Category: 6. Sports

Since the Championships Seminar held at the FISU headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, all organising committees have been continuing their work to be ready for their respective events in 2026. Half of them have hosted FISU representatives for coordination visits.

The FISU World University Championships 2026 coordination visits have been positive. Preparations are going well, and the different organising committees are really motivated.

The coordination visits started for the FISU World Championships and Cups Department already started before the FISU Championships Seminar, with a trip to meet the Sharm-El-Sheikh 2026 FISU World University Championship finswimming in Egypt.

May saw the team – Alejandro Guerra, Paulo Sivieri and Chloé Dragani, who shared the responsibilities and visits – travel to Cassino, Italy for cross country, then to Doha in Qatar for weightlifting.

The bulk of the coordination visits up to now was made in June, with futsal (Warsaw, Poland), cheerleading (Gothenburg, Sweden), handball (Pessac, France), orienteering (Vila Real) and beach sports (Figueira da Foz) both in Portugal and canoe sports (Sukoró, Hungary).

The Chinese organising committees of mind sports (Liaocheng) and cycling (Zhangjiakou) as well as the modern pentathlon OC in Madrid Spain were the last ones to host this first round of visits.

The registrations (FISU GMS) should be open at the beginning of August, and everyone is are currently working on the websites and handbooks.

The remaining visits will continue in the coming months.

Make sure to regularly check the FISU.net calendar to remain informed of any changes and updates to FISU’s 2026 World University Championships.

This is an updated version of an article first published in July 2022.

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Three years ago, I wrote a column on the Premier League footballer we can now name as former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey being arrested on suspicion of rape.

At that time, The Athletic could not name him. That has changed now he has been charged with five counts of rape and one of sexual assault, allegations which relate to three separate women who reported incidents which took place between 2021 and 2022 and which he denies.

Partey has been under investigation since February 2022 and was first arrested in July that same year. The piece I wrote, published in July 2022, detailed why I felt the (then unnamed) club’s decision not to suspend him while he was being investigated over such serious allegations sent the wrong message to women.

In the period since then he has been arrested, questioned by police and bailed seven times, all while he was helping Arsenal come desperately close to winning the Premier League title. He also played for Ghana at the 2022 World Cup.

Last season he made a total of 52 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions. Despite his contract at the club expiring on June 30, his image was still present on the official Arsenal website on Friday morning, only being removed later in the afternoon following the news that he had been charged.

While the primary concern here is for the alleged victims, the optics of today’s news could hardly be worse for Arsenal.

Their decision to keep on playing him, coupled with the vocal support offered by manager Mikel Arteta — who described how happy he was for Partey after he scored the opening goal in Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Tottenham in October 2022 (“for what he’s been through and the injuries… I’m so happy for him, he deserves it”) — already left them open to criticism.

Now, that is compounded by the timing of the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to charge Partey just days after the expiry of his Arsenal contract.

Whether the club knew this development was coming or not, they are now facing difficult questions over the way they have handled this situation. And the brief statement they issued last night — “The player’s contract ended on June 30. Due to ongoing legal proceedings the club is unable to comment on the case” — does nothing to answer them.

Back in July 2022, the club issued a lengthier statement about their decision to keep playing Partey. It read: “We’ve confirmed that the player denies the allegations and is on police bail… There have been no charges laid and the player can fulfil his professional commitments.”

At the time, I was conflicted, weighing what appeared to be a reasonable legal position, particularly in light of the player’s denials, against the severity of the allegations and the fact that sport occupies such a powerful place in society.

There is a part of my brain that still tries to rationalise Arsenal’s actions. Had they suspended him for all that time only for him to then be cleared — as may, of course, yet happen — would that have been fair, given the brevity of a professional footballer’s career?

Might they also have been concerned about the potential legal ramifications? Last year, former Manchester City player Benjamin Mendy won his claim against the club over unpaid wages while he was facing criminal charges following allegations of sex offences. He was subsequently cleared of all charges.

But morally and emotionally, I find it difficult to accept how the club has approached this situation.

Even if you make the argument for Arsenal being wary of the legal ramifications of suspending Partey, what then can be made of their apparent desire to extend his contract beyond this summer? In April this year, The Athletic reported that the club had entered talks with the midfielder about a new deal. Given the ongoing investigation and allegations against him, this raises yet more uncomfortable questions.

