Gambling firms not licensed in the UK face being banned from sponsoring British sports teams under new government proposals to protect consumers.
Ministers have expressed concern regarding risks stemming from the unlicensed market, including companies ignoring laws designed to safeguard customers.
The government highlighted missing protections such as mandatory financial vulnerability checks and responsible advertising guidelines.
Risks of fraud and crime
officials warned that a lack of data protection measures leaves individuals open to fraud and identity theft.
Unregulated betting has also been linked to organised crime networks.
A consultation regarding the proposals is scheduled to launch this spring.
Premier League warnings
Last year, several top-flight sides were warned by the Gambling Commission regarding their relationship with TGP Europe.
Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle and Wolves carried branding from websites run by the firm, which had previously surrendered its British licence.
An investigation found the operator failed to carry out sufficient checks on business partners and breached anti-money laundering rules.
Clubs received letters warning they could be liable to prosecution for promoting unlicensed businesses transacting with consumers in Great Britain.
‘Not right’ to sponsor clubs
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said punters deserve to know the sites they use are properly regulated with the right protections.
She added: “It’s not right that unlicensed gambling operators can sponsor some of our biggest football clubs, raising their profile and potentially drawing fans towards sites that don’t meet our regulatory standards.”
The Betting and Gaming Council backed the plans on social media.
The industry body stated: “If an operator wants the visibility and credibility of English football, they should meet the high regulatory standards set here in the UK.”
Shirt sponsorship changes
Premier League clubs have already collectively agreed to withdraw gambling sponsorship from the front of matchday shirts by the end of the current campaign.
However, sleeve sponsorship is still permitted to carry betting branding, including that of unlicensed entities.
Ministers argue the visibility of such brands could drive consumers towards sites operating outside the Gambling Commission’s regulatory protections.
Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson believes she is "closer than ever" to breaking the longest-standing world record in athletics following her historic indoor performance.
The 23-year-old recently smashed the indoor global best but has now set her sights on Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 1983 mark.
That outdoor record of one minute 53.28 seconds has remained untouched for more than four decades.
Hodgkinson feels her recent form suggests the historic time is finally within reach.
"It’s not an easy feat and there’s a reason it has stood for so long," she told BBC Sport.
"I think this is the closest I’ve felt near it."
"I do really believe that we can break it, but a lot of things have got to come together."
Record-breaking form in France
The Wigan-born athlete clocked a stunning 1:54.87 in Lievin to obliterate a record that had stood since the day she was born.
Her coach, Jenny Meadows, suggested the run in France could have been even quicker.
Hodgkinson agrees that there is more speed to come.
"I’ve known for weeks I’m capable of breaking it," she explained.
"It’s just a matter of getting out on the day."
"We can push it even further in the future, as long as I stay healthy and I think this is hopefully just the beginning."
Overcoming injury heartbreak
This optimism marks a significant turnaround following a challenging period after the Paris 2024 Games.
Despite storming to Olympic gold, the middle-distance runner suffered a torn hamstring that halted her training.
The enforced break required a complete mental and physical reset.
"After winning the Olympics, it really wasn’t what I thought was going to happen," she admitted.
"It makes you stop and strip back everything and think, why is this happening? What are the problems?"
"But, we got through it, I became a stronger person, and I think this is now the reward of all of that happening."
Chasing athletics history
Lord Coe, the World Athletics president, has publicly backed the Briton to surpass Kratochvilova’s time this year.
However, the task remains immense, with the current benchmark standing over a second faster than Hodgkinson’s personal best of 1:54.61.
Kratochvilova’s 1983 performance has faced scrutiny regarding the doping regime of that era, though she has always denied wrongdoing.
For the reigning Olympic champion, the focus remains strictly on her own preparation.
"We’re on the right path and we’ve seen evidence in training that we think that it’s possible," Hodgkinson concluded.
"I think the reason this year has gone so well for me is because I’ve had my healthiest winter training I’ve had in years."
Joe George Jr collapses in corner during fight and exits on stretcher
Boxer Joe George Jr left the ring on a stretcher after collapsing in his corner following the first round of his light-heavyweight bout against Atif Oberlton in Detroit.
The alarming scenes unfolded at the Little Caesars Arena on Sunday night as part of the Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn undercard.
George and Oberlton had been involved in a clash of heads during the opening three minutes of action.
After returning to his corner, the Houston fighter fell from his stool while preparing to take instructions from his coaching team.
