His .184 opponent batting average would rank first among AL starters, were he to qualify in innings, while his Adjusted ERA of 130 would place just outside the top 10 pitchers in all of MLB.

Gil walks too many batters and the voter's history in the AL is working against him in this race. It will be close between Gil, his teammate Wells and Cowser. But the best pitcher on the best team in the AL gets the slight edge.

2. Austin Wells (C, Yankees)

Wells started the year off slow but has been a revelation behind the plate and in the middle of the order for the playoff-bound Yankees.

You want offense? Among catchers who have played at least 100 games, Wells ranks fifth in wRC+, seventh in OPS and 12th in home runs. You want defense? Wells ranks in the 96th percentile among all catchers in Statcast's pitch framing metric and is capable at blocking pitches in the dirt, ranking in the 73rd percentile in blocks above average. He is league average in his ability to throw out runners attempting to steal a base. One downside is that he has made 11 errors, the most among catchers.

Most importantly, Wells has provided some much-needed thump in the middle of the Yankees lineup behind AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge and fellow slugger Juan Soto.

His bat has cooled a bit in September, and the primary knock on Wells is that he's essentially a platoon bat for the Yanks—he owns a .801 OPS vs. righthanders and .525 OPS against southpaws this season.

But there's no denying the fact that Wells has a legitimate chance to become the first catcher to win the AL ROY award since Sandy Alomar in 1990.

3. Colton Cowser (OF, Orioles)

Thanks to a scorching-hot March and April, Cowser looked poised to become the second straight Orioles player to win AL ROY, following in the footsteps of teammate Gunnar Henderson, who took home the hardware in 2023.

His bat has cooled since, but that doesn't mean his candidacy for this award should too. Cowser has belted 20 home runs and recorded a 120 OPS+ in 145 games for an Orioles team with championship aspirations. The 24-year-old is also an excellent left fielder, as he ranks second among all players at the position in outs above average, thanks to plays like this one.

Cowser's bat and glove have been difficult for Orioles manager Brandon Hyde to take out of the lineup, as the rookie has played in the third-most games on a 85–68 team headed to the postseason.

Honorable MentionsMason Miller (RP, Oakland Athletics)

Armed with a triple-digits fastball, Miller has been lights-out. He ranks first in K/BB percentage and is tied for ninth with 27 saves.

Wilyer Abreu (OF, Boston Red Sox)

Abreu is already one of the better defensive right fielders in the game and owns a .800 OPS.

Aaron Judge snapped out of his postseason slump with a two-run home run in the first inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night but it wasn't enough for the Yankees, who lost the game 7-6 and had to watch the Dodgers celebrate on their home field in the Bronx.

While Judge's bat helped give the Yankees an early lead, his bad play in the field in the fifth inning helped the Dodgers get back in the game. Judge dropped an easy catch in center in what was a disastrous inning for the Yankees that saw them lose their 5-0 lead entirely.

Judge had a brutally honest line after the game, telling the media, "I think falling short in the World Series will stick with me until I die, probably."

The Yankees haven't won a World Series since 2009. They'll likely have more shots at it during Judge's career, but falling short on the biggest stage sure has to sting.

Celtic booked their place in the Premier Sports Cup final over the weekend against Rangers and did so in style, and the club have now made their intentions known regarding the future of interim boss Martin O’Neill, who has already said “yes” to the permanent job.

One week is a long time in football, and many Hoops supporters could be forgiven for believing that they are caught up in some form of fever dream amid surprising recent events.

Brendan Rodgers’ departure from Celtic in the lead-up to a pivotal double-header against Falkirk and their city rivals was enough to send people into a frenzy, never mind when former boss O’Neill was drafted on a temporary basis alongside Shaun Maloney.

However, the former Republic of Ireland boss has completely changed the outlook of his side, who stuck four past the Bairns in his opening Scottish Premiership match in charge.

Nevertheless, the Glasgow Derby was always going to be the main test of his managerial capabilities, and one that the 73-year-old passed with flying colours after Celtic defeated Rangers in strong fashion to progress to the Premier Sports Cup final.

