OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Robert MacIntyre seized on a softer Caves Valley after a two-hour storm ...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Robert MacIntyre seized on a softer Caves Valley after a two-hour storm delay and rode the <a href="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/1956127472929374348">best putting round of his year</a> with six straight birdies to post an 8-under 62 for a three-shot lead over Tommy Fleetwood in the BMW Championship on Thursday.MacIntyre finished it off with a 5-foot birdie putt on 18th hole, and that was the easiest of his final six birdies. He holed a 65-foot birdie putt on the 12th and followed that from 40 feet.And he kept right on going until he matched his low round on the PGA Tour and left everyone chasing after the opening round of the penultimate postseason event.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"The last six holes is probably as good as I’ve ever putted in a stretch of holes," he said.Scottie Scheffler was tied for the lead when he returned from the delay and birdied three of his final four holes for a 66. Rickie Fowler was another shot behind, a big step toward making the Tour Championship for a shot at the FedEx Cup.MacIntyre looked to be unstoppable except that he ran out of holes."When I went back out, I had a 7-footer for birdie which was going to set the tone for the rest of the afternoon, and I rolled that in nicely," said MacIntyre, who then rolled along quite nicely.It was a different course when the top 50 in the FedEx Cup arrived to Caves Valley, which hosted the BMW Championship in 2021. Patrick Cantlay won in a playoff over Bryson DeChambeau after both finished at 27-under 261.It has gone through a big renovation, changed to a par 70, and it was playing tough enough that Viktor Hovland at 67 had the low score of the morning before a bank of dark clouds and heavy rain pounded the course.Softer greens made all the difference, but the 62 by MacIntyre was no less impressive. The Scot also shot 62 at the Travelers Championship last year."The course was a lot softer, so we did have a chance of shooting a score," Fleetwood said, who was on the 16th hole when MacIntyre finished. "Did he finish with quite a few birdies maybe?"Six of them."That helps," Fleetwood said with a smile.It was a nice start for Fleetwood, too, particularly after another tough ending last week when he had a two-shot lead with three holes to play and finished one shot out of a playoff at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in his bid for his first PGA Tour title.The goal was to get back into contention as quickly as possible. This was only one round, but it was a good start. Fleetwood had one of only two bogey-free rounds, the other belonging to Hideki Matsuyama (69)."I’ve been a pro for - I don’t know how long, I’m not going to do the math — but I’ve had my fair share of playing rubbish," Fleetwood said. "I’ve spent weeks playing terrible. So playing well and being in contention is a privilege. You’ve got to enjoy those times. So while I’m playing well, I’m kind of enjoying it as well."Scheffler played with Rory McIlroy as the Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in the FedEx Cup, which means nothing at this stage because every one of the 30 players who advance to East Lake will start from scratch as they play for the FedEx Cup.McIlroy struggled off the tee, had three bogeys in six holes and pulled it together for a 70 that included eight straight pars at the end. Scheffler wobbled a bit at the turn, twice missing greens and failing to get up-and-down. But he had three birdies in four holes at the start, and three birdies in four holes at the end."Golf course definitely got a bit easier but did a good job of taking advantage of the holes I had left," said Scheffler, who posted his 14th consecutive round in the 60s.Hovland came into the BMW Championship at No. 28 in the FedEx Cup, right on the bubble for being in the top 30 to reach the Tour Championship. He figures good will take care of that.It was a more significant start for Fowler, who barely got into the top 50. Ditto for Michael Kim and Jason Day, both outside the top 40. They each shot 68.Xander Schauffele, who has never missed the Tour Championship since he won it as a rookie in 2017, might see that streak end. He was at No. 43 and is searching, and it showed. He opened with four bogeys in six holes, battled back and closed with a double bogey for a 74.___AP golf: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/golf">https://apnews.com/hub/golf</a>

OWINGS MILLS, MARYLAND - AUGUST 14: Robert MacIntyre of Scotland plays his shot from the fifth tee during the first round of the BMW Championship 2025 at Caves Valley Golf Club on August 14, 2025 in Owings Mills, Maryland.

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors in Broward County have declined to pursue a case against...

<div>
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Prosecutors in Broward County have declined to pursue a case against Cleveland Browns rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, who was arrested last month on charges of misdemeanor battery and domestic violence.
Judkins was arrested on July 14 by Fort Lauderdale police after they received a report of battery that he allegedly committed a week earlier near the city's airport.
The assistant state attorney assigned to review the case wrote in a memorandum that there were several reasons not to prosecute, including the delayed report, a lack of video evidence and a lack of independent witnesses.
<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>
“Although the victim had photos showing injuries sustained, there were also videos in that same time frame where no injuries were observed to the victim. Additionally, the victim’s injuries depicted in the photos could be explained by either account of the incident,” the memo said.
Judkins, the only NFL draft pick who remains unsigned, could be subject to discipline under the league's personal conduct policy.
The 21-year-old Judkins was the 36th pick in the NFL draft after rushing for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns at Ohio State last season.
The Browns drafted Judkins in the hopes that he could become the team’s lead running back after Nick Chubb signed with the Houston Texans. Cleveland also drafted Dylan Sampson in the fourth round.
___
AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>
</div>

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 04: Quinshon Judkins #10 of the Cleveland Browns runs a drill during Cleveland Browns OTA offseason workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 04, 2025 in Berea, Ohio.

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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani racked up seven strikeouts and pitched into the fifth inning...

