President Donald Trump asked FIFA’s president to review the suspension of the US top soccer player, Folarin Balogun, who received a red card. This request led to the suspension being overturned, which some see as affecting the fairness and integrity of the World Cup game.
Key Facts
Folarin Balogun, a top US soccer player, was given a red card in a previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A red card usually means the player is suspended for the next game.
President Trump asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review Balogun’s suspension.
FIFA then reversed the suspension, allowing Balogun to play in the match against Belgium.
Some people believe this intervention affected the fairness of the game.
The article compares this situation to lessons about fairness and accepting losses in sports.
The writer, Robert Reich, is a former US labor secretary and a public policy professor.
The incident is seen as an example of how power influence can impact rules in sports.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
NASCAR has teamed up with the Rolling Stones to promote the band’s new album, “Foreign Tongues.” Three of NASCAR’s youngest drivers—Connor Zilisch, Carson Hocevar, and Jesse Love—starred in a music video and participated in events featuring a custom NASCAR car as a listening lounge.
Key Facts
The Rolling Stones’ 25th studio album, “Foreign Tongues,” was released recently.
NASCAR drivers Connor Zilisch (19), Carson Hocevar (23), and Jesse Love (21) appeared in a music video for the collaboration.
The music video shows the drivers acting like a touring rock band, including scenes on a tour bus and at a bar.
NASCAR created a custom show car as a listening lounge for the new Rolling Stones album during events in Chicago.
The partnership includes special merchandise with the Rolling Stones’ famous tongue and lips logo and two NASCAR-themed vinyl records of the album.
Megan Malayter, a NASCAR executive, said the Rolling Stones have a nostalgic appeal that also attracts younger audiences.
Garrett Mitchell, a YouTube automotive influencer called “Cleetus McFarland,” also appeared in the video.
The collaboration is part of NASCAR’s efforts to reach younger fans while keeping longtime supporters interested.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Football Association (FA) is thinking about appealing the red card given to England defender Jarell Quansah during their World Cup win against Mexico. This comes after a red card for US player Folarin Balogun was surprisingly overturned following a request from President Donald Trump. The decision to cancel Balogun's suspension has caused criticism and may lead to more appeals in the tournament.
Key Facts
Jarell Quansah received a red card in the 54th minute during England's 3-2 win over Mexico.
The red card was given after Quansah made a strong challenge on Mexico's Jesus Gallardo.
The FA is considering appealing Quansah’s red card.
US striker Folarin Balogun’s red card was overturned after President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review it.
Balogun was originally suspended for one match after a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Tarik Muharemovic.
FIFA suspended Balogun's ban for 12 months, allowing him to play in the next round.
Many in football criticized the overturn decision, including Belgium and England’s coaches and European football authorities.
Other appeals are expected, such as France questioning a yellow card given to Michael Olise.
England’s right-back position has faced challenges due to injuries, including their main player Reece James.
England will play Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
British tennis player Arthur Fery reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals after winning a five-set match against Grigor Dimitrov. This is the first time he has gone beyond the second round at a Grand Slam, making him the first British wildcard to reach this stage at Wimbledon.
Key Facts
Arthur Fery won a five-set match with scores 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-7) against Grigor Dimitrov.
Fery is ranked world number 114 and was playing at Wimbledon for the first time on Centre Court.
He is the first British wildcard to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final.
Fery is the lowest-ranked player to reach the last eight at Wimbledon in 12 years.
He showed resilience by twice coming back from a break of serve in the fourth set.
Fery will face Italian player Flavio Cobolli, the ninth seed, in the next round.
Swiss tennis star Roger Federer watched the match from the Royal Box.
Arthur Fery is only the sixth British man in the Open era to reach the Wimbledon singles quarter-finals.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
England won the soccer match against Mexico with a score of 3-2 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City during the World Cup 2026. In Chelsea, a neighborhood near Boston, many people from the Mexican community gathered to watch the game.
Key Facts
The game was part of the World Cup 2026 tournament.
England's soccer team, nicknamed the Three Lions, won the match 3-2.
The match took place at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
In Chelsea, near Boston, the Mexican community showed strong support by watching the game together.
The event brought excitement similar to winning an important final match.
The coverage included video footage by Antoine Besse.
