From the foul line to the fault line: Deni Avdija, Israel and the collapse of online nuance

The danger around the Portland star is that in making crucial debates into arguments about basketball, we lose sight of what is really important

There’s a weird, psychological tension around basketball fouls. Not unlike a trial. A single rubbered heartbeat thumps in our collective throats. In basketball litigation, the verdict is televised and delivered in public by the referee’s whistle. Deni Avdija faced more trials than a career criminal in early January, when he scored 41 points in the Portland Trail Blazers’ win over the Houston Rockets. Twenty-eight came from the field. The other 13 were handed to him at the stripe.

The online response was immediate, echoing the criticism that has followed the Israeli all season: he’s a free-throw merchant. It’s a specific kind of hoops pejorative – not quite cheating, but a kind of outsourcing, farming points out to the refs. After the game, Rockets forward Tari Eason was asked what makes Avdija so difficult to guard. His answer was one word: “Zebras.”

Published: February 13, 2026, 10:00 am

Trump pardons five ex-NFL players for crimes from perjury to drug trafficking

• Group includes Hall of Fame lineman Joe Klecko

• Jerry Jones tells news to former Dallas star Nate Newton

Donald Trump issued pardons to five former NFL players on Thursday, with White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson making the announcement on social media.

The five pardoned players are Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon.

Published: February 13, 2026, 3:24 pm

Why James Rodríguez signed in Minnesota amid a federal occupation

The Colombian icon joined the MLS side in a short-term deal with an eye toward fitness for the 2026 World Cup

Two weeks ago, few could’ve expected that the most notable international acquisition of the MLS offseason would be made by Minnesota United.

The team’s marquee import until last week was Finland striker Teemu Pukki, with honorable mentions for Colombian playmaker Darwin Quintero and ex-Porto midfielder Ibson. The Loons aren’t known for paying sizable transfer fees, and their wage bill last year was the league’s fifth-smallest.

Published: February 13, 2026, 12:30 pm

Skating body defends Olympic judging after French duo’s ice dance gold

• French judge marked French duo higher than US pair

• Petition calling for probe approaches 15,000 signatures

• ISU says it has ‘full confidence’ in scoring system

The International Skating Union (ISU) has defended the integrity of Olympic ice dance judging after a single judge’s scoring gap became central to the outcome of the gold medal contest, insisting variations across panels are expected and that safeguards exist to prevent bias from determining results.

In a statement released on Friday, the governing body rejected suggestions that the judging system failed during the competition, in which France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron narrowly defeated Americans Madison Chock and Evan Bates in one of the closest and most disputed finishes of the Milano Cortina Games.

Published: February 13, 2026, 4:52 pm

FA Cup fourth round: 10 things to look out for this weekend

Burnley have the chance of a Cup run, Leicester fear an unwelcome repeat and Brighton fans get a raw deal

Chelsea have kept two clean sheets in 10 games since appointing Liam Rosenior as head coach last month. Repeated doziness at the back has cost them. They have held commanding advantages against Charlton, Crystal Palace, Wolves and Leeds, only to give away silly goals. It is a bad habit and proved costly when a 2-0 lead was squandered during Tuesday’s draw with Leeds. Rosenior was livid afterwards, and is waiting for a consistent performance. Chelsea travel to Hull , Rosenior’s former club, on Friday night. They will surely advance against Championship opponents, but how they do it will matter. It is time for them to get serious. Jacob Steinberg

Hull City v Chelsea, Friday 7.45pm (all times GMT)

Burton Albion v West Ham, Saturday 12.15pm

Burnley v Mansfield, Saturday 3pm

Southampton v Leicester, Saturday 3pm

Published: February 13, 2026, 12:01 am

Winter Olympics 2026: Heraskevych’s appeal rejected by Cas, Klæbo seals treble, GB drought goes on – live

• Medal table | Live scores and schedule | Results | Briefing
• Follow us over on Bluesky | Get in touch: mail James

Italian biathlete Rebecca Passler will be able to participate in the Winter Olympics despite failing a doping test, the Italian skiing federation (Fisi) said on Friday. Italy’s anti-doping body (Nado) upheld her appeal against a provisional suspension that followed a positive test for the banned substance Letrozole on 26 January.

