Striker Brian Madjo also scored twice in Aston Villa's friendly win against Walsall last week [Getty Images]This season will see a new version of Aston Villa under Unai Emery. A 4-2 defeat to Real Sociedad on Tuesday will irritate their perfectionist head coach, but there is plenty of time for him to fine-tune the Europa League holders before the start of the new campaign. With Brian Madjo, George Hemmings, Modou Cisse all likely to feature in the squad going forward there was still plenty to build on from the encounter against the La Liga side.The display of teenage striker Madjo was one.Villa are still awaiting the outcome of their appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as they try to register the England Under-17 international, who joined from Metz for 10m in January and does not turn 18 until January next year.Under-18s cannot complete international transfers, but Villa have argued Madjo was born in London and should be exempt, despite having three caps for Luxembourg. Fifa does allow some exemptions for minor players to make moves, including if a 16 or 17-year-old transfers within the European Union - something the UK is no longer part of.At 6ft 4in, Madjo has already been compared to Belgium's Romelu Lukaku and his leveller to make it 2-2 after 56 minutes was simple enough but showed a predatory instinct. He was a handful for Sociedad, with strength and power unsettling the visiting defenders and, with Ollie Watkins still on a break following England's World Cup campaign and Tammy Abraham returning from a shoulder issue, Madjo has the chance to impress.While he cannot play in competitive games for Villa, it leaves the tantalising prospect of the hulking youngster being unleashed in the Premier League in the new year, or earlier if the club get their way.They are still in the market for a striker - Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson remains a top target - but in Madjo they have someone Emery can refine quietly before his entrance into the spotlight. There is still work to be done, though, and the Villa boss spent a large part of the first half talking to himself and then the bench, with hands on his hips or arms flailing.Trying to get Madjo and 19-year-old midfielder Hemmings to listen to instructions appeared difficult with neither player following through on Emery's desire for them to pull wider. Unai Emery won his fifth Europa League title when Aston Villa beat Freiburg in May [Getty Images]'Don't move' was the second-half instruction to Luka Lynch, which needed repeating several times before the 19-year-old winger stopped and then immediately collected the ball. While Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia started against Sociedad, many of Emery's trusted lieutenants were missing. Villa's World Cup cohort of Watkins, Ezri Konsa, John McGinn, Victor Lindelof, Emi Martinez and record buy Johan Manzambi did not feature, while France left-back Lucas Digne's move to Paris St-Germain has still to be rubber-stamped. Only Cisse and Joao Gomes were the new arrivals in action and, even then, centre-back Cisse was signed from LASK last summer before spending the season with the Austrian side.The departure of Youri Tielemans and Morgan Rogers, coupled with Amadou Onana's serious knee injury which rules him out until next year, has led to a hectic summer.It was, at times, a hectic game too on Tuesday with Carlos Soler cancelling out Hemmings' opener, before Orri Oskarsson, Gorka Carrera and Inaki Ruperez netted for the La Liga side. Winger Alejandro Garnacho was absent at Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium after his loan move from Chelsea last week, but the Argentine winger is expected to travel to Indonesia this week for Villa's tour.The fact there are players still away - or returning from injury in Boubacar Kamara's case - means bodies are needed. That also means major outgoings for fringe players like Leon Bailey or Evann Guessand - back in training after the World Cup with the Ivory Cost - are not necessarily expected while Villa are away.Emery's side play Indonesia All-Stars on Saturday, BG Pathum United next Tuesday, before facing Bayern Munich in Hong Kong on 7 August.Once Villa return, for the Super Cup against Paris St-Germain in Salzburg on 12 August, then the gears will turn faster.