While Kieran McKenna, Craig Bellamy and Nicky Hayen all remain in contention, Kilrea native O’Neill made it clear that he would be open to an extended period in charge of the Bhoys if the opportunity was available.

He said when pressed on the subject while live on Premier Sports: “The very obvious answer would be: yes (open to extended stay).

“I would do. But I genuinely don’t know what to expect.

“When I saw the games they had and then the international break, I thought they’ll have a couple of weeks to think about it. I haven’t even spoken to him since that. In a perverse sort of way I’ve enjoyed the two games – but not a lot.”

With O’Neill’s feelings now clear, Celtic’s stance on his future has come to light in the hours after their much-needed victory over Rangers at Hampden.

Celtic edging closer to appointing Martin O'Neill

According to Football Insider, O’Neill is edging closer to becoming the permanent Celtic manager after his side swept aside Rangers, something that has ‘strengthened’ his chances of succeeding Rodgers.

The report indicates that the Irishman is attracted to taking on the reigns until the end of the season. Nevertheless, the Bhoys’ upcoming results against FC Midtjylland and Kilmarnock will determine their next course of action.

Martin O’Neill’s all-time record at Celtic

Wins

202

Draws

26

Losses

40

Of course, having led Celtic to seven trophies between 2000 and 2005 and their famous run to the UEFA Cup final in Seville, his credentials cannot be questioned. Still, the club’s hierarchy are very much doing their due diligence elsewhere.

St Mirren await in the Premier Sports Cup final and the lure of potentially picking up another piece of silverware is something O’Neill could find hard to ignore.

Celtic could still make a shock move to appoint a different former manager

Ultimately, Dermot Desmond will have the final say, but an extended period in charge after a blistering start to life back in the Celtic dugout may be the sensible solution at Parkhead if top candidates prove unattainable.

With the BBL set to explore privatisation, Smith says SA20 will look to continue to “dominate” in the southern hemisphere

Firdose Moonda18-Aug-2025The SA20 organisers believe they have established enough of a foothold not to be threatened by the BBL’s aim to become the second-biggest league in the world after the IPL, according to commissioner Graeme Smith.The SA20, which will begin its fourth season on Boxing Day this year and has IPL ownership across all six franchises, has the second-highest salary cap after the IPL of R41 million (US$2.31 million). By that measure, it could be regarded as the next-best league in the global game and with a marquee auction scheduled for September 9, Smith explained they plan to stay that way.”When we started we were built up against the ILT20 and Big Bash and we set ourselves big ambitions upfront,” Smith told ESPNcricinfo ahead of the closing of player registration for the auction. “In the southern hemisphere window we want to dominate and we want to be the biggest league outside the IPL. Three years in, we’ve set the standard. Every decision we make is around making sure that we uphold those standards. I expect there will be a top number of leagues that will elevate themselves in a calendar cycle and that will be the priority for players, investors and fans. Our ambitions are to remain right at the top of that alongside IPL.Related

