Rugby

Rugby league-NRL trumps AFL with $3.7 billion rights deal

MELBOURNE, July 7 (Reuters) - The National ⁠Rugby League (NRL) announced a A$5.3 billion ($3.68 billion) agreement with Nine Entertainment, Foxtel and ⁠Sky NZ on Tuesday in the biggest media rights deal in Australian sporting ‌history.

Football

Soccer-Balogun is quiet on pitch after kicking up an international storm

SEATTLE, July 6 (Reuters) - After ⁠dominating the global football headlines for 24 hours, U.S. striker Folarin Balogun barely ⁠merited a mention in Monday's game against Belgium as the co-hosts were eliminated ‌from the World Cup in the round of 16.

Football

Soccer-Everton sign forward George from Chelsea after loan spell

July 7 (Reuters) - Everton ⁠have completed the permanent signing of English ⁠forward Tyrique George from Chelsea, the Premier ‌League club said on Monday, with the 20-year-old signing a four-year contract after he spent the second half of ​last season on loan at ⁠Goodison Park.

Rugby

Rugby-Australia lose flyhalf Gordon, flanker Hooper for France test

MELBOURNE, July 7 (Reuters) - Australia have ⁠suffered a major blow ahead of the second Nations Championship test against France ⁠with the loss of flyhalf Carter Gordon and loose forward Tom Hooper ‌to injury.

Swimming

Swimming-Coach Bowman says McIntosh's best is yet to come

July 7 (Reuters) - Summer McIntosh's coach ⁠Bob Bowman says the record-breaking Canadian is yet to reach her physical ⁠peak and will keep pushing the limits in swimming as she ‌matures.

Football

Soccer-There's justice in life, says Raskin after Belgium eliminate US

SEATTLE, July ⁠6 (Reuters) - Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said his side's 4-1 World Cup last-16 win ⁠over the United States on Monday felt like a measure of justice after ‌FIFA's decision to allow U.S. striker Folarin Balogun to play despite his red card in the previous game.

Football

Soccer-Belgium end US World Cup dreams with 4-1 rout amid Balogun row

SEATTLE, July 6 (Reuters) - The United States' World ⁠Cup dreams came to a crashing halt in the last 16 against Belgium on Monday as Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in ⁠a 4-1 win overshadowed by FIFA's controversial decision to suspend U.S. forward Folarin Balogun's ban.

Football

Soccer-Flexibility key for Colombia's Lorenzo as Swiss challenge awaits

VANCOUVER, July 6 (Reuters) - The ⁠ability of Colombia's players to adapt to different situations will be key when they ⁠take on Switzerland in their World Cup last-16 tie on Tuesday, coach Nestor Lorenzo ‌said. 

Football

Soccer-FIFA backs referee after Trump criticism

MIAMI, July 6 (Reuters) - ⁠FIFA threw its full support behind Brazilian referee Raphael Claus after ⁠U.S. President Donald Trump questioned his integrity on Monday following the red ‌card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun that sparked a controversy at the World Cup.

Football

Soccer-No clear favourites for World Cup, says Argentina's Scaloni ahead of Egypt clash

ATLANTA, July 6 (Reuters) - Argentina manager ⁠Lionel Scaloni believes this World Cup has been a great leveller where traditional powerhouses are struggling ⁠to assert their dominance.

Football

Soccer-De la Fuente sings Lamine's praises as Spain reach World Cup quarter-finals

July 6 (Reuters) - Spain ⁠coach Luis de la Fuente hailed Lamine Yamal's performance in Monday's 1-0 victory ⁠over Portugal as one of the most important of the 18-year-old's burgeoning ‌career as the European champions advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals.

Football

Soccer-A blue city shakes off politics over US forward Balogun's red card controversy

SEATTLE, July ⁠6 (Reuters) - A city known for angry protests, grunge and wearing head-to-toe black was transformed into a harmonious sea ⁠of red, white and blue on Monday.

Football

Soccer-Ronaldo says his last World Cup is over but Portugal decision can wait

ARLINGTON, Texas, July 6 (Reuters) - Portugal forward ⁠Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup ended with a Spanish sting in the tail, ⁠courtesy of Mikel Merino's last-gasp winner that earned a 1-0 round-of-16 win on ‌Monday, but he was unwilling to make a hasty call on his international future.

Football

Soccer-Balogun starts for US after red card suspended

July 6 (Reuters) - U.S. striker Folarin Balogun ⁠will start Monday's World Cup ‌last-16 clash against Belgium after FIFA suspended the red-card sanction he received in the team's ​previous match, with a ⁠FIFA appeals committee ⁠rejecting Belgium's challenge to the decision.

Motorsport

Hafizh in top 10 finish at Lenovo Race of Champions

PETALING JAYA: It was a week to remember for Hafizh Syahrin Abdullah (pic) after earning an impressive top 10 finish in the Lenovo Race of Champions at Misano Circuit in Italy.

Squash

Yee Xian hopes consistency will earn him a spot in national team

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian squash player Siow Yee Xian hopes his consistent performance will earn him a spot in the national team after he clinched his third title this year at the UTU Singapore Challenger 6K yesterday.

Bowling

Bowler turn coach Esther watches future stars end 20-year wait as Malaysia strike twice

PETALING JAYA: Watching the national team win two gold medals at the World Youth Championships in Megalanes Sarawak, left former national bowling queen Esther Cheah with a profound sense of deja vu.

Motorsport

Qabil eyes more podium positions after Moto4 progress

PETALING JAYA: Young motorsport talent Qabil Irfan is all psyched up to aim for more podium finishes after a breakthrough outing in the third round of the Moto4 European Cup at Jerez Circuit in Spain.

A Winning Factor

Giants fall, England survive – World Cup quarter-finals take shape

SO far, it has been an excellent World Cup.

Football

Soccer-Portugal coach Martinez to leave after World Cup exit to Spain

ARLINGTON, Texas, July 6 (Reuters) - Portugal ⁠manager Roberto Martinez said he was leaving his role after Spain beat ⁠his side 1-0 in the World Cup last 16 on Monday, calling ‌the defeat the end of a cycle for the team.