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani racked up seven strikeouts and pitched into the fifth inning. He tripled, scored and reached base twice at the plate.The two-way superstar still couldn't stop his team from falling deeper into a losing streak in Anaheim.Sound familiar? Angels fans know this melancholy story all too well — and now Dodgers fans have experienced it, too.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Ohtani stepped back in time in more ways than one when he returned to the Angel Stadium mound Wednesday night for the first time since he switched teams in Los Angeles' crosstown rivalry.For six seasons, the three-time MVP couldn't make the Angels into winners with his unprecedented talents. This summer, his defending champion Dodgers are in an increasingly ugly slump — and Ohtani couldn't save them Wednesday, neither on the hill nor at the plate.Ohtani tripled and scored the Dodgers' first run, and he eventually left his longest start of the season with a 5-4 lead. The Angels still rallied for a 6-5 victory, sweeping the six-game Freeway Series and sending the Dodgers to their fourth consecutive loss overall.The Dodgers also fell a game behind the Padres in the NL West standings with streaking San Diego visiting Dodger Stadium on Friday night. The Dodgers led the division by nine games on July 3, and they've gone 12-21 since."Obviously, it doesn't feel good to fall into second place and to lose a lot of these games," Ohtani said through his interpreter. "We're doing everything in our power, having meetings, doing everything that we can to try to right the ship. We just have to do a better job."Ohtani pitched 4 1/3 innings of five-hit, four-run ball against the Angels. He gave up up a homer to Taylor Ward and a two-run double to Zach Neto, but he also fanned Mike Trout twice, getting his friend and fellow MVP the second time with his fastest pitch of the night — a 101-mph fastball in the fourth.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
101 MPH paint from Shohei Ohtani to strike out Mike Trout again! 🎨 <a href="https://t.co/ZlIcwX6Q7A">pic.twitter.com/ZlIcwX6Q7A</a>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1955826299664261222?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>But the Angels got three straight hits to chase him, capped by Neto's double."I just couldn't finish off hitters in the fifth," Ohtani said. "They did a good job putting balls in play, and that's what happens. Next time I've got to do a better job."The Dodgers' beleaguered bullpen again failed while missing five high-leverage arms on the injured list, but their expensive lineup also didn't score after the fourth inning.Logan O'Hoppe delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single in the eighth, and longtime Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen coolly pitched the ninth. Ohtani struck out in his final two at-bats."Doesn't feel good to lose close games," Ohtani said. "It's tough mentally, but we have an off day tomorrow, so the plan is to regroup, refresh and get ready for the weekend."Ohtani is still beloved in Anaheim by fans who mostly couldn't blame him for leaving a team that could never assemble a winning lineup around him and Trout during six consecutive losing seasons.The three-time MVP — two of those trophies claimed with the Angels — has received cheers whenever he returns to the Big A, although that's also because much of the crowd wears Dodger Blue for these Freeway Series rivalry games.All fans were locked in on the main event in this showdown.After Trout and Ohtani acknowledged each other with slight nods and smirks, Ohtani finished his 1-2-3 first inning by throwing five straight fastballs to Trout before striking him out looking with a sweeper.They hadn't faced each other since Ohtani famously struck out Trout — with the same pitch — to end the 2023 World Baseball Classic.Ohtani was even meaner to Trout in their second meeting, starting him out with a 73-mph curve before eventually fanning him with that blazing fastball in the low outside corner.Outside of Trout, Ohtani saw plenty of familiar faces Wednesday: Seven of the nine hitters in the Angels' starting lineup played with him in Anaheim.Ohtani hadn't been on the mound at the Big A since Aug. 23, 2023, when he abruptly left a start against Cincinnati in the second inning with elbow pain later revealed to be a torn ligament. The resulting surgery kept him off the mound entirely in 2024 after he signed his 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers.Ohtani returned to pitching two months ago, and the Dodgers have gradually built up his innings while maintaining his everyday role as their DH and leadoff hitter.Before his mound return, Ohtani homered in each of the first two games of this series — although he also lined into a triple play Tuesday.Ohtani began Wednesday's game by taking Kyle Hendricks to deep right for a triple, and he quickly scored on Mookie Betts' single.Ward blasted a 97-mph fastball from Ohtani to right for his 29th homer, just the second allowed by Ohtani this season.

Anaheim, CA - August 13: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after striking out looking against the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth inning of a baseball game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

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NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt has a low-grade right knee sprain and the New York Yankees may p...

NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt has a low-grade right knee sprain and the New York Yankees may place the veteran first baseman on the injured list ahead of his return to St. Louis this weekend.The Yankees will evaluate Goldschmidt during their day off and will decide before Friday's game against the Cardinals if he will be placed on the IL."He's dealing with something so we'll see if it's an IL situation," manager Aaron Boone said after Wednesday's 4-1 loss to Minnesota. "He was pretty sore last night and this morning. Feels like he's doing quite a bit better right now so we'll see."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Goldschmidt was injured chasing down a foul pop by Byron Buxton in the third inning of Tuesday's 9-1 victory. Goldschmidt overran the ball along the dirt track near the Yankee dugout and slipped before making the catch on the grass while slightly falling down."When I kind of overran it and dove back, hit my knee on the ground I guess," Goldschmidt said. "I felt that it was sore yesterday but obviously was able to play through it."Goldschmidt stayed in Tuesday's game and hit a double in the seventh before being lifted with the Yankees holding an eight-run lead."As I was going back to my position, I was like 'that kind of hurt,' but stuff like that happens," Goldschmidt said. "So just felt like I could continue to play, which I did and it was fine."Goldschmidt, who is hitting .404 off left-handed pitching this year, did not start Wednesday and did not pinch hit when Austin Wells batted and struck out against left-handed reliever Kody Funderburk in the seventh. Signed to a one-year, $12.5-million contract in December following six seasons with the Cardinals, the former NL MVP is hitting .276 with 10 homers and 40 RBIs in 112 games this season. He also has a .996 fielding percentage and has been charged with three errors in 745 chances this year.Ben Rice made his 26th start at first base Wednesday and Cody Bellinger has made two starts at first this season. Bellinger has started 273 games at first base during his nine-year career."He's been a huge part of his team," Bellinger said about Goldschmidt. "He's a vacuum over there. I played first before and I'm really appreciative what he does on the defensive side."