The article mentioned other World Cup 2026 related events and matches.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
FIFA reversed a suspension of American soccer player Folarin Balogun after President Donald Trump asked them to review the case. Balogun originally received a red card that would have caused him to miss one game. This decision created a lot of strong reactions from people around the world before the U.S. played Belgium in the World Cup.
Key Facts
Folarin Balogun, a key American soccer player, was given a red card in the World Cup.
A red card normally leads to a one-game suspension from playing.
FIFA, the global soccer organization, initially suspended Balogun.
President Donald Trump requested FIFA to review Balogun's suspension.
After the review, FIFA took back the suspension.
The decision caused anger and controversy internationally.
The U.S. was scheduled to play Belgium shortly after this incident.
The situation gained significant media attention due to the involvement of President Trump.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat on June 22 in exchange for players and draft picks. After the trade was finalized, Antetokounmpo posted a heartfelt goodbye to Bucks fans, thanking them and Milwaukee for their support during his 13 years with the team.
Key Facts
Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded from the Bucks to the Miami Heat on June 22.
The Bucks received Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, Kasparas Jukocionis, and several draft picks.
Antetokounmpo thanked Milwaukee fans with an emotional video, calling Milwaukee a hardworking city.
He spent 13 years developing in Milwaukee after being drafted 15th overall in 2013.
Antetokounmpo won multiple awards including 2 MVPs, Defensive Player of the Year, 10 All-Star selections, and led the Bucks to their first NBA title in nearly 50 years in 2021.
He is now Miami’s biggest new star on a team that missed last season’s playoffs and is aiming to compete for a championship.
Antetokounmpo is the Bucks' all-time leader in all major stats and is widely expected to enter the Hall of Fame.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
French soccer player Kylian Mbappe criticized a Paraguayan senator for posting racist comments about him after Paraguay lost to France in the World Cup. Mbappe called her words hateful and said they do not represent Paraguay or the effort of its team.
Key Facts
Kylian Mbappe scored the winning penalty against Paraguay in the World Cup round of 16.
Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla made racist remarks about Mbappe on social media after the match.
Mbappe called Amarilla “despicable” and said she is unworthy of her position as a senator.
Mbappe said Amarilla’s comments overshadow the hard work of Paraguay’s players.
Mbappe is currently tied as the top scorer in this World Cup with seven goals.
Former Paraguayan goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert also made racist comments before the match, calling France “a squad from Africa.”
The French football federation president condemned Chilavert's racist remarks and called him a disgrace.
France will face Morocco in the World Cup quarter-finals.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Al Holland, a former baseball pitcher who played in the major leagues from 1977 to 1987, died on July 4 at age 73. He was known for his time with the Philadelphia Phillies, helping them win the National League pennant in 1983 and earning an All-Star selection in 1984.
Key Facts
Al Holland played in Major League Baseball for 10 seasons from 1977 to 1987.
He pitched for teams including the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, and New York Yankees.
Holland was a left-handed pitcher known for a strong sinker pitch.
He saved a then-franchise record 25 games in 1983 with the Phillies and helped them win the National League pennant that year.
Holland was an All-Star in 1984 after recording 29 saves, his career best.
He finished his career with 78 saves, a win-loss record of 34-30, a 2.98 earned run average (ERA), and 513 strikeouts.
Holland played college baseball at North Carolina A&T and is in both their Athletics Hall of Fame and the Black College Baseball Hall of Fame.
After retiring as a player, he worked as a pitching coach in minor league baseball, including with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat in a large deal. The Miami Heat gave several players and draft picks to the Bucks in return, aiming to strengthen their team for future success.
Key Facts
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis were traded to the Miami Heat from the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Heat sent Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, three first-round draft picks, a second-round pick, and a pick swap to the Bucks.
Miami Heat president Pat Riley called this trade one of the best in the team's history.
Riley praised Antetokounmpo as one of the top five players in the NBA.
The trade aims to make the Miami Heat strong contenders for the NBA championship.
Antetokounmpo has been a 10-time All-Star, two-time Most Valuable Player (MVP), Defensive Player of the Year, and NBA champion.
The Miami Heat is also trying to sign superstar LeBron James in free agency.
