European soccer body UEFA warns FIFA of legal action over Infantino’s failed World Cup sell-off plan
NYON, Switzerland (AP) — European soccer body UEFA has threatened FIFA with legal action over Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to private investors. It also asked for potential evidence from at least 18 FIFA executives which it said should not be destroyed. Infantino’s secretive proposal to raise $4.2 billion from investors including the New York investment firm of Joshua Kushner was dropped Saturday. It followed days of a global furor since media reports revealed the plan and UEFA members said they would boycott FIFA events. The letter dated Friday from New York legal firm Dechert was seen by The Associated Press.
Skubal to Dodgers, García to Yankees as MLB teams make additions before trade deadline
Two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal is on the move to the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving the two-time defending champions even more talent on a loaded roster. Right-hander Freddy Peralta is switching teams, too, as the Tampa Bay Rays beef up their rotation. Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is Monday at 6 p.m. EDT and two of the biggest prizes are already off the board. But other enticing options still remain, including Padres closer Mason Miller, Giants second baseman Luis Arraez and Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho.
Judge clarifies NCAA eligibility order, which could blunt its impact on new ‘5 for 5’ rule
DENVER (AP) — The judge who granted the right to play another year of college sports to some athletes whose eligibility ran out last school year issued a new order to make clear that does not include football players who signed pro contracts this summer then had a change of heart. That change comes after U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney responded to an NCAA request for clarity about her ruling granting a fifth year to athletes who were not included in the new rule that allows five seasons of eligibility for Division I players.
Rafaela homers for 3rd straight game as the Red Sox beat the Dodgers 8-4 for 3-game sweep
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela homered for the third straight game and the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Sunday night to sweep the three-game series. Masataka Yoshida homered and drove in two runs, and Jake Bennett (7-4) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings to help the Red Sox win their fifth straight game. Boston is 23-3 since July 3. Emmet Sheehan (4-8) was pulled after allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings, with the Red Sox pushing across two runs in a 30-pitch first inning. Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu then clocked Sheehan for back-to-back homers to start the third inning, followed by Yoshida’s solo shot for a 5-3 lead two batters later.
Dodgers reinforce status as baseball’s dominant power and public enemy No. 1 with Tarik Skubal trade
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tarik Skubal was the one player the Los Angeles Dodgers believed worthy of aggressively pursuing ahead of Monday’s trade deadline, and the trade to land the two-time American League Cy Young winner further boosts their push for a third straight World Series title. It also represents another salvo in the battle over baseball’s finances and competitive balance, as Skubal joins a pitching staff which already includes high-priced performers such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell. Skubal will make his Dodgers debut on Tuesday during a three-game series at the Chicago Cubs.
The Tigers face a difficult challenge after trading ace Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Detroit Tigers said their goodbyes to ace Tarik Skubal and now must turn their focus to an uncertain final two months of the season as they try to make a playoff push without their best player. The Tigers traded the two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three minor league prospects. Moving on without Skubal is the ultimate challenge. The ninth-round draft pick in 2018 developed into one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning the Cy Young in 2024 and ’25 and posting a 2.40 ERA over the past three seasons.
Rallies surround Fever-Lynx game after Sophie Cunningham’s stance on transgender athletes
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A crowd of supporters and critics of Indiana guard Sophie Cunningham’s stance on transgender participation in women’s sports gathered around and inside Target Center as the Fever faced the Lynx in Minnesota. Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve wore a light blue shirt under her jacket that said, “Trans kids belong” as she coached on the bench in her team’s 108-100 win. There were fans in the stands wearing T-shirts that read, “Trans kids belong in sports.” It’s the third straight Fever game that drew a rally after Cunningham recently voiced support for barring transgender girls and women from girls’ and women’s sports in an ESPN article published last week.
Shiho Kuwaki of Japan wins the Women’s British Open on second playoff hole
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) — Shiho Kuwaki has added her name to the growing list of Japanese players to win LPGA majors. The 23-year-old Kuwaki won the Women’s British Open with a par on the second playoff hole over Esther Henseleit of Germany on Sunday. Kuwaki shot a 70 in the final round at Royal Lytham & St. Annes. She looked like a winner until Henseleit dramatically holed a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th for a 70 to force only the second playoff since the Women’s British Open became a major in 2001. Henseleit hit under a gorse bush and made bogey on the second hole.
Michael Thorbjornsen wins 1st PGA Tour title by 2 shots at the 8th and final Rocket Classic
DETROIT (AP) — Michael Thorbjornsen made a 26-foot putt for birdie on his last hole to shoot 7-under 63 and reach 18 under to win his first PGA Tour title by two strokes on Sunday at the Rocket Classic. The 24-year-old Thorbjornsen sealed his spot in the FedEx Cup playoff after rolling into the Motor City No. 69 in the standings. The top 70 advance to the postseason after next week’s Wyndham Championship. Thorbjornsen started Sunday three shots behind leader Davis Riley, whose rough start opened opportunities for the field. Thorbjornsen took advantage, taking the lead with four birdies in a six-hole stretch.
British prime minister says Infantino is not the right man to lead FIFA
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham says FIFA President Gianni Infantino is not the right man to lead world soccer’s governing body in the latest fallout from the now abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. On Saturday European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership. The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer said FIFA leadership had “stopped putting football first.” Infantino was forced into a backdown over his controversial plans to sell World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary that would run its top competitions.