Oberlton awarded TKO victory
Although George regained consciousness, the 34-year-old was unable to continue with the match.
Referee officials subsequently deemed Philadelphia’s Oberlton the winner by technical knockout.
The victor, who improved his unbeaten record to 15-0, immediately embraced his opponent once George was responsive.
Oberlton expressed his concern for the stricken fighter before George was transported away from ringside for medical assessment.
“Just like, ‘I got love for you bro,’ It’s cool,” Oberlton said.
“I just wanted to make sure he was safe.”
BBC Sport looks back at the defining images, record-breaking displays and emotional victories from the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
The event in Milan-Cortina has concluded after delivering weeks of spectacular action on snow and ice.
Fans witnessed history being made across multiple disciplines in the Italian Alps and city arenas.
Highlights from Milan-Cortina
The Games provided a spectacular showcase of endurance, skill and artistry.
From dramatic finishes in the alpine skiing to tension in the curling rink, the competition remained fierce throughout.
This compilation captures the sheer joy of gold medal triumphs alongside the heartbreak of near misses.
The return of the Winter Games to Europe brought an electric atmosphere to every venue.
How to watch
You can view the full highlights package in the video player at the top of this page.
Please note that this video content is accessible to UK users only due to rights restrictions.
For further analysis and final medal tables, visit the dedicated Winter Olympics section on the BBC Sport website.
South Africa have launched their T20 World Cup Super 8s campaign with a resounding 76-run victory over defending champions India in Ahmedabad.
The result serves as a statement of intent from the Proteas against the co-hosts, who had entered this stage of the tournament with a perfect winning record.
It was a fixture loaded with narrative, serving as a repeat of the 2024 final in Barbados where India edged a seven-run victory to lift the trophy.
However, the roles were reversed in emphatic fashion this time around as South Africa successfully defended a total of 187-7.
Miller and Brevis rescue tourists
After opting to bat first, the visitors found themselves in a perilous position early on.
Skipper Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, and Ryan Rickelton were all dismissed for single digits, leaving the score at a concerning 20-3 inside four overs.
The recovery was led by David Miller, who utilised his local knowledge of the conditions having previously represented the Gujarat Titans at this venue.
The experienced left-hander struck a fluid 65 from just 35 balls, finding the boundary with ease while Dewald Brevis played a supportive role.
Brevis eventually accelerated to contribute a 29-ball 45, helping to stabilise the innings before falling just short of his half-century.
By the time Miller departed in the 16th over, the partnership had lifted the side to a commanding position of 152-5.
Although India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh applied pressure with quality death bowling, Tristan Stubbs ensured a strong finish.
Stubbs smashed 20 runs off Hardik Pandya’s final over to finish unbeaten on 44, setting India a daunting target of 188.
India batting lineup collapses
The chase began disastrously for the Men in Blue.
Markram made an immediate impact with the ball, dismissing the dangerous Ishan Kishan for a duck in the opening over.
Marco Jansen compounded the hosts’ misery moments later by removing Tilak Varma, leaving the home crowd stunned.
Abhishek Sharma managed to break a streak of three consecutive ducks but could only contribute 15 runs before becoming another victim of Jansen’s pace.
The situation deteriorated rapidly when captain Suryakumar Yadav fell midway through the innings, leaving his side reeling at 51-5 after 10 overs.
Keshav Maharaj tore through the middle order, claiming three wickets in a single over to extinguish any lingering hopes of a comeback.
Jansen returned to clean up the tail, finishing with impressive figures of 4-22 as India were bowled out for a meager 111.
The defeat leaves India in a precarious position, requiring a victory against Zimbabwe in Chennai on Thursday to remain in contention.
South Africa will stay in Ahmedabad, looking to build on this momentum when they face former champions West Indies on Wednesday.
Lucas Pinheiro Braathen has claimed a historic first Winter Olympic gold for Brazil as the Milan-Cortina Games concluded with significant success for Great Britain.
The sight of the slalom specialist dancing a samba on the Stelvio snow provided the defining image of the tournament.
It emphasised the success of an event ambitiously staged across far-flung locations.
Organisers believe this decentralized model will serve as a blueprint for future editions, illustrating how to host without losing the essential snow-bound setting.
A return to alpine roots
The 2026 Games marked a distinct evolution from the era of city-based hosts like Beijing and Sochi.
Livigno was accessible only via precarious passes, while Bormio offered ice-streaked cobbled streets.