The move marks a new chapter for both the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks basketball teams.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kerr Kriisa, a former college basketball player, has been charged with fraud after allegedly pretending to be other people to get nearly $2.2 million from two victims. He was arrested in Kentucky and faces five counts of wire fraud in federal court in West Virginia.
Key Facts
Kerr Kriisa is a 25-year-old basketball player from Estonia who played for several U.S. colleges, including Arizona, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Cincinnati.
A federal grand jury indicted him last month on charges related to fraud.
Kriisa allegedly used fake identities, including that of his own mother, to request money from victims.
He claimed urgent family emergencies, such as cancer treatments and saving a family farm, to get the money.
Kriisa once falsely said he planned to sell his organs to repay one victim.
He signed a fake agreement to repay $100,000 by February 2026.
The scheme reportedly started in 2022 and continued until June 2026.
Kriisa is expected to appear in federal court soon on five counts of wire fraud.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Jasmine Paolini from Italy defeated Alexandra Eala from the Philippines in the Wimbledon women’s singles fourth round to reach the quarterfinals. Flavio Cobolli, also from Italy, won his men’s singles fourth round match at Wimbledon.
Key Facts
Jasmine Paolini won against Alexandra Eala with scores 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Paolini is the 13th seed and was the 2024 Wimbledon singles runner-up.
Alexandra Eala is 21 years old and reached the fourth round after beating the defending champion.
Roger Federer was present in the Royal Box watching Paolini’s match.
Paolini will play Marta Kostyuk next for a place in the semifinals.
Marta Kostyuk is a 24-year-old Ukrainian player and a French Open semifinalist.
Flavio Cobolli, 9th seed from Italy, beat 5th-seeded Alex de Minaur in the men’s singles fourth round.
The matches were played on a hot day with temperatures around 31°C (88°F).
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Darrell Jackson, a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins, died on July 5 at the age of 70. He played five seasons in the MLB and was known for his strong college and professional baseball career. After baseball, he worked to help young people with challenges like addiction and gang involvement.
Key Facts
Darrell Jackson pitched for the Minnesota Twins from 1978 to 1982.
He was a left-handed pitcher and played 102 major league games, starting 60 of them.
Jackson grew up in Los Angeles and played high school baseball with future Hall of Famers Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith.
He played college baseball at Arizona State University and won a national championship with the team in 1977.
Jackson was drafted by the Twins in 1973 but first played college baseball before signing in 1977.
In his first minor league start, he pitched nine no-hit innings but lost the no-hitter after leaving the game.
After retiring from baseball, he founded the 10-20 Club to support young people facing addiction and gang issues.
In 2001, he received the Martin Luther King Human Dignity Award for his charity work.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Miami Heat traded star player Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Milwaukee Bucks. As part of the deal, the Heat sent Tyler Herro and other players and draft picks to Milwaukee. The Heat thanked Herro for his time with the team through a social media message.
Key Facts
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time league MVP, was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat.
Tyler Herro, who played seven seasons with the Heat, was traded to the Bucks.
Along with Herro, players Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, and several draft picks were sent to the Bucks.
The Heat posted a message on social media to thank Herro for his contributions.
Herro was the 13th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and averaged 19.5 points, 5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game with Miami.
Herro won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in the 2021-22 season.
He was selected for his first All-Star game in the 2024-25 season.
Bucks general manager Jon Horst expressed excitement about adding Herro and the other players to the Milwaukee team.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he spoke with President Donald Trump about the red card suspension of U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun. Infantino explained that FIFA’s independent judicial bodies would make the final decision on the suspension.
Key Facts
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had a conversation with President Donald Trump about Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension.
Infantino said the decision would be handled by FIFA’s independent judicial bodies, not by FIFA leadership alone.
Balogun received a one-match suspension after being shown a red card.
FIFA lifted Balogun’s suspension, allowing him to play for the U.S. in their World Cup round of 16 game against Belgium.
The Belgium team is challenging the decision to lift the suspension.
Infantino stated that FIFA’s system relies on independent legal processes for such cases.
The conversation and statement were shared publicly by Infantino on the social media platform X.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kawhi Leonard has returned to the Toronto Raptors after seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers. Basketball player Draymond Green suggested that the Raptors might trade RJ Barrett, a young star and hometown player, to improve the team alongside Leonard and Scottie Barnes.