MIAMI, FL - AUGUST 01: New York Yankees first base Paul Goldschmidt (48) was through the dugout before the game between the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins on Friday, August 1, 2025 at LoanDepot Park in Miami, FL

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Veronica Burton hit six 3-pointers and scored 30 points — both career highs — C...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Veronica Burton hit six 3-pointers and scored 30 points — both career highs — Cecilia Zandalasini also made six 3s and finished with 20 points, and the Golden State Valkyries beat the Washington Mystics 88-83 on Wednesday night for their third straight win.The expansion Valkyries set franchise records for 3-pointers (15) and 3-point percentage (46.7%).Burton, who made 10 of 13 from the field, finished with seven rebounds and seven assists. Tiffany Hayes scored 14 points and Janelle Salaün added 11 for Golden State (17-15), which has won all three meetings with Washington.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Sonia Citron scored 13 points for the Mystics during a 29-9 fourth-quarter run that trimmed their deficit to 86-83. Citron converted a three-point play and hit a 3-pointer before she found Sug Sutton for a 3 that capped the spurt with 53.8 seconds to play.Hayes made two free throws with 15.4 seconds left.Sutton had 15 points and seven assists and Citron also finished with 15 points. Kiki Iriafen added 14 points and 10 rebounds — the rookie’s 10th double-double this season. Emily Engstler hit three 3s and scored 13 points on 5-of-5 shooting, and Jade Melbourne scored 10 points.Washington (14-18), which beat Dallas <a href="https://apnews.com/article/mystics-wings-wnba-score-9d9fc300e35de6795529621609dc2f6a">91-78</a> behind a career-high 23 points by Iriafen on Sunday, has lost five of six.Zandalasini hit a 3-pointer just over a minute into the game that made it 5-2 and the Valkyries led the rest of the way. Golden State made 9 of 11 from the field in the first quarter to take a 30-12 lead.Up nextThe Mystics play at Indiana and the Valkyries take on the Sky in Chicago on Friday.___AP WNBA: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/WNBA">https://apnews.com/hub/WNBA</a>

WASHINGTON, D.C. - AUGUST 13: Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Mystics on August 13, 2025 at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE

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MADRID (AP) — Barcelona will be able to register newly signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia for the new ...

MADRID (AP) — Barcelona will be able to register newly signed goalkeeper Joan Garcia for the new season after the Spanish league confirmed a long-term injury to Marc-Andre ter Stegen, the club said Wednesday.With the ruling, Barcelona is allowed to clear some salary-cap space and more easily register other players without breaching financial fair play rules."Barcelona hereby announces that La Liga's Medical Committee has ruled that goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen's injury meets the long-term injury criteria established by current regulations," it said. "The club will proceed tomorrow to immediately formalize the registration of player Joan Garcia."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The length of the injury had sparked a dispute between Barcelona and Ter Stegen, who initially refused to sign the medical report that the Catalan club had to send to the league.The 33-year-old goalkeeper said it would take about three months for him to recover from lower back surgery last month. The club, however, said it would take longer and wanted to add him to the long-term injury list.After Ter Stegen refused to sign, the club opened a disciplinary proceeding and stripped him of his captaincy. It reinstated him after he signed the report last week.Ter Stegen said after signing the report that he never intended to make it difficult for Barcelona to sign new players, and only wanted to be able to return to action as soon as possible. He said "these past few months have been especially difficult for me, both physically and personally."Ter Stegen missed nearly all of last season because of a knee injury, and in 2023 he missed about two months because of another back operation. Inaki Pena and veteran Wojciech Szczesny started in place of Ter Stegen last season.The club signed Espanyol goalkeeper Garcia in June.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Hansi Flick and Marc-Andre ter Stegen present the 2025-26 FC Barcelona squad at the Johan Cruyff Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on August 10, 2025.

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is going with a PGA Tour caddie for the BMW Championsh...

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler is going with a PGA Tour caddie for the BMW Championship as his regular looper, Ted Scott, deals with a family emergency at home in Louisiana.Scott had to leave immediately after the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and Scheffler used longtime friend Brad Payne from the College Golf Fellowship.This week, he has turned to Michael Cromie. He usually works for Chris Kirk, who missed qualifying for the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pga-tour-fedex-cup-playoffs-bmw-championship-0572398c5e8c1fc8d3db4a6300594849">BMW Championship</a> by one shot.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“He works really hard and does a good job. We’re both learning a new golf course this week, so it’s been fun,” Scheffler said.The family matter involving Scott was kept private, though Scheffler said he has spoken to him a couple of times, and the family was in good spirits.“I think Ted’s where he needs to be right now, and I think caddying is probably the last thing on his mind, as it should be,” Scheffler said.Scheffler finished one shot out of a playoff last week at the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/justin-rose-fedex-cup-spaun-fleetwood-scheffler-0c8628ff9efea15e12822593140dbbb2">TPC Southwind</a>. He remains the No. 1 seed in the FedEx Cup at the BMW Championship and already is assured of a $5 million bonus for staying at the top going into the FedEx Cup finale next week at East Lake.Scheffler said Cromie was learning a lot of the minutiae that often go unnoticed by spectators, such as when he likes to snack and how often to drink, and how he likes to get the yardage and other conditions communicated to him.There's also the matter of getting yardages from tee-to-green.“Brad did a great job stepping in, but Brad is a friend, he’s not a professional caddie,” Scheffler said. "I think when you have a professional on the bag, it’s a bit different. It's not that I don’t trust Brad to do the numbers. It was just something that I think both of us probably thought it was a good idea to be double-checking each other."Going into this week, it will be kind of more of a normal routine for me in terms of preparation over the shot and stuff like that," he said. “It’s nice for me to be able to walk up to the ball, see the shot that I can imagine hitting, and then when the numbers come, we start trying to really dial it in.”___AP golf: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/golf">https://apnews.com/hub/golf</a>

PORTRUSH, NORTHERN IRELAND - JULY 20: Scottie Scheffler of the United States tees off on the 6th hole on day four of The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club on July 20, 2025 in Portrush, Northern Ireland.