Nado’s Court of Appeal acknowledged the possibility of unintentional ingestion or unknowing contamination of the substance. “Passler will rejoin her teammates starting Monday, February 16, when she will be available to the coaching staff for the subsequent competitions on the Olympic programme,” Fisi said in a statement.

Published: February 13, 2026, 5:55 pm

Winter Olympics: Ilia Malinin goes for second figure-skating gold – live

• ‘Quad God’ leads contenders in men’s free skate

• Email Beau or get in touch on Bluesky

• Medal table | Live scores and schedule | Results | Briefing

Malinin can surely win with a solid program that doesn’t include the quadruple axel.

If you were Malinin, would you attempt it?

Published: February 13, 2026, 5:33 pm

Curling’s uncle: 54-year-old lawyer who called out ICE becomes oldest US Winter Olympian

• Alternate Rich Ruohonen subs in during US match

• Minnesota native is a six-time attorney of the year

• On events in home state: ‘There’s no shades of gray’

The stakes were low – and the time ripe – for a 54-year-old personal injury lawyer and six-time winner of “Minnesota Attorney of the Year” to make Olympic history.

It was the end of the US men’s curling match against Switzerland on Thursday and they were down 8-2.

Published: February 13, 2026, 2:39 pm

Love in a cold climate: Winter Olympic village runs out of condoms after three days

• Athletes in Italy have been ‘promised more will arrive’

• Free condoms have been provided since 1988 Olympics

Free condoms for competitors at the Winter Olympics have run out within a record-breaking three days, according to La Stampa.

“The supplies ran out in just three days,” an anonymous athlete told the Italian newspaper. “They promised us more will arrive, but who knows when.”

Published: February 13, 2026, 1:16 pm

Haiti’s Winter Olympics kit redesigned at last minute to fit IOC guidelines

Designer Stella Jean forced to paint over image of revolutionary on ski suits after being told it breached rules

• Winter Olympics live – latest updates

The designer behind the Haitian team’s uniform for the 2026 Winter Olympics has said she had to redesign their ski suits for the opening ceremony after being told they did not comply with the guidelines on athlete expression by the International Olympic Committee.

The uniforms, designed by the Haitian-Italian designer Stella Jean, were based on a 2006 painting of the formerly enslaved revolutionary Toussaint Louverture riding a horse by the Haitian artist Edouard Duval-Carrié. Louverture, who led the successful revolt that established the world’s first Black republic in 1804, had been central to Jean’s initial design.

Published: February 13, 2026, 4:00 pm

Patriots’ Stefon Diggs pleads not guilty to assault, strangulation charges

• Diggs denies allegations that prompted felony charge

• Arraignment had been postponed to after Super Bowl

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs on Friday pleaded not guilty to felony strangulation and other criminal charges stemming from an alleged dispute with his personal chef.

The arraignment at Dedham District Court in Massachusetts was postponed until after Super Bowl LX so Diggs could play in the NFL championship game. At the arraignment, Diggs was scheduled to next appear for a pretrial hearing on 1 April.

Published: February 13, 2026, 5:38 pm

LeBron James, 41, makes more NBA history as oldest player to post triple-double

• Star has 28 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds in Lakers win

• Record stood for 22 years since being set by Karl Malone

• First triple-double for James since February 2025

Deep in the 23rd season of the longest career in NBA history, LeBron James is still dropping triple-doubles – on the Dallas Mavericks and on Father Time.

James became the oldest player to have a triple-double Thursday night, accomplishing the feat at 41 years and 44 days old during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 124-104 victory at home over the Mavericks.

Published: February 13, 2026, 1:34 pm

Blaming immigrants for problems is wrong, says Pep Guardiola after Ratcliffe comments

• ‘Society is better when we embrace other cultures’

• Haaland doubt for FA Cup tie, Rodri charged by FA

Pep Guardiola has said that blaming people from overseas for a country’s problems is wrong, the Manchester City manager’s comments coming amid the fallout of Sir Jim Ratcliffe claiming the United Kingdom is being “colonised by immigrants”.

