Playing game abroad is ‘essential sacrifice for survival of Serie A’, Como say
One of the sides playing in a domestic game outside of their home country say the “sacrifice is essential” to protect their national league.
Como, who will play against AC Milan in Australia, say the game is about “ensuring survival” for Serie A.
UEFA has reluctantly given approval for the match to take place in Perth next February, along with a Villarreal and Barcelona La Liga match in the United States in December.
Taking domestic games overseas has been heavily criticised by Football Supporters’ Europe, but Como said in a club statement that “sometimes sacrifice is essential”, pointing to the financial gulf that has opened up between Serie A and the Premier League.
“We understand that this journey may demand sacrifices in convenience, comfort, and routine,” the statement read.
“Yet sometimes sacrifice is essential, not for individual benefit but for the greater good, for growth, and above all, for the survival of the league itself.”
Cesc Fabregas is currently head coach at Como (Owen Humphreys/PA)
The Como statement pointed out that the Premier League’s latest television agreements are worth over £12bn in the current four-year cycle, while Serie A earns 900 million euros (£781m) per year in its current domestic deal.
“We must ask ourselves honestly how we can retain our best players, build competitive teams, and attract the world’s elite to Serie A if we do not adapt,” the statement continued.
“This is not a matter of greed. Most clubs in Italy are not profitable. It is about ensuring survival and building a future where Serie A remains competitive, respected, and globally admired.
“Our goal is clear. We want to restore Serie A to the glory it enjoyed in the 1990s, when Italian football was the most watched, most respected, and most loved league in the world. To achieve that, we must evolve, unite, and make Serie A the talk around the globe again.”
Como said they would be inviting 50 fans to join them on the journey to Australia.
The statement concluded: “Together, we will show the world what Italian football truly represents: heritage, heart, and hope for the future. Together we stand. Together we rise. Together we survive.”
UEFA claimed it had been given no option but to approve the staging of the two matches overseas, citing what it said was uncertainty around the regulatory framework.
Its president Aleksander Ceferin insists the decision to approve was “exceptional” and does not set a precedent. UEFA said its 55 national associations had “confirmed their commitment to engage with UEFA before submitting any future requests”.
Ceferin told the European Football Clubs General Assembly in Rome last week that taking the sport away from its local community roots risked “breaking” football.
The plan needs final approval from FIFA, whose president Gianni Infantino warned football was taking a “big risk” by playing domestic league games overseas.
Playing game abroad is ‘essential sacrifice for survival of Serie A’, Como say
One of the sides playing in a domestic game outside of their home country say the “sacrifice is essential” to protect their national league.
Como, who will play against AC Milan in Australia, say the game is about “ensuring survival” for Serie A.
UEFA has reluctantly given approval for the match to take place in Perth next February, along with a Villarreal and Barcelona La Liga match in the United States in December.
Taking domestic games overseas has been heavily criticised by Football Supporters’ Europe, but Como said in a club statement that “sometimes sacrifice is essential”, pointing to the financial gulf that has opened up between Serie A and the Premier League.
“We understand that this journey may demand sacrifices in convenience, comfort, and routine,” the statement read.
“Yet sometimes sacrifice is essential, not for individual benefit but for the greater good, for growth, and above all, for the survival of the league itself.”
Cesc Fabregas is currently head coach at Como (Owen Humphreys/PA)
The Como statement pointed out that the Premier League’s latest television agreements are worth over £12bn in the current four-year cycle, while Serie A earns 900 million euros (£781m) per year in its current domestic deal.
“We must ask ourselves honestly how we can retain our best players, build competitive teams, and attract the world’s elite to Serie A if we do not adapt,” the statement continued.
“This is not a matter of greed. Most clubs in Italy are not profitable. It is about ensuring survival and building a future where Serie A remains competitive, respected, and globally admired.
“Our goal is clear. We want to restore Serie A to the glory it enjoyed in the 1990s, when Italian football was the most watched, most respected, and most loved league in the world. To achieve that, we must evolve, unite, and make Serie A the talk around the globe again.”
Como said they would be inviting 50 fans to join them on the journey to Australia.