Arsenal have long led the way in championing the women’s game, and have traditionally been held up as a football club that “does things the right way”. Yet for the past three years, they have acted in a manner that raises so many questions about the moral compass of the game and how it really views allegations of sexual assault towards women.

They have acted in a way that has left many fans feeling uncomfortable and conflicted as they supported their team through the highs and lows of the seasons.

They have acted in a way that simply has not felt right.

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On the eve of the 2022 Women’s European Championship, I spoke to UK TV presenter Gabby Logan about her relationship with the game and she said something that came to mind when I read Arsenal’s initial statement three years ago.

Logan said: “Football reflects so many attitudes in society. Sometimes I think it reflects where we are as a civilisation in terms of attitudes and how important subjects like racism and homophobia are handled. If football treats it seriously, then it sends a really strong message.”

What message does it send when a club basically says it’s ‘business as usual’ after allegations of rape are made? Does it say they are treating them with the seriousness they deserve? Does it send a strong message to their players, staff and fans about how they feel such allegations should be acted upon?

Female players and members of staff at the club — including, potentially, in the medical team — will undoubtedly have to be around and interact with the player in question, as will others who no doubt will all know about the claims against him.

I ask myself how I would feel in their situation. The answer is potentially uncomfortable.

The club’s statement in 2022 said they take their “commitments and responsibilities seriously”, but their actions regarding the player we now can name as Partey suggested they did not treat the allegations made against him with the same level of seriousness.

There have been other examples of clubs suspending players and members of staff after serious allegations. Mason Greenwood was suspended by Manchester United after being arrested in January 2022 on suspicion of attempted rape and assault, with charges subsequently being dropped. Another Premier League club suspended a player in 2021 after he was arrested on suspicion of committing child sex offences. That case was also dropped.

Those two players’ club suspensions did not mean their employers were slapping a “guilty” verdict on them, but it did mean they were being seen as treating the allegations with the respect that they deserved. That they understood the implications and potential impact on the alleged victims and those around the accused. That they recognised the message their reaction sends to wider society.

It should also be noted that Arsenal are not alone in their decision not to suspend a player facing sex offence allegations.

Yves Bissouma, then of Brighton and now of Tottenham, wasn’t suspended when he was arrested under suspicion of sexual assault in Brighton in October 2021 (Bissouma was cleared of the allegation in June 2022).

Nor was Mendy suspended after allegations of nine sexual offences against six women, until he was charged by police.

These examples only serve to reinforce the flimsy message that football — and, specifically in the Partey case, Arsenal — have sent about its attitude towards allegations of rape and sexual assault. And they do little to quash the idea that the bar for players getting suspended is placed far too high.

It’s not hard to imagine what would happen to a member of a club’s backroom staff if they were facing the same allegations. So, why is it different for a player?

There’s one answer that immediately springs to mind, and it’s not one that should even be in the reckoning when it comes to such serious claims.

Violence towards women and girls is happening in scary numbers. It’s an issue that the UK government has promised to tackle, but it’s also one that should force us to examine our own attitudes and actions when allegations are made, and the messages they are sending to those around us.

And that includes football clubs.

(Top photo: Stefan Koops/EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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“So, I really hope that, next season, he scores 40 goals and he gets 40 assists, and is the MVP [most valuable player] of the league! And he can, you know, keep doing what he’s doing because I think he’s instrumental for the present and for the future of the club.”

While that may be a tall order in terms of goal involvements for our super skipper, he is closing on a century of goals for United.

He currently sits on 98, one behind legendary captain Bryan Robson, and will be out to add to that tally, starting in the season opener against Arsenal, at Old Trafford, on 17 August.

Japan team news: Leitch to lead inexperienced sidepublished at 05:42 British Summer Time

05:42 BST

Japan v Wales (06:00 BST)

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Jones has named eight uncapped internationals in his matchday squad, with around 15 players unavailable.

Michael Leitch, 36, will captain the side and is the only member of the squad who has more than 50 caps.

Prop Yota Kamimori and wing Kippei Ishida, who Jones says can be a Japan version of South Africa double World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe, will both win first caps, while there are six new potential caps on the bench.