Ratcliffe’s comment, made in an interview with Sky News on Wednesday, has led to widespread condemnation, including from within football, leading to Manchester United’s single largest minority owner saying he was sorry that his “choice of language has offended some people in the UK and Europe”.

Published: February 13, 2026, 3:06 pm

Ski days used to cost $5. Now lift tickets can be $300 – unless you decide to keep it real

From mom-and-pop ski hills to luxury resorts, pricing – and culture – have split the activity into different experiences. But some small mountains are still down-to-earth

Once upon a time, in the snowy mountains of remote south-west Montana, there was a thing called “five-dollar day”.

Even then, $5 bought something rare: a full day of skiing. The deal was tempting enough to inspire my friends and me to drive 44 miles (70km) from Bozeman along a narrow, winding highway – toward what would emerge as one of the most expansive and epic ski locales in the US: Big Sky Resort.

Published: February 13, 2026, 3:00 pm

Spurs agree deal to make Igor Tudor interim manager until end of season

• Tudor’s former clubs include Juventus and Marseille

• Door remains open for summer Pochettino return

Tottenham have reached an agreement for Igor Tudor to become their interim manager until the end of the season, leaving the door open for Mauricio Pochettino to return this summer.

The club turned to Tudor after making checks on the former Borussia Dortmund manager Edin Terzic and the former RB Leizpig manager Marco Rose. The former Croatia international has been out of work since he left Juventus in October after the Serie A club went eight games without a win.

Published: February 13, 2026, 2:29 pm

Thomas Tuchel is in no hurry to return to club management. It’s easy to see why | Jacob Steinberg

Extending his England men’s team contract until 2028 means increased stability and a less relentless form of pressure

Thomas Tuchel was supposed to be here for a good time, not a long time. It was win or bust when he signed up to become England’s head coach in October 2024. The target was clear – lead the side to glory at the 2026 World Cup – and it came with an acceptance that the German was nothing more than a very expensive gun for hire.

An 18-month deal, which began on 1 January 2025, saw to that. Tuchel talked about it giving him focus. He said it streamlined the role. “It’s a little bit of a step into the unknown for me,” he said. Tuchel would have to adapt. He loves being out on the training pitch, working with his players, honing their understanding of his tactics. Wouldn’t he get bored during the long months without a game? Wouldn’t he get itchy feet as soon as he saw a job open up at a big club?

Published: February 13, 2026, 2:32 pm

Football Daily | Wounded Foxes and an unhelpful FA Cup trip to their Saintly tormentors

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Leicester City have a proud tradition of beating the odds. At the start of the 2015-16 Premier League season, the bookies rated them as no better than 5,000-1 long shots to win the title, only for the Foxes to send shockwaves around the world by doing exactly that in what is regarded as one of the greatest upsets in the history of sport. Five years later, they lifted the FA Cup despite having been priced up at the comparatively miserly – but still hefty – odds of 16-1. Earlier this week they were at it again, somehow contriving to defy the laws of probability by surrendering a three-goal half-time lead at home against Southampton and snatching the most unlikely of defeats from jaws of victory that weren’t so much gaping as unhinged like that of a snake. A capitulation that came just four days after they had been docked six points for financial shenanigans, it left them just one place above the drop zone and staring down the barrel of back-to-back relegations to League One.

Re: your coverage of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s latest comments (yesterday’s Football Daily). Alongside this billionaire’s first move at Old Trafford to cut the tea lady and the lunches, surely ‘Small Sir Jim’ would be a more accurate moniker?” – Nick Phelps.

Congratulations to Big Sir Jim for becoming the first person to put their hat in the ring for the second annual Fifa Peace Prize. A reminder that this worthless piece of junk is awarded annually ‘to reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world’. Sounds like a shoo-in to me” – John Collins.