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Smith’s comments come less than two weeks after CA CEO Todd Greenberg told that his board would “unashamedly” chase second spot by exploring privatisation. “It’s going to be very hard to chase the IPL, given the scale of cricket in India, but unashamedly, we want to run a league that comes second. And to do that we’re going to need to make sure that player availability and player salaries are commensurate with everything else that goes on around the world, and there’s one thing you need for that, you need money, you need investment. We’d be naive if we weren’t asking ourselves these questions and making sure we’ve got an eye on what’s next,” Greenberg said.The BBL’s move to seek private investment will make it the last of the established leagues to look for funding outside of board structures. The Hundred is the most recent to make the same moves, with deals for six out of their eight teams finalised ahead of next season. While happenings in the Hundred do not affect the SA20 because it is played in a different window, the BBL clashes with the SA20, which could mean a clash over status and crucially, player availability.Again, Smith had reason to be bullish. While the BBL is played at the same time as Australia’s international summer and so does not have Test players fully available, all South Africa’s national and domestically contracted players will prioritise the SA20, even if at the expense of international games. South Africa sent an understrength Test side to New Zealand last year, as an example of this policy in action. At the time, it drew criticism, but with South Africa going on to win the World Test Championship final, Smith sees it as proof that formats can co-exist if the planning is right.”Everyone was worried that we were going to destroy Test cricket but we’ve seen our national team go on a few years later to win the World Test Championship final. We’ve all played our role in the ecosystem,” he said. “We’ve been part of bringing gravitas back to South African cricket, seeing new fans come back to the game and new energy.”Graeme Smith expects a strong England presence in the upcoming SA20 season too•SportzpicsAt the same time, the SA20 also attracts internationals from other countries and last year had several English Test players, who had the winter off, join the tournament. This season, with the Ashes on, could be different but Smith still anticipates a strong contingent.”In the first two seasons we saw a lot of the England white-ball players come through and then with the FTP ebbing and flowing every year that changes,” he said. “So this year with the Ashes, we see some of those white ball players come back and maybe the Test players won’t form part of this season. The Ashes finishes on the ninth (of January, 2026). I don’t know if some of their players will form part of replacement lists but we’ve seen the likes of a Jos Butler come back into the tournament this year as an example.”Buttler, who played for Paarl Royals in the first two seasons, has been pre-signed by Durban’s Super Giants for the fourth season. Each franchise was allowed a maximum of six retentions or pre-signed players ahead of the new season. Of the 36 spots available, only a third (13) have been filled by South African players which Smith believes will create a lively auction. “I expected a lot more top South African players to pre-sign and that didn’t happen,” he said. “From our perspective it’s set up a very exciting auction with a very big purse.”The fourth season of the SA20 will be played over the festive period as South Africa do not host any home Tests this summer. Matches will not be played on any of the new drop-in pitches which are planned for the 2027 ODI World Cup but Smith hopes the lack of cricket this season will result in surfaces with a bit more life in them compared to last year, when they showed signs of wear.”The pitches last year didn’t play as well as we would have liked and it’s something that’s being worked on in terms of revamping stadiums and facilities ahead of the World Cup,” he said. “We’re working closely with Cricket South Africa in terms of improving the quality of stadiums, lights and pitches. Everything is a big work in progress behind the scenes.”The SA20 auction will take place in Johannesburg on September 9. Player registration for the auction closes on Monday, August 18.

Julian Nagelsmann has broken with Germany's traditional captaincy protocol, opting to name Bayern Munich defender Jonathan Tah as the stand-in captain for the injured Joshua Kimmich against Luxembourg. This decision means Nagelsmann overlooked Leroy Sane, the most-capped player in the current squad, despite the customary practice of awarding the armband to the most experienced figure in the absence of regular captains.

Tah named Germany's stand-in skipper

Nagelsmann, the Germany national coach, officially announced Tah as the captain for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg. The decision comes after regular captain Kimmich was ruled out due to injury, along with vice-captains Antonio Rudiger and Kai Havertz.

Speaking at a press conference, Nagelsmann stated: "Jonathan Tah will replace him. We appointed a team council before the Nations League – not many of them are left because some are injured. Jona is the only one remaining. He's having a good season and deserves it. I don't know if he already knows. But now he does – and I hope he doesn't get nervous."

Tah, 29, currently plays for Bayern Munich and has been in strong form. His selection marks a departure from a long-standing tradition within the German national team, which typically sees the armband given to the most-capped player present in the squad when the primary captains are unavailable.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportNagelsmann bypasses Sane for captaincy

The decision to appoint Tah means Nagelsmann has bypassed Sane, who with 70 international appearances, is the most-capped player in the current Germany squad in the absence of Kimmich, Rudiger, and Havertz. This move is particularly significant given Nagelsmann's recent public warnings to Sane about his performance and commitment.

When questioned by Bild about why Sane, 29, was not given the armband, Nagelsmann explained: "I didn't make up this rule. But I think it makes sense to have a team council – and to actually use it." This indicates a shift towards prioritising players from the established leadership group, or "team council," over mere experience in terms of caps.

