Jacob Whitehead

UEFA held meetings with pro-Palestinian campaign over possible Israel suspension after ceasefire UEFA has been under pressure to call a vote on Israel’s ongoing participation in European football.

Motions officially filed in Swiss parliament today to debate UEFA's tax status — linked to West Bank-based Israeli clubs continuing to play in European competition.

First reported on the planned action earlier this month, more details below ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

Former Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta launches NSN Cycling Team: ‘We can do beautiful things’ Iniesta's company partnered with Swiss investment firm Stoneweg to take over the former Israel-Premier Tech team in November.

When Andres Iniesta was a boy, he remembers watching Miguel Indurain churn through mountain time-trials.

The football legend's childhood glee was apparent as he launched the NSN Cycling Team in Barcelona — the rebranded Israel-Premier Tech.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

Tony Bloom, his £600m syndicate and how it is allowed to bet on the Premier League Why is Brighton & Hove Albion's owner embroiled in a legal battle with a former associate and what could the implications be?

Exclusive: Tony Bloom syndicate does bet on Premier League matches (not #BHAFC games), but Bloom removes his stake to meet FA rules.

Plus, Scottish FA request court documents to investigate any potential player involvement.

Case explained and latest ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/686...

2026 Giro d’Italia route analysis – Women tackle Finestre for first time, men head from Bulgaria to Rome Analysis of the 2026 routes which will once again feature some of professional cycling's most storied roads

Always a sense of anticipation around the Giro d’Italia.

The season’s first Grand Tour, not as backloaded as usual, fun stages in Bulgaria, up Blockhaus, and to Piani di Pezze. Women to tackle Colle delle Finestre for the first time.

Route analysis ⬇️⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...

UEFA held meetings with pro-Palestinian campaign over possible Israel suspension after ceasefire UEFA has been under pressure to call a vote on Israel’s ongoing participation in European football.

Expectation is that a suspension through ExCo is highly unlikely, but UEFA is closely monitoring legal challenges in Ireland and Switzerland, which could force UEFA to implement a ban under international law.

More ⬇️⬇️⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

UEFA held meetings with pro-Palestinian campaign over possible Israel suspension after ceasefire UEFA has been under pressure to call a vote on Israel’s ongoing participation in European football.

Exclusive: UEFA executives have held meetings with organisers of pro-Palestinian campaign Game Over Israel since October's ceasefire.

Meetings discussed the potential circumstances which could lead to a ban of Israel from international competition.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

Konstantinos Karetsas, the winger adored by Europe’s largest clubs: ‘You see he is a special one, hey?’ Karetsas spoke to The Athletic for the first in-depth interview of his career

At 18 years old, Konstantinos Karetsas is the shining pearl of Greek football, and already one of Europe's top prospects.

Interviewed the winger about the joy of the assist, the transfer plan mapped out with his Dad, and the Greek-Belgian battle for him.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

Two goals for Malick Thiaw on Saturday, and though his persona is understated, it still shouldn’t have taken that for him to win his plaudits.

An outstanding start at #NUFC - and already one of the best CBs in the Premier League.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...

Kostas Tsimikas on leaving Liverpool, life at Roma, and ‘accepting sadness’ in football Kostas Tsimikas looks back on his time at Liverpool, reflects on his friend Diogo Jota, and compares Klopp, Slot and Gasperini

Interviewed Kostas Tsimikas in Athens during the international break.

He was incredibly reflective on the capricious life of footballers, leaving Liverpool for Roma, and his friend Diogo Jota, tattooed on his left wrist.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...

Everton 1 Newcastle 4: How big is first away win? Has Miley played himself into Howe’s XI? Eddie Howe's side had not won away in the Premier League for nine games — a record dating back to April — before this convincing victory

#EFC 1-4 #NUFC

Given the context to Newcastle's away form, probably their most impressive performance of the season.

Eddie Howe's six changes paid off. More outstanding work from Thiaw, Miley justifiably pushing for more minutes, and really encouraging from Elanga.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...