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks placed right-hander Anthony DeSclafani on the 15...

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks placed right-hander Anthony DeSclafani on the 15-day injured list Wednesday because of right thumb inflammation after he made three starts.DeSclafani (1-2, 4.36 ERA) has been primarily a reliever for the Diamondbacks, but made the starts this month after Merrill Kelly was traded to Texas at the deadline on July 31.Arizona made the move with DeSclafani before the series finale at Texas, when Kelly was starting for the Rangers. The Diamondbacks recalled right-hander Casey Kelly from Triple-A Reno.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“We’re hoping for the minimal time. He’s going to get some imaging just to make sure that everything’s OK,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “This is something that popped up a couple days ago. We all felt that he was going to be able to take the baseball and go out there and compete, which he did. We saw the stuff in the first couple of innings, and we decided it was time to take him off the field.”In the three starts this month, DeSclafani is 0-1 with a 5.59 ERA, allowing six runs in 9 2/3 innings. He threw three innings Tuesday night, allowing two runs in a game <a href="https://apnews.com/article/diamondbacks-rangers-score-662115f7eccc322a66e24d0a2e3c7a8e">Arizona won 3-2</a> on a homer by Ketel Marte in the ninth.___AP MLB: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">https://apnews.com/hub/mlb</a>

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 12: Anthony DeSclafani #21 of the Arizona Diamondbacks throws a pitch during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on August 12, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was surprised to find hi...

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons quarterback <a href="https://apnews.com/article/falcons-penix-morris-training-camp-19a837cc62717dade9d2d386ad690f40?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">Michael Penix Jr.</a> was surprised to find himself in the middle of a scuffle that interrupted his team's second joint practice with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday.After connecting with Ray-Ray McCloud III on a long touchdown pass, Penix said he was “celebrating” with comments he said were delivered in response to “words” from Tennessee players.<figure class="article-segment--embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Elevating 📈<a href="https://twitter.com/themikepenix?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@themikepenix</a> x <a href="https://twitter.com/RMIII_34?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RMIII_34</a> <a href="https://t.co/oId4yt6gjN">pic.twitter.com/oId4yt6gjN</a>— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) <a href="https://twitter.com/AtlantaFalcons/status/1955656673064026455?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2025</a>
</blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></figure>“I like to compete at a high level, and when I compete, I don’t really do too much talking,” Penix said. “So somebody says something to me and ... OK, I throw a touchdown. ‘Now what y’all talking about?’ And then I guess not everybody takes that the right way. And I think that’s all it was.”<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Penix was thrown to the ground by one or more Tennessee players and ended up at the bottom of a pile of players. He said it was the first time he's been involved in an altercation like that on the field.The scuffle came only hours after Falcons coach Raheem Morris commended players for competing in the first joint practice Tuesday, “without all the foolish things” like fights on the field.Tennessee players were critical of their inability to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/titans-falcons-joint-practice-247478b242e46ee1420b3ab4c09c6a8a?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">match the intensity</a> of the Falcons' players in Wednesday's first joint practice. The visitors were determined to show more fire in the second joint practice.“The team had a little scuffle going on, but after the scuffle, we were still able to play football and keep that high intensity,” said Titans outside linebacker Arden Key.The joint practices were staged at the Falcons' practice facility before the teams play a preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday night.Falcons quarterback coach D.J. Williams wasn't happy to see Penix, the second-year quarterback entering his first full season as the starter, at the bottom of the pile. “Obviously, you don't want that,” Williams said.Williams said it was revealing to see how Penix's teammates rose to his defense.“I take the positive out of it,” Williams said. “Like you saw the guys take up for him. And I think that speaks to his leadership and who he is in that locker room. ... Obviously, he has the relationship and the trust of the guys because everybody ran to his defense. So I think that’s a good thing for the Falcons.”Following the practice, Penix was still struggling to process the altercation.“I don't know. I was somebody else,” Penix said.Asked about being at the bottom of the pile, he said, “I don’t know where I was at in it. It was a lot of people in it. I know I was down there somewhere. I wasn’t the only one, though.”Penix said he was appreciative “to see the team had my back and they were there to make sure they protect me. A lot of guys asked me if I was good.”Morris said Penix will sit out the second straight preseason game. Backup Kirk Cousins also may be held out after the two split most of the snaps in team drills in the joint practices.Titans coach Brian Callahan, who spoke before Wednesday's practice, said the same players who played in the team's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/titans-buccaneers-score-12c8c9179cddca9f855866b8e6340113?utm_source=copy&amp;utm_medium=share">29-7 loss at Tampa Bay</a> in last week's preseason opener likely will play against the Falcons. That list includes rookie starter Cam Ward, who played two series against the Buccaneers and was encouraged by the response to the team's disappointing Tuesday practice.“Today's practice, we were a lot better,” Ward said.Ward acknowledged his Wednesday practice wasn't perfect. He was picked off by Falcons safety Dee Alford after he was forced to scramble and then tried to throw the ball out of bounds.“Just not putting enough on it,” Ward said.Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, said he already feels “I'd be fully prepared” to open the regular season this week.___AP NFL: <a href="https://undefined">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA - JULY 27: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. #9 runs a play during Atlanta Falcons training camp on July 27, 2025 at IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch, GA.