San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan took the blame for the car crash that left him with a concussion and other injuries, saying he took his eyes off the road to reach for his fallen cell phone before hitting another vehicle. Shanahan crashed into a 21-year-old woman driving in the other direction in Palo Alto on July 14 and was left with a concussion, broken ribs, a broken nose and broken left hand and stitches for a large cut above his right eye. Shanahan was briefly hospitalized following the crash and hasn't been able to coach the team at the start of training camp. The other driver suffered minor injuries and did not need to be hospitalized. Shanahan spoke to a small group of reporters on Tuesday for the first time since the crash to explain what happened from his vantage point and to make clear the crash was his fault. "I was going 20 miles an hour," Shanahan said. "I was not on my phone, but I dropped my phone, and it was stuck in my seats. It was on my lap, and it slid off, and I went down to look for it, and took my eyes off the road for two seconds, and as I was coming up, the air bags hit me in my face." Police filed no charges in the crash. Shanahan has been unable to run the team or practice since training camp started on Saturday with assistant Chris Foerster in charge with assistance from coordinators Raheem Morris, Klay Kubiak and Brant Boyer. Shanahan has come out for portions of the first two practices to watch alongside general manager John Lynch. He said he is not bothered by the sunlight but loud noises like the music at practice are still an issue. Shanahan said he has made considerable progress and expects to make a full recovery. The 49ers have said that Shanahan is going through a similar protocol to the one used for players after a concussion and will resume coaching when he is recovered. Shanahan is entering his 10th season as 49ers coach and is one of the most highly regarded coaches in the game for his offensive acumen. San Francisco has made two trips to the Super Bowl under his watch following the 2019 and 2023 seasons and made two additional appearances in the NFC title game in the 2021 and 22 seasons. Shanahan has a 91-72 record in the regular season and playoffs for the 49ers, ranking third in franchise history in wins behind George Seifert (108) and Bill Walsh (102). The team overcame significant injuries last season to finish 12-5 in the regular season and win a playoff game as Shanahan finished fifth in voting for the AP NFL Coach of the Year. Reporting by The Associated Press.

United States midfielder Sebastian Berhalter has transferred to English Championship side Middlesbrough from the Vancouver Whitecaps for an undisclosed fee, both clubs announced Tuesday. Vancouver will retain a percentage of any future transfer fee for Berhalter, whose contract was set to expire at the end of 2026. "This is where I want to be," Berhalter said in a Middlesbrough statement. "I want to keep getting better as a player and person, and this is a great place to do it." The 25-year-old featured in all five U.S. games at the recent FIFA World Cup, registering a goal and an assist in his lone start against Trkiye. At Middlesbrough, Berhalter reunites with former Columbus and USA teammate Aidan Morris. "I've been watching the club closely over the last two years because of Aidan, and I kind of fell in love with the club, especially over the last year with the way they play and the way they fight," Berhalter added. Berhalter, the son of former USA head coach and player Gregg Berhalter, joined Vancouver in February 2022 from Columbus Crew, recording 20 goals and 34 assists across 167 appearances. He was named to last year's MLS Best XI as Vancouver reached the MLS Cup final. Middlesbrough missed out on Premier League promotion after losing to Hull City in May's Championship playoff final.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more aboutSports Betting on FOX Sports. New Kalshi users can earn up to $500 in bonuses when they sign up with promo code FOXSPORTS. The Pirates and Marlins earned victories in walk-off fashion. The Marlins ended their 12-game losing streak, and now they go for the series win against the Phillies today. Ben Rice homered again for the Yankees, helping them get an opening win against the White Sox. Gerrit Cole gets the ball today for the Yankees looking to mow down a White Sox lineup. Dodgers are back in action. The MLB's leading team opens a series against the Mariners in Los Angeles. Use the Kalshi promo code FOXSPORTS to unlock up to $500 in bonuses and trade on today's biggest MLB and WNBA games. For more information and full terms and conditions, visit our Kalshi promo code page. How to Claim the Kalshi Welcome Bonus Marlins vs. Phillies *Probability is subject to change* Mariners vs. Dodgers *Probability is subject to change* More markets are available on Kalshi. MLB Games Today

