Sports

England calls for Robinson, Gay, Rew & Baker

Image source: Getty ImagesByStephan ShemiltCricket correspondent13 May 2026 12:00 BSTUpdated ten minutes agoEngland has ended Ollie Robinson’s 2-year international exile. They have called up Emilio Gay and James Rew for their first Test since England’s dismal Ashe Leg-spinner Ahmed may play in his first home Test. England has also confirmed Marcus North’s appointment as the new national selection. Durham’s director of cricket, Marcus North, replaces Luke Wright who stepped down from the selection panel after the Ashes for personal reasons. He is the first foreigner in England’s history to be in charge of the selection panel. He was once considered the new-ball successor to Anderson and Broad. But he fell out and was dropped after the tour of India two years ago. England’s ‘feckless reckless and legless in Ashes’13 AprilThe 92mph England bowler ready for a new beginning after a difficult debut30 AprilFew would doubt Robinson’s pedigree and competitiveness as one of the premier seamers of the country. He was contacted by England at Robinson has led Sussex to three wins in five matches. He took 17 wickets, and scored an impressive century, against Surrey. Baker, Gus Atkinson and Matthew Fisher, both 23 years old, are also included in the pace-bowling squad. Jofra Archer is at the Indian Premier League and will not be ready until the Brydon Carse, who is recovering from a fractured wrist, is not available until the second Test. Jofra Archer is in the Indian Premier League. He was selected after a good start to the season for Hampshire. Crawley’s absence had been inevitable. Crawley’s 104 Test innings with an average of less than 30.52 was the most opportunities ever given to an opener at the top of order. Gay would appear to be the frontrunner to open alongside Ben Duckett after impressing in three T20s at Durham at the start of the season. Rew has also declined an offer from West Indies. Despite his youth, Rew has already scored 12 first-class hundred. England asked him to open the Somerset innings, even though he is more comfortable in the middle of the order. England held a review following the Ashes, which was marred by poor performances and problems off the field. The director of cricket Rob Key, coach McCullum, and captain Stokes kept their jobs. The squad will gather for a training at Loughborough, a week before the first Test.

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Coleman to end 17-year Everton playing career

Image source: Getty ImagesByLorraine McKennaBBC Sports Journalist15 May 20,26, 10 :19 BSTUpdated 29 minutes agoSeamus has announced that he will end his Everton career at the conclusion of the current season when his contract expires. The 37-year old full-back was offered a coaching position with the Toffees but will decide his future in the summer. The Republic of Ireland international signed for Everton in January 2009 from Irish side Sligo Rovers for only PS60,000. He was named club captain in 2019 Coleman will break the club’s Premier League record in 2024 by surpassing the 354 appearances of former goalkeeper Tim Howard. His record in the top flight now stands at 372 matches, with 22 goals. Coleman said that after more than 17 years of playing at Everton, this season would be his last. Coleman’s final home match will be on Sunday against Sunderland. You’ve helped in more ways than I could have imagined. “I live in the City – I see all of you daily – and I have taken your love for the football club into the dressing room to show the lads just how much Everton is to the people. “I thank my managers, teammates and all staff. They’ve seen my happy, sad, angry and emotional moments, but the greater cause was always Everton. “Thank you for helping me become a better teammate and captain. It’s a fantastic football club with incredible members.” Related topicsEvertonFootballPremier LeagueMore on this storyLatest Everton news, analysis and fan viewsAsk about Everton – what do you want to know?

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Scheffler shares US PGA lead as McIlroy struggles

Image The The Scheffler finds himself alongside German pair Martin Kaymer and Stephan Jaeger, South Africa’s Aldrich Potgieter, Australia’s Min-Woo Lee, Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune and Alex Smalley of the United States – not many would have expected to see any of them at the top of the leaderboard.England’s Dan Brown is one shot behind the leaders on his overseas major debut. ” ” The Mc ” Former I I “From there, it’s hard. I It ” Kay A ” I It’s fun. ” ” I I Rah

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Will F1 go back to the future with its engines?