The decision to overlook Sane, especially after his recent return to the squad following an absence from the previous two international matches, underscores Nagelsmann's intent to set clear expectations for the Galatasaray winger. Nagelsmann has been vocal about his belief that Sane will have to excel on a regular basis for Galatasaray if he is to earn his place in the squad after opting for a "worse" league than the Bundesliga by joining the Turkish giants.

Sane under scrutiny despite Nagelsmann tough love

Sane has been under considerable scrutiny from Nagelsmann, who has publicly questioned his consistency and commitment since his move to Galatasaray. Nagelsmann had previously warned Sane that he would not be given "countless" opportunities to prove himself at the national team level.

These comments drew criticism from figures like Matthias Sammer and Lothar Matthaus, who argued that Sane, as an "individualist," might respond better to a more supportive approach. However, Nagelsmann has maintained his stance, asserting that Sane "can handle pressure better" and "doesn’t have to prove anything great to me, I know what he can do, and I want him to bring what he can do onto the pitch."

Sane's return to the Germany squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia marked his first inclusion since the Nations League finals in June. He has since shown improved form for Galatasaray, scoring three goals and delivering three assists in 15 appearances across the Super Lig and Champions League. Despite this, Nagelsmann's decision to not hand him the captaincy reinforces the message that performance and adherence to team principles are paramount.

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Germany close in on World Cup qualification

Germany enter the match against Luxembourg with the aim of securing their place in the 2026 World Cup play-offs. They are currently level on points with Slovakia in their qualification group, with Northern Ireland three points behind. A strong performance in their final two matches is crucial to confirm their spot in the competition proper.

The match against Luxembourg will be followed by a fixture against Slovakia. Nagelsmann will be looking to avoid a repeat of their last encounter with Slovakia, where Germany suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat. The selection of Jonathan Tah as captain, a steady and reliable defender, might be seen as a move to inject stability and a strong defensive presence into the team's leadership for these important games.

Arsenal's Eberechi Eze has revealed the inner workings of his relationship with former Crystal Place team-mates Michael Olise and Jean-Phillippe Mateta on the latest episode of the Beast Mode On podcast. The 27-year-old spoke of the almost-immediate friendship he struck up with Olise, and the similarities he shares with the driven and determined Mateta.

Eze spills the beans on Mateta and Olise

Eze was speaking about the France internationals with former Wycombe Wanderers team-mate Adebayo Akinfenwa on the latest episode of GOAL’s Beast Mode On podcast. 

Eze, Mateta and Olise formed a lethal strike force for the Eagles during the 2023-24 season, scoring 37 Premier League goals combined. Their partnership, along with the hiring of Oliver Glasner, helped turn around a woeful start to that campaign. Palace would win six of their seven final games, eventually finishing 10th in the table. 

This potent attacking line was quickly broken up however, with Michael Olise departing for Bayern Munich in the summer for a fee of around £50 million ($65m). One year later, after scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final, Eze would secure his own big money move, moving across the capital to join the club that released him as a boy, Arsenal. Only Mateta remains at Selhurst Park, but it's clear that Eze still enjoys a close relationship with the mates he made in south London, despite their separate paths. 

The 27-year-old spoke glowingly about Olise's talent, saying the winger impressed him from the first time he saw him play. When the prodigious winger made the switch to Selhurst Park from Reading a short time later, the pair almost instantly hit it off according to Eze. 

With regards to Mateta, the Arsenal man praised his improvement over the years, saying that both of them possess a force of will that helps them succeed at the top level. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportOlise's talent and their friendship

Asked if he knew he was on the same frequency as Olise immediately, Eze said: "I played with him maybe six months earlier [before he joined Crystal Palace] and I saw him, I spoke to him. I think he's maybe 17 [at this time].

"I saw him and I was like, ‘yo, you're mad’. That was the first time I saw him play. So then when he signed, he came into the treatment room, I was getting treatment, and I asked him: ‘why did you sign?’.

"At this time we weren’t boys, but we were cool enough. I just remember him speaking and I'm like, ‘yeah, man, this is going to be my guy’. I can tell. As time went on, you can see the relationship built and [we’re] very like minded in terms of the drive, trying to achieve something. You can see that he's got that."

