Category Sports News

Noni Madueke’s knee injury, which was sustained in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Sunday, should cause him to miss about six to eight weeks.

However, it is not believed that the England international, age 23, had an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Chelsea summer signing has been going through tests to determine the extent of the problem, having been substituted at half-time of their Premier League clash with City.

According to sources, doctors are awaiting a definitive diagnosis of the injury before placing a patient on a ventilator for at least six weeks, even though that is the ideal scenario.

Madueke will miss a number of important domestic and international games for the Gunners if the initial forecast is confirmed, which would preclude him from playing until at least November.

The attacker is expected to miss England’s upcoming games against Wales and Latvia, but he is also expected to miss Serbia and Albania’s mid-November World Cup qualifiers.

Scottie Scheffler, the world’s number one player, says he will use the money he earned to support his neighborhood at this week’s Ryder Cup.

All 12 of the American players, plus captain Keegan Bradley, are being given $500, 000 (£370, 000), with $300, 000 (£220, 000) of that already put aside as a charitable donation.

Each player has their own preferences for how to use the extra funds.

US Ryder Cup players have received $200,000 to donate to charity since 1999, whereas European players have received no such donation since 1999.

When Bradley said on Monday, “The charity dollars hadn’t changed since 1999 and they asked me shepherd their way into 2025,” he said he would be giving all of his money to charity.

We felt that this was the best way to introduce the Ryder Cup to the modern era.

Scheffler told BBC Sport that despite having plans for the money, he would not be sharing them with the media on Tuesday. He was the first US player to do so.

The four-time major winner said, “My wife and I like to do a lot of things in our neighborhood community, and I’ve never been one to announce what we do.”

I avoid giving charitable donations in exchange for some kind of recognition. The money that we will receive has a plan for itself.

The PGA of America has given us the power to do something really cool, in my opinion.

Scottie Scheffler, the world’s number one player, says he will use the money he earned to support his neighborhood at this week’s Ryder Cup.

All 12 of the American players, plus captain Keegan Bradley, are being given $500, 000 (£370, 000), with $300, 000 (£220, 000) of that already put aside as a charitable donation.

Each player has their own preferences for how to use the extra funds.

US Ryder Cup players have received $200,000 to donate to charity since 1999, whereas European players have received no such donation since 1999.

When Bradley said on Monday, “The charity dollars hadn’t changed since 1999 and they asked me shepherd their way into 2025,” he said he would be giving all of his money to charity.

We felt that this was the best way to introduce the Ryder Cup to the modern era.

Scheffler told BBC Sport that despite having plans for the money, he would not be sharing them with the media on Tuesday. He was the first US player to do so.

The four-time major winner said, “My wife and I like to do a lot of things in our neighborhood community, and I’ve never been one to announce what we do.”

I avoid giving charitable donations in exchange for some kind of recognition. The money that we will receive has a plan for itself.

The PGA of America has given us the power to do something really cool, in my opinion.

2025 Ryder Cup

Venue: Bethpage Black, New York Dates: 26-28 September

The recent killing of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk has increased the risk of the Ryder Cup being targeted by someone wanting to “make a statement”, according to the man leading security at the event.

US President Donald Trump will visit the Bethpage Black course, a short distance outside New York, once the competition gets under way on Friday.

Fifty thousand spectators will also descend on the course in Long Island for each of the three days of action.

After Kirk was shot dead in Utah on 10 September, a vast and multi-agency security operation is being implemented for the showpiece golf contest between teams representing Europe and the United States.

“If anything, the likelihood of somebody trying to use an event like this to make a statement is only increased,” Major Stephen Udice of New York State Police, and incident commander for the Ryder Cup, told BBC Sport.

“Some would argue it’s much higher. We are planning as if there’s threats.

“We have multiple different layers that someone looking to cause chaos and harm is going to have to get through.

Speaking from a command centre specially built on the outskirts of the course, Udice insisted that “a tremendous amount of resources” had been assigned to the event.

“It is on par with a Super Bowl and a World Series, but what makes this even more challenging is that it’s in a 1,400-acre park, not a contained stadium,” he said.