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\n\n\n NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman greets fans to start the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft in June 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)\n \n\n\nAustin is undoubtedly a sports town, despite its lack of a "Big Four" pro league team. And that could soon change.\nThe NHL announced last week that it's looking to expand its footprint in Texas with a team in Austin or Houston. The Dallas Stars are currently the only Texas NHL team, and another in the Lone Star State would be the league's 33rd.\nThe NHL Board of Governors said it will start a six-month process to evaluate an expansion in either city.\n"The NHL entered into agreement with the Friedkin family to explore how feasible it would be for the family to make the nearly $3.5 billion investment," NHL Commissioner GaryBettman said.\nWho is the Friedkin family?\nBettman identified the Friedkin family as prospective owners for a new Texas hockey team.\nTalks began two years ago with -Dan Friedkin, CEO of The Friedkin Group - about a Houston team, but over time, Austin was also added for consideration.\nThe Friedkin Group is based in Houston and ownscompanies in a variety of industries, from automotive and entertainment to hospitality and sports.\nThey currently own two professional soccer teams: AS Roma, based inRome, andEverton FC, based in Liverpool.\n"Selecting a new market for an NHL franchise is a special and important responsibility, and we are grateful to the League for their faith in us and their support," Pursuit Sports said in a statement.Pursuit Sportsis the Friedkin Group arm dedicated to its pro sports teams.\nWhat's next in the process?\nOver the the next six months, theNHL will determine the feasibility of adding a team in Texas. Then,the board will take a vote.\n"Both cities will require a new arena. It may be more feasible in one place than the other, and as we dig a little deeper and do the due diligence, we'll figure out which makes the most sense,"Bettman said.\nAn NHL team would be the final "Big Four" pro league in Houston, already home to NFL,NBA and MLB teams.\nAustin's pro teams includeAustin FC (soccer),LOVB Austin (volleyabll)and the Texas Volts (softball).\nA new NHL team in Austin or Houston would be located be more than 150 miles from the Dallas Stars - a requirement under article 4 of the NHL constitution.\nHow have NHL expansion teams performed in their first years?\nIn the last 10 years, a few new NHL teams have launched.\nThe Las Vegas Golden Knights first played in 2017 and set the standard for what an expansion team could do in year-one by advancing to the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. They lost to the Washington Capitals. Golden Knights Bill Foley paid the league $500 million for the expansion.\nA few years later in the fall of 2021, the Seattle Kraken emerged from the Pacific Northwest, paying a $650 million expansion fee. Even though the Kraken finished the season 27-49, they made it to the second round of the NHL Playoffs in their sophomore season. They haven't been back since.\nTwo years ago, the Arizona Coyote's migrated east to Salt Lake City to become the Utah Hockey Club, which played its first game in October 2024. Therebranded to become the Utah Mammoth in 2025.\nSign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.\nThis article originally published at Pro hockey in Austin? 3 things to know about NHL and $3.5B Friedkin family investment.

Schalke and Napoli reach agreement over Jesper Lindstrm loanAfter a momentary breakdown in discussions over recent weeks, Jesper Lindstrm finally seems to be on his way to FC Schalke 04.According to Sky Germany, the two parties have reached an agreement and only final details need to be negotiated between the clubs.While a loan deal is being discussed, Schalke could potentially secure an option or even an obligation to buy the player permanently.The problem, however, is that Lindstrm is still under contract with SSC Napoli until summer of 2028 and won't come cheap.Last season, the Danish international was on loan at VfL Wolfsburg, but failed to impress and prevent the Autostadt club's relegation.The Royal Blues hopes that Lindstrm can rediscover the form he showed the Bundesliga during his time at Eintracht Frankfurt.During his spell at the Hessen outfit between 2021 and 2023, Lindstrm produced 14 goals and 14 assists in 80 games.