Published: February 13, 2026, 3:19 pm

Toy tigers and Mike Tyson: inside Gary Bowyer’s Burton as they target Cup shock

Manager’s unconventional techniques are designed to bring fun as well as results and he has West Ham in his sights

“At times the players must think I’m bonkers,” says Gary Bowyer, the Burton Albion manager, volunteering the time he walked into the dressing room with a tennis racket and ball. It is one of the unconventional techniques he has used to convey his message and tap into their psyche. Every week he explores different themes and stories with his squad – be it bullfighting or UFC – and brings them to life through imagery and props, everything from dragons to toy tigers.

He has leaned into boxing and particularly Mike Tyson during an FA Cup run that has led them to a fourth-round tie at home to West Ham on Saturday.

Published: February 13, 2026, 12:00 pm

VAR use becoming too ‘microscopic’, warns Uefa’s director for refereeing

• Roberto Rosetti singles out slow-motion replays

• ‘We need to speak about this at the end of the season’

Roberto Rosetti, Uefa’s managing director for refereeing, has warned video assistant refereeing is becoming too “microscopic” and fears use of the technology has strayed from its intended purpose.

VAR is rarely far from the headlines and has been the subject of further controversy in recent weeks after a series of high-profile incidents in the Premier League. Rosetti made clear that he was not commenting specifically on VAR’s deployment in England but suggested that, across the board, it is guilty of overreach. “We forgot a little bit, everywhere,” he said. “Eight years ago, I came to London and we discussed what VAR stands for. We spoke about clear mistakes, because technology works so well in factual decisions. In objective decisions, it is fantastic.

Published: February 13, 2026, 12:00 pm

‘He would fill you with confidence’: how Liam Rosenior made his mark at Hull

Chelsea manager, back at Hull in the Cup on Friday, made a strong impression on Humberside, as ex-colleagues explain

“That’s the best message I’ve received,” Liam Rosenior wrote, accompanied by laughing emojis, in response to one of the many congratulation posts sent after his surprise appointment as the Chelsea head coach. His former Hull teammate James Chester had wickedly told him: “After my time with you at Derby I never thought you’d have been Chelsea manager,” alongside a photograph of Chester in the pub with his fellow former Tigers Robbie Brady and Paul McShane, raising a glass to Rosenior.

It was a sign of the close bonds Rosenior built at Hull as a player and head coach. He returns as a Champions League head coach on Friday in the FA Cup, looking to avoid an upset against a team aiming to make it a more regular rivalry. Rosenior spent seven seasons on Humberside, five as a player and two in the dugout, which were crucial for his development.

Published: February 13, 2026, 8:00 am

Spurs agree deal to make Igor Tudor interim manager, O’Neill appointed at Blackburn – as it happened

Our reporters had all the latest news before the weekend’s FA Cup fourth-round action as Spurs found an interim replacement for Thomas Frank

Brentford striker Igor Thiago has signed a new contract, extending his deal until 2031, with the option for an additional 12 months. The Brazilian was signed from Club Brugge in February 2024, but had to overcome a knee injury last season before hitting form this term, scoring 17 Premier League goals so far.

“I love the club and the people in the club,” said Thiago. “It’s a true love, a real love. When the fans support me, and I see them singing my name and singing my song, it gives me more power. It’s been a great season for us. Everybody has been on the same page. I hope we can get something special from it.”

Published: February 13, 2026, 5:04 pm

Ukrainian athlete’s appeal for Winter Olympics reinstatement dismissed by Cas

• Vladyslav Heraskevych reacts to say: ‘Cas has failed us’

• Lizzy Yarnold: Olympic chiefs have got it badly wrong

The Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych has lost his appeal to compete at the Winter Olympics after the court of arbitration for sport ruled that the IOC guidelines banning his “helmet of memory” were fair and proportionate.

Heraskevych had gone to Cas after being dramatically removed from the men’s competition on Thursday just 45 minutes it was due to start because of his helmet, which depicts 24 athletes and children killed by Russia.

