Sports

Rolland Courbis in Bordeaux, France, on January 31, 2016. NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP Rolland Courbis, a former French player and coach often called in to rescue teams from relegation who became an outspoken media pundit, has died aged 72, his employer RMC said on Monday, January 12. Courbis won the French title three times as a player, with Marseille in 1972 and then Monaco in 1978 and 1982. He spent two years as coach of Marseille during a colorful career in which he coached for more than 500 games in Ligue 1 and went to jail twice over financial issues at his club at the time. Courbis also managed Toulon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Montpellier, ending his coaching career at Caen in 2019. By then he had become a well-established media co...

Spanish coach Xabi Alonso in Talavera de la Reina, Spain on December 17, 2025. SUSANA VERA / REUTERS Real Madrid said on Monday, January 12, that coach Xabi Alonso has left the Spanish giants by mutual consent, to be replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa. A day after the team lost the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona, the club parted ways with the Basque coach eight months after his arrival and immediately appointed former Madrid player Arbeloa, who was coaching the reserve side. "Real Madrid announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his tenure as first-team coach to an end," said the Los Blancos – Real Madrid's nickname – in a statement. In a separate statement, Madrid then announced Arbe...

Paris FC's French midfielder #14 Jonathan Ikone (C) fights for the ball with Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese midfielder #10 Vitinha (2R) and Paris Saint-Germain's French midfielder #03 Senny Mayulu (R) during the French Cup round of 32 football match between between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Paris FC at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on January 12, 2026. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP Paris Saint-Germain academy product Jonathan Ikoné came back to haunt his old club on Monday as he scored the only goal in Paris FC's 1-0 win over their city rivals to reach the last 16 of the French Cup. Substitute Ikoneé stabbed home in the final 20 minutes to surprise the dominant record 16-time winners and current champions at the ...

Senegal's forward Iliman Ndiaye celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) quarter-final football match between Mali and Senegal, at the Grand Stadium in Tangiers, on January 9, 2026. ABDEL MAJID BZIOUAT / AFP Recalled striker Iliman Ndiaye scored in the first half to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over 10-man Mali in Tangiers on Friday, January 9, in the first Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final. The only goal followed a blunder by Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who then made a string of superb saves to prevent Senegal from increasing their lead. Senegal's team now faces defending champions Côte d'Ivoire or record seven-time winners Egypt, who meet in the semi-finals on Saturday. ...

Algeria's Adil Boulbina celebrates scoring the winner against Democratic Republic of Congo at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on January 6, 2026. GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP Adil Boulbina scored a dramatic winner in extra time for Algeria to beat Congo 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match on Tuesday, January 6. Defending champion Côte d'Ivoire progressed in contrasting fashion with a comfortable 3-0 win over Burkina Faso. Boulbina left fly for Algeria from the edge of the penalty area to the top far corner of the goal in the 119th minute, sending the majority of fans at the scented Moulay El Hassan Stadium into wild celebrations. Read more Subscribers only AFCON 2025 in M...

Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his semi-final match against Germany's Yannick Hanfmann at the ATP 250, Hellenic Championship, Telekom Center Athens, Marousi, Greece, on November 7, 2025 LOUIZA VRADI / REUTERS Serbian great Novak Djokovic, on Tuesday, January 6, pulled out of the Adelaide International, saying he was "not quite physically ready" as he prepares for the Australian Open. The 38-year-old was planning to use the event from January 12 as a springboard to the opening Grand Slam at Melbourne Park where he is targeting an 11th title and elusive 25th major crown. "To all my fans in Adelaide, unfortunately I'm not quite physically ready to compete in the Adelaide International next week," Djokovic said on Instagram. "It's person...

Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs contests a shot by Washington Wizards center Alexandre Sarr in San Antonio, Texas, on December 18, 2025. BILLY CALZADA / AP At the start of the NBA season, Victor Wembanyama and Guerschon Yabusele imagined facing off withtheir teams, the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks. But the two leaders of France's men's national team didn't expect they would end up not meeting on the court. While Wembanyama has quickly established himself as the league's latest superstar, Yabusele, largely left out of Knicks head coach Mike Brown's plans, has spent most of the season on the bench. Much like these two big names, French players under NBA contract – a record 19 in total – have experienced mixed fortunes. Wembanyama, who ...

Paris Saint-Germain's team and coaches during a presentation of PSG's trophies at the end of the French L1 football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Paris FC at the Parc des Princes stadium, Paris, January 4, 2026. BLANCA CRUZ / AFP Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain stayed one point behind surprise Ligue 1 leader Lens after beating Paris FC 2-1 on Sunday, January 4, in the first capital city derby in French men's league soccer since 1990 . Star forwards Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembéle struck for PSG. Inconsistent Marseille is now eight points behind Lens in third place after losing 2-0 at home to Nantes earlier Sunday. The Paris derby was held at PSG's Parc des Princes stadium, which is just 44 meters away fro...

Venus Williams serves to Karolina Muchova during their women's singles first round tennis match on day two of the US Open tennis tournament in New York City, on August 25, 2025. KENA BETANCUR / AFP Seven-time major singles champion Venus Williams was handed a wildcard to the Australian Open at the age of 45 on Friday, January 2, becoming the oldest woman ever to play at the season-opening Grand Slam. The American will compete in the main draw at Melbourne Park for the first time since 2021. "I'm excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer," said Williams. "I've had so many incredible memories there and I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to a place that has meant so much to my career." ...

SÉVERIN MILLET Whether it's football, tennis, basketball, boxing, mixed martial arts (MMA), or cycling, it's the bet that matters. It's also the adrenaline, the win and the status that comes with victory. And above all, the prospect of making a lot of money, very quickly. For Bilal (name changed), every sporting event, big or small, near or far, represents an opportunity to place an online bet. He gambles on the outcome, the number of fouls, how many times a player passes to another player, and the number of penalties. He bets on anything and dreams big. For two years, Bilal has been chasing that dream, and for two years, he has been losing. But the stakes keep growing. Read more Subscribers only Inside a major investigation into tennis m...