The statement concluded: “Together, we will show the world what Italian football truly represents: heritage, heart, and hope for the future. Together we stand. Together we rise. Together we survive.”
UEFA claimed it had been given no option but to approve the staging of the two matches overseas, citing what it said was uncertainty around the regulatory framework.
Its president Aleksander Ceferin insists the decision to approve was “exceptional” and does not set a precedent. UEFA said its 55 national associations had “confirmed their commitment to engage with UEFA before submitting any future requests”.
Ceferin told the European Football Clubs General Assembly in Rome last week that taking the sport away from its local community roots risked “breaking” football.
The plan needs final approval from FIFA, whose president Gianni Infantino warned football was taking a “big risk” by playing domestic league games overseas.
Lazio Striker Taty Castellanos Suffers Grade II Injury – Estimated Recovery Time Revealed
Lazio Striker Taty Castellanos Suffers Grade II Injury – Estimated Recovery Time Revealed
Lazio will reportedly miss the services of Taty Castellanos for several weeks after suffering a mid-grade injury in training.
The Background
The Argentine wasn’t called up for international duty, so he remained in Rome during the international break. In Friday’s training session at Formello, the striker picked up a knock which has kept him on the sidelines ever since.
Taty Castellanos Suffers Mid-Grade Injury
On Monday, Castellanos underwent medical tests to reveal the extent of the injury, and the results have reportedly confirmed the club’s fears. While the club has yet to reveal the results, several sources in the Italian media, including La Lazio Siamo Noi and Radio Sei, have claimed that the 27-year-old has sustained a Grade II injury in the right thigh.
When Castellanos Could Return to Action
Radio Sei expects the former Girano to miss the next four to six weeks of action. Therefore, he has been effectively ruled out of the Serie A contests against Atalanta, Juventus, Pisa and Cagliari and Inter Milan. Castellanos will most likely make his return following the November international break, potentially for the home fixture against Lecce on November 23.
Lazio’s Never-ending Injury Woes
Sadly for Maurizio Sarri, he has been deprived of some of his key players since the start of the season, and he’ll now have to do without his first-choice striker for at least one month. To add insult to injury, the manager’s back-up option in attack, Boulaye Dia, is also struggling with the same ankle issue that haunted him last season, while Mattia Zaccagni is also unavailable.
Therefore, the Lazio boss will have to improvise new solutions once more, as one between Tijjani Noslin and Pedro could spearhead the makeshift attack.
https://thelaziali.com/2025/10/13/lazio-striker-taty-castellanos-suffers-grade-ii-injury/
Williams seals spot as all-time Welsh sporting great
With 27 ranking titles, Mark Williams is one behind fifth-placed Steve Davis (28) in the all-time list, with Ronnie O’Sullivan leading the way on 41 ranking event wins [Getty Images]
The history books were rewritten as Mark Williams beat Shaun Murphy 10-3 to win the Xi’an Grand Prix.
Victory for Williams – aged 50 years and 206 days – saw the Welshman become the oldest winner of a ranking event, eclipsing the record of compatriot Ray Reardon, who was 50 years and 14 days old when he won the Professional Players Tournament – now known as the Players Championship – in 1982.
Success in China saw three-time world champion Williams become the first player to win a tour event in his teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.
He also claimed the £177,000 top prize after what was a 27th ranking title as he further cemented his status as one of the greats of the sport.
“It’s unbelievable. I cannot honestly believe how I’m still winning tournaments, it’s amazing,” Williams told the World Snooker Tour.
“I don’t know how I’m doing it, I’ve got to be honest. I’m not practicing enough to really compete in the latter stages of tournaments because I just can’t do it these days.
“But here I am at the venue trying to play as much as I can and you’ve got to scrape me off the table until that last ball is potted.
“I just seem to be scraping results and playing well in the final.”
Mark Williams won the World Championship in 2000, 2003 and 2018 [Getty Images]
Williams took a commanding 7-1 lead into the interval, and a 122 break in the opening frame of the final session further highlighted the Welshman’s dominance.
Murphy responded with back-to-back frames for the first time to keep his faint hopes of landing the title alive.
But Williams won frames 12 and 13 with impressive breaks of 65 and 61 to clinch the title at the Qujiang Sports Complex.