Image source: Getty ImagesBy Andrew BensonF1 correspondent2 hours agoFor The discussions are already underway. The other question is more long-term – what type of engine should we introduce when The contracts that bind F1, the commercial rights holder, and the FIA He is using this threat to push the change forward to 2030. He says that the change is taking place, but consultation is necessary. Ben Sulayem said to Car and Driver that he wanted V8s because The 2013 2.4-litre V8s weighed 130kg including the small kinetic The internal combustion engines weighed only 95kg.However in 2026 F1 cars In 2013, this number was 160kg. This would mean that the total weight of an F1 car at race-start in 2013 This number would be 55kg lighter at the end of the race and in qualifying. The There is only anecdotal data which is not conclusive. It’s possible that the majority of fans would prefer louder engines. But without conclusive research, it’s just a guessing game – and one in which F1 risks, not for the first time, taking a wrong step because it failed to undertake rigorous analysis.The fans and corporate guests who have come to the sport in the past 12 years have no conception what it is like to attend a race where they cannot hold a conversation while the cars are on track, and have to wear ear protection.And after more than a decade and a half of quieter engines, significantly louder ones would threaten the existence of some of the races that are held in city centres – especially the ones in Miami, where F1 had to give guarantees about noise levels to land the race, Las Vegas, Singapore and even, sources say, Monaco.These are some of the most important races to F1 on a commercial basis on the calendar.Ben Sulayem addressed this issue by acknowledging that under his proposals an engine would need to rev high to produce the necessary power, but that because there was a risk that the noise that created would be “annoying to young kids”, engine speeds could not be more than 15,500-16,000rpm.There has been talk that mufflers could be used if the engines were considered too loud, despite the obvious logical inconsistency of that as an approach.What do key people think?In general, the manufacturers seem not opposed to the idea of changing the engines, nor to the principle of switching to a V8.This is important, because Ben Sulayem was outflanked by the manufacturers when he last tried switching to a naturally aspirated engine, a V10, a little over a year ago. The manufacturers seem to be in agreement that the cost of developing the new engines must be reduced We might look ridiculous in 2030 or 2031 if we switch to 100% combustion. We need to think about that, simplify it and make it better. In a BBC Sport statement, Honda said that a return to the V8 engine Some insiders claim that he would actually prefer 5%, or even zero electric This is due to the increased electrification. If you remove it, all the levers F1 uses to maintain this style of racing Some say that a figure of around 30% electrical power would be a more realistic compromise Honda said that it was a priority for them. “A turbo engine not only is arguably more road relevant, but it is also more It’s also quieter. While initial discussions are underway, the real conversation can only What information will we gather from this quiz? What about next year? The drivers’ main The need for energy management has prevented drivers being at the limit as they used to be in The easiest solution is to increase fuel-flow limits, but this would require engine design changes This would require larger fuel tanks. The solution would be a cost cap allowance to modify the chassis in order to accept larger Or F1 could just fix qualifying and leave the races the way they are, in terms

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Was it a penalty? Celtic-Hearts title decider set up as McInnes slams ‘disgusting’ call

ByGeorge O’Neill

BBC Sport Scotland

6 hours ago

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes says his side are “up against everybody” after a “disgusting” 99th-minute penalty winner for Celtic ensured the Scottish Premiership title race would go to a final-day decider on Saturday.

With league leaders Hearts cruising to a 3-0 win over Falkirk, the concession of a late equaliser at Motherwell looked like leaving Celtic three points back before Hearts go to Glasgow on Saturday.

However, deep into injury time, video assistant referee (VAR) Andrew Dallas called referee John Beaton to the pitchside monitor after Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson challenged for a high ball.

Replays seemed to show the ball hitting Nicholson’s head, rather than his raised hand, but Beaton awarded a spot-kick which Kelechi Iheanacho converted to snatch a 3-2 win.

Former England striker Gary Lineker wrote on X that it “might be the worst VAR decision I’ve seen… extraordinary given the significance” and McInnes fumed at the call afterwards.

Penalty pandemonium sets up Hearts & Celtic showdown for the ages
- 5 hours ago

Draw at Celtic Park will earn Hearts title after Falkirk draw

Controversial 99th-minute penalty keeps Celtic’s title hopes alive

“When you heard Celtic had a 96th-minute penalty going to VAR, you just assume they get it,” the incandescent Hearts head coach told Sky Sports.

“It’s disgusting. We’re up against it, we’re up against everybody. I don’t think it’s a penalty. It’s so poor and it looks as though [Celtic] have been given it. They have been very fortunate.”

Had Celtic dropped points, Hearts could have afforded to lose by two goals at Celtic Park on Saturday and still be crowned champions for the first time since 1960.

Now, though, they must avoid defeat if they are to become the first side outside Celtic or Rangers to win the Scottish top flight in four decades.

“It’s going to the last game. We’re delighted to be part of it,” McInnes added.

“To do it, we’re going to have to go and get a positive result. I’m looking forward to it already, there’ll be no feeling sorry for ourselves. What a game it’s going to be.”

What do the handball rules say?

Dale Johnson

Football issues correspondent

The handball law is confusing at the best of times, but one factor has always outweighed any other.

If the arm is above shoulder height, a player is considered to be taking a massive risk and there is a much greater chance of being penalised.