Everton 1 Newcastle 4 – How big is first away win? Has Miley played himself into Howe’s XI? Eddie Howe's side had not won away in the Premier League for nine games, a record dating back to April, before this convincing victory

⚫ MASSIVE away win 🙌
⚪ 2nd goal critical (via Pickford...) 👀
⚫ Awesome Thiaw at the double ⚽⚽
⚪ Howe's changes excel 🤩
⚫ Miley's class 😍
⚪ Transformative win? 🔮

📝 #EFC 1-4 #NUFC analysis, w/ @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social: #EVENEW www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...

‘I want to be the best in history’: Can Tadej Pogacar go on to eclipse Eddy Merckx? An exclusive extract from Andy McGrath's new book, Tadej Pogačar: Unstoppable

“Legacy is not on his mind as he seeks to make his own history.” Can Tadej Pogacar go on to eclipse Eddy Merckx?

Really glad to run an excerpt from Andy McGrath’s wonderful Pogi biography - out now.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...

‘I could not go backwards’: The ultracyclist whose world record attempt ended in a Russian prison After riding for 17,900km, Sofiane Sehili chose to illegally cross from China to Russia – it was a decision he came to regret

After 17,900km, Sofiane Sehili was just 200km away from his goal - the Trans-Eurasian cycling world record.

He had one day remaining to reach Vladivostok. He finished it in a Russian prison.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

Israel Premier-Tech rebrands to NSN Cycling Team for 2026 The cycling team were the subject of many pro-Palestine protests during the 2025 season, particularly during the Vuelta a Espana

Israel-Premier Tech’s rebrand is now complete - they are NSN Cycling Team.

Spanish-based, Swiss-registered, the title sponsors were founded by Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...

Jamal Khashoggi’s widow says FIFA should commemorate him at Saudi Arabia World Cup 'They could name a stand in a stadium after him, or print his picture on tickets for the public. His sacrifice should be valued'

Spoke to Jamal Khashoggi's widow in January about the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia. She called on FIFA to commemorate his memory throughout the tournament.

Ahead of next summer, Donald Trump's verdict on Khashoggi's murder? "Things happen."

www.nytimes.com/athletic/606...

How an autumn dominated by geopolitics has highlighted cycling’s uneasy relationship with nation states With teams lacking significant broadcast revenues, WorldTour squads rely on commercialising anything they can with the highest bidder

Cycling’s autumn has been dominated by its relationship with nation states.

Wrote about the UAE’s activities in Sudan, Israel-Premier Tech’s rebrand, and Jayco-AlUla’s difficulties.

Something needs to change, but solutions are hard to see.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...

Wout van Aert interview: Dropping Tadej Pogacar, recovering from injury and what cycling can learn from the NBA The Belgian star on a season of recovery and redemption: 'I just wanted to show that I’m still there, that I can be among the best riders'

Wout van Aert is one of cycling’s superstars; his win over Montmartre one of the year’s top moments.

We spoke about post-injury doubts, managing his own demanding nature, and his big offseason adventure in the USA.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

What are supporters really seeking from their team: style, substance or something else? Even fans of top-half clubs have been expressing dissatisfaction at the way their teams have been playing so far this season

Amid all the long throws and set pieces that have dominated the Premier League season, plenty of fans have been expressing their displeasure at the way their team have been playing.

@jacobwhitehead.bsky.social went to three matches in two days to try to find out what they really want to see.

What are supporters really seeking from their team: style, substance or something else? Even fans of top-half clubs have been expressing dissatisfaction at the way their teams have been playing so far this season

Went on a mini roadtrip around the Premier League this weekend. Are teams' style making us miserable? Or are we really in search of something else?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...

FSA Awards 2025 - vote now! - Football Supporters' Association We are pleased to announce the shortlists for the 2025 Football Supporters’ Association Awards – voting is open now and fans can back their favourites here. 91 candidates are battling it out across 16...

Very chuffed that
@podonthetyne.bsky.social
has been nominated for club podcast of the year alongside some truly brilliant shows.