Speaking on TNT Sports, former British Open champion Fergal O’Brien said: “He (Williams) was a clear second favourite coming into the final.
“To win against very much the man in form, and to win 10-3, it’s a remarkable performance.”
Williams among Welsh elite
I think back to 2016 when he lost in the quarter-finals of the World Championship to Ding Junhui, he (Williams) said to me afterwards, ‘that’s probably the last chance I’ll ever have of winning the World Championship’.
He confounded everybody two years later by winning the World Championship and he’s just carried on since then to be among the world’s top players.
He is one of the all-time greats, and the most remarkable thing is his longevity.
He’s quite genuine about this, he does have problems with his eyesight, in terms of his long potting.
I spoke to him in Llandudno back in February and that was causing him a real problem.
But he’s just got this natural ability. One of his great strengths is his temperament. He’s just unflappable, nothing seems to faze him.
He cares about winning, but he’ll give the impression that he doesn’t get too upset about losing.
I think the fact that he doesn’t get too down on himself when he loses or doesn’t play well, it’s done him the world of good.
I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say he is one of the all-time greats of Welsh sport when you consider what he’s achieved.
Williams, 50, becomes oldest ranking event winnerThe best, or worst, snooker ever?He’s at it again! Williams’ incredible under-arm fluke shot
Chloe Kitts injury update: South Carolina star to miss 2025-26 season with ACL tear
South Carolina women’s basketball announced on Monday, Oct. 13, that senior forward Chloe Kitts will miss the entire 2025-26 season due to injury.
Kitts, the Gamecocks’ most experienced player with 69 career starts in three seasons, averaged 10.2 points and a team-high 7.7 rebounds per game last season. She scored in double figures in four of South Carolina’s six NCAA tournament games in 2025.
“We hate this first for Chloe, who has worked incredibly hard to become the best version of herself on the court this season,” South Carolina coach Dawn Staley said in a statement. “Her teammates are capable of stepping up, and I know that her competitive fire and tenacity will be felt from the sidelines as she pours what she can into them to ensure our team’s success.”
Kitts was named the MVP of the SEC tournament last season after scoring 15 points with nine rebounds and three assists against Texas in the conference title game. She also scored 25 points in South Carolina’s first-round matchup of the tournament against Vanderbilt.
Kitts is a huge loss for South Carolina, who’s expected to be one of the top national championship contenders once again in 2025-26.
Here’s everything to know of Kitts’ injury:
Chloe Kitts injury update
Kitts suffered a torn ACL that will keep her sidelined for the entirety of the 2025-26 season, South Carolina announced on Oct. 13.
The program added she’s expected to have surgery this week to repair her knee.
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love and support,” Kitts wrote on Instagram. “I recently suffered an ACL tear and, unfortunately, will be out for this season. While this isn’t how I hoped my senior season would go, I’m trusting God’s timing and purpose. I’ll continue to lead, support, and push my team from the sidelines. We have big things ahead.”
Chloe Kitts stats
Here are Kitts’ year-by-year per-game averages in college:
2022-23: 1.6 points with 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game on 37.5% shooting.2023-24: 9.1 points with 5.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game on 54.4% shooting.2024-25: 10.2 points with 7.7 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game on 52% shooting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chloe Kitts injury: South Carolina star tears ACL, will miss season
Jared Goff, Lions got caught on technicality in trick play penalty
The Detroit Lions executed a fantastic trick play almost perfectly to score an apparent touchdown on the opening drive of Sunday night’s matchup with the Chiefs in Kansas City. Almost perfectly.
The touchdown pass from running back David Montgomery to quarterback Jared Goff on 4th-and-goal was initially ruled a successful score, but an officiating powwow determined that Goff committed an illegal shift penalty.
It’s an obscure foul, one that required referee Craig Wrolstad’s crew to come to a conclusion that no one expected, including Goff. After the game, Wrolstad explained the penalty.