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TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The home of the Tampa Bay Lightning has a new name, Benchmark International Ar...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The home of the Tampa Bay Lightning has a new name, Benchmark International Arena, after the NHL team unveiled a multiyear agreement Wednesday with the mergers and acquisitions company.The change takes effect immediately. The building that opened in 1996 had been known as Amalie Arena since 2014, and it was the site of the Lightning hoisting the Stanley Cup in 2021 for the second of their back-to-back championships.Financial terms were not disclosed. Benchmark International and Vinik Sports Group, which owns the Lightning, said their partnership includes more than $3 million in nonprofit contributions to benefit the area.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Vinik Sports Group CEO Steve Griggs called Benchmark “a well-respected brand with global reach and strong ties to the Tampa Bay community” and said Amalie Motor Oil will continue to be a corporate partner of the organization.___AP NHL: <a href="https://apnews.com/NHL">https://apnews.com/NHL</a>

TAMPA, FL - JUNE 30: A general view outside Amalie Arena before Game Two of the Stanley Cup Final between the Montreal Canadians and the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 30, 2021 at AMALIE Arena in Tampa, Fl.

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Lightning's rink renamed Benchmark International Arena

NEW YORK (AP) — Venus Williams will make her return to Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open after a...

NEW YORK (AP) — Venus Williams will make her return to Grand Slam tennis at the U.S. Open after a two-year absence, receiving a wild-card invitation on Wednesday to compete in singles at Flushing Meadows at age 45.The American will be the oldest entrant in singles at the tournament since Renee Richards was 47 in 1981, according to the International Tennis Federation.Williams already had been given a wild-card entry by the U.S. Tennis Association for next week's mixed doubles competition. Singles matches begin in New York on Aug. 24.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>She is the owner of seven major singles championships — including at the U.S. Open in 2000 and 2001 — along with another 14 in women's doubles, all won with her younger sister, Serena, plus two in mixed doubles. Serena retired with 23 Slam singles trophies after playing at the 2022 U.S. Open.The older Williams last participated in a Grand Slam tournament at the 2023 U.S. Open, losing in the first round. She hasn't won a singles match there since 2019.When Williams came back to the tour last month at the DC Open for her first match anywhere in 16 months, a reporter asked whether that would be a one-time thing or if there were plans for other tournaments."I'm just here for now, and who knows?" she replied then. "Maybe there's more. ... But at the moment, I'm focused just on this. I haven't played in a year. There is no doubt I can play tennis, but obviously coming back to play matches, it takes time to get in the swing of things. I definitely feel I'll play well. I'm still the same player. I'm a big hitter. I hit big. This is my brand."Last year, Williams had surgery to remove uterine fibroids and missed most of the season. In Washington this July, she competed for the first time since March 2024 at the Miami Open and became the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova was 47 at Wimbledon in 2004; Williams also won a doubles match at the DC Open.In the process, Williams drew a ton of attention for her tennis, yes, but also for letting the world know she’s engaged to an Italian actor and for her half-joking comments about needing to get back on court to get covered by health insurance."I love Venus. We're friends. I didn't really know this was something she was still wanting to do. But I also didn't know it was something she didn't want to do," said Mark Ein, the chairman of the hard-court tournament in Washington. "I was surprised. And it was a wonderful surprise."Williams also entered the Cincinnati Open via a wild card last week, exiting in the first round of singles.In New York, she will play in the Aug. 19-20 mixed doubles tournament with Reilly Opelka, a 27-year-old American who used to be ranked in the top 20.Other women getting singles wild cards for the U.S. Open are Americans Clervie Ngounoue, Julieta Pareja, Caty McNally, Valerie Glozman and Alyssa Ahn, plus France's Caroline Garcia — who'll be playing in her last Grand Slam tournament before retirement — and Australia's Talia Gibson.Men's wild cards went to Americans Brandon Holt, Nishesh Basavareddy, Tristan Boyer, Emilio Nava, Stefan Dostanic and Darwin Blanch, and France's Valentin Royer and Australia's Tristan Schoolkate.___Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

MASON, OHIO - AUGUST 07: Venus Williams of the United States of America in action against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain during the Women's Singles First Round match of the Cincinnati Open 2025 at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 07, 2025 in Mason, Ohio.

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Venus gets US Open wild card, will become oldest singles player since 1981

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders sustained an oblique inju...

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders sustained an oblique injury during drills early in practice Wednesday and did not play the rest of the session.Sanders and the Browns were in Philadelphia for a pair of joint practices ahead of Saturday’s preseason game. The Browns did not offer any additional information on Sanders' availability for the rest of the week.Sanders completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards with two first-half touchdown passes to Kaden Davis in his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/shedeur-sanders-debut-f503b54a2db882ab32f834169bb6a573">NFL preseason debut in a win over Carolina</a> on Friday night.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>The performance by Hall of Famer Deion Sanders' son even caught the attention of NBA star LeBron James.“That young (man) looking good out there,” James wrote. “Keep going UP!!! HEAD down on the grind and HEAD high to the most high.”The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-draft-shedeur-sanders-ebf04dc76ea7052a89c315b82c289b0e">Browns took Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of the NFL draft</a>. He wasn’t selected until the 144th overall pick, a stunning fall for the most recognizable player in this draft class.Sanders finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting last season for Colorado and threw for a school-record 4,134 yards last season.He is part of a crowded Browns quarterback room as Deshaun Watson is expected to sit out this season with a torn Achilles tendon. The group also includes Kenny Pickett, 40-year-old Joe Flacco, and third-round pick Dillon Gabriel, who was responsible for a Football Bowl Subdivision-record 188 total touchdowns during a six-year career that included stops at Central Florida, Oklahoma, and Oregon.Pickett has been slowed in training camp with a hamstring injury, and Gabriel experienced a tight hamstring.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">https://apnews.com/hub/nfl</a>

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 12: Quarterback Shedeur Sanders #12 of the Cleveland Browns watches practice during organized team activities at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 12, 2025 in Berea, Ohio.

