Ben Crawford

Tommy Fleetwood finished tied fourth at The Open Championship but is expected to lose nearly half of his £615,000 prize money due to UK tax liabilities, according to accountant Nicole Zalys. Ryan Fox won the tournament with a record-tying performance, while Cameron Young finished second. Fleetwood expressed disappointment but praised the crowd support throughout the event.

Micah Richards revealed he learned of his father Lincoln’s unexpected death moments before going on air for the BBC’s broadcast of England’s World Cup semi-final loss to Argentina. He later posted a tribute highlighting his father’s lifelong support and influence. Tributes from colleagues and sports figures followed, with many offering condolences after the match.

John McEnroe’s BBC earnings have again fallen below the £178,000 disclosure threshold, confirming another salary reduction in the broadcaster’s latest annual report. His compensation remains well below previous years, though he continues additional broadcast work with ESPN, Tennis Channel and NBC. Alan Shearer remains the BBC’s highest‑paid sports pundit despite a reduced fee, while Gary Lineker also remains among the top earners for the year ending March 2026. McEnroe drew attention during the Wimbledon men’s final for his outfit while working alongside Clare Balding and Pat Cash.

The BBC outlines its approach to handling criticism of its World Cup pundits, supporting its analysts despite public backlash while swiftly apologising for clear production errors such as incorrect graphics during France’s match against Senegal. Former England manager Gareth Southgate chose not to work as a pundit to avoid affecting the national team. The article highlights instances of criticism, such as viewer complaints over Olivier Giroud’s performance, and recalls the BBC’s defence of Phil Neville after negative reactions during the 2014 World Cup.

Conor McGregor prepares for his UFC return against Max Holloway after five years away, following injuries and the conclusion of an 18‑month doping suspension. His substantial wealth stems from major UFC purses, the Mayweather boxing match and lucrative business ventures, including the sale of Proper No. Twelve Irish Whiskey. McGregor previously expressed interest in buying Manchester United and other football clubs, though none progressed. His brief 2025 bid for the Irish presidency ended after he failed to secure required political nominations. He now focuses on his comeback fight in Las Vegas.

Colleagues across BBC Sport praise Clare Balding for her professionalism, energy and experience as she leads Wimbledon 2026 coverage. Isa Guha, Sue Barker and Chemmy Alcott highlight her broadcasting skill and personal impact, describing her as an icon and trusted successor. Balding continues to front the BBC’s Wimbledon presentation as the tournament approaches its finals.

Arthur Fery’s run to the Wimbledon quarter-finals sets up a rematch with Flavio Cobolli, whose complaint about a possible net touch caused a lengthy video review during their Australian Open meeting. The review confirmed no rule break, and Fery went on to win the match. His Wimbledon campaign features several hard-fought victories, including a five‑set win over Grigor Dimitrov, as he aims for another upset against the ninth seed.

Argentina faces Cape Verde in the World Cup round of 32 in Miami, marking their first-ever meeting. Argentina topped Group J with three wins, while Cape Verde advanced unbeaten through a defensively strong group stage. Lionel Messi leads Argentina with six goals. The match kicks off on July 3 at 11pm UK time, broadcast on ITV and ITVX, with the winner progressing to face either Australia or Egypt.

A scoreboard malfunction during Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon match against Arthur Rinderknech forced the BBC to apologise as on‑screen graphics disappeared, leaving viewers reliant on Centre Court shots. Djokovic briefly lost momentum in the heat but recovered to win in four sets. The BBC also faced broader criticism for earlier coverage issues and schedule changes linked to World Cup programming, though the scoreboard failure originated from All England Club feeds.

Novak Djokovic secured his 105th Wimbledon singles win by defeating Arthur Rinderknech, drawing level with Roger Federer’s men’s singles record. Annabel Croft highlighted that Martina Navratilova still holds the all-time singles record with 120 wins. Djokovic reflected on the tension and difficulty of the match, praising Rinderknech’s performance and expressing satisfaction at coming through a tight contest decided by a strong tie‑break finish.

Tim Henman and Andrew Cotter recounted Andy Murray’s difficult experience commentating during a 2018 Wimbledon match, suggesting it left him unwilling to pursue a broadcasting career. Murray has since focused on coaching, including work with Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper, and has said traditional tennis commentary lacks the insight and style he would find appealing. Promotional information for Wimbledon 2026 VIP tickets is included.

Clare Balding suggested on BBC Wimbledon coverage that Jannik Sinner should have shared part of his 2023 prize money with Grigor Dimitrov, who was forced to retire injured during their match and had been close to causing an upset. Dimitrov’s emotional return to Wimbledon after months sidelined drew strong crowd support as he secured a third‑round win. The article also notes Sinner’s involvement in player discussions pushing for a larger share of Grand Slam revenue.

Charlotte Henrich deleted Instagram to avoid pressure before racing Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson at the UK Athletics Championships, where she beat Hodgkinson in the 400m heats and later won bronze with a Welsh record. Hodgkinson withdrew from the final after experiencing a physical issue, later clarifying she did not want to take risks ahead of the summer season. Amber Anning won the event following a reinstatement after a false start. Hodgkinson is expected to return for the Eugene Diamond League as she continues her pursuit of the 800m world record.

South Korea manager Hong Myung-bo resigned after the team’s group-stage exit from the 2026 World Cup, following public backlash and a petition calling for his removal. President Lee Jae-myung criticised the team’s failure and called for an investigation into the circumstances behind the early elimination. Hong defended his commitment to Korean football but acknowledged supporters had lost confidence. His departure marks the fourth managerial exit of the tournament, alongside those of Scotland’s Steve Clarke, Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa, and Tunisia’s Sabri Lamouchi.