Discrimination remains "deeply embedded" within English football, according to the chief executive of Kick It Out, as reports of abuse surged by 25 per cent last season. The anti-discrimination charity recorded 1,744 reports in the 2025-26 campaign, a significant rise from 1,398 in the previous year. For the first time, the number of distinct incidents surpassed 1,000, reaching 1,255.Kick It Out clarified that while one incident can generate multiple reports, the reports-per-incident ratio for the past season stood at 1.39. The increase was widespread across various platforms and levels of the game. Reports of online discrimination rose by five per cent to 650, while incidents in the professional game and at grassroots level both saw a 41 per cent increase, reaching 636 and 458 reports respectively.The charity's data revealed alarming increases across all types of abuse. Islamophobia reports soared by 88 per cent, homophobia by 46 per cent, and anti-Semitism by 43 per cent. Racism reports were up 19 per cent, sexism by 12 per cent, and ableism by 20 per cent.Kick It Out chief executive Samuel Okafor commented on the latest figures (Handout pic from Kick It Out/PA)Samuel Okafor, Kick It Outs chief executive, stated: "These figures show that discrimination remains deeply embedded across the game at a time when were also seeing rises in hate crime and divisive political rhetoric in Britain. But they also show that people are more willing to stand up to abuse when they see it, and its encouraging to see professional players set that example last season."Mr Okafor added: "While we recognise that there is a lot of good work ongoing in football to tackle discrimination, we will continue to work with football authorities, clubs, leagues, regulators and Government to ensure we match the courage shown to report abuse with clear and consistent action so that football is welcoming to everyone."The season also saw a 41 per cent increase in reports of discriminatory mass chanting, reaching a record 142 instances. This included rises in racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, and ableist chants. Furthermore, Kick It Out noted a concerning rise in anti-immigrant language, with terms such as "stop the boats" and "send them back" reported at all levels. The 39 reports of this nature in 2025-26 was more than the 37 in the previous two years combined.Despite the stark figures, Kick It Out marked a milestone during the season, delivering its 500th fan education session to individuals found to have discriminated in football, with a reoffending rate of just 1.25 per cent.

Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty ImagesThe NBA is in expansion mode.As well as the would-be franchises in Vegas and Seattle reportedly attracting bids of up to $10bn, commissioner Adam Silver wants the NBA to expand its horizons into Europe.Across the Atlantic, NBA Europe franchises and there are going to be at least 12 of them are fetching bids of at least $500m, potentially up to and beyond $1bn.There are kinks to iron out there, but Silver sees NBA Europe as his legacy project. One way or another, it is going to happen.With a 2027 launch date targeted for NBA Europe, the Vegas franchise likely to launch in the 2028-29 season and Seattle soon after, it could be a very lucrative few years for the league.In the case of NBA Europe, the party line is that the vast majority of the competition-wide economics will be reinvested in the continent-hopping league over the first decade. But even in the most charitable of scenarios, existing NBA owners will profit at some point from the initiative.Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Fortune MediaWhen it comes to domestic expansion franchises, those fees are pretty much reinvested evenly across the NBAs 30 owners. Its the dividend to end all dividends.As for players and agents, expansion fees fall outside the scope of the existing collective bargaining agreement although they would dearly like to change that.NBPA would love expansion fees to be included in BRISpeaking to the Boston Globe, NBPA Executive Director David Kelly said players are quite interested in NBA Europe because it could serve as another revenue stream for league owners that does not include the players.My issue with NBA Europe is the fact that its outside of [basketball related income], and I think it should be inside of BRI.We look at expansion fees also being outside of BRI is something that, you know, historically has been the case. We dont think it should be the case. We dont think its fair. Now, of course, fairness has nothing to do with the negotiation. The CBA is leverage, but thats definitely something we would want to address depending on when expansion teams come in.Read more:New $100m reveal speaks volumes about NBAs plans to conquer EuropeIts a big difference Draymond Green names the biggest loser after LeBron James joined the 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers facing major roster headache after LeBron James signing