As Nicholson found out on Wednesday, if the VAR thinks the ball has touched his hand or arm at head height, then it is likely to be given as a penalty.

Some will argue that the arm was in that position only because he was in a duel with Celtic’s Auston Trusty, but that would carry minimal weight.

But there is one big problem.

Can we be certain it did hit the arm at all? And if there is doubt, how could it be a clear and obvious error for the VAR to tell the referee he should award a match-winning penalty?

The way the ball flew back out of play for a throw-in had to suggest it came off Nicholson’s head, so the VAR must think it came off his hand at the same time too.

It just seems exceptionally harsh to punish this with a penalty as the ball brushing the arm had no material effect on where the ball ended up. That was all about the power generated by the head.

The angles shown to referee John Beaton at the monitor looked far from conclusive, yet he only needed 20 seconds to make his decision. The VAR, Andrew Dallas, must have spoken with great certainty.

But it leaves a sour taste at a crucial moment in the title race.

Suddenly, it is tilted into Celtic’s favour thanks to a questionable, stoppage-time VAR intervention.

‘Shocking & shame for game’ – the managers’ view

While McInnes was enraged, Motherwell counterpart Jen Berthel Askou was bemused at the award against his team.

“The big question is what are we even doing here,” the Dane said when asked about the incident. “I’m in total shock. I thought I had seen it all this year, but apparently I haven’t. It’s shocking and it’s a shame for the game.

“Seeing the footage, I can’t see any way that can be a penalty. I can’t see it touch his hand and, even if it has, it’s because his arm has been pushed into it. It’s a crazy thing to be part of and the game deserved better than that.”

Perhaps unsurpringly, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill didn’t agree with their assessment.

“I have seen it back very, very briefly… it’s a handball,” he said. “It looks as if it’s also an elbow to the side of the head as well. VAR have asked the referee to come over and he had no hesitation in giving the penalty.”

Referee John Beaton is surrounded by Celtic players

‘A disgrace or running risk?’ – what the pundits said

Similarly to Lineker, former Scotland striker Don Hutchison deemed it “the worst decision of all time”. Not many disagreed.

Former Rangers striker Kris Boyd pointed to the failure not to award Hearts a penalty in their draw against Motherwell on Saturday despite a VAR review, as well as the the decision not to send off Celtic’s Alistair Johnston during their derby win over Rangers the following day.

“It clearly hits his head,” Boyd said on Sky Sports. “Another dubious call that goes in Celtic’s favour. There will be serious questions asked about it.”

Former Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart said on Sportscene that to overturn the on-field decision of no penalty was “extraordinary” and Hearts’ record goalscorer John Robertson added: “His hand is up, but look at the power he gets on it – that’s a head.”

A VAR intervention in England has been a talking point for the past few days after West Ham were denied a late equaliser against Arsenal after a lengthy check.

“It’s a disgrace,” former Hearts striker Ryan Stevenson said, referring to the Celtic penalty. “VAR took six minutes in the West Ham game because everyone understood how big a decision it was.

“John Beaton was at the monitor for what, 20 seconds?”

There were some dissenting voices, albeit from those with Celtic allegiences.

Former Celtic captain Scott Brown conceded on Sportscene it was “harsh” but said Nicholson “runs the risk as soon as his hand is up there”.

And ex-Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner was even more explicit. “The defender jumps with his left arm up and his fist is right on his head as the ball lands,” he said.

‘Unimaginable drama and huge call in title race’

Scottish Football Podcast

13/05/26

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Will Middlesbrough-Southampton play-off have a decisive third act?

The EFL has charged Southampton with spying on Middlesbrough. Southampton ask for additional time to investigate spying allegations21 hours agoBoro’ The EFL has charged Southampton with spying on Middlesbrough4 days ago Middlesbrough will fly back to Teesside, but their fate has not Middlesbrough’s head coach Kim Hellberg expressed his disappointment at the loss In his words, there’s someone who decides to go and cheat. After “If we hadn’t caught the man that they sent up to drive five hours “When you lose that, it breaks my heart. I believe in so many things “Hellberg’s team took the lead on the evening and in the tie He was left with a range emotions after such a devastating loss. “When I accepted the Middlesbrough position, I knew there were clubs with “As a coach, you are responsible for the tactical aspect of the game You must find a way to gain an advantage. “That’s always what you try to do, as we can be more effective When that is taken from you …” Source: Getty Images “It is not easy for me. I would like to say something, but “This whole issue is overshadowing the two games which are a great advert “I hope the way we talk about it gives credit to both games’ quality. “We understand the seriousness. There’s not much more to say for the moment. “Related topicsMiddlesbroughChampionshipSouthamptonFootball