Key Facts
Kawhi Leonard played seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers before rejoining the Toronto Raptors.
Leonard previously helped Toronto win its first NBA championship in 2019.
The Clippers struggled in recent seasons, missing the playoffs in 2025-26.
RJ Barrett, who grew up in Toronto, was traded from the New York Knicks to the Raptors.
Barrett had a strong playoff performance, leading the team with 24.1 points per game.
Barrett is 26 years old and entering the last year of his contract, making $29.6 million next season.
Draymond Green suggested Barrett could be traded to help the Raptors strengthen their team.
Barrett is seen as an important, physical player and a key figure for the Raptors, so a trade might only happen if it greatly benefits the team.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
FIFA has allowed U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun to play despite a red card that usually causes a suspension. This decision came after President Donald Trump contacted FIFA's president, and it means Balogun can play in the important match against Belgium, with a chance to reach the World Cup quarterfinals.
Key Facts
Folarin Balogun, a U.S. player born in New York and raised in London, leads the U.S. team with three goals in the World Cup.
Balogun received a red card for stepping on an opponent's ankle in a round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Normally, a red card results in a one-game suspension, but FIFA lifted Balogun’s suspension citing a rarely used rule.
President Donald Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino before FIFA's decision to lift the suspension.
FIFA said its disciplinary committee acted independently based on rules and facts but did not explain why they used this exception.
Balogun’s case is the first since 1962 where a player sent off in a World Cup match was allowed to play the next game.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino faces challenges replacing Balogun if the suspension stayed because of his unique skills.
President Trump publicly thanked FIFA for reversing what he called a "great injustice" after the ban was lifted.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ticket prices for the upcoming USA vs. Belgium World Cup match in Seattle have dropped significantly, with the lowest price now around $1,500. This fall in ticket cost follows a similar trend in other round of 16 World Cup games happening in North America.
Key Facts
The lowest ticket price for the USA-Belgium game dropped from $3,115 on July 1 to about $1,283 by Sunday morning.
By Monday afternoon, the lowest price was around $1,508, a 27% decrease over three days.
Ticket prices for other round of 16 matches in the US and Canada have also fallen, some by more than 20%.
The US-Belgium match is the third World Cup game Belgium has played in Seattle.
The winner of the USA-Belgium game will play the winner of the Portugal-Spain match in Los Angeles on Friday.
The average lowest ticket price for all round of 16 matches has dropped by 3% in three days and 8% in a week.
Belgium’s team base camp is close to the Seattle stadium where the match will be held.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Milwaukee Bucks officially traded star player Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. The trade included several players and future draft picks going to Milwaukee, while Giannis and Bobby Portis moved to Miami.
Key Facts
Giannis Antetokounmpo was traded from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Miami Heat.
Bobby Portis was included in the trade and also went to Miami.
The Bucks received Tyler Herro, Kasparas Jakucionis, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, three first-round draft picks, and two pick swaps.
Bucks owners released a joint statement praising Giannis for his 13 seasons and major contributions to the team and city.
Giannis was the 15th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
During his time with Milwaukee, Giannis made 10 straight All-Star teams, won two MVP awards, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and NBA Finals MVP in 2021.
Giannis will join Bam Adebayo on the Miami Heat, forming a strong defensive front court.
The Bucks thanked Giannis and acknowledged his legacy will remain part of the team’s history.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Portugal and Spain are playing a World Cup last-16 match, with both teams competing to advance to the quarter-finals. The game has been closely contested, with Portugal's Nuno Mendes hitting the crossbar and several key saves by Spain’s goalkeeper keeping the score 0-0 at halftime.
Key Facts
The match is a World Cup last-16 game between Portugal and Spain.
Portugal's team includes Cristiano Ronaldo, playing at age 41.
Spain features young player Lamine Yamal, considered a teen prodigy.
At halftime, the score is 0-0 with no goals scored.
Nuno Mendes of Portugal struck the ball that hit the crossbar.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon made several important saves to keep the match scoreless.
The referee has allowed an extended time between this match and the next, anticipating possible extra time or penalties.
Players from both teams have created some scoring chances, but no goals have been made yet.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