Toulouse scrum-half Naoto Saito, who was part of the squad that won the French Top 14 title last weekend, is not involved today, but will be available for the second Test in Kobe.

Japan: Takuro Matsunaga; Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Malo Tuitama; Seungsin Lee, Shinobu Fujiwara; Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Deans, Michael Leitch (capt), Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava.

Replacements: Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Keijiro Tamefusa, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shuntaro Kitamura, Ichigo Nakakusu, Halatoa Vailea.

Two of the teams at the FIFA Club World Cup who are best at pressing will meet on Saturday when Paris Saint-Germain take on Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

PSG have recorded a PPDA (passes per defensive action) of 7.3 across four games, meaning they wait for the least amount of opposition actions in possession before trying to win the ball back. Bayern are just behind on 7.8 and marginally edge PSG in possessions won in the attacking third (28 to PSG’s 26).

Despite the on-ball quality of both teams, the defining theme of the match in Georgia could be their out-of-possession activity. Here, The Athletic explains why.

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Bayern and PSG have already met once this season. That Champions League league-phase clash in Germany ended 1-0 to Bayern, with Kim Min-jae scoring the game’s only goal from a corner in the 38th minute. The winner was created by Bayern crowding the six-yard box to create chaos, a PSG weakness that Arsenal also targeted in the semi-finals.

Bayern scored their first against Flamengo in the last 16 of the Club World Cup on June 29 — an Erick Pulgar own-goal — from a similar situation. The match was a testament to Bayern’s pressing ability too, with both of Harry Kane’s goals coming from forcing turnovers in Flamengo’s defensive third.

Bayern’s pressing structure saw Kane operate as the focal point in a system that aimed to compress space and divert Flamengo to the wings. In this example from the 25th minute, Joshua Kimmich joins Michael Olise and Kane to create a numerical superiority on the right wing. Left-back Josip Stanisic’s positioning in-field allows Kimmich to wander forward, while right-back Konrad Laimer presses the retreating Luiz Araujo.

Laimer harries Araujo back to near his own box and stretches to win the ball, with the move ending in a shot (second frame below).

Bayern used a similar approach in the November meeting against PSG. Jamal Musiala, who will be fit for Saturday’s match, leads the press while Kane drops to mark Vitinha. PSG’s centre-backs Marquinhos and Willian Pacho are some distance away from goalkeeper Matvey Safonov, whose only option is to lob a pass to Achraf Hakimi.

Safonov overhits the pass — a theme throughout the game due to Bayern’s pressing — but Hakimi may have struggled anyway with Kingsley Coman in close vicinity. Any pass to Warren Zaire-Emery in midfield is difficult too, due to Kim pushing out of defence.

Vitinha eventually began dropping deep to receive from Safonov, but Bayern were prepared. Below, Musiala presses him again while Leon Goretzka and Kimmich can mark Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves respectively due to Alphonso Davies inverting to switch onto Zaire-Emery (like Stanisic does above with Gerson). Laimer (not in frame) and Coman are ready to pounce on PSG’s full-backs.

PSG have looked susceptible at the back at times at the Club World Cup, giving the ball away in their defensive third 10 times across four matches. Bayern will punish any such lapses of concentration.

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So, what is the solution?

The full-backs are crucial to Bayern’s out-of-possession set-up and Flamengo found a way to eliminate their impact. In this example, Gerson and Araujo occupy Stanisic and Laimer, while Gonzalo Plata and Giorgian de Arrascaeta do the same to their centre-backs. That leaves Goretzka in an odd position and with Serge Gnabry shifting towards the left, Pulgar has space to receive and turn.

The pinning technique worked further up the pitch, too. In the seventh minute, Gerson receives with Stanisic closing him down and passes back into midfield. With Gnabry focused on an open player in midfield and Coman trying to double up on Gerson, two passes to find right-back Wesley’s run turns this into a transition-like situation.

Flamengo used a variation of the same in Bayern’s box to score their opener. As Araujo crosses from the left, De Arrascaeta is in space in the box due to Goretzka and Bayern’s defensive line dropping too deep. Gnabry is ball-watching, which allows Gerson to meet De Arrascaeta’s flick-on and score with a first-time shot.