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Browns' Sanders injures oblique at practice

MUNICH (AP) — Thomas Muller has a lot to adapt to with the Vancouver Whitecaps after 25 years at ...

MUNICH (AP) — Thomas Muller has a lot to adapt to with the Vancouver Whitecaps after 25 years at Bayern Munich.First up, flying without an old friend.Aboard the plane taking him to Canada and Major League Soccer, Muller joked it was the first time in 15 years he'd flown without Manuel Neuer, the goalkeeper who's been his longtime teammate for Bayern and the German national team.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"I'm on my flight to Vancouver. I'm looking for the GOAT. Can you help me? I cannot find him anywhere," Muller said in a video on Instagram."It's my first flight without Manuel Neuer since maybe 15 years, I don't know. I'm very excited to come to Vancouver to play for the Whitecaps. Fingers crossed for my first games. See you there."The 35-year-old forward admitted to feeling "a little bit nervous" in comments to German broadcaster Sky Sport. "It's the first time in a very long time that I'm joining a new team."Muller joined Bayern's academy as a 10-year-old in 2000 and had spent his entire career with the German champion, winning a record 13 Bundesliga titles, two Champions Leagues and the World Cup with Germany in 2014.His last game for Bayern was a quarterfinal loss to Paris Saint-Germain at the Club World Cup in Atlanta, after a months-long farewell from the club. Bayern announced in April it wouldn't be extending his contract. Muller said he understood "even if this did not reflect my personal wishes."The following weeks saw emotional scenes with teammates, club officials and fans as Muller hit personal milestones — passing his 500th Bundesliga game and 750th game in total for Bayern — and wrapped up yet another German title.Vancouver said last week Muller will join the Whitecaps for the remainder of the season in an open roster spot, with a Designated Player option for 2026.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

16 April 2025, Italy, Mailand: Soccer: Champions League, Inter Milan - Bayern Munich, knockout round, quarter-finals, second leg at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, Munich's Thomas Müller reacts next to goalkeeper Manuel Neuer after the game. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa

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Muller jokes he's missing Neuer as Vancouver adventure begins

MADRID (AP) — Montse Tome had been expecting to keep her job as coach of Spain's women's national...

MADRID (AP) — Montse Tome had been expecting to keep her job as coach of Spain's women's national team after leading it to the final of the European Championship last month and says she doesn't know why her contract wasn't extended."Things happen in soccer that you don't expect," Tome said in an interview with Spanish radio Cadena Ser.The Spanish soccer federation announced Monday that it was not extending Tome's contract and will replace her with former player Sonia Bermudez. The announcement came two weeks after Spain lost the Euro 2025 final to England in a penalty shootout.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Tome, who took over the job after Spain won the 2023 World Cup, also led Spain to the title of the inaugural Women's Nations League last year.Tome said she was taken by surprise with the federation's decision to not extend her contract that expires at the end of the month.She said federation president Rafael Louzan had told her that she would remain in charge if Spain did well at Euro 2025."He has always shown a lot of confidence in me, but I'm a little disappointed about how everything was handled. He didn't keep his word about the continuity. I felt that he was happy with my work," Tome said. "It was hard to understand everything that happened since the final. It's understandable that the federation wants to go into a new direction, but that message wasn't really clear for me. They had given me a different impression."<h3>Goodbye messages</h3>Tome said she was not bothered by not receiving goodbye messages from her players on social media."I received many messages from them," she said. "I felt very respected by everyone. I'm not concerned about whether they posted them online or not."The decision to replace Tome — the first women to coach the senior women's team in Spain — was made by the federation's board members.She had been an assistant to former coach Jorge Vilda during the World Cup and was promoted in the fallout of former federation president Luis Rubiales' nonconsensual kiss of player Jenni Hermoso.Tome had been criticized by some for not including Hermoso in recent call-ups, but she always maintained it was a decision based on sporting performances."I don't want to think it had anything to do with it," Tome said. "Since I was appointed, they allowed me to make decisions based on my sporting criteria. No one told me to bring in this player or another. I've never had to send the list of players to a president."___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

BASEL, SWITZERLAND - JULY 27: Montse Tome, Head Coach of Spain, looks on after the team's defeat in the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Final match between England and Spain at St. Jakob-Park on July 27, 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.

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Tome thought job was safe, says Spain chief 'didn't keep his word'

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has received a $300 million gift from donor David Booth, the largest...

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas has received a $300 million gift from donor David Booth, the largest in school history and believed to be among the richest in the history of college sports.Booth, a graduate of Lawrence High School and KU, already has his name on the football stadium.Kansas was expected to allocate $75 million toward the next phase of the renovation of the <a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-933265936fc547848a28d7fd22987c6b">David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium</a> and additional construction of the surrounding area, called the Gateway District. Kansas athletic director Travis Goff said the remainder of the gift was expected to generate a stream of income for the athletic department that could last for generations.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>“There is no more generous and impactful Jayhawk, and we are so fortunate to call him a friend and mentor,” Goff said.The Gateway District’s next phase was expected to add a hotel, additional retail and restaurant spaces, student housing, improved parking, and an outdoor event plaza.Booth is the founder of global investment firm Dimensional Fund Advisors, which managed $853 billion in assets as of June 30. The longtime benefactor made a <a href="https://apnews.com/4f959bf1edfc456db6f5d4d56ff5ab22">$50 million</a> pledge in 2017 to help with the overhaul of the football stadium, which at the time was the largest donation in KU history. He has given several other financial gifts to the university, including $4.3 million to buy and donate James Naismith’s original rules of basketball.“KU and Lawrence are a big part of my story, and it means a lot to support the community that invested in me," Booth said. “Philanthropy, like investing, pays dividends over time.”The Kansas football team played six games last season in the Kansas City area while the stadium underwent renovations. The Jayhawks are set to play <a href="https://apnews.com/live/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">their first game</a> at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 23 against Fresno State.___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up <a href="https://www.apnews.com/newsletters">here</a>. AP college football: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll">https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll</a> and <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/college-football">https://apnews.com/hub/college-football</a>

PHOENIX, AZ - DECEMBER 26: The Kansas Jayhawks logo on a mat during the Guaranteed Rate Bowl college football game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the UNLV Rebels on December 26, 2023 at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Booth gifts Kansas $300M for stadium renovations, additional revenue stream

MONACO (AP) — U.S. Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley has been provisionally suspended for "whereabouts...

