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FIFA investigates post-match scrap

National Sports

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — FIFA opened an investigation Monday after Spain’s celebrations on beating Argentina in the World Cup final took an ugly turn when players briefly clashed on the field. Video replays showed several players involved in a scuffle, including Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes. He appeared to shove Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat. When Spain substitute Gavi jumped in to intervene, Paredes pushed him to the ground. Spain captain Rodri also seemed to be hit in the stomach by Argentina defender Nahuel Molina as he ran past to join ...

Michigan AD agrees to buyout after probe

National Sports

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan and athletic director Warde Manuel have agreed to a buyout of the remaining three years on his contract and he will step down at the end of 2026, culminating a decade-long run with four national championships and a string of scandals. The announcement on Monday followed investigations into former football coach Sherrone Moore’s relationship with his executive assistant and a probe into the athletic department. “The broader culture review has identified serious concerns that require immediate action,” interim school president ...

WTA introduces gene testing for women

National Sports

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BERLIN — The Women’s Tennis Association is introducing one-off mandatory gene-testing for all players effective from Tuesday – a requirement to compete at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The WTA updated its women’s eligibility policy to include gender screening “based on biological sex” this week “to preserve the integrity of women’s professional tennis and maintain fair competition conditions for all players.” The new policy takes the organization in line with the eligibility policy introduced by the International Olympic Committee in March to ...

6 UNI men’s basketball players net academic honors

Local Sports

TIMES-REPUBLICAN KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) on Wednesday announced its annual Team Academic Excellence Award and Honor Court recipients for the 2025-26 season, featuring six individual members of the Northern Iowa men’s basketball team. The NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards recognize programs that completed the 2025-26 academic year with a team grade-point average of 3.0 or higher. The NABC Honors Court, meanwhile, includes junior, senior and graduate student men’s basketball players who finished the 2025-26 year with a ...

McGregor tore ACL in shortened return

National Sports

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LAS VEGAS — Conor McGregor confirmed he suffered a torn right ACL in his shortened UFC 329 fight against Max Holloway. McGregor said he also suffered meniscus damage in the fight on July 11 that lasted 1:09, comparing it to an injury he suffered in the opposite leg against Holloway in 2013. “Update: It was acl and meniscus,” McGregor wrote in a post on X Sunday. “It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking.” McGregor’s return to the octagon for the first time in five years came to an abrupt ...

Spain reigns supreme

National Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — This is how good Spain was at the World Cup: Not even Lionel Messi had any answers. And when it was over, Spain walked off with the trophy. Messi simply walked off in tears. Spain is back atop the soccer world for a second time, after Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year’s World Cup — unquestionably the goal of his life — gave his country a 1-0 win over now-dethroned champion Argentina in the final on Sunday. “It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population. Maybe not by them — but certainly for ...