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Leeds United could be ready to part ways with one of their experienced heads at Elland Road and journalist Phil Hay has given some important insight into the latest news regarding his future.

What's the latest news involving Leeds United?

In an interview with German outlet BILD, Eintracht Frankfurt sporting director Markus Krösche has praised the impact of on-loan Leeds United man Robin Koch at the Bundesliga outfit. Factoring in the fact Eintracht Frankfurt have conceded just three goals so far this campaign, Krösche has complemented the partnership of Koch and teammate Willian Pacho, stating: "We are doing very well defensively. It’s unbelievable how stable Pacho is and how Robin has fit in."

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Ben Jacobs believes that securing promotion to the Premier League may be a key element in whether Italy international Wilfried Gnonto decides to stay at Elland Road for the foreseeable future.

Jacobs said: "It will all simply depend on whether Leeds go up or stay in the Championship. If they stay in the Championship, I think they’ll let Gnonto leave. But if they go back up into the Premier League, he may not want to leave."

Of course, Gnonto is currently out with a ligament injury and will also require surgery, leaving him out of contention until after the next international break has concluded, cited by Leeds Live. Next up for Leeds United is a trip to Southampton this weekend as they look to continue their unbeaten streak in the Sky Bet Championship, which currently stands at six games without a defeat.

As per reports, Crystal Palace have scouted Leeds United youngster Archie Gray; however, any January approach from the South London-based outfit is deemed to be unlikely.

Who could leave Leeds United?

Speaking on the Square Ball podcast, The Athletic journalist Hay has given an update on the future of out-of-favour Leeds United man Helder Costa: "We’ll see what happens – the expectation was that he would go. As Farke said himself, Costa had said that he wanted to leave, hence why he wasn’t involved at all over the summer and there is simply no way he can be reintegrated now. He hasn’t trained through pre-season; he isn’t familiar with what Farke’s doing.

"He's been training on his own. There was obviously the Turkish window as well, which would’ve been an option. I think we all expected that he’s probably would go back to Saudi but noting has developed there. One of a handful of things is going to have to happen. Either they terminate his contract, or when they get round to January they find somewhere for him to go for six months so that he can burn down what’s left on his deal then move on, or he just sits tight until the end of the season and moves on as a free agent."

Costa has made 71 appearances for Leeds United in total over the course of his time at Elland Road, registering eight goals and 11 assists, as per Transfermarkt.

Nevertheless, all signs point to Farke no longer wanting the Angola international around and this could prompt Leeds United owners the 49ers to pay off the 40 weeks remaining on his £32,500 per week contract, which would equate to roughly £1.3 million.

With one swing of the bat, New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso went from a underperforming star to a postseason hero.

Trailing 2–0 in the ninth inning with two runners on base, the Mets were two outs away from elimination when Alonso stepped up to the plate. Facing two-time All-Star closer Devin Williams, Alonso took a hack at a 3-1 changeup and poked it over the right-field wall for a 3–2 Mets lead over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Alonso entered Game 3 in a 5-for-38 slump (.132 batting average) and hadn't homered in his last 49 at-bats. He was a combined 1-for-11 in the wild-card series before stepping up to the plate in the ninth inning.

"This is something that you practice in the backyard as a kid," Alonso said on the ESPN broadcast after the game. "I'm just happy to come through for the boys."

Earlier in the game, Alonso served as more of a laughingstock among Brewers fans. In the seventh inning, he misplayed a routine foul ball with two runners on base. Had the Brewers scored those two extra runs, Alonso could've gone down as the Mets' goat rather than the hero.

Instead, Alonso and the Mets had the last laugh as they advance to the NLDS to battle the Philadelphia Phillies. Game 1 of the Phillies-Mets series is scheduled for Saturday at 4:08 p.m. ET.

تحدث عبد الحليم علي مهاجم الزمالك الأسبق، عن فوز الفارس الأبيض على الاتحاد السكندري، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري “النيل”.

وكان الزمالك قد حقق فوزًا على الاتحاد، بهدفين دون رد، في مباراة الجولة السابعة من عمر الدوري، والتي أقيمت على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

فيديو | الزمالك يتخطى الاتحاد السكندري بثنائية نظيفة ويتصدر الدوري المصري

وقال عبد الحليم علي في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “الزمالك”: “انتصار مهم جدًا لكي تتصدر الدوري، والمدير الفني كريستيان جروس بنسبة كبيرة وضع يده على مناطق القوة والضعف”.

