Author: James Brooks

Ken Bates, one of the most influential and divisive figures in modern English football, has died at the age of 94. The self-made millionaire left an indelible mark on the game, most notably through his transformative ownership of Chelsea Football Club spanning more than two decades. Bates purchased Chelsea for just £1 in 1982, inheriting a club burdened with £1.5m of debt and facing the very real threat of bankruptcy. By the time he sold to Roman Abramovich in a £140m deal in July 2003, Chelsea had been reshaped into a major force in English and European football. Under his…

Mamelodi Sundowns and South Africa midfielder Jayden Adams has died at the age of 25, just weeks after representing his country at the World Cup. Adams featured in all three of South Africa’s group stage matches at the tournament, helping Bafana Bafana reach the knockout stages for the first time in their history. South Africa were eventually eliminated by co-hosts Canada in the round of 32, but the tournament was considered a historic achievement for the nation. Police in South Africa confirmed they had opened an investigation after the body of a 25-year-old man was discovered at a house in…

England’s Jude Bellingham has delivered a body of work at this World Cup that, even by his lofty standards, has been as mesmerising as anything seen in an England shirt at recent major tournaments. Four goals and an excellent assist for Harry Kane’s goal in the 2-0 win over Panama have had England supporters serenading the 23-year-old throughout the United States. It seems ludicrous now to think that there was even a debate as to whether Bellingham would feature in England’s World Cup squad at all. Bellingham made his senior debut for Birmingham City aged 16 years and 38 days…

England head into uncharted territory at this World Cup when they face Norway in Miami on Saturday, with searing heat set to test both sides. The Three Lions have been largely shielded from extreme temperatures throughout the tournament, benefiting from indoor venues and cooler outdoor conditions. Their previous outdoor matches in Boston, New Jersey, and Mexico City were played in relatively cool and damp weather, offering little preparation for what awaits. Saturday’s quarter-final kicks off at 22:00 BST at Hard Rock Stadium, where conditions could breach thresholds that the global players’ union considers too dangerous for football. The US National…

Spain are through to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium secured their place in the last four. Mikel Merino has once again proven himself to be Spain’s most decisive impact player, scoring a late winner to stun Belgium in a tense quarter-final encounter. The Arsenal midfielder came off the bench and made his mark in the 88th minute, leaving Belgium devastated and unable to recover in the closing stages. It was a moment of real quality from Merino, who has developed a reputation for producing crucial goals at the biggest moments of…

Rangers are closing in on a move for Cammy Devlin after the Australian midfielder brought his five-year spell at Hearts to an end. The 28-year-old was a key figure in Hearts’ impressive Premiership title challenge last season, establishing himself as one of the club’s most important players. Hearts had offered Devlin terms that would have made him the highest-paid player at Tynecastle, demonstrating just how highly they valued his contribution to the squad. Despite the generous offer, Hearts issued a statement confirming that Devlin had failed to give the club a definitive answer ahead of their stated deadline. Rangers manager…

Manchester United’s pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson is in serious doubt after a summer of frustrating recruitment setbacks at Old Trafford. United had agreed a £35m fee for the Brazil international on 2 June, with plans to complete the deal before pre-season training got underway. The initial intention was for the 27-year-old to undergo his medical at the start of July, ensuring a smooth and timely conclusion to the transfer. Those plans were disrupted when Ederson received a late call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad, forcing United to delay the process indefinitely. It had been anticipated that the medical…

Argentina’s football association has suggested it may have been targeted by hackers after emails were sent from its official accounts criticising the officiating in their World Cup win over Egypt. The reigning world champions produced a stunning comeback in Atlanta, overturning a 2-0 deficit to defeat Egypt 3-2 and advance to the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. Argentine news outlet La Calle reported that emails sent from the Argentine Football Association’s official account to journalists after the match stated “Argentina did not win.” The same emails reportedly attributed the result to “corrupt refereeing decisions,” while also praising the performance…

International football tournaments always produce surprises, but the 2026 World Cup in North America has taken unpredictability to a completely different level. The expanded 48-team format was supposed to give the big nations an easier path through the group stage. Instead, it’s done the opposite. Several heavy favourites have been dumped out by opposition that the bookmakers had completely written off before kickoff, and the tournament bracket has turned into a chaotic scramble. Let’s take a closer look at the results that tore up the form book. Cape Verde: The 525,000-Person Nation That Stunned the World There’s no one else…

Edwards has left his position as chief executive of football with Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, the club confirmed. FSG described the departure as part of a “planned transition following the completion of key strategic priorities”, though group president Mike Gordon admitted the owners are “naturally disappointed” about his exit. The departure comes two years into a three-year contract, with Edwards having begun a second spell working closely with Liverpool in March 2024. He was originally brought back by FSG to oversee the transition away from the Jurgen Klopp era, a period that required significant structural and footballing decisions at…