“There were a lot of moving parts on that play,” Wrolstad said via a pool reporter. “We had a quarterback go up to the line of scrimmage. He paused momentarily in the quarterback position, didn’t get under center, but he walked up and stopped like he was the quarterback. Then, he went in motion, and they threw the ball to him for a touchdown. If the quarterback assumes the quarterback position and then goes in motion, he has to then stop for a second before they snap the ball. Because he gets out of the view of some of the officials, we had to piece it together as a crew as to whether he stopped initially and then whether he stopped when he went in motion. It was determined after a lengthy discussion that he stopped at the quarterback position and then went in motion. But when he does that, he has to stop when he goes in motion.”
In his postgame chat with reporters, Goff was befuddled by the ruling.
“I’ve never heard this: because of how close I was to the center, that declares I’m the quarterback,” Goff bemused. “I was only under the impression that it was my hands under center. So that’s a new version of that rule that I had never heard of, and I think a lot of our coaches had never heard of. Yeah, if that is the rule, then I guess we need to do a little bit more research on that.”
It’s a technicality that tripped up the Lions here. Had Goff been in the shotgun, it would not have been a foul. As Wrolstad explained,
“Yes. If he doesn’t assume a t-quarterback position, then he would not have had to stop. He would have had to stop originally in the shotgun formation for a second. Everybody would have had to be set for a second. But then if he goes in motion, he would not have to stop. This only applies to a quarterback who has assumed a position as a t-quarterback.”
For clarity, a “t-quarterback” is a standard QB under center formation.
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Jared Goff, Lions got caught on technicality in trick play penalty
Spencer Rattler's best game yet wasn't enough to get the Saints a win
This may have been the best game Spencer Rattler has played with the New Orleans Saints, but his limitations are coming into focus. For one thing, the Saints lost. Again. His record as a starter is now 1-11. We can argue about how much blame he deserves for that record, but it is what it is. Rattler’s best effort wasn’t enough to get it done against the New England Patriots.
Of the 11 quarterbacks who have thrown at least 25 passes in the red zone this year (Rattler has 26), nobody has completed fewer throws (46.2%) or averaged fewer yards per attempt than Rattler (2.5). Of the 10 quarterbacks who have attempted 50 or more passes on third downs (Rattler is at 51), he ranks second-to-last in first down conversions (14). He’s lowest in yards per attempt in that phase, too (4.7), by a big margin.
To his credit, Rattler has become a quarterback who won’t be the reason your team loses on Sundays. He’s only thrown a single interception through six games, the only QB in the league who can say so. He’s taking sacks at a below-average rate and avoiding negative plays. He’s set a floor for himself.
But he isn’t playing well enough to win games, either. We saw Drake Maye do that for New England when he made huge throws under pressure. Maye’s receivers made some big-time catches, too, which we haven’t seen often enough from Chris Olave. If Rattler is the franchise quarterback his fans want him to be, he needs to match Maye stride for stride. Instead he trailed for most of the game while stalling out in Patriots territory and settling for field goals.
Rattler is probably the 22nd-best quarterback in the NFL right now. He won’t play badly enough to lose games, but he can’t elevate those around him high enough to beat good teams, either. If that’s the story with him, as it is with many backups around the league, the Saints are going to bench him and give Tyler Shough a shot once the coaches are confident he’s ready for it, and they’re going to keep looking for other options at quarterback. He’s 1-11. At some point you are who your record says you are.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Spencer Rattler’s best game yet wasn’t enough to get the Saints a win
Aaron Glenn: Justin Fields "took a step back" in his fifth game
After Sunday’s loss to the Broncos, during which the Jets offense gave new meaning to the term “offensive,” coach Aaron Glenn bristled at a question regarding whether he’d bench starting quarterback Justin Fields.
By Monday morning, Glenn had a more measured response, after reflecting on the question that was asked about whether Fields should sit.
“When you look at what Justin did, the games that he played,” Glenn told reporters. “Listen, I didn’t think he was bad at all. I actually thought he did some pretty good things in those four games. In this fifth game, he took a step back. I’m with you guys 100 percent. And we can’t have that. And we have to get better than that. And he knows that. Ann he knows that better than anyone. So I don’t think you try to bench a player after having one true bad game. Because I thought the other games he played fairly well.”
This opens the door to potentially benching Fields if he has another bad game.
And Sunday’s game was bad. Minus-10 net passing yards, fueled by nine sacks. Fields repeatedly held the ball for too long.
