Former Arsenal and Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey has been appointed as the new head coach of Oxford United following the departure of Matt Bloomfield.

The 35-year-old arrives at the Kassam Stadium tasked with guiding the club following their recent drop into the third tier.

His permanent appointment comes swiftly after the board decided to dismiss Bloomfield on Saturday.

First permanent managerial role

The Welshman’s coaching credentials remain largely untested over a full domestic campaign.

The former Juventus and Rangers playmaker has experienced just one brief stint in the dugout prior to this move.

He previously took charge of Cardiff City in an interim capacity at the tail end of the 2024-25 season.

Stepping into the permanent hotseat in Oxfordshire represents a major milestone in his post-playing career.

Rebuilding after Championship relegation

Oxford suffered a deeply disappointing campaign last season that ultimately culminated in relegation.

The U’s finished 22nd in the Championship standings after accumulating a total of just 47 points.

The newly appointed boss must now attempt to unify a squad capable of securing immediate promotion.

FIFA is attempting to change penalty shootout regulations midway through the 2026 World Cup to ensure a fairer coin toss system ahead of the knockout stages.

The world football governing body has reportedly approached the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to amend the current dual format.

Under existing laws, referees conduct two separate tosses to determine which team takes the first spot-kick and which end of the pitch is used.

Officials now want to streamline this process into a single decisive toss.

A push for shootout fairness

The proposed revision would allow the winner of the single toss to choose either to strike first or to select the penalty area.

Consequently, the losing captain would automatically receive the remaining option.

Organisers believe this adjustment prevents one nation from securing a double psychological advantage by shooting first in front of their own supporters.

Race against time for knockout fixtures

Time is exceptionally tight to implement the regulatory shift at the tournament across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Lawmakers must reach a formal agreement before the opening knockout fixture kicks off on Sunday evening.

Mid-tournament legislative changes are highly unusual in the modern international game.

Managers and players are now waiting to see if the law-making body will sanction this unprecedented modification.

One person has died and eight others were injured following a fatal crowd crush at a World Cup watch party in the Jordanian capital of Amman on Monday night.

Thousands of supporters had gathered at Hashemite Square to watch the national team’s 2-1 defeat against Algeria on giant screens.

The central open-air venue has a designated capacity of approximately 6,000, but ministerial sources report that nearly 15,000 fans attended the screening.

This significant overcrowding ultimately led to a tragic crush as the Middle Eastern nation made their debut appearance at the global tournament.

Police confirm fatality after hospital admissions

A spokesperson for the country’s public safety directorate confirmed the casualties in an official statement released on Tuesday morning.

“Nine people were taken to hospital at dawn on Tuesday after being injured in a crowd movement in Hashemite Square.”
“One of the injured died shortly after being admitted.”

Medical officials have described the condition of the eight surviving individuals as stable to moderate, confirming there are currently no life-threatening injuries.

Tournament elimination confirmed for debutants

The tragic events off the pitch overshadowed a disappointing result on it, as the narrow loss confirmed tournament elimination for the FIFA-ranked number 64 side.

Having already suffered a 3-1 defeat to Austria a week earlier, the squad needed a positive result to keep their progression hopes alive.

They will now face reigning world champions Argentina – who boast all-time leading tournament goalscorer Lionel Messi in formidable form – in their final group-stage fixture next week.

Despite exiting the competition early, the team has earned immense respect in the United States for their fighting spirit on the pitch and pristine dressing room etiquette off it.

New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is being investigated by police in Florida following allegations of battery made by a woman claiming to be his former girlfriend.

Officers from the Davie Police Department were called to the 35-year-old’s residence on Sunday afternoon after the accuser dialled 911 to report an assault.

Authorities initially indicated on Monday that the matter was not an active case, but abruptly reversed their position a day later.

Detectives reviewing incident

A police spokesperson confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday that the situation is now under further scrutiny.

We were informed Monday evening that, during review, it was determined that this case is being further investigated by detectives.
It is active and we cannot release any additional information at this time.

Audio of the initial emergency call was obtained by the California Post, in which a tearful caller can be heard stating her ex-boyfriend had beaten her.

The accuser also posted a video of a dispute to Instagram, alleging on camera that the veteran passer had run outside and attacked her.

Online accusations and responses

The social media post included a caption claiming the altercation stemmed from the player’s reluctance to care for his six-year-old son, who has special needs.

However, the mother of the child publicly defended the NFL star on Sunday night via her own Instagram story.

Let’s kill that narrative.
Don’t get on the internet bringing my son into your web of dysfunction.

She added that he is, and always has been, more than capable of taking care of their child.

Neither the New York Jets organisation nor their current starting quarterback have issued public statements regarding the allegations.

Return to New York

The former Las Vegas Raider was re-acquired by the franchise in a March trade and immediately named their starter for the 2026 campaign.

He previously spent the first four seasons of his professional career with the Jets between 2013 and 2016.

South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has compared England youngster Henry Pollock to Springboks captain Siya Kolisi ahead of their meeting in Johannesburg next week.

The 21-year-old back-row forward is set to feature against the reigning world champions at Ellis Park in the Nations Championship opener on Saturday, 4 July.

Despite earning early international and British and Irish Lions recognition, his on-field antics have drawn harsh criticism from some quarters in South Africa.

Defending the ‘TikTok dancer’

Former World Cup winner Schalk Burger recently labelled the exciting talent a “TikTok dancer” who only plays rugby on the weekends.

Speaking after the Gallagher Premiership final, the English prospect admitted he was confused by the intense public scrutiny.