وأضاف: “جروس لديه هدوء في التغييرات والحفاظ على أسلوب اللعب، وطرد لاعب الاتحاد السكندري (عبد الغني محمد) صنع الفارق مع الزمالك”.

وواصل: “سأعطى لاعبي الزمالك 4 أو 5 من 10، كانت توجد أخطاء وعدم تركيز في الشوط الأول وكانت هناك رعونة في الأداء”.

وتابع: “أما الشوط الثاني اختلف الأداء تمامًا بعد طرد لاعب الاتحاد السكندري، أعطي فريق الزمالك 7 من 10”.

وأتم: “أرى أن عبد الله السعيد وعمر جابر يستحقان جائزة رجل المباراة”.

Glasgow Rangers are closing in on yet another addition to their first-team squad this week, having already made a host of signings to bolster Russell Martin’s squad.

Max Aarons, Lyall Cameron, Joe Rothwell, Emmanuel Fernandez, and Thelo Aasgaard have all already arrived to improve the manager’s options across the pitch at Ibrox.

The Scottish Premiership giants are not done there, though, as Martin and sporting director Kevin Thelwell are eyeing up several more signings to ensure that the team is ready to compete with Celtic next season.

Sheffield Wednesday’s versatile attacker Djeidi Gassama could be the next player to arrive at Ibrox, as reporter Joe Crann claims that a deal has been agreed between the two clubs.

Rangers have already agreed personal terms with the 21-year-old forward, who came up through the Paris Saint-Germain academy, and it now seems like just a matter of time before he holds up the scarf.

What Djeidi Gassama could bring to Rangers

The French youngster is an exciting young talent who could bring speed, goals, and dribbles to the left flank for the Scottish giants next season.

He is still learning and developing as a player, which means that the attacker is far from the finished article, but his performances in the Championship last season suggest that Gassama could make an instant impact in the Premiership as a goal threat.

The Owls star ended the season with a return of seven goals from 5.92 xG in the second tier of English football, which shows that he offered a decent goal threat and finished the chances that he was provided with at an impressive rate.

A consistent goal threat on the left wing is exactly what Martin is in dire need of at Ibrox, given what the existing left-wing options produced in the division last season.

Hamza Igamane

29

11

Ianis Hagi

23

4

Tom Lawrence

15

4

Nedim Bajrami

25

2

Rabbi Matondo

6

2

Oscar Cortes

8

0

Scott Wright

2

0

As you can see in the table above, Hamza Igamane, who scored nine of his goals as a striker, was the only left-wing option for the Gers who managed more than four goals.

This suggests that Gassama has the potential to be the player that Rangers need if he can translate his efficient goalscoring form on the left wing for Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship over to the Premiership next season.

However, the French dynamo may not be the only winger who arrives at Ibrox in the coming weeks, as Rangers are reportedly interested in another wide attacker.

Rangers make contact to sign new winger

According to Africa Foot, Rangers are interested in a deal to sign free agent winger Grady Diangana, who left West Bromwich Albion at the start of the month.

The report claims that the Scottish giants have already made contact with his camp, as they pursue a move to bring him to Ibrox to bolster their options on the flanks.

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It adds that there is plenty of interest from elsewhere, though, as Wolverhampton Wanderers, Valencia and Al Ettifaq are all also interested in signing the former West Ham United forward.

Africa Foot reveals that Diangana is intrigued by the prospect of a move to Scotland this summer and is carefully considering a switch to Ibrox to link up with Martin, who is very keen on signing a player of his profile.

It now remains to be seen what final decision the 27-year-old dynamo is going to make, with Rangers hoping that he will decide that a move to Glasgow is the best next step for him in his career.

What Grady Diangana could bring to Rangers

Diangana would be an interesting addition to the Rangers squad this summer because he did not deliver outstanding quality on the pitch for the Baggies in the 2024/25 campaign.

However, he is an incredibly versatile attacking option who can play on the left, on the right, or through the middle as an attacking midfielder, having started at least 37 games in each position in his career to date.

This means that Martin could utilise him in a plethora of roles next season, whether that’s on the wing or as an attacking midfield, which would make him a valuable depth option for the Scottish boss to call upon when needed.

Gassama, given his potential and impressive goalscoring output in the 2024/25 campaign, could come in as the first-choice option on the left flank, with Diangana providing an experienced alternative who can support the Frenchman’s developement whilst also being a quality back-up.

