When McCrum’s proposal reached the guardians of football’s laws, it was met with skepticism. Some argued the punishment it introduced was far too harsh. But the sport was evolving: matches were getting quicker and more physical. Incidents on the field were already making a compelling case for reform. Earlier that year, an FA Cup tie...

Ipswich Town Women have made forward Kit Graham’s move permanent, signing her on a two-year deal after a successful loan last season. The 30-year-old joined from Tottenham Hotspur in January and scored twice in 10 appearances, both long-range efforts in a 3-0 win over Birmingham City. Graham said she was proud of the team’s fight...

England manager Thomas Tuchel revealed Declan Rice spent much of the three days before the World Cup quarter-final win over Norway confined to bed with illness. Although he started England’s 2-1 win against Norway, the midfielder appeared to struggle in the sweltering conditions at Miami Stadium and was replaced at half-time by his Arsenal team-mate...

McCrorie joined Bristol City at Ashton Gate in the summer of 2023 for around £2m and went on to make 89 appearances for the club, 41 of them last season. In May, the Championship side triggered a one-year extension to his contract. Capped twice by Scotland and selected for Euro 2024, McCrorie featured regularly at...

Napoli have appointed Massimiliano Allegri as their new head coach on a deal running until June 2029. The 58-year-old succeeds Antonio Conte, who departed at the end of May after two seasons, having led Napoli to the 2024-25 Serie A title and then a runners-up finish last season. Allegri, dismissed by Milan at the end...

Liverpool and Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo has requested privacy and space after the loss of his unborn son. His partner, model Noa van der Bij, shared the news on Saturday. The couple were expecting their second child in October. She posted a photo of their hands on a blanket and knitted hat, saying their baby...

Conspiracy talk and claims of bias do real harm, fueling abuse toward referees and making an already tough job even harder. After Argentina’s 3-2 last-16 win over Egypt, Pierluigi Collina, who leads World Cup officiating, publicly backed his officials, stressing their honesty and independence. Egypt had alleged that referee Francois Letexier and his team intentionally...