Soccer opinion: VAR on trial - Should football maintain faith or scrap it for good?
When video assistant referees were introduced to football, they were meant to represent progress, a step toward fairness and accuracy in a sport long defined by human error.
VAR promised to correct the infamous injustices of the past, from Thierry Henry’s handball in 2009 to Frank Lampard’s ghost goal in 2010.
The technology was sold as the answer to decades of controversy. Yet over five years after its introduction to the Premier League - fans, players and managers remain divided.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Ben Phillips looks into arguments for and against the continuation of the VAR project.
LeBron James injury update: LA Lakers star to miss NBA 2025/26 season start with nerve issue
LeBron James is set to miss the start of the 2025/26 NBA season after sustaining an injury.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Noah Ngcobo looks at how the Los Angeles Lakers are handling their star’s recovery and what his absence means for the team’s early-season outlook.
Ka Ying Rising 9 lb clear at top of Timeform’s weight-adjusted ratings for The Everest
Timeform's highest-rated horse in the world, Ka Ying Rising, heads into The Everest at Randwick on Saturday 9 lb clear on weight-adjusted ratings of the Chris Waller-trained Joliestar.
The Saudi Pro League Needs Statement Signings Next Summer
The Saudi Pro League (SPL) turned heads by entering the global transfer market with one of the most ambitious projects ever seen in professional football.
Thanks to the Public Investment Fund’s (PIF) unlimited resources, SPL clubs attracted Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez to the Middle East.
However, subsequent transfer windows have been underwhelming. The SPL needs more statement signings and there are some exciting options they could consider.
F1 news: Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto attracting attention from top F1 teams
Gabriel Bortoleto’s impressive start to life in Formula 1 has not gone unnoticed.
The 21-year-old Brazilian is quickly earning praise across the paddock after showing strong pace and maturity in his rookie season with Sauber.
The psychology of winning: Roberto Forzoni reveals how mental resilience creates champions
Roberto Forzoni is a renowned mental resilience speaker and performance psychologist whose work bridges elite sport and leadership.
For over 30 years, he has guided Olympic champions, top Premier League football clubs, and high-performing organisations through the complexities of pressure, adversity, and peak performance.
His signature approach blends psychological insight, practical strategy, and storytelling - he brings tools for mental clarity, resilience, and sustainable high performance directly into team culture.
In this exclusive interview with The High Performance Speakers Agency, Roberto shares the core principles behind The Laws of Effective Teamwork, reveals surprising lessons from working with elite athletes, and explains how any team can build resilience that withstands pressure and change.
Gavin Cromwell: Stumptown set to miss Aintree for Cheltenham Festival defence
William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell has revealed that Velka Pardubicka winner Stumptown is unlikely to run in this season’s Grand National, with the 2025 Cross Country hero set to be aimed at defending his Cheltenham Festival crown.
Gewan deserves to be considered leading Classic contender, say Timeform
Gewan may have sprung a 25/1 surprise in the Dewhurst, becoming the longest-priced winner of the race since Beethoven in 2009, but he produced the best two-year-old performance of the season, according to Timeform.
Soccer news: Latvia vs England – Five talking points as Three Lions chase World Cup qualification
England head into Tuesday night’s clash against Latvia with 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification on the line as a win in Riga will see Thomas Tuchel’s men punch their ticket to next year’s footballing showcase in the United States.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Eloise Stevens looks at the key talking points ahead of the match.
The impact of referee decisions on live betting odds
In the modern world of sports betting, you can not only bet on wins and losses, but almost every little detail in a game. Of course, the referee can have a massive impact on this, for a myriad of different reasons that we will get to.
But how can you minimise these variables, and how can you increase your chances of making a winning bet?
Padel news: Team USA beat Team GB to win inaugural Anglo-American Padel Cup in London
In a north London padel club, Team USA beat Team GB to lift the first-ever Anglo-American Padel Cup trophy and officially ignite the two nations’ transcontinental rivalry in the sport.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Vanely Barumire, who was on hand to witness it all, shares an analysis of the action and contemplates what it means going forward.
EFL news: MK Dons, Burton Albion and Leyton Orient win big as Salford’s Fireball promo backfires
Despite it being the international break – every football fan’s worst nightmare – the English Football League has plodded on.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Charlie Gardner takes a look at what happened in the EFL this week.
Horse racing news: David Hayes declares Ka Ying Rising ready to rumble after final pre-Everest gallop
David Hayes is “very confident” Ka Ying Rising is ready to fire in the G1 The Everest at Royal Randwick in Sydney, Australia on Saturday 18 October after the champion sprinter breezed through fast work on Monday.
What Next After the Front-of-Shirt Sponsorship Ban in the Premier League?
With the Premier League front-of-shirt sponsorship ban arriving next season, clubs are now having to explore new avenues. Here's what comes next.
Boxing news: Ben Whittaker ready for world title shot after Matchroom switch
Ben Whittaker insists he is now ready to fight for a world title after departing Boxxer for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, writes Sports News Blitz’s Will Thomas.
Matchroom announced the signing of the Birmingham-born boxer with a movie-like announcement video, titling it ‘The level up is complete’ - rubbing salt into the wounds of Ben Shalom and Boxxer.
The Olympic silver medallist won his last fight in ferocious fashion, silencing any doubters after his draw over Liam Cameron by stopping the Sheffield-born fighter in the rematch in round two.
Whittaker has stated that he feels like he’s making his debut again, excited for his first fight under Matchroom banners.
NFL betting tips: Ravens to struggle without Lamar Jackson, Eagles look to bounce back against Giants
The NFL is in London once again this week as the high-flying Denver Broncos take on a wayward New York Jets outfit.
Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Rams will be looking to bounce back at the injury-stricken Baltimore Ravens.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Sam Condy breaks down three of the best picks ahead of NFL gameweek six.
Premier League power rankings after Gameweek 7: Nottingham Forest fall, Brentford on the rise despite loss to Man City, Arsenal top the table, and more
The 2025/26 Premier League table is looking very different since we last checked in. What a difference a couple of weeks can make.
Arne Slot and Liverpool have forgotten how to win, while Arsenal fans are once again allergic to humility now that they’re top of the table.
Nottingham Forest fans are telling their own manager he’s getting sacked in the morning after just six matches in charge, and they might be right.
Every week here on Sports News Blitz, betting expert George Dempsey will be compiling the only table that matters - our very own Premier League power rankings.
Padel news: Britain and America poised for big arrival on world stage ahead of inaugural Anglo American Padel Cup
The UK’s most significant padel moment yet finally arrives, as London prepares to host two of the world’s most storied sporting nations for transatlantic padel triumph.
64 of Britain and America’s elite players are set to compete across Open and Age Group categories as Anglo American Padel Cup follows in the footsteps of the historic British and American sports rivalry.
NFL news: Week 6 - San Francisco 49ers clash with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in another NFC battle; How to watch, analysis and more
After a phenomenal Week 5 of the NFL season, Week 6 brings us some excellent matchups, with a certain team returning again for my game of the weekend.
The San Francisco 49ers travel to Raymond James Stadium, down in sunny Florida, to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what looks to be a fantastic NFC match-up on Sunday.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s NFL writer Finley Young takes a look at the game of the weekend.
(The Buccaneers (4-1) feature once again in my game of the weekend preview as I’ve finally realised they are probably a safe bet for it.)
Gavin Cromwell: Pardubice test will suit Stumptown
William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell is confident in Stumptown’s ability to handle the unique test of the Velka Pardubicka this Sunday.