It felt like a throwback to the purity of Lillehammer 1994, moving away from the corporate atmosphere of recent decades.
Proposals to include summer sports in the Winter programme now appear unnecessary following this display of high-octane action.
Team GB’s ‘Super Sunday’
Great Britain emerged as a genuine force on snow and ice.
The team secured three gold medals, hitting their broad medal target in emphatic fashion.
Two of those victories arrived within hours of each other on what became known as ‘Super Sunday’.
Matt Weston wrote his name into the history books during a standout campaign.
The skeleton racer became the first British Winter Olympian to win two medals at the same Games.
Star power and viral moments
Major names delivered on the biggest stage.
Freestyle skiing icons Eileen Gu and Chloe Kim revelled in the wintry conditions.
NHL stars also brightened the grey skies over Milan, returning to the Olympic fold for the first time in 12 years.
Celebrity culture was prominent throughout the fortnight.
Jake Paul was in attendance to support Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam, while Snoop Dogg continued his role as a roving correspondent.
The Games were not without bizarre headlines, including allegations regarding performance-enhancing injections among ski jumpers.
Double Olympic champion Matt Weston and snowboard cross gold medallist Charlotte Bankes have been chosen as Team GB’s flagbearers for the Winter Olympics closing ceremony.
Historic achievements
Weston has enjoyed a sensational campaign, becoming the first British man to ever win skeleton gold.
The sliding star backed up that individual triumph with a second title alongside Tabby Stoecker in the mixed team event.
Those two victories have cemented his status as the most successful British male Winter Olympian in history.
Bankes also stood atop the podium on ‘Super Sunday’, bouncing back from a quarter-final exit in her individual event.
The four-time Olympian combined with Huw Nightingale to win the mixed snowboard cross, securing Britain’s first-ever gold medal on snow.
‘Dream come true’
“To be asked to carry the flag is a dream come true and feels like a moment for our entire snowboard cross team,” said Bankes.
“We have made history for our sport, and I will be walking out there carrying it for everyone who has been part of that journey.
“I am so proud to be part of Team GB and I hope the past few weeks encourage the British public and the next generation to see a glimpse of what is possible in winter sport.”
Weston echoed those sentiments, highlighting the collective effort of the squad.
“The team have done everyone at home proud,” Weston added.
“We’ve got some amazing athletes here and they’ve shown the world what we’re made of.
“I’m very proud to be part of such a talented team – one that I hope has inspired lots of people back home.”
Record-breaking haul
The pair will lead the British delegation at the Arena of Verona on Sunday from 19:30 GMT.
Team GB leave Milano-Cortina having amassed their best-ever haul at a Winter Games.
The total of five medals equals the tallies from Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018, though the three gold medals significantly outstrip previous performances.
Bruce Mouat’s men’s curling rink took silver in the final following a defeat by Canada.
Freestyle skier Zoe Atkin added the final medal to the collection with a bronze in Sunday’s women’s half-pipe final.
Beyond the podium places, the team achieved a record 24 top-10 finishes, 15 more than the next best performance in Sochi.
Conor McGregor has urged the UFC to send a contract after claiming he is willing to fight a "no name" opponent to seal his long-awaited return to the octagon.
The former two-weight world champion has not competed since July 2021 but remains keen on a comeback in 2026.
Specifically, the Irishman appears to be targeting the promotion’s proposed event at the White House in June.
On Saturday, the 37-year-old took to social media to declare his readiness to step back into the cage regardless of the opposition’s profile.
"It’s a no name up next for me possibly, folks. I ACCEPT. Send the contract, lads."
Speculation over comeback opponent
This latest declaration comes less than a week after the Dubliner posted and immediately deleted a similar statement claiming a date had been agreed.
McGregor was originally scheduled to headline UFC 303 against Michael Chandler in June 2024 before withdrawing with a broken toe.
UFC chief executive Dana White has since confirmed that any potential return for the sport’s biggest star would no longer involve Chandler.
With that matchup off the table, questions persist regarding who will welcome the superstar back to competition.
Weight class questions remain
The ‘Notorious’ has faced a lengthy rehabilitation period after suffering a horrific leg break during his TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264.
While his aborted bout with Chandler was set for the welterweight limit of 170lb, it remains unclear which division McGregor intends to contest upon his return.
Three of his last four octagon appearances have taken place at lightweight, though he has historically fluctuated between weight classes.
McGregor holds a professional record of 22-6 but has not registered a victory since defeating Donald Cerrone in January 2020.