PSG’s midfielders have a goalscoring knack and will punish these situations if they arise.

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After the November loss to Bayern, Luis Enrique admitted that PSG “struggled under the pressure of our opponents”. A simple tweak that should help — as it has since the turn of the year — is keeping their defenders closer to goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Inter Miami, their round-of-16 opponents at the Club World Cup, struggled to cope with PSG’s build-up shape and the constant movement of their midfielders.

Miami’s press lacks cohesion and shifts to defensive mode as soon as Fabian collects the ball and turns forward.

Bayern will not make it this easy, but PSG’s strength is in their versatility.

In the Champions League final, Inter man-marked Vitinha and Joao Neves but Donnarumma simply lobbed a pass to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the wing, with Fabian in between the lines to collect.

The alternate strategy was similar to Flamengo’s ploy that hurt Bayern. Against Arsenal, one of Europe’s best teams out of possession, in the Champions League semi-finals, Vitinha and Joao Neves were once again marked tightly.

While PSG’s midfield all moved into central areas in the November meeting against Bayern, this time, they completely vacate that space, which is filled by Ousmane Dembele.

That drags a centre-back and forward out of the pressing shape, freeing up Joao Neves to receive and pass out wide.

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There is also PSG’s suffocating press to be considered. Enrique’s side squeeze teams by pushing forward in unison and remove any inside options, often forcing teams to go long, backwards or risk giving the ball away at the back.

This was on show against Atletico Madrid in their Club World Cup opener in which they won possession back eight times in the attacking third.

This example in the moments prior to one of them details how PSG suffocate teams by positioning players in areas that allow them to cover multiple zones.

Atletico are forced back, and PSG apply the squeeze again. As goalkeeper Jan Oblak receives the pass, Desire Doue curves his run based on Oblak’s body shape to put him off passing down the middle. Senny Mayulu initially jogs towards the expected recipient, Clement Lenglet.

Mayulu closes Lenglet down before he can pass, controls the ball, and wins a corner.

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While Bayern’s defence is secure on the ball, they have not faced a press this suffocating so far at the tournament. Their backline and midfield pivot lacks explosive speed, which may be crucial to breaking past the PSG press, so head coach Vincent Kompany will need to find innovative solutions while ensuring Bayern’s press from the front is perfect.

Estevao Willian could hardly have introduced himself to Chelsea in a better way.

When the 18-year-old Brazilian smashed home an equaliser for Palmeiras against the Blues from an almost impossible angle on Saturday – Chelsea fans could have been forgiven for feeling a little bit excited.

Yes, he had just equalised against their side in the Club World Cup quarter-final but it was also a thrilling glimpse of the talent Chelsea have signed in a deal that could eventually be worth £52m.

A late Palmeiras own goal meant it was ultimately Chelsea looking forward to a semi-final against Fluminense, but Estevao’s last game for the Brazilians was certainly a memorable one.

The Blues beat the likes of Bayern Munich, Paris St-Germain and Manchester City to sign the Palmeiras wonderkid last summer – before allowing him to stay in Brazil last season and to play for the Brazilians in this summer’s Club World Cup.

And, while they may have been regretting that decision as his direct running and silky skills tormented them in Philadelphia, anyone connected with Chelsea can’t fail but to be excited by what they saw.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said: “Happy because we won and also happy because Estevao scored, the perfect night.

“He is very good, a huge talent, fantastic player. The only thing is when you come from South America or another part of the world is that you need to adapt.

“We are going to help him to adapt, be happy and enjoy football. We have no doubt he will be an important player for Chelsea.”

The forward was a constant threat down Palmeiras’s right, had the most touches in Chelsea’s box for his side (8), and was awarded man of the match for his display.

Blues midfielder Cole Palmer, who was pictured talking to him after the final whistle, added: “You can see he is a top player, so it is very exciting.

“I just said we are excited for you to join, but he didn’t understand a single word I said.”

Estevao and Palmeiras manager Abel Ferreira were tearful at the post-match press conference as they reflected on their time together.

Ferreira said: “I spoke before with Maresca and told him ‘you bought an amazing player but more than this you bought an amazing person’.