Appearances

36

34

Starts

29

14

xG

5.44

3.67

Goals

7

4

Big chances created

8

5

Assists

8

3

As you can see in the table above, the former West Brom star did provide decent quality in the final third in the Championship in the 2023/24 season, but his form fell off last term as his contract was due to expire.

Diangana, who was once hailed as “unplayable” by pundit Michael Brown, joining Rangers for a fresh challenge could motivate him to get back to his best, potentially providing Martin with a winger who can make an impact in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

At worst, the DR Congo international will be a versatile and experienced player to support Gassama and step in as a starter when needed for the Gers.

At best, Diangana will recapture his best form and be a terrific winger for Rangers who can decide matches with goals and assists on a regular basis, leaving Martin with two brilliant left wing options to pick from next season.

Dessers upgrade at Ibrox: Rangers join race to sign "complete number 9"

Rangers are reportedly interested in a deal to sign a big upgrade on Cyriel Dessers.

ByDan Emery Jul 9, 2025

Manchester United have an interesting plan in place regarding the future of a "world-class" current player at Old Trafford, according to a fresh transfer update.

Man Utd players set to leave in 2024

The Red Devils continue to have an unpredictable season, with performances and results fluctuating between impressive and woeful, and Wednesday's 3-3 draw away to Galatasaray in the Champions League perhaps summed them up as a team.

It was another poor night at the office for Andre Onana, who twice allowed free-kicks to beat him too easily, and his struggles sum up the lack of impact from United's summer signings. Mason Mount has found it hugely difficult to make an impression, with the Englishman not helped by injuries, while Rasmus Hojlund is yet to score in the Premier League despite his impressive tally in Europe.

The January transfer window will allow Erik ten Hag the opportunity to bring in new signings, but plenty of United players will be out of contract in the near future and we could see somewhat of an overhaul in 2024. The likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Antony Martial all see their deals expire in 2024, while Donny van de Beek is thought to be certain to leave in Janary.

Man Utd make Anthony Martial decision

According to a new report from Football Insider, Manchester United could now trigger Martial's one-year extension but with the intent to then sell him for a fee.

"Man United could now activate Anthony Martial’s one-year contract extension clause and then let him go, sources have told Football Insider. The Red Devils could move to prolong the 27-year-old’s deal in order to protect his value and prevent him leaving for free in 2024."

Ratcliffe may well decide to splash out on a new forward next year, claims the report, and that would involve selling Martial either in January or next summer. This is a decision that would make perfect sense for United, ensuring that they don't simply lose Martial for nothing after splashing out so much on his potential back in 2015.

The Frenchman has always been a big talent at Old Trafford, with former Red Devils striker Robin van Persie even describing him as "world-class" on a talent level, but it feels like the right time to move him on, considering his influence has waned as the years have passed.

Fabrizio Romano adresses Man Utd contact for rapid striker target

He could now be available in January.

ByCharlie Smith Dec 1, 2023

This season, Martial's statistics highlight his lack of playing time, with only three starts coming his way in the Premier League in 2023/24, and while he is still only 27 years of age, he has suffered lots of injuries and arguably isn't the player he once was.

United need to move on from the forward now, bringing in fresh faces who represent the future, so it is now a case of triggering his contract and then receiving as much money for him as possible.

Aston Villa are certainly riding the crest of a wave right now as they secured their sixth Premier League win of the season with a rather straight forward 4-1 thrashing of West Ham United on the weekend.

Unai Emery was clearly just getting started by leading Villa to a seventh-place finish last season and their form during the current campaign ensures they have a realistic chance of securing a top six spot or whisper it quietly, a Champions League berth for next year.

Of course, they will have to maintain this over the course of a whole term while defeating established sides like Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City at some point, but with the way the Spaniard has them playing right now, nothing appears out of the question.

Having lured players such as Moussa Diaby, Pau Torres, and Nicolo Zaniolo to the club in a bid to strengthen his squad, and it has worked a charm.

He may not stop there, however, as his meticulous approach suggests there could be a few more arrivals during the January transfer window, and if Villa are still challenging at the top end of the Premier League while progressing in Europe, improving his squad depth could be crucial.

With this in mind, it appears as though the Midlands side are showing interest in a current Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Carlos Soler ahead of the winter window.

Are Aston Villa interested in signing Carlos Soler?

