For the first time in the NFL, team staffers other than a head coach can throw a red challenge flag on the field. Jamie Squire / Getty Images
Beginning this season, head coaches will no longer be the only ones allowed to initiate replay challenges, according to a change in the NFL rulebook.
Rule 15 (instant replay), Section 1 (initiating a replay review), Article 1 (coach challenges) now reads, “The Head Coach or head coach’s pregame challenge designee can initiate a challenge by throwing a red flag onto the field of play before the next legal snap or kick.” Previously, only the head coach could carry the red challenge flag and throw it on the field to stop the game for a challenge.
The rule change was not included among the changes the NFL announced earlier this offseason, but the league can make some tweaks to rules that don’t require a vote from the owners.
It’s important to note that the rule is an either/or situation; it does not add to the total number of individuals allowed to initiate a challenge per team. That number remains one, according to a league official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to comment on the matter. That means if the head coach designates a member of his sideline staff to initiate challenges, the head coach will not have the ability to throw the flag on the field. As has been the case, the coaching staff — on the sidelines and in the press box — can communicate through headsets, so the head coach could still be involved in the decision-making process and offer the final verdict, even if another individual throws the flag.
Designating a sideline staff member for this is optional, so it remains to be seen how many head coaches will choose to delegate the responsibility rather than retain it for themselves.
US President Donald Trump says it would be a “terrible mistake” if under pressure Fifa president Gianni Infantino was ousted from his position.
Trump’s backing followed Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation issuing an open letter accusing Infantino of breaking trust “through deception” with his aborted Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.
FFE would have meant a new company being created to manage commercial and ticketing rights of all Fifa competitions, including World Cups, with 21% sold off to a private investment company.
“Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote on social media.
“He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again.”
The 2026 World Cup was co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, this summer, with Spain crowned champions after beating Argentina in the final.
Scotland and the Netherlands have criticised the restructuring of next year’s 50-over World Cup, saying the changes “risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket”.
At last month’s board meeting in Edinburgh, the International Cricket Council announced the main part of the tournament in southern Africa will contain a dozen teams split into two groups of six.
There will still be 14 participants, but the tournament is slated to start with a preliminary round involving the three lowest-ranked qualifiers, with only one team progressing to the group stage.
A qualifying tournament will be held from February 22 to March 23 next year, with the winner going through to the main tournament and the second, third and fourth placed teams entering the first round.
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Australia are reigning 50-over champions having defeated India in the 2023 World Cup final
In a joint statement, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB) said they were “deeply disappointed” by the ICC’s decision, announced less than 18 months before the tournament is due to start.
The statement said: “At a time when cricket is seeking to expand its reach, attract new audiences and strengthen its position on the international sporting landscape, reducing meaningful opportunities for emerging nations sends entirely the wrong message.
New Cricket World Cup format
Round One: Teams 12, 13, 14 in round-robin ‘Super Series’
Top team progresses to Round Two
Round Two: Two groups of six teams (30 matches)
Top three teams in each group plus next best across both qualify
Round 3: Super 7 – Round robin (21 matches)
Top four teams progress to semi-finals
Semi-finals
Final
“We have significant concerns about both the impact of these changes and the process through which they have been introduced.
“The changes risk weakening the integrity and credibility of international cricket, and only highlight the importance of strong governance, transparent decision-making and effective engagement with members.”
Scotland and the Netherlands are currently 13th and 14th respectively in the men’s ODI rankings.
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Monday’s statement follows the World Cricketers’ Association expressing its concerns about the tournament revamp although Cricket Scotland and the KNCB say they are “fully committed to working constructively with the ICC and fellow members to strengthen the global game”.
However, the statement added: “Following the announcement of the changes, Cricket Scotland, the KNCB and other associate members met twice with the ICC, seeking official written communication on the changes and greater clarity around the processes involved.
“We also requested positive action to strengthen future operational decision-making and an invitation to bilateral planning meetings with full members.
“Since the second meeting more than two weeks ago, there has been no further response from the ICC, which is disappointing and disrespectful given the significance of the issues raised.”
Sky Sports News has contacted the ICC for comment.
I feel this is a big milestone in this captaincy and the Solheim Cup journey, because we can now focus on preparing the 12 players for the Solheim Cup and the event ahead.
It was a quite hard and emotional part of the journey having to make so many phone calls, letting players know they didn’t make it and they weren’t getting a pick.
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Speaking to some past captains, they encouraged me to do my best and try to get through it because once it was done, then the hardest part would be behind me.
Surprising the three rookies – Julia López Ramirez, Nastasia Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes – by letting them know they were among my four picks was very exciting!
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Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Spain’s Julia Lopez Ramirez, France’s Nastasia Nadaud and England’s Mimi Rhodes have been named as Anna Nordqvist’s Solheim Cup captain’s picks for Team Europe
Julia, Nastasia and Mimi all joined me for interviews and a live show down at the Sky Sports News studio, the day after the AIG Women’s Open, where the team was finally announced.
I feel very good about the team we have selected and who has qualified. We have a great mixture of experience and personality, plus four rookies who bring a sense of fresh air and aggressive playing styles.
I’m excited to continue to work on the pairing “puzzle” over the coming weeks and figure out the best strategy for us to take on Team USA. I’m also excited that everyone is so supportive and looking forward to what is ahead next month.
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There is still a couple more weeks until we all head to the Netherlands, but there is constant work and preparation being done behind the scenes – including from the vice-captains, backroom team, helpers and caddie captains!
When is the Solheim Cup and who features for Team Europe?
Team Europe will be looking to regain the trophy at Bernardus Golf from September 11-13, the first time the tournament has been held in the Netherlands, with Nordqvist having four rookies in her 12-strong line-up.
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Highlights of the final day from the 2024 Solheim Cup, where Team USA secured a 15.5-12.5 victory over Europe in Virginia
Charley Hull and Esther Henseleit qualified through the LET Solheim Cup Points List, while Lottie Woad, Maja Stark, Linn Grant, Céline Boutier, Carlota Ciganda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen earned their spots via the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
Leona Maguire, Ramirez, Nadaud and Rhodes were the four captain’s picks for Team Europe, while defending champions Team USA – captained by Angela Stanford – will announce her team later in August.
Image: Leona Maguire will make her fourth consecutive Solheim Cup appearance for Team Europe
Sky Sports Golf will have exclusive live coverage from all three days of the biennial contest, with live coverage getting under way at 6am on Friday September 11. Coverage then starts at 6am on September 12 and 10am on September 13.
Team USA need 14 points to retain the trophy after their 15.5-12.5 victory in 2024, while Team Europe would need 14.5 points to claim their first outright Solheim Cup win since 2021.
Who will win the Solheim Cup? Watch Team Europe’s bid to regain the trophy exclusively live on Sky Sports, with all three days live from September 11-13 on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream golf and more with no contract.
