City appeal PL ruling; Verstappen leads F1's Sepang return — SkimNews
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- Manchester City appealed the PL commission's verdict on October 1, calling it 'unsafe' and riddled with 'material errors' over £900M in alleged 'sham' commercial deals from 2009–2018.link ›
- Ferran Soriano told staff the case turns on a 'false claim' that Abu Dhabi sponsors secretly funneled owner money into the club, which City denies.link ›
- Max Verstappen topped Sepang FP1 at 1:37.520, three tenths clear of George Russell, on F1's first visit to the circuit since 2017.link ›
- Mercedes rolled out their first significant W17 update since the Canadian GP — new floor and rear corner — with Russell second and Antonelli a full second off in fifth.link ›
- Ferrari (Leclerc P4, Hamilton P6) and McLaren (Piastri P11, Norris P12) were both over a second off Verstappen, with McLaren running a back-to-back test of a rotating 'H-wing' rear wing.link ›
- Haas will split with Esteban Ocon after 2026, with Oliver Bearman out-qualifying the 2021 Hungarian GP winner 13-6 by an average of 0.144 seconds this season.link ›
- Darian Mensah tops the Power 4 QB rankings at Miami, leading in completion rate (88.7%), passing TDs (14), yards per dropback (11.0) and passing success rate (68.7%).link ›
- Olivia Miles was unanimous 2026 WNBA Rookie of the Year, averaging 19.8 points, 6.0 assists and 4.7 rebounds and breaking Caitlin Clark's rookie points record.link ›
Manchester City lodged a comprehensive appeal on October 1 against the Premier League commission's verdict that the club orchestrated 'sham' commercial deals to inflate revenues and reduce costs by £900 million between 2009 and 2018. CEO Ferran Soriano told staff the case hinges on a 'false claim' that Abu Dhabi sponsors secretly funneled owner money into the club, and City insists it has 'irrefutable evidence' on its side. The appeal keeps City's standing intact for now but puts the league's financial oversight regime on trial. On track, F1 returned to Sepang for the first time since 2017 with Max Verstappen three tenths up on George Russell in FP1, while Mercedes debuted their first major upgrade since Canada and Ferrari plus McLaren finished over a second adrift.
The stories behind this week
Commanders' Daniels Ruled Out Again; Mariota Starts vs ColtsThe Commanders are navigating a critical stretch with key starters sidelined, but unexpected contributions from rookies and returnees like Styles and Luvu could shape their defensive resilience. With Daniels’ return targeted for Week 5, the team must maintain momentum using a reshaped lineup ahead of a Giants matchup.
Man City appeal PL breaches case guilty verdictThe appeal delays potential sanctions like points deductions or expulsion, keeping City’s current Premier League standing intact for now. With £900 million in disputed finances and a firm denial from the club, the outcome will set a precedent for financial oversight in English football and could reshape competitive balance if upheld or overturned.
NFL, Dawkins Demand DHS Remove Unauthorized Highlight VideoThe NFL and Dawkins are asserting control over intellectual property and image rights in a politically charged context, where government messaging co-opts sports symbolism without permission. This raises stakes for athlete consent and institutional boundaries in public communications.
Verstappen makes fast start in Malaysia to outpace Russell in first practiceRed Bull's early pace at a returning circuit, combined with Mercedes' first major upgrade since May landing on a fast car, sets up a potential intra-team fight for the constructors' title. Ferrari and McLaren — the two other expected front-runners — were a second or more adrift in FP1, meaning the gap Verstappen and Russell opened could harden into a qualifying fight if the upgrades don't deliver.
Mensah Tops 2026 Power 4 QB RankingsWith marquee preseason names Arch Manning, Dante Moore and Marcel Reed all disappointing, the rankings thrust unheralded players — including Mississippi State freshman Kamario Taylor, explicitly tagged the 'September Heisman winner' — into the national spotlight and forces a rethink of Heisman and draft conversations before conference play intensifies.
Olivia Miles Unanimous WNBA Rookie of the YearMiles’ unanimous selection reflects a rare consensus about rookie dominance, while the Lynx’s success despite Collier’s absence highlights strategic coaching value — both factors now shaping playoff expectations where Minnesota, despite home advantage, trails New York 1-0 after an opening loss.
NFL Week 4 Guide: Top QB Duels, PredictionsWeek 4 puts several contending and desperate teams in early crosshairs—the Cowboys' 1-2 start is historically ominous (since 2000, four such seasons have produced zero winning records), and their opponent, the 0-3 Texans, faces long odds as only 14.3% of 1-3 teams since 1990 have reached the playoffs. The Colts-Commanders London game continues the NFL's global push while spotlighting a Colts defense surrendering the most yards in football.
Ocon to leave Haas putting F1 future in doubtOcon's underperformance against Bearman — a 13-6 qualifying deficit at 0.144s and 13 points in the standings — coincides with a grid that appears full for 2027, putting his decade-long F1 career at its most precarious point with no clear landing spot. For Haas, shedding a 2021 race winner frees a seat ahead of 2027's major regulation change but ends the development input Komatsu explicitly praised.
Why it matters: If the appeal fails, City faces points deductions or expulsion that could rewrite the Premier League's competitive landscape; if it succeeds, the league's entire financial oversight regime loses credibility.
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