The Jets host the suddenly-hot Panthers on Sunday before playing the Bengals in Cincinnati. Then comes the bye. It’s on Fields to turn it around soon, or Tyrod Taylor will likely be getting a chance to help the Jets turn yet another bad season around — and to perhaps keep Glenn from being one and done as the team’s head coach.
Buccaneers vs Lions Predictions – Early Picks & Odds for Monday Night Football Week 7
We’ve got a “big boy” battle in the NFC on Monday Night Football in Week 7.
The Detroit Lions welcome the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Ford Field, with the Bucs trying to pull away from the pack atop the conference standings.
My early Buccaneers vs. Lions predictions and NFL picks expect Detroit to bring Tampa Bay back to earth on October 20.
Buccaneers vs Lions predictions
Here are our early thoughts on the spread and total for this week’s game. We will have a full game preview (with a best bet and SGP) later in the week.
Early MNF spread pick: Detroit -4.5
This spread opened Detroit Lions -5.5, but after getting blown away in Kansas City on Sunday night, the bottom is falling out for Detroit.
The Lions couldn’t overcome an injury-plagued secondary vs. the Chiefs, giving up three touchdown passes to Patrick Mahomes. Next up is MVP hopeful Baker Mayfield, who’s been slinging it so far in 2025.
Mayfield is hoping for positive news from his banged-up receiving corps. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were already without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Week 6’s win over San Francisco, then lost standout rookie WR Emeka Egbuka to a hamstring injury Sunday.
Egbuka is expected to miss time, which puts pressure on Godwin and Evans to get back on the field. On top of those injuries in the passing game, running back Bucky Irving is out with multiple injuries. That leaves the Bucs very thin at the skill positions.
The Lions face a softer defense from Tampa and get to come home to the fast track of Ford Field. The Bucs have been burned through the air, and Detroit could very well turn this game into a track meet.
I’ll lay the shrinking spread with the home side on MNF.
Early MNF total pick: Over 52.5
As mentioned, the Lions have big gaps in the secondary, and their best approach could be to turn this game into a shootout.
The Bucs could be missing several superstars on offense and won’t be able to overcome their own shortcomings on the defensive side.
Tampa Bay is great vs. the run but ranks 27th in opponent success rate per dropback and 25th in pass defense DVOA at FTN — giving up 20 passing plays of 20+ yards this season.
Mayfield is working magic under center for the Buccaneers, and just getting one of those three-star receivers back could be enough to pick apart this depleted Detroit defense.
We’ve seen the market tick this total up to 53.5 points at some books, and I’m on board with a fun one in Motown on Monday night.
Buccaneers vs Lions odds
Buccaneers vs. Lions spread: Lions -4.5Buccaneers vs. Lions moneyline: Buccaneers +198, Lions -240Buccaneers vs. Lions Over/Under: 52.5
How to watch Buccaneers vs Lions
Buccaneers vs. Lions matchupDate: Monday, October 20, 2025, 7:00 p.m. ETCity: Detroit, MI
Venue: Ford FieldTV: ESPN/ABC
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here
https://www.covers.com/nfl/buccaneers-vs-lions-predictions-odds-early-leans-mnf-week-7-2025
Frankfurt's Baum ruled out with thigh injury, Collins suffering from a cold
Frankfurt’s Baum ruled out with thigh injury, Collins suffering from a cold
Eintracht Frankfurt have been dealt a double blow – Elias Baum will be sidelined for the next few weeks and Nnamdi Collins currently ill.
The Hessen club announced that right-back Baum has a thigh muscle injury, which will keep him out “until further notice”.
Baum, despite his excellent loan spell with SV Elversberg last season, at hasn’t played at all for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2025/26.
A winter exit is therefore a conceivable option, although the 19-year-old’s contract with the Frankfurt metropolis runs until 2028.
As for Collins – a mainstay in Dino Toppmöller’s side – he has left the German U-21 setup with a head cold and returned to Frankfurt.
Collins will hope to be back to full health in time for Frankfurt’s clash away to SC Freiburg on Sunday, 19 October in Breisgau.
https://bulinews.com/frankfurt-baum-ruled-out-thigh-injury-collins-suffering-cold
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