Trump, who attended a memorial service for Kirk in Arizona this week, has visited various sporting events this summer, including the final of the men’s US Open tennis at Flushing Meadows in New York on 7 September.

Additional security measures caused delays there, with hundreds of fans missing the start of the match, and it remains to be seen how the president’s arrival at the Ryder Cup affects the day’s routine.

“It’s definitely going to create another challenge, but that’s also something that we incorporated into our plan a year and a half ago” said Major Udice.

“We’re trying to strike that balance between minimising the interruption to all the spectators but also keeping the president safe.”

Trump, a golf fanatic who owns courses around the world, is expected to arrive at Bethpage late on Friday morning and watch the afternoon fourballs.

It had been reported that the event’s PGA of America organisers were concerned about his initial plan to be present for the opening tee shots just after 07:00 EST (12:00 BST).

“It’s the hardest thing we’ll have to do, probably,” Ryder Cup director Bryan Karns told BBC Sport when asked about the challenge posed by the president’s visit.

“There’s some things that would certainly take a little bit longer, but I think not to the point that someone would be precluded from getting to a seat on the first tee. Obviously there are some logistical challenges, but none that we can’t solve.”

When asked if Trump’s arrival could mean a risk that play has to be paused, Karns said, “No, we won’t delay play, that’s pretty much set in stone in terms of how we operate. We don’t have the luxury of flipping the lights on and finishing this at 8 or 9pm.

“Obviously, we take our lead from the Secret Service and the White House, who have been incredibly collaborative. We have not felt like we’re not being listened to, and that’s been reassuring to us.”

When asked if Kirk’s recent murder and the highly divided political landscape in the US had added to the security challenge, Karns said: “This sort of event is unifying.

“New Yorkers, above all others, really rally together from opposite sides of the street, from totally different backgrounds, and these sort of moments are healing opportunities.

2025 Ryder Cup

Venue: Bethpage Black, New York Dates: 26-28 September

The recent killing of American conservative activist Charlie Kirk has increased the risk of the Ryder Cup being targeted by someone wanting to “make a statement”, according to the man leading security at the event.

US President Donald Trump will visit the Bethpage Black course, a short distance outside New York, once the competition gets under way on Friday.

Fifty thousand spectators will also descend on the course in Long Island for each of the three days of action.

After Kirk was shot dead in Utah on 10 September, a vast and multi-agency security operation is being implemented for the showpiece golf contest between teams representing Europe and the United States.

“If anything, the likelihood of somebody trying to use an event like this to make a statement is only increased,” Major Stephen Udice of New York State Police, and incident commander for the Ryder Cup, told BBC Sport.

“Some would argue it’s much higher. We are planning as if there’s threats.

“We have multiple different layers that someone looking to cause chaos and harm is going to have to get through.

Speaking from a command centre specially built on the outskirts of the course, Udice insisted that “a tremendous amount of resources” had been assigned to the event.

“It is on par with a Super Bowl and a World Series, but what makes this even more challenging is that it’s in a 1,400-acre park, not a contained stadium,” he said.

Trump, who attended a memorial service for Kirk in Arizona this week, has visited various sporting events this summer, including the final of the men’s US Open tennis at Flushing Meadows in New York on 7 September.

Additional security measures caused delays there, with hundreds of fans missing the start of the match, and it remains to be seen how the president’s arrival at the Ryder Cup affects the day’s routine.

“It’s definitely going to create another challenge, but that’s also something that we incorporated into our plan a year and a half ago” said Major Udice.

“We’re trying to strike that balance between minimising the interruption to all the spectators but also keeping the president safe.”

Trump, a golf fanatic who owns courses around the world, is expected to arrive at Bethpage late on Friday morning and watch the afternoon fourballs.

It had been reported that the event’s PGA of America organisers were concerned about his initial plan to be present for the opening tee shots just after 07:00 EST (12:00 BST).

“It’s the hardest thing we’ll have to do, probably,” Ryder Cup director Bryan Karns told BBC Sport when asked about the challenge posed by the president’s visit.