Mateta's improvement and self-belief

Asked about Mateta and whether he thought he’d turn into the player he is now, Eze said: "[He’s] Scary. No. Every player you see has quality and everyone you see has strengths. You can see his ability. But for me, I look at him and I see a similar type of vibe in terms of what I feel about myself.

"I don't expect you to see what I see myself. He would have seen this, though, and you can tell by the conversations he's had INtraining ground and the things he would say about himself, he believes this. So for me, whenever someone speaks that way, you know that it’s possible and you believe that it’s possible.

"It's been beautiful to see it [Mateta’s progress] though, because that's another story of someone that's saying, ‘OK, I'm going to do this thing and you're going to see me… and whether people believe it or not, don’t matter. I’m going to do it’

"He's doing it now, so for me it's a beautiful thing to see. And when I speak to him, it's always a joy."

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Getty Images SportEze and Olise to square off in Champions League tie

All of their mutual admiration will be forgotten when Eze and Olise square off for the first time since they both left Selhurst Park, as Arsenal and Bayern Munich square off at the Emirates Stadium on November 26. That promises to be titanic clash at the top of the Champions League table, the Gunners and the Bavarian giants are two of the three clubs with a perfect record in this year's competition.

Also picked is batter Karima Gore, who has represented USA in eight T20Is

ESPNcricinfo staff17-Sep-2025West Indies have named five uncapped players in a 15-member squad to face Nepal in three T20Is in Sharjah later this month. With several first-choice names, including regular captain Shai Hope, rested, West Indies will be led by left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein.The five uncapped players are top-order batter Ackeem Auguste, batting allrounder Navin Bidaisee, legpsinner Zishan Motara, left-arm quick Ramon Simmonds, and wicketkeeper-batter Amir Jangoo. Also picked is batter Karima Gore, who has represented USA in eight T20Is, but is yet to play for West Indies.Gore impressed for his franchise Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the ongoing CPL 2025, where he scored 219 runs in 11 matches.Apart from Hosein, the experienced members of the squad include Fabian Allen, Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers. Hosein, who has played the most T20Is among the squad members, will be leading West Indies for the first time across formats.In April 2024, West Indies A had toured Nepal for five T20s. Although the hosts lost the series, they still beat the visitors in two matches.The first T20I between West Indies and Nepal begins on September 27, with the next two matches on September 29 and 30.West Indies squad for Nepal T20IsAkeal Hosein (capt), Fabian Allen, Jewel Andrew, Ackeem Auguste, Navin Bidaisse, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Karima Gore, Jason Holder, Amir Jangoo, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Zishan Motara, Ramon Simmonds and Shamar Springer

Has Viktor Gyökeres lived up to pre-season expectations at Arsenal?

Well, so far, the Swedish international striker has scored six times for the Gunners, most notably bagging a brace during the 4-0 Champions League demolition of Atlético Madrid.

However, as the saying goes, in absence the heart grows fonder.

Gyökeres hobbled off at half time against Burnley, having opened the scoring at Turf Moor, thereby sitting out subsequent trips to Prague and Sunderland, his absence truly felt during the 2-2 draw at the Stadium of Light, with Mikel Arteta really lacking someone capable of running in behind, as well as reinforcements off the bench, so perhaps his importance was only crystallised when he wasn’t there.

Before suffering this injury, Gyökeres had started all 13 of Arsenal’s Premier League and Champions League fixtures, completing 90 minutes on nine occasions due to a lack of alternatives, with Kai Havertz having not been seen since sustaining a knee injury at Old Trafford on the opening weekend.

Ahead of a North London derby following the international break, Arteta is hoping to have the cavalry back, with all six of Arsenal’s injured attackers nearing a return, so could “the best finisher at the club” challenge Gyökeres for his previously undisputed starting spot?

Kai Havertz's importance to Arsenal

If Arsenal are going to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title, they’re going to need their key players to remain fit and available.