However, Springboks boss Erasmus believes the attention is a natural consequence of his profile, drawing a direct parallel with double World Cup-winning skipper Kolisi.

He’s like Siya. People make a big deal about certain players, but I don’t always think the players themselves want that attention.

What counts is what they do on the field, and recently, he’s been doing that. If I were coaching him, I’d only look at his output, and that has been exceptional.

England seek redemption after Six Nations slump

Steve Borthwick’s side arrive in South Africa desperate to halt a slide of four consecutive defeats that saw them finish fifth in the Six Nations.

The crucial clash precedes a demanding summer schedule featuring further Tests against Fiji and Argentina.

Hooker Jamie George takes on the captaincy for the tour, while talismanic lock Maro Itoje has been rested.

Erasmus anticipates a fierce challenge from an English squad balancing youth with the experience of their 2023 World Cup semi-final run.

Tactically, Steve is someone who works with numbers and chases trends, and that’s always difficult to prepare against.

If I say we know exactly what they’ll do next Saturday, I’d be lying.

England captain Ben Stokes and seamer Gus Atkinson will return for the series-deciding third Test against New Zealand, but Ollie Robinson has been omitted.

The returning skipper and his fast-bowling team-mate missed the heavy 253-run defeat in the second Test while serving a one-match suspension.

Both players were unavailable due to a Cricket Regulator investigation into a team curfew breach, but have since been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Robinson overlooked despite rapid recovery

The decision to leave out Robinson is a significant talking point heading into the decisive match.

The highly skilled seamer claimed brilliant match figures of 7-77 during the series opener at Lord’s, a performance that included a devastating triple-wicket maiden in his first over.

However, the 32-year-old was sidelined for the second Test with knee soreness and fails to regain his spot despite being declared fully fit for selection.

Pace duo Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue have instead retained their places in an intimidating bowling attack.

Smith and Bashir bolster the ranks

Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith resumes his role behind the stumps after returning from paternity leave, replacing promising debutant James Rew.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir also comes back into the starting XI at the expense of Matt Fisher as the hosts look to bounce back from their previous drubbing.

Batter Jordan Cox makes way to accommodate his captain’s return at number seven after earning his first Test cap at The Oval.

Head coach Brendon McCullum will be hoping the restored leadership dynamic can inspire a crucial victory against the formidable tourists.

England XI for the third Test against New Zealand:

The Edmonton Oilers have officially appointed Mike Babcock as their new head coach following his recent clearance by the NHL to return to management.

The 63-year-old takes charge of the Canadian franchise on Tuesday, marking his first active coaching role since being dismissed by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2019.

His dramatic return comes just days after the league concluded an investigation into his brief and highly publicised tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023.

The veteran tactician resigned from Columbus before overseeing a single game after drawing severe criticism for requesting to view personal photographs on players’ mobile phones.

Stanley Cup pedigree alongside recent controversy

Despite his recent tumultuous history, sources indicate that several senior members of the Edmonton dressing room fully supported the managerial acquisition.

The Stanley Cup winner brings a wealth of elite-level experience, having coached 700 games across his career with the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings and Toronto.

He famously guided Detroit to championship glory in 2008, cementing his reputation as one of the sport’s premier strategists during that era.

However, his tenure in Toronto ended unceremoniously in November 2019 following a sluggish start to the campaign that yielded just nine regulation victories.

Replacing Knoblauch after post-season disappointment

Babcock arrives to fill the demanding vacancy left by Kris Knoblauch, who was dismissed in May following a frustrating first-round play-off exit.

Edmonton’s post-season ambitions were prematurely ended by the Anaheim Ducks, prompting the organisation to seek a more experienced voice behind the bench.

The new Edmonton boss will now be tasked with navigating the intense pressure of a passionate fanbase desperate for a deep run in the upcoming campaign.

Declan Rice has dismissed concerns over his fitness ahead of England’s crucial World Cup group game against Ghana on Tuesday.

The Arsenal midfielder was substituted in the 70th minute of the opening match against Croatia after experiencing physical discomfort.

That early withdrawal prompted former international defender Gary Neville to express worry over the usually robust holding player.

It also followed a recent revelation that the former West Ham captain has been managing a hamstring issue since the turn of the year.

Conditioned for tournament football

Despite those fears, the engine-room anchor insists he is perfectly prepared for the grueling demands of a major international tournament.

He arrives at the World Cup on the back of a demanding 63-game domestic season, which culminated in a Premier League title and a Champions League final appearance.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play in Europe for the last six years, my last three years at West Ham, my first three with Arsenal, so my body’s been conditioned and built for these moments for playing long seasons,” Rice stated.

The midfield general added that the current campaign has been more mentally taxing than physically draining.

“I think at this moment in time, I’m in a mentally very good space, physically I feel really good as well. So I want to keep taking this into the end of the tournament.”

Bringing club confidence to the global stage

Domestic success in North London has provided a significant psychological boost for his international ambitions.

“I think I come into this tournament with bundles of confidence,” he affirmed.

Having finished as runners-up in his first two seasons at the Emirates Stadium, finally securing the championship has imbued him with a winning mentality.

“I remember saying at the PFA Awards last year, even in life, you need to go through small losses in order to win big, and I felt at Arsenal that was coming.”

With domestic hurdles cleared, the tireless enforcer is now fully focused on guiding the national team deep into the competition.

“I feel like I come into England with a spring in my step. Just a real confidence, and for sure I can bring that into this tournament and, as the games go on and we keep playing against good opposition, I feel like you are going to keep seeing the best of me.”