MONACO (AP) — U.S. Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley has been provisionally suspended for "whereabouts failures" under the sport's anti-doping rules, the Athletics Integrity Unit said Tuesday.Lawyers for the 30-year-old Kerley hit back in a statement posted on the athlete's account on X."Fred Kerley has already notified the AIU that he intends to contest the allegation that he has violated the anti-doping rules related to whereabouts failures, as he strongly believes that one of (or) more of his alleged missed tests should be set aside either because he was not negligent or because the Doping Control Officer did not do what was reasonable under the circumstances to locate him at his designated location," the statement said.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>It added: "Fred will not comment further at this time out of respect for the process, and looks forward to presenting his case to the appointed hearing panel."Kerley won the Olympic silver medal in the 100 meters at the Tokyo Games and the bronze in Paris last year. He has also earned six medals at the track and field world championships."You can try to break me in the storm, but all you're doing is giving me a better story at the finish line," Kerley later posted on the same account.In May, Kerley was charged in Florida with punching a woman, a hurdler who also competed in the Olympics. That came just a few months after he was arrested for allegedly punching a Miami Beach police officer on Jan. 2, an incident in which police used a Taser on him.His lawyers say Kerley is innocent of those charges.

Fred Kerley of the United States celebrates after the men's 100m final of Athletics at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 4, 2024.

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Kerley provisionally suspended for anti-doping 'whereabouts failures'

Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson addressed her recent domestic violence arrest in a video on social ...

Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson addressed her recent domestic violence arrest in a video on social media and issued an apology to her boyfriend Christian Coleman.Richardson posted a video on her Instagram account Monday night in which she said she put herself in a "compromised situation." She issued a written apology to Coleman on Tuesday morning."I love him &amp; to him I can't apologize enough," the reigning 100-meter world champion wrote in all capital letters on Instagram, adding that her apology "should be just as loud" as her "actions."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"To Christian I love you &amp; I am so sorry," she wrote.Richardson was arrested July 27 on a fourth-degree domestic violence offense for allegedly assaulting Coleman at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. She was booked into South Correctional Entity in Des Moines, Washington, for more than 18 hours.Her arrest was days before she ran the 100 meters at the U.S. championships in Eugene, Oregon.In the video, Richardson said she's practicing "self-reflection" and refuses "to run away but face everything that comes to me head on."According to the police report, an officer at the airport was notified by a Transportation Security Administration supervisor of a disturbance between Richardson and her boyfriend, Coleman, the 2019 world 100-meter champion.The officer reviewed camera footage and observed Richardson reach out with her left arm and grab Coleman's backpack and yank it away. Richardson then appeared to get in Coleman's way with Coleman trying to step around her. Coleman was shoved into a wall.Later in the report, it said Richardson appeared to throw an item at Coleman, with the TSA indicating it may have been headphones.The officer said in the report: "I was told Coleman did not want to participate any further in the investigation and declined to be a victim."A message was left with Coleman from The Associated Press.Richardson wrote that Coleman "came into my life &amp; gave me more than a relationship but a greater understanding of unconditional love from what I've experienced in my past."She won the 100 at the 2023 world championships in Budapest and finished with the silver at the Paris Games last summer. She also helped the 4x100 relay to an Olympic gold.She didn't compete during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 following a positive marijuana test at the U.S. Olympic trials.

PARIS, FRANCE - AUGUST 09: Sha'carri Richardson of Team United States looks on after winning the gold medals after competing in the Women's 4x100m Relay Final on day fourteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade de France on August 09, 2024 in Paris, France.

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Sha'Carri Richardson addresses domestic violence arrest, apologizes

MIAMI (AP) — A misdemeanor battery case in South Florida against professional boxer Gervonta "Tan...

MIAMI (AP) — A misdemeanor battery case in South Florida against professional boxer Gervonta "Tank" Davis was dropped Tuesday, a month after his arrest on the domestic violence charge.The online docket for Miami-Dade County's clerk of court showed that the charge was dropped and the case closed.Davis, 30, was picked up shortly after midnight on July 11 near the popular Lincoln Road area of Miami Beach.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Davis and his vehicle information had been added to a law enforcement database, and a license plate reader set up in Miami Beach flagged his car. Miami Beach police made the initial stop and then turned Davis over to Doral police. He was later released on a $10,000 bond.The charge was connected to a report made in June by Davis' former domestic partner in Doral, a residential city in western Miami-Dade. According to a police report, the mother of his two children said Davis struck the back of her head and slapped her during an argument while she was taking one of their children out of his car.Davis, who is from Baltimore, is in the regular conversation for best pound-for-pound boxer. The WBA lightweight champion won his first 30 bouts, 28 by knockout, with his devastating punching power drawing sellouts crowds from New York to Washington to Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 15: Gervonta Davis 'Tank' speaks during a press conference after his match against Frank Martin for WBA world lightweight title of the Premiere Boxing Championship on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on June 15, 2024.

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Davis' domestic violence charge dropped in South Florida

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rondale Moore, the fifth-year wide receiver and return specialist who was maki...