Tim Henman says he immediately declined a BBC invitation to appear on Strictly Come Dancing shortly after his 2007 retirement, joking that he would rather "stick pins in his eyes." Now a long‑time Wimbledon pundit, he reflected on his career and recalled his 1995 disqualification after accidentally striking a ball girl during a match. He continues to feature prominently in the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage.

Gerwyn Price says ongoing renovation work at a newly purchased farm is distracting him from darts, contributing to reduced motivation and mental fatigue following recent health issues. After withdrawing from the World Cup of Darts, he explained in New York that responsibilities at home are affecting his focus as he prepares for upcoming major tournaments, including the Matchplay. Price hopes to regain form but expects his off‑stage challenges to continue in the short term.

Gabby Logan discovered during a podcast discussion that Mark Chapman will not join her in covering the World Cup 2026 final for the BBC, as he will instead be leading Radio 5 Live’s coverage of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. Logan is set to become the first woman to front the BBC’s World Cup final broadcast, while Kelly Cates will report from the United States for radio. The pair discussed scheduling challenges should England reach the final, with Chapman noting that golf tee times might be adjusted to accommodate the match.

A severe heatwave and a rare red weather warning prompted the British Horseracing Authority to cancel Wednesday’s race meetings at Ffos Las, Kempton Park, Salisbury and Worcester due to risks to horses and participants. The warning, issued by the Met Office for parts of Wales, southern England and the Midlands, prohibits travel through high‑risk zones under BHA policy. Other fixtures in amber zones will be monitored, and decisions will be made based on local conditions, with further updates expected.

The US Open at Shinnecock Hills features a record £17 million prize fund, nearly £750,000 higher than last year. The winner will earn £3.4 million, matching the season’s highest major payout, while the runner-up receives about £1.84 million. Last year’s champion, J. J. Spaun, collected £3.25 million at Oakmont, illustrating the rapid financial growth of major championship golf.

UK viewers can watch four World Cup 2026 group‑stage matches on Thursday and early Friday across free‑to‑air platforms. BBC will broadcast Czechia vs South Africa and Canada vs Qatar, while ITV will carry Switzerland vs Bosnia & Herzegovina and Mexico vs South Korea, with all matches also available to stream via BBC iPlayer or ITVX. Fixtures take place across North American venues as the tournament enters its second round of group games.

FIFA suspended the final two matches of Cristiano Ronaldo’s three‑game ban from World Cup qualifying, allowing him to play in Portugal’s opening match against DR Congo. The decision, made under Article 27 of FIFA’s disciplinary code, cites his clean record and places him under a 12‑month probation period during which any misconduct would reactivate the remaining suspension. Portugal served one match of the ban against Armenia and now prepares for group fixtures with Uzbekistan and Colombia.

Emma Raducanu was photographed in Battersea Park with PR executive John Friend shortly after losing the HSBC Championships final to Donna Vekic, amid renewed interest in her personal life. She previously described feeling uneasy about paparazzi-fuelled relationship rumours and noted that her parents had banned dating during her youth to prioritise tennis. Raducanu reflected positively on her recent improvement in form as she prepares for Wimbledon.

Emma Raducanu faces losing nearly half of the £136,210 earned as runner‑up at the Queen’s Club HSBC Championships due to UK tax liabilities. Tax specialist Nicole Zalys estimates an effective rate of 47 percent based on her income bracket and insurance contributions. Raducanu reflected positively on her performance despite losing the final to Donna Vekic and expressed gratitude for crowd support ahead of Wimbledon.

The BBC will not broadcast any of the 2026 Commonwealth Games after losing both live and highlights rights, ending more than 70 years of coverage. TNT Sports will carry full live coverage, while Channel 5 will provide free-to-air highlights. The loss follows other recent setbacks for the BBC, including rights to The Boat Race and England’s Six Nations matches. The 2026 Games will take place in Glasgow after Victoria withdrew due to rising costs. BBC sport director Alex Kay-Jelski has argued the corporation can remain relevant without airing live sport, citing continued audience engagement through digital content.

Football Focus ended after 52 years due to declining TV viewership and a shift toward digital consumption. Alex Scott delivered an emotional farewell as former hosts and pundits marked the occasion. BBC Sport plans to focus more on digital-first programming, including a YouTube partnership, while new and existing football shows will fill Saturday lunchtime slots.

Chelsea and Manchester City compete in the FA Cup final at Wembley with the winners earning £2,120,000 and the runners‑up £1,060,000. Total potential earnings for the champions amount to £3,912,500 across the campaign. The winners gain a Europa League spot and qualify for the 2026 Community Shield. Broadcast coverage will be provided by BBC One, TNT Sports 1, BBC iPlayer and HBO Max.

Jim Davidson criticised the BBC following its announcement of a reimagined revival of Big Break, arguing the corporation lacks the ability to make strong TV programmes and questioning whether new hosts Paddy McGuinness and Stephen Hendry can match the original chemistry he shared with John Virgo. Davidson wished the new presenters luck while expressing his own disdain for the BBC. The broadcaster confirmed the show will return in late 2026 on BBC Two and iPlayer, with Hendry saying he hopes the reboot will introduce a new generation to snooker.

Seb Coe praises Keely Hodgkinson as authentic and grounded, recounting meeting her during birthday celebrations shortly after major athletic victories. Hodgkinson’s recent accomplishments include Olympic gold, a world indoor title and a world indoor record. Her coach Jenny Meadows says breaking the long‑standing outdoor 800m world record remains a long‑term goal, with confidence growing as Hodgkinson targets faster times in upcoming competitions.