For Arteta, these are William Saliba, Gabriel, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka; one could argue Jurriën Timber has entered this exclusive group too, while Martin Ødegaard was certainly there too prior to his injury issues both this season and last.

If you ask the manager, if not certain onlookers, even if this zeitgeist has changed for most supporters, Kai Havertz is in Arteta’s top-tier of importance too.

So far in 2025, the German international has played just 817 competitive minutes, 754 of which came prior to a serious hamstring tear during the warm-weather training campaign in February before, just when he had got an entire pre-season under his belt, a knee injury picked up against Manchester United in August required surgery.

Initially signed to play a completely different role, Arteta stating upon his arrival that “he will bring a huge amount of extra strength to our midfield”, after the Havertz as a left-eight experiment did not go as planned, he thrived as a centre-forward, scoring 29 goals for the Gunners to date.

So, what Arteta has shown is that, if Havertz is available, he is going to find a place in his team for him, so the idea that Gyökeres’ arrival would end his Arsenal career was never going to be the case.

Clearly, the pre-season plan was for the pair to timeshare the centre-forward role which, who knows, may have prevented Gyökeres’ injury, but certainly would have benefited him, given that the Swede’s best two performances, coming at St James’ Park and Turf Moor, both occurred after EFL Cup ties where he had been afforded a rest.

However, once Arteta has his full complement of forwards available again, the fabled ‘when everyone is fit’ bliss managers rarely ever enjoy, could there be another challenger for the number nine spot?

Why Mikel Arteta's "best finisher" could lead the line

As already outlined, Gyökeres, Havertz and Ødegaard as well as Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Jesus are all hoping to make their eagerly-anticipated returns in the coming weeks.

Down to threadbare options, Arteta has been forced to return to the well that never seems to run dry that is Mikel Merino up front, something Gooners thought they had seen the end of after last season, but all the absentees have given Leandro Trossard the opportunity to seriously stake a claim.

The Belgian leads the way at Arsenal in terms of combined goals and assists so far this season, having bagged four of each, while this is also the case across 2025 to, as the table below documents.

Leandro Trossard

10

10

Mikel Merino

11

6

Declan Rice

9

10

Martin Ødegaard

5

9

Gabriel Martinelli

9

3

Bukayo Saka

9

Zero

Ethan Nwaneri

5

2

Viktor Gyökeres

6

Zero

Trossard has scored crucial goals on the road against both Fulham and Athletic Club this season, before firing home this absolute rocket on Wearside last Saturday night.

Ever since he joined the club from Brighton for £27m in January 2023, probably a better signing than Mykhailo Mudryk would have been, Trossard has been prolific in front of goal, scoring 32 goals and accumulating 27 assists, the most of any Arsenal player during this timeframe.

Thus, the Belgian has been labelled “the best finisher at the club”, while Tim Stillman of Arseblog agrees, describing him as an ‘excellent shooter and finisher’, something Arsenal’s squad lacks in general, praising his ‘positional versatility’.

Thus, given his output, Arteta is going to want to have Trossard on the pitch somehow.

With Madueke and Martinelli vying for minutes on the left-wing, could we see Trossard challenging for minutes as the centre-forward, certainly offering something different to Gyökeres, at the very least putting pressure on the Swede to perform, something he has not had due to the lack of a genuine alternative up until this point?

£150k-p/w star who's "better than Saka" could end Trossard's Arsenal stay

No Arsenal player has more goals & assists in 2025 than Leandro Trossard, but does Mikel Arteta boast a star “better than Saka” that will replace him?

ByBen Gray Nov 12, 2025

The St. Louis Cardinals hosted the Minnesota Twins on Saturday afternoon for an early-season clash. Cardinals first baseman Willson Contreras momentarily stole the show, not because of anything he did on the field, but because of what he did in the batter's box. And not because of any big hit he had the batter's box, but rather because of what he in the batter's box.

While at-bat, Contreras stepped back from the plate and ripped what appeared to be tape off the handle of his bat with his teeth. He then popped the tape into his mouth. It was far too casual.

Fans across the league were left confused by Contreras's decision.

A very odd sequence.