Published: February 13, 2026, 4:47 pm

‘Arctic blast’ threatens to disrupt UK horse racing programme until next week

• Ascot only UK jump card which does not face inspection

• Below-freezing forecasts for Wincanton and Haydock

The valuable card at Ascot which features the Grade One Ascot Chase is the only jumps meeting in Britain on Saturday which does not face a morning inspection as an “arctic blast” expected to last until early next week causes disruption to the racing programme, less than a month before the festival meeting at Cheltenham.

Wincanton, where Alexei, an improving 25-1 shot for the Champion Hurdle on 10 March, is due to go on trial in the Kingwell Hurdle, will hold a precautionary inspection at 8am GMT with temperatures forecast to drop below freezing overnight.

Published: February 13, 2026, 4:25 pm

Itoje calls for ‘bulletproof’ England approach to slay their Murrayfield ghosts

• Scotland boast strong recent Calcutta Cup record

• England have not won at Murrayfield since 2020

Maro Itoje has called on England to be “bulletproof” as they seek to clinch a first win at Murrayfield in six years on Saturday. England can keep their grand slam pursuit alive by successfully defending the Calcutta Cup and Itoje has urged his side to create their own history despite their recent wretched form in Edinburgh.

With England on a 12-match winning streak and Scotland suffering a shock defeat by Italy last week, Steve Borthwick’s side are clear favourites. Their only victory at Murrayfield since Eddie Jones’s first game in charge in 2016 came in miserable weather in 2020, however, with Scotland securing victories in 2022 and last time out in 2024.

Published: February 13, 2026, 3:34 pm

Salt calls on England to play with ‘chests out’ in crunch T20 World Cup clash with Scotland

• Defeat by West Indies leaves England needing a win

• ‘It’s about playing with personality,’ says opening batter

It turns out England’s self-confidence might be a bit more resolute than their batting. It will take more than a couple of teetering performances to set this team’s morale atremble. So despite being nervy against Nepal and wobbly against West Indies, England could hardly have been more cocksure on the eve of a crucial T20 World Cup group fixture against Scotland. As Phil Salt put it: “When we’re at our best nobody can live with us.”

England arrived in India having lost once in 11 Twenty20 games over the previous 12 months, and that run continues to be a source of belief. “It’s just about getting to that space more often than we have in the last two games,” Salt said. “We’re not talking about 10 [bad] games or 12 games, we’re talking about two games where it’s fair to say we haven’t been at our best. But the good news is the competition is in front of us and we’ve got these opportunities to come. And if we can be that authentic side of ourselves – chests out, taking the game on and being smart – there’s nothing to stop us.

Published: February 13, 2026, 3:14 pm

Charlotte Bankes rues cruel nature of snowboard cross as dreams dashed again

• Briton finishes ninth after quarter-final defeat

• ‘Sorry, I was hoping to put on a better show’

Few sports at the Winter Olympics are more thrilling or turbulent than snowboard cross. The idea is simple. Four competitors, a steep mountain, ramps, and whoever gets down quickest to the bottom wins. But jeopardy lurks on every sharp turn and steep bank. And calamities are an unfortunate fact of life.

Team GB’s Charlotte Bankes knows this better than anyone. Four years ago in Beijing she arrived as a gold medal favourite only to leave in tears after finishing ninth. On the brightest of sunny days history repeated itself. Hopes. Dreams. Expectations. Another ninth-place finish. And more tears.

Published: February 13, 2026, 2:52 pm

Josie Baff wins Australia’s second gold of Winter Olympics with victory in snowboard cross

• 23-year-old pips Czech top seed Eva Adamczykova in final

• She is the first Australian woman to medal in the event

Josie Baff cried tears of joy after doubling Australia’s Olympic gold medal haul by storming to a superb victory in the women’s snowboard cross event at Milan-Cortina.

The 23-year-old cried and jumped in delight on the podium after becoming the first Australian woman to medal in the event, with her triumph coming less than 24 hours after the shock win by Cooper Woods in the moguls.

Published: February 13, 2026, 2:40 pm

Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 day seven – in pictures

We take a look at striking images from day seven of the Games, including in bobsleigh, snowboard cross and cross-country skiing

Published: February 13, 2026, 2:31 pm