Huge thanks to the FSA for this honour & to our lovely listeners for their amazing support for our independent pod. #NUFC ❤️

thefsa.org.uk/news/fsa-awa...

Does it matter if players don’t clap their fans? Spence and Van de Ven declined to take part in football's post-match applause ritual. It is a breach of an unwritten rule but also... fine

On the politics of clapping. And truly, how did we ever get here?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

West Ham 3 Newcastle 1 – Why are Howe’s side so bad away from home? Where does it leave them? Analysis of Newcastle's Premier League game away to West Ham

#WHUFC 3-1 #NUFC — and in truth, it could have been more.

Complacent first-half performance turned into tired drudgery in the second.

Once more, Newcastle's identity threatens to be inconsistency — are there parallels with two seasons ago?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

Cyclist Oier Lazkano leaves Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe after suspension for alleged doping violation A UCI statement said “unexplained abnormalities” had been found in Lazkano’s biological passport between 2022 and 2024.

Oier Lazkano released by Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe after UCI detect biological passport abnormalities.

Basque rider returned suspicious results between 2022 and 2024 while riding for Movistar. Hadn't ridden since Paris-Roubaix in April.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...

Saudi Arabia, Qatar and a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying controversy Saudi Arabia and Qatar's opponents have complained about advantages the two countries had in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup

How did Saudi Arabia and Qatar receive such hugely favourable conditions for World Cup qualification?

Asked FIFA and the AFC about their home advantage, extra rest days, reduced away allocations...

Answers? Not forthcoming.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

2026 Tour de France route analysis – Mont Ventoux for the women, Alpe d’Huez (twice) for the men Next year's races will begin in Spain and Switzerland respectively, with fresh twists and some old favorites along the way

A first ascent of Ventoux for the Femmes. Alpe d'Huez climbed twice by the men?

Always optimism and excitement in previewing the Tour de France, nine months out, but there's a lot to like in this route, from Montmartre to sprinters' chances.

Analysis:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...

Newcastle 3 Benfica 0 – Gordon steps up again on superb night for Howe’s wingers Anthony Gordon, Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes all contributed to an impressive Champions League performance and result for Newcastle

⚫ Pope's (remarkable throwout) 1st-ever assist! ⚽
⚪ Barnes' brace of a cameo 🏹
⚫ Gordon keeps delivering in #UCL - now to do so in PL 🌟
⚪ 7th clean sheet 7️⃣
⚫ Huge morale-boosting win 🙌

📝 #NUFC 3-0 Benfica analysis, w/ @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

The story of cycling’s 2025 Monument races in 20 photographs The images that tell the story of the biggest one-day races in cycling's calendar this year

Tadej Pogacar's Monuments season has been arguably the best of all time — the first man to finish on the podium at each, the first since Merckx to win three in one year...

To mark a special season, this is the story of those five races — in 20 pictures:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Tadej Pogacar launches 75km solo attack to win European Championships road race Pogacar is now the reigning champion at the Tour de France, the Worlds, and the European Championships

Of course it was Tadej Pogacar. Dominance reprised, Evenepoel second again, another long-distance attack.

But genuine excitement about 19-year-old Paul Seixas' bronze medal — this is a rider who will be in these podium pictures for some time to come.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

How Europe won the Ryder Cup with $47 shampoo, Federer’s video and Moneyball Revealing the little details that made for an historic triumph for the visitors at Bethpage

Luke Donald became captain somewhat by accident, and then that was the last thing left to chance.

Piece on the small edges which gave Europe their two point Ryder Cup victory — including VR headsets, Dodo, and beautiful smelling hair.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

Shane Christie, Billy Guyton and the brain injuries behind two rugby deaths They were best friends, who took their own lives, after the same career, within three years of each other and their families have questions

Billy Guyton and Shane Christie were Super Rugby players — and best mates. Both lost their lives to suicide after suffering head injuries.

Spoke to their families about the answers that exist, and whether they're being introduced quickly enough.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/666...