According to a recent report by Le Parisien (via One Football), Emery looks to be keeping tabs on the Spanish ace as the January window fast approaches.

The outlet claimed that PSG manager Luis Enrique is looking to add some more creativity to his side and could be set to bolster this area, yet this would potentially require him to make a few sales in order to accommodate some new arrivals.

Brighton and Hove Albion are also showing interest in the 6-foot gem and, having played for PSG and Valencia, his next stop could be the Premier League.

The 26-year-old ace is currently earning around £100k-per-week and this is certainly a wage that Villa could afford, especially when you consider that their highest earner is Boubacar Kamara, who is reportedly taking home £175k-per-week.

According to Football Transfers, Soler is currently valued at €25.6m (£22.3m), although he does have another four years remaining on his current contract, giving Enrique some more flexibility with the fee he could charge prospective buyers.

How good is Carlos Soler?

PSG won the Ligue 1 title last season and with the triumvirate of Neymar, Lionel Messi, and Kylian Mbappe obviously stealing headlines throughout the campaign, scoring 58 goals between them, it was Soler who played the unassuming role in the heart of the midfield.

Across 26 league matches last term, he scored three goals and grabbed three assists while registering ten goal contributions altogether in all competitions and key played a key role in their title triumph.

7

1

38

7

38

12

34

12

37

3

51

4

37

1

35

4

Before PSG however, he was an integral member of the Valencia squad, racking up a rather remarkable 38 goal contributions – 24 goals and 14 assists – across his final two full seasons with the Spanish giants, and it is clear he could give Emery and extra attacking threat from the heart of the midfield.

Over the previous 12 months when compared with positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions, he currently ranks in the top 1% for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.32), the top 14% for assists per 90 (0.19), and the top 11% for progressive passes received per 90 (4.91).

This indicates that not only does he feature highly for goals and assists, but the midfielder likes to burst forward and receive the ball in dangerous positions on a regular basis.

Could he even be an upgrade on one of Emery’s summer signings? Youri Tielemans has failed to really showcase his true talents since joining Villa.

Is Carlos Soler better than Youri Tielemans?

Since arriving at Villa Park, the Belgian international has failed to start a league match under Emery and currently ranks in a lowly 12th spot for accurate passes per game (11.6), while also ranking 12th for key passes per game (0.2) and 11th for goals and assists(one) which indicate that he hasn’t made the required impact as expected.

In comparison, Soler ranks 15th for accurate passes per game (18.7) across the PSG squad while also ranking 15th for key passes per game (0.6) and seventh for goals and assists (two), and considering how tough it is to stand out at the French giants, he is performing fairly well when called upon.

The Spaniard has also registered more shots per 90 (2.32 vs 0.58) than Tielemans while also having a better pass success rate (87.7% vs 86.9%), taking more touches in the attacking third (64 vs 36) and receiving more progressive passes (13 vs five) per 90, suggesting that Soler has the edge on the Belgian across a wide range of performance metrics.

It is no wonder then that former Valencia star Curro Torres, who coached Soler during his time in the youth academy, praised him back in 2021, saying: “He is the complete midfielder and can act as a 6, 8 or 10; he has power, arrives in the box and can score.

“I know him and I know that he can still bring his game to the next level. He has taken on responsibility in the team too.”

These attributes could be a huge bonus for Emery as he aims to strengthen his side and with Tielemans not quite making an immediate impact following his summer arrival, Soler could see the potential to secure a regular spot in a team who are on the rise.

It would signal yet another statement of intent by the former Arsenal boss if he was able to lure the PSG midfielder to the Midlands, especially given his performances on the continent since making his debut for Valencia during the 2016/17 season.

If Emery wants constant improvement at Villa, he needs to continue his fine record in the transfer market and secure players who are heading to the peak of their powers.

Diaby and Torres fit that bill having joined during the summer and there is no doubt Soler is about to enter his prime years as a footballer, becoming an upgrade on Tielemans in the process, due to the aforementioned statistics.

Chelsea saw the best and worst of striker Nicolas Jackson as he fired in the opening goal against Brentford shortly after missing an open goal.

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• Jackson missed embarrassing open goal
• Redeemed himself with header
• First league goal since December

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Senegal international was ridiculed by fans after he found himself faced with an open goal but managed to send his shot tamely into the defender's path in an embarrassing moment. The attacker managed to redeem himself shortly afterwards, though, when he got on the end of a wonderful Malo Gusto cross and headed into the net. The Chelsea man then went on to 'ssshh' the Brentford fans in his celebration.