“You need to take care of him. You need to embrace him and in the beginning for sure he will make mistakes. Like you saw today he is an amazing player with a lot of skill. He is a player who can win a game alone.”

Estevao, said: “Palmeiras opened the door for me. I was deeply happy in Palmeiras and my family knows how happy I was.

“I’m very happy I could score a goal to help my club unfortunately this wasn’t the result we wanted but we gave our best on the pitch and now I am moving on.”

Jayden Seales ripped out the opening batters to reduce Australia’s second innings to 12-2 and lead over West Indies to 45 runs on day two of the second Test on Friday.

The West Indies’ first innings almost lasted the entire day, but it was all out for 253 — 33 runs behind Australia — which left a tricky half-hour in the day.

The hosts made it as hostile as possible and preyed on Australia’s nervous top order.

Seales bowled Sam Konstas for a duck in the first over and almost claimed Cameron Green on the next ball. Green barely fended off Seales and was fortunate the ball dropped in front of second slip.

Seales then got a nip-backer to trap Usman Khawaja plumb on two. Khawaja’s video review showed it was going to hit middle stump.

Nathan Lyon came in as the nightwatchman, and he and Green just made it to stumps. On the penultimate ball, Lyon took an Alzarri Joseph delivery into his left bicep. He needed on-field treatment.

Seales had two from five from three overs, including a maiden.

For Konstas, it was his third single-digit score in four innings on tour. Opening partner Khawaja has scored 47, 15, 16 and 2. Before that, he had 0 and 6 in the World Test Championship final. No. 3 Green is also still looking for a morale-boosting score.

The West Indies have their own top-order issues.

Kraigg Brathwaite was out for a duck in his first innings in his 100th Test, caught and bowled by Josh Hazlewood in the first over.

Keacy Carty went the same way on 6 to Pat Cummins, and John Campbell wasted a good start of 40 when he skewed Beau Webster to mid-on.

It took Brandon King’s maiden Test half-century and the tailenders’ 73 invaluable runs for the West Indies to get close to Australia’s 286.

The West Indies was 174-7 after lunch, still more than 100 behind, but the Nos. 8-11 batters — notably Alzarri Joseph and Shamar Joseph, not related — frustrated the Australians for 25 overs and led the West Indies past 200 and 250.

King and captain Roston Chase, who took 18 balls to get off the mark, rebuilt West Indies from 64-3 to a confident 110-3 by lunch.

Chase was out straight after lunch, trapped on 16 by Hazlewood after Australia reviewed.

But King lofted Hazlewood for six over square leg, then his seventh boundary brought up his 50 off 77 balls, his first 50 in his second Test and West Indies’ first 50 in the series.

King waltzed down the track to hit Lyon for another couple of sixes as his partnership with Shai Hope began to flourish.

But Cummins ended their 58-run stand when he bowled Hope on 21, and King fell in the next over, nicking Lyon behind. King laboured for 75 off 108 balls with eight boundaries and three sixes.

A third wicket in four overs, Justin Greaves, tumbled West Indies to 174 for seven.

But the Josephs made it to tea and kept going for 51 runs together. Alzarri scored 27 and Shamar 29. Last pair Anderson Phillip and Seales resisted for another nearly 11 overs for 16 runs.

All six Australian bowlers took wickets; Lyon led with three for 75.

“She’s fighting. She’s playing much better. She’s more consistent. I can see that mentally she’s healthy. I think that’s really important. I’m pretty sure she’s getting there.”

Raducanu, who famously won the 2021 US Open as a teenaged qualifier ranked 150th, peaked at world No.10 in July 2022.

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She has since battled chronic injuries – forcing her to undergo multiple surgeries – and off-court tumult, making her return to form all the more impressive.

Currently ranked 40th, Raducanu has never before played this many tour-level matches (32) or won as many (18) through Wimbledon in a single season.

Yet this consistency falls short of the kind produced by Sabalenka, who by progressing to the fourth round at Wimbledon has now reached the second week in her past 11 Grand Slam tournaments – a feat no woman has achieved since Serena Williams.

She’s been at her best in the tightest moments, too; after saving set point to snatch the opener against Raducanu, it marked Sabalenka’s 13th straight tiebreak won.