Sports
Chiles Stripped of Bronze as Online Abuse Sparks Outcry
American gymnast Jordan Chiles has been stripped of the bronze medal she initially won in the women’s floor final on Monday, following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The decision has led to Romania’s Ana Barbosu being awarded the bronze, after an appeal by the Romanian Olympic Committee was upheld.
The appeal focused on the timing of an inquiry submitted by Chiles’ coach, Cecile Landi, regarding the difficulty rating of Chiles’ routine. The CAS ruled that the inquiry was filed four seconds past the one-minute limit, making it invalid. As a result, Chiles’ score was reverted to 13.666, placing her fifth, while Barbosu’s original score of 13.7 secured her the third-place finish.
The reversal of Chiles’ bronze medal has ignited strong reactions, particularly due to the online abuse Chiles has faced throughout the appeal process. Both USA Gymnastics and the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee expressed their devastation over the decision and condemned the “consistent, utterly baseless and extremely hurtful attacks” directed at Chiles on social media.
Chiles, 23, who had earlier won gold in the women’s team event, expressed her heartbreak on social media, posting four broken heart emojis and announcing her temporary withdrawal from social media for the sake of her mental health.
The situation also caused an uproar in Romania, where Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu labeled it a “scandalous situation” and even threatened to boycott the closing ceremony. The successful appeal led to the reinstatement of Barbosu’s medal, with the International Olympic Committee now coordinating with both the US and Romanian teams regarding the return and reallocation of the bronze medal.
USA Gymnastics defended the initial inquiry, stating it was made “in good faith” and believed to be within FIG rules. They also reiterated their support for Chiles, condemning the online abuse she endured and praising her integrity both on and off the competition floor.
Sports
Brighton Complete Signing of Luka Vuskovic
Brighton & Hove Albion have completed the signing of Croatian defender Luka Vuskovic, with head coach Fabian Hurzeler urging supporters to give the youngster time to adapt to life in the Premier League.
“There has been a lot of external noise about Luka joining us, but he is still a young player who will need time to adjust to the demands of playing for Brighton and in the Premier League,” Hurzeler said.
“We are confident he will take it all in his stride.”
Vuskovic arrives to replace Dutch centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke, who has joined Tottenham Hotspur in a £52 million move after completing a long-term deal.
Born in Split, Vuskovic came through the ranks at hometown club Hajduk Split, making history as the youngest player to feature in Croatia’s top flight at just 16 years old. He later became the club’s youngest-ever goalscorer.
The highly rated defender enjoyed an impressive campaign in the Bundesliga last season, earning the league’s Rookie of the Season award and a place in the Bundesliga Team of the Year.
On the international stage, Vuskovic has made six appearances for Croatia, scoring once, and made his FIFA World Cup debut against England during the group stage last month.
Brighton will begin their Premier League campaign at home to Aston Villa on Sunday, 23 August, with kick-off scheduled for 2:00pm BST.
Sports
Manchester United Close In on Youri Tielemans Signing
Manchester United are closing in on the signing of Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans as they look to strengthen their midfield ahead of the new season.
The Red Devils have made reinforcing the centre of the pitch a priority this summer but have endured a series of setbacks in the transfer market. Their pursuit of Elliot Anderson ended unsuccessfully after the midfielder opted to join Manchester City, while Mateus Fernandes chose to move to Tottenham Hotspur instead of Old Trafford.
United had also agreed a £35 million deal with Serie A side Atalanta for Brazil international Ederson, but that transfer has been put on hold.
Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos is understood to have completed a medical ahead of a proposed £48 million move elsewhere, while United are expected to remain active in the market before the transfer window closes.
With Kobbie Mainoo currently involved in England’s World Cup campaign, United have limited experienced options in central midfield, making the addition of an established player a key objective.
Tielemans, 29, has long been admired by the club, with his extensive Premier League experience viewed as a major asset. The Belgium international played an important role in his country’s run to the World Cup quarter-finals but was forced to miss their 2-1 defeat to Spain after suffering an injury during the pre-match warm-up.
Sports
England’s World Cup Clash with Mexico Delayed by One Hour Due to Severe Weather
England’s 2026 FIFA World Cup match against Mexico national football team has been delayed by one hour because of severe weather in Mexico City.
Heavy rain has fallen throughout the day, while lightning has been detected above Estadio Azteca, where the match is due to be played.
Under local safety regulations, play cannot begin until 30 minutes have passed without any lightning being detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium.
Earlier, a shelter-in-place order was issued at Estadio Azteca as adverse weather moved through the area, requiring spectators and personnel to remain in safe locations.
Although FIFA oversees the tournament, it must comply with local public safety protocols regarding severe weather and cannot apply separate rules in such situations.
In a statement, FIFA said: “The safety and security of all individuals is FIFA’s priority.”
The delay follows discussions held on Friday between FIFA, The Football Association and the Mexican Football Federation after FIFA proposed moving the fixture to an earlier kick-off time of 19:00 BST (12:00 local time) on Sunday.
However, that proposal was later withdrawn, with the original kick-off time initially left unchanged before the weather ultimately forced the delay.
The Football Association requested additional time to examine detailed weather forecasts before any decision was made.
During the discussions, officials also considered the potential impact that changing the kick-off time would have on player preparation, supporter travel arrangements and the complex logistics involved in staging one of the tournament’s highest-profile matches.
The revised kick-off will now take place once local authorities confirm that weather conditions meet the required safety standards for players, officials and spectators.
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