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Supporters mocked the Blues forward for his initial miss, accusing him of tackling himself and saying that it was easier to score than miss the target.

  "Nicolas Jackson is a clown", X user @EbukaMeansGreat wrote, while @Nkunkumehn said Jackson "literally managed to dribble himself".

  After Jackson managed to give Chelsea the breakthrough, journalist Kieran Gill gave a fair assessment, saying: "Saw a few sides of Nicolas Jackson in that first half. Tackled himself while trying some stepovers, should’ve scored after rounding the goalkeeper, but ultimately got his goal and celebrated by shushing Brentford supporters."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The goal Jackson did manage to score is his first in the Premier League since December, though he now has goals in back-to-back games after helping fire his team to a 3-2 win against Leeds in the FA Cup during the week. He now has 11 goals from 26 appearances for Chelsea.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Mauricio Pochettino will hope his team can see out the win against Brentford and Jackson will be eager to go on a three-game scoring streak when they come up against Newcastle in the Premier League in their next match on March 11.

The former captain said his security detail had discharged their weapons in order to protect him from a mob that was intent on killing him

Andrew Fidel Fernando29-Oct-2018Former captain Arjuna Ranatunga was arrested after he was involved in a shooting that killed one and injured two others in Colombo on Sunday, during Sri Lanka’s unfolding political crisis. He has since been swiftly produced before the Colombo magistrate, and was subsequently released on bail.Ranatunga had said his security detail had discharged their weapons in order to protect him from a mob that was intent on killing him, at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) offices. He had to be extracted later from the premises by Special Task Force – elite police – officers.But after almost 24 hours of pressure from a CPC trade union, which had threatened a fuel strike, Ranatunga was arrested on Monday afternoon.Ranatunga, who was the country’s Minister for the Development of Petroleum Resources, said he was attempting to retrieve belongings from the CPC offices, when it was surrounded by a mob aligned with the opposite political party. “They came to kill me – I state this responsibly – and you can check the CCTV footage,” Ranatunga said following the clash. “For the first time, I feared for my life. I thought of my children and my family.”After Ranatunga was dressed in a helmet and camouflage, and escorted from the premises by the Special Task Force, dozens of regular police were deployed in order to pacify a still-agitated crowd.The three wounded had been taken to hospital but the news of one of the men, aged 34, succumbing to his injuries prompted a demand over Ranatunga’s arrest from the trade union.Ranatunga first stood for office in 2001, and has held various cabinet portfolios since. He is a member of the United National Party, whose leader, Ranil Wickramasinghe, is in the midst of the ongoing political wrangle.

A “true leader” is now open to leaving his club this summer, with Sunderland currently “exploring a move”, journalist Ben Jacobs has revealed.

Black Cats in strong position to avoid the drop

After spending eight years outside the top flight, it will be a tall order for the Black Cats to avoid relegation in their first season back in the Premier League, but former Everton chief Keith Wyness believes they are in a good position to do so.

Wyness said: “I love what Sunderland are doing and they’re not going to make my bottom six for next year. They’re actually one of the only clubs promoted that I think have a great chance of staying up.

“Now I was speaking to somebody that I consider to be one of the very top agents in the game yesterday, who said watch out for Diarra at Sunderland, the signing they’ve got from Strasbourg. He thinks he’s going to be a revelation next year.”

More exciting than Xhaka: Sunderland make contact to sign £34m star on loan

Sunderland could seal a deal even more exciting than Granit Xhaka returning to the Premier League with this world-class capture.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 17, 2025

Regis Le Bris’ side did a fantastic job winning the race for Habib Diarra, given that fellow newly-promoted side Leeds United were also keen, but it may be a good idea to bring in another central midfielder, in light of Jobe Bellingham’s departure.

It was recently revealed that Sunderland have opened talks over a potential move for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka, which could amount to £8.5m, and there has now been a further update on the maestro’s future.

Taking to X, Jacobs revealed the Black Cats are still “exploring a move” for Xhaka, but they could face competition from Saudi Pro League side NEOM SC.

The reporter also added the midfielder is “open to an exit” this summer, despite still having three years remaining on his Bayer Leverkusen deal, potentially opening the door for a move to the Stadium of Light.

"True leader" Xhaka could be ideal signing for Sunderland

It may be a cliché, but it is true that teams need to have leaders in the dressing room if they are to achieve success, and the Leverkusen midfielder certainly fits the bill in that regard.