“There’s some things that would certainly take a little bit longer, but I think not to the point that someone would be precluded from getting to a seat on the first tee. Obviously there are some logistical challenges, but none that we can’t solve.”

When asked if Trump’s arrival could mean a risk that play has to be paused, Karns said, “No, we won’t delay play, that’s pretty much set in stone in terms of how we operate. We don’t have the luxury of flipping the lights on and finishing this at 8 or 9pm.

“Obviously, we take our lead from the Secret Service and the White House, who have been incredibly collaborative. We have not felt like we’re not being listened to, and that’s been reassuring to us.”

When asked if Kirk’s recent murder and the highly divided political landscape in the US had added to the security challenge, Karns said: “This sort of event is unifying.

“New Yorkers, above all others, really rally together from opposite sides of the street, from totally different backgrounds, and these sort of moments are healing opportunities.

Aston Villa are in advanced talks with former Real Sociedad sporting director Roberto Olabe to replace outgoing president of football operations Monchi.

Olabe, 57, spent seven years at Sociedad before leaving at the end of last season.

Monchi’s imminent exit comes with Villa 18th in the Premier League after a winless start to the season.

He joined Villa in 2023 from Spanish side Sevilla, where he had been sporting director, having previously worked with Villa boss Unai Emery at the La Liga club.

Monchi and Emery helped take Villa to the Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2024 and secured a Champions League place as they finished fourth in the Premier League that season.

They went on to reach the Champions League quarter-finals last term, being knocked out by eventual winners Paris St-Germain.

Villa have started poorly this season, failing to win any of their opening five league games and scoring just once.

Villa boss Emery was involved in choosing Olabe as Monchi’s replacement.

Olabe is from Vitoria, part of the Basque Country in northern Spain, which is about 100 miles from Emery’s hometown of Hondarribia.

He managed Real Union between 2011 and 2012, the team which Emery holds a controlling stake in and where his brother Igor is president.

While Monchi’s departure comes at a time of poor results, it does not impact Emery’s position and his influence on Olabe’s arrival underlines that his position remains strong at Villa.

During Olabe’s time at Sociedad they won the 2020 Copa del Rey, their first major silverware in 33 years.

They also bought Alexander Isak from Willem II and sold him to Newcastle for £63m in 2022, while Martin Zubimendi came through the club’s academy before his £60m departure to Arsenal this summer.

The Gunners also signed Mikel Merino from Sociedad while Olabe brought in Martin Odegaard on loan from Real Madrid the season before he moved to the Emirates.

Monchi and Emery have tried to reshape Villa, spending big on defensive midfielder Amadou Onana, signed for £50m in 2024, and attacker Moussa Diaby, who arrived in 2023 for £43m.

But Diaby was sold to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad after just one season while Onana has struggled with injury.

The imposing Belgium international made just 22 league starts last season after his club record move from Everton, and he is currently out with a hamstring injury having played just twice this term.

In the past 18 months Villa’s spending has been restricted because of Profit and Sustainability restrictions imposed by both the Premier League and Uefa.

In July, Villa were fined £9.5m by European football’s governing body for breaching financial rules.

They needed to sell Douglas Luiz in 2024 to balance the books, with the midfielder joining Juventus for £42m. He made just three Serie A starts last season and joined Nottingham Forest on loan last month.

The sales of Omari Kellyman to Chelsea for £19m and Tim Iroegbunam to Everton for £9m last year also generated important profit, while Jacob Ramsey was sold to Newcastle for £40m last month, with all three having come through the club’s academy.

Just two of the starting XI in Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Sunderland – Rogers and striker Evann Guessand – were signed by Emery and Monchi.

This summer Villa signed goalkeeper Marco Bizot from Brest and Guessand from Nice for £30m, before the deadline day arrivals of Harvey Elliott, Jadon Sancho and Victor Lindelof.

England Under-21 international Elliott joined on loan from Liverpool with a £35m obligation to buy, while Sancho moved on loan from Manchester United and his former Old Trafford team-mate Lindelof joined on a free transfer.