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Rondale Moore, the fifth-year wide receiver and return specialist who was making a comeback attempt with the Minnesota Vikings, will miss a second consecutive season with a new team because of a knee injury.The Vikings announced Tuesday that testing on Moore's left knee confirmed a season-ending injury, without specifying the diagnosis. Moore, who spent his first three years in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, dislocated his right knee during training camp with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 and never played for them. Moore was hurt while returning a punt Saturday in Minnesota's first exhibition game, tackled by Houston Texans linebacker Jamal Hill as he approached the sideline after a 2-yard return. Moore clearly sensed the seriousness of the injury once he was helped onto a cart, slamming his hand down so hard out of frustration that the sound was audible throughout the stadium.<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>Afterward, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell described the situation as “heartbreaking” after seeing Moore's comeback cut painfully short.“I make a life out of trying to leave others better than I found them, and in that situation, there’s really nothing to do or nothing I can do, which is the worst feeling as a head coach," O'Connell said. "So you just console them and make sure that he knows he’s not going to be alone.”Moore was a second-round draft pick out of Purdue in 2021 by the Cardinals, for whom he played 39 games in three seasons, plus one in the playoffs. He missed nine games due to injuries in 2022.___AP NFL: <a href="https://apnews.com/hub/NFL">https://apnews.com/hub/NFL</a>

EAGAN, MN - AUGUST 02: Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore (4) looks on during Minnesota Vikings Training Camp at TCO Performance Center on August 2, 2025 in Eagan, Minnesota.

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Rondale Moore to miss 2nd consecutive season due to knee injury

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid said it "firmly rejects" having a regular-season Spanish league game pl...

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid said it "firmly rejects" having a regular-season Spanish league game played in the United States and warned of "a turning point in the world of football."Villarreal, in contrast, is promising free travel and tickets for season-ticket holders if its match against Barcelona in Miami is approved in what would be a first for the league. The 17th-round match in La Liga would be played at the Hard Rock Stadium.Madrid said Tuesday it has taken action to keep the Dec. 20 match from happening in the U.S., claiming it would hurt the "integrity of the competition" and the "legitimacy of the results."<div class="the-score-article-ad-unit"></div>"The measure, which was taken without prior information or consultation of the clubs participating in the competition, infringes the essential principle of territorial reciprocity, which applies in two-legged league competitions (one match at home and the other at the home of the opposing team), upsetting the competitive balance and giving an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs," Madrid said.The club said the match would set "an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on non-sporting interests, clearly affecting sporting integrity and risking the adulteration of the competition.""If this proposal were to be carried out, its consequences would be so serious that it would be a turning point in the world of football," Madrid said.The Europe-wide fan group Football Supporters Europe (FSE) said it was "liaising" with members, soccer stakeholders, affected groups, and partner organizations to "collectively resist the latest threat to the very nature of football.""We are following the broader impact on football with the utmost concern," the group said. "Moving games from their domestic territories strikes at the heart of the relationship between fans and their teams, breaking vital links between clubs and their communities."The group also criticized a similar move by the Italian league to play a match abroad.The Italian soccer federation said in July that a plan was in motion to play the Serie A match between AC Milan and Como in the Australian city of Perth in February.<h3>Madrid asks FIFA, UEFA to withhold permission</h3>Madrid said it has asked FIFA, UEFA and Spain's top sports body to not authorize the game in the U.S. The Spanish soccer federation on Monday approved a request for the match to be played in Miami. UEFA and FIFA now have to approve the request before it can be made official."Any modification of this nature must, in any case, have the express and unanimous agreement of all the clubs participating in the competition, as well as strictly respecting the national and international rules governing the organization of official competitions," Madrid said.Madrid and Spanish league president Javier Tebas have often been at odds on various issues.The club said UEFA should deny the request to play the game abroad based on the "criterion established in 2018 that prevents official matches in domestic competitions from being played outside national territory, except in duly justified exceptional circumstances, which are not present here."Madrid said it asked the country’s high sports council "not to grant the necessary administrative authorization without such unanimous consent.""Real Madrid reaffirms its commitment to respect the national and international rules that guarantee the fairness and proper functioning of official competitions, and will defend its compliance with them before all competent bodies," the club said.<h3>Villarreal hoping to expand its brand in U.S.</h3>Villarreal earlier Tuesday said its season ticket-holders can travel for free and receive free tickets for the match. It said those who don't want to go, or can't go, will get a 20% discount on their season tickets."We would be the first (Spanish) team to play a league match abroad," Villarreal president Fernando Roig told a news conference. "It would greatly help us expand our brand in a key market like the United States."Staging a match abroad has long been part of the league's goal to promote soccer and its brand in other countries.It first tried to stage a match in the U.S. in 2018, with a game between Barcelona and Girona, but the idea was dismissed after criticism from players, fans and clubs. Subsequent attempts to play there also failed.The league had offered compensation packages for Girona fans in 2018.It wasn't clear whether it would be Villarreal or the league paying for the travel and tickets for the club's fans this time.The attempts to play in the U.S. are part of the league's long-term partnership with sports and entertainment group Relevent Sports, which is part of Stephen Ross' portfolio of companies including Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins, the Formula One's Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open tennis tournament.Earlier this year, it was announced that New York-based Relevent Sports has exclusive negotiating rights over the global commercial rights to the UEFA men's club competitions for the period 2027-2033.FIFA moved last year toward ending decades of soccer tradition by ordering a review of its policy that blocks domestic league games being played in other countries.Some fan groups in Spain and the country's players association on Monday expressed their disapproval of the plan to move the match thousands of kilometers away.It has become routine, though, for U.S. pro sports leagues to stage games in Europe, Asia and South America that help build their brands and fan bases.___AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JUNE 22: A fan wearing a Barcelona shirt is seenin the middle of the Real Madrid fans during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group H match between Real Madrid CF and CF Pachuca at Bank of America Stadium on June 22, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Real Madrid 'firmly' against La Liga staging Barcelona-Villarreal in Miami

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