Former manager Xabi Alonso praised the impact the Switzerland international had at Leverkusen both in the dressing room and on the pitch saying: “When we had a chance to start with Granit, we had no doubts because of his personality, his qualities, what he delivers, not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well,”

“He’s a true leader… He has made us a better team, a much more mature team.”

Crucially, the former Arsenal man also has a great deal of Premier League experience, having made 225 appearances in the competition for the Gunners, meaning he could be an ideal signing for a Sunderland side aiming to avoid the drop.

The GoBubble app picks up and deletes comments with abusive words, as well as comments from bots advertising unrelated content

Firdose Moonda04-Nov-2024Cricket has concluded one of the biggest social media moderation trials in sport and found that almost a fifth of comments made on player or team social media pages are either harmful or generated by bots.The programme, which ran over the course of the recently completed Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE, saw the ICC employ an AI tool created by tech company GoBubble to weed out online bullying. It analysed 1,495,149 social media comments across 60 player and eight team accounts and 271,100 of them, contained racism, sexism, homophobia and other kinds of abuse.All the monitored accounts were from players or teams who opted into the service, offered by the ICC as a way of making the game safer for players, especially in light of the increased attention on the women’s game.Earlier this year, ESPNcricinfo published a deep dive into social media harassment and found that abuse directed at female players, or the female partners of players is rampant, which makes the focus on women pertinent. And on Monday, the ICC’s next women’s FTP sees an expansion to 11 teams, from ten, more than 100 additional fixtures and dedicated windows for three leagues which will only increase attention and growth on the women’s game.Related

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WPL, Hundred, WBBL given separate windows in new women's FTP

“One of the objectives of the ICC is to look at ways in which we can inspire as many women and girls to play cricket as possible,” Finn Bradshaw, the ICC’s Head of Digital told ESPNcricinfo. “We heard the stories from a lot of women and girls, unfortunately, once they become a bit more public, the abuse that they get online can be really inhibiting.”The last thing you want is a teenage girl who’s got some talent and ability and then she sees what one of her heroes goes through on social media and thinks, ‘I can’t face that’. We know mental health is such a big thing across the world and social media can be terrible for mental health and so anything we can do to make that girl’s decision to play cricket easier, we want to do that.”The GoBubble tool works in two ways: by picking up words which are abusive, both in English and other languages, and also be personalised for particular players or teams, and by scanning for bots who are advertising unrelated content on pages.”There’s a whole range of words: swear words, slurs or insults but the best part about this software is that you can individualise it. If, for example, a player has had an unfortunate incident that’s specific to them in the past and people keep bringing it up, we can then make sure that those comments are hidden for them as well,” Bradshaw said. “There are a lot of bots selling things players or teams don’t want on your account, for example, cryptocurrency. It blocks that as well and cleans it all up which just means for the average fan, the social media experience is better.”

“That protection for me is very big because players get to share their life with the world without the fear of being judged or criticised, I am looking forward to seeing the changes, people just being free and players can just show the world who they really are.”Sinalo Jafta

Sinalo Jafta, the South Africa wicketkeeper-batter, was one of the players who revealed her struggles with online abuse and has been the face of the ICC’s initiative. Before the introduction of this service, Jafta entrusted a friend or family member with the task of going through her social media accounts and deleting any abusive comments or messages.She recognised that not all players would do the same but now that they can rely on an AI tool, she hopes they will be more comfortable sharing content. “That protection for me is very big because players get to share their life with the world without the fear of being judged or criticised,” she said in an ICC release. “I am looking forward to seeing the changes, people just being free and players can just show the world who they really are.”Ultimately, both Jafta and the ICC want to encourage positive social media use to inspire the next generation of players. “For players who are comfortable with social media, we love to work with them and find ways to showcase their personality to the fans because fandom starts with the player,” Bradshaw said. “A young kid falls in love with a player and it’s usually not just about whether they can hit a six, it’s about their personality and something the child sees reflected in that player.”Social media is amazing for that and for the players who are comfortable doing that, it’s an amazing tool. And we want to make sure that experience is as enjoyable for the player as it can be.”Currently, women’s players can sign up for the service until the end of 2025 and the ICC is looking at making it available for male players as well. “We wanted to do a trial and to see how it goes and we will produce a report,” Bradshaw said. “Then we’ll see if there’s demand for this from the male players.”