Sports

From August 1, across England's men's and women's professional game, a coach must nominate an outfield player to temporarily leave the field whenever play stops for a goalkeeper injury, with the player absent for at least one minute after restart. The rule addresses the tactical advantage teams could gain by using goalkeeper injury stoppages for instructions or to disrupt match flow, and carries exemptions for fouls, collisions, bleeding, and suspected concussion. Six governing bodies back the IFAB-approved trial, which will run through the season under continuous monitoring with no fixed public review dates announced.

France's gambling regulator ordered internet providers on July 16 to block all access to Polymarket, citing 205,057 unique French visitors in June 2026 and a legal position that displaying prediction market odds constitutes advertising for illegal gambling. Polymarket announced on July 22 it would challenge the decision through French legal processes but has not identified a court, filed a claim, or sought interim relief. Readers will learn the regulatory basis for the block, Polymarket's distinction between trading and information access, and what a confirmed legal challenge would need to include.

Tadej Pogačar won the 2026 Tour de France, his third consecutive title and fifth overall, matching the record shared by Anquetil, Merckx, Hinault and Indurain. Mathieu van der Poel took Stage 21 in Paris via a late attack on the Côte de la Butte Montmartre rather than a conventional sprint finish. The 2027 Tour will open across Scotland, England and Wales from July 2 to 4, the first Grand Départ outside France to span three nations.