Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero has apologized for his recent comments criticizing the club’s owners following the team’s 4-3 loss to Chelsea. In an interview with Spanish broadcaster Telemundo Deportes, Romero expressed frustration over the club’s lack of investment, stating, “Something is going wrong, hopefully, they [the board] realize it.”

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou addressed the issue, stating that Romero acknowledged his remarks were not entirely appropriate. “He realizes a lot of what he said was good, but some wasn’t the right way of dealing with it,” Postecoglou said. “It shows he cares, but there’s a way to do it, and this wasn’t it.”

Romero’s comments came after a challenging match against Chelsea, in which Tottenham lost despite leading 2-0. The Argentine defender, along with teammate Micky van de Ven, returned to the lineup but both suffered injuries during the game. Romero was substituted in the 15th minute, while Van de Ven exited 11 minutes from the end.

Both players will miss Tottenham’s upcoming Europa League clash against Rangers at Ibrox, and their return timelines remain uncertain. “We’re still getting some clarity around the prognosis,” Postecoglou said. “It’s disappointing because we’re pretty thin on numbers and have been dealing with that for a while.”

Adding to the team’s challenges, midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, currently serving a domestic suspension for a racial slur against teammate Son Heung-min, will be available for the Europa League fixture.

British tennis star Jack Draper has been forced to cancel a highly anticipated training week with Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz in Spain due to a minor hip injury. The 22-year-old, who is currently focusing on gym work, cited concerns about being unable to train at full intensity as the reason for his decision.

The training session with Alcaraz had been part of Draper’s preparation for the upcoming season. “It was something we were really excited about,” Draper said, adding that it would have been an opportunity to test himself against one of the world’s best players.

However, Draper emphasized that the current injury is unrelated to the hip issue that affected him earlier in the year. Despite this setback, he remains optimistic about his progress, noting, “I’ve been working incredibly hard the last couple of weeks to hopefully improve for next year.”

Draper, ranked 15th in the world after a stellar year that included ATP titles in Stuttgart and Vienna, has displayed improved resilience to injuries throughout 2023. Nevertheless, his fitness remains a concern ahead of the United Cup, starting 27 December, and the Australian Open, which begins on 12 January.

The young Brit shared these updates while participating in a Memory Walk for the Alzheimer’s Society, a cause close to his heart. Draper, an ambassador for the charity, has spoken openly about the impact of Alzheimer’s on his grandmother and praised his grandfather, her primary caregiver, as an “absolute hero.”

Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 men’s FIFA World Cup, while the 2030 tournament will be jointly hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with additional centenary matches in Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. FIFA finalized these decisions during an Extraordinary Congress meeting, attended by representatives from all 211 member associations via video link.

The announcements included a unique nod to the competition’s origins: three matches in 2030 will be held in South America to honor the tournament’s 100-year history, with Uruguay hosting one of the opening games, commemorating its role as the inaugural World Cup host in 1930.

The voting process, conducted by “acclamation” via video, had only one option for each decision. FIFA confirmed that votes were effectively cast beforehand. Despite general agreement, Norway abstained from voting, citing concerns over FIFA’s current bidding process.

Switzerland’s football association also voiced reservations, calling for human rights monitoring in Saudi Arabia and urging FIFA and the International Labour Organization to oversee compliance. Similarly, Denmark supported the bids but criticized the limited number of contenders and called for greater transparency in future selections.

Saudi Arabia’s selection has reignited debates about “sportswashing,” with critics accusing the kingdom of using major sporting events to improve its global reputation amid concerns over human rights and environmental issues.

Currently, only four of the 15 proposed stadiums for the 2034 tournament have been constructed, highlighting the substantial infrastructure development required in the coming decade.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom reassured members that their concerns were noted, stating, “All 211 member associations effectively cast their votes prior to the congress.”