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Chelsea’s American Owners Agree To Buy Stake in French Top-Tier Soccer Club Strasbourg

The logo of the RC Strasbourg Alsace is pictured in the press room of the Meinau stadium ahead of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and FC Lorient at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg on November 13, 2022. (AFP)
The logo of the RC Strasbourg Alsace is pictured in the press room of the Meinau stadium ahead of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and FC Lorient at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg on November 13, 2022. (AFP)
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Chelsea’s American Owners Agree To Buy Stake in French Top-Tier Soccer Club Strasbourg

The logo of the RC Strasbourg Alsace is pictured in the press room of the Meinau stadium ahead of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and FC Lorient at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg on November 13, 2022. (AFP)
The logo of the RC Strasbourg Alsace is pictured in the press room of the Meinau stadium ahead of the French L1 football match between RC Strasbourg Alsace and FC Lorient at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg on November 13, 2022. (AFP)

Chelsea ownership group BlueCo has agreed to buy a stake in French top-tier club Strasbourg in a significant step forward in its plans for multi-club ownership.

The consortium, which purchased the Premier League club in May last year, are to become new shareholders “subject to a consultation process with the relevant employee representative bodies.”

A statement said Thursday: “The shareholders of Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace today announced an agreement with BlueCo, the consortium which purchased Chelsea FC in May 2022.

“The agreement would mark a new chapter in Racing’s history as the ownership consortium commits to accelerate sustainable investment in the club’s growth, including in the first teams and in the Academy, in continuity with the project implemented by Marc Keller, who would remain president of the club, supported by his current management team.”

The statement added that “In accordance with Professional Football League regulations, the project was presented today to the Direction Nationale du Controle de Gestion (DNCG), whose assessment is expected in the coming weeks.”

Financial details of the intended deal were not announced. Strasbourg won its only French league title in 1979 and the last of its three French Cups in 2001.

“This strategic investment would further our presence in European football, alongside our ownership of Chelsea,” BlueCo said. The consortium includes American investment fund Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly, a part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Multi-club ownership creates opportunities to share resources and knowledge while also giving parent clubs the option of greater control of transfer market business.

FIFA has weighed regulating the ownership model while UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has said it could look at relaxing its rules designed to limit clubs that share owners both playing in European competitions.

The UEFA rules were drafted 25 years ago to protect the integrity of competitions.

Neither Chelsea, the 2021 Champions League winner, nor Strasbourg qualified to play in UEFA’s club competitions next season.

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Teen Sensation Mboko Closes in on Top 10 After Beating Rybakina in Qatar 

Canada's Victoria Mboko reacts after her women's singles quarter-final match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina at the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha on February 12, 2026. (AFP)
Canada's Victoria Mboko reacts after her women's singles quarter-final match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina at the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha on February 12, 2026. (AFP)
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Teen Sensation Mboko Closes in on Top 10 After Beating Rybakina in Qatar 

Canada's Victoria Mboko reacts after her women's singles quarter-final match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina at the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha on February 12, 2026. (AFP)
Canada's Victoria Mboko reacts after her women's singles quarter-final match against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina at the Qatar Open tennis tournament in Doha on February 12, 2026. (AFP)

Victoria Mboko took ‌a big step towards entering the top 10 in the WTA rankings for the first time after the Canadian teenager stunned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in the Qatar Open quarter-finals.

The 19-year-old battled to a 7-5 4-6 6-4 win in Thursday's quarter-final in Doha to snap twice Grand Slam champion Rybakina's nine-match winning run.

"Going into the match ‌I knew it ‌was going to be a ‌really ⁠hard battle and ⁠I wanted to stay calm," said Mboko, who picked up her second victory over Rybakina in four meetings.

"I didn't really have that many expectations because she has a great record now, she just won the ⁠Australian Open. Going into the match ‌I knew I ‌had to play my 'A' game.

"I do understand that ‌the higher profile players you play, you're ‌going to have to raise your level."

Mboko started the 2025 season ranked outside the top 300 and is now 13th. She became the youngest ‌player since Serena Williams to beat four major winners in a ⁠tournament ⁠en route to claiming last year's Canadian Open in Montreal.

Mboko plays former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the Doha semi-finals later on Friday, where a win will confirm her top 10 debut on Monday.

"I'm expecting another hard battle," Mboko said.

"She knows these courts well and knows the environment. It'll be important to put up a fight."

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LeBron James Becomes Oldest Player to Have a Triple-double in NBA History

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Wally Skalij/Getty Images/AFP
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Wally Skalij/Getty Images/AFP
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LeBron James Becomes Oldest Player to Have a Triple-double in NBA History

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Wally Skalij/Getty Images/AFP
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers drives against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Wally Skalij/Getty Images/AFP

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

James had 28 points and 12 assists when he grabbed his 10th rebound with 2:06 to play. He got a standing ovation when he checked out moments after completing his 123rd career triple-double, the fifth-most in NBA history.

James broke the record held for the past 22 years by Karl Malone, who recorded his final triple-double for the Lakers when he was 40 years and 127 days old.

“I guess I’m more appreciative of moments like this in my career, understanding where I’m at, at the later stage of my journey,” James said. “You definitely take it in a little bit more.”

James’ play has remained strong when healthy during his unprecedented 23rd NBA season, but the top scorer in NBA history hadn’t had a triple-double since Feb. 1, 2025, in New York. That day is better remembered in Lakers history for the late-night breaking news of the seismic trade that brought Luka Doncic to the Lakers.

Malone had held the record as the oldest player with a triple-double since he had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists on Nov. 28, 2003, during his final NBA season. James recorded the next 15 triple-doubles on that list, and he repeatedly came close to setting the record over the past year, but didn’t quite reach it until the Lakers’ final game before the All-Star break.

“I think what it represents is pretty cool — the fact that you can go out and have an impact in three facets of the game,” The Associated Press quoted James as saying.

“Rebounding. The assists, obviously, are what I love the most. Being able to get my guys involved, throughout my career I’ve always loved that more than anything. And being able to put the ball in the basket, that’s part of this game as well. So I think what it means, to be able to have your hand in three facets of the game, making an impact in those three, that’s pretty cool.”

With Doncic sidelined by a mild hamstring strain, James was aggressive and active from the opening tip when he returned from his own injury absence during the Lakers' loss to San Antonio on Tuesday.

After dancing gleefully in pregame warmups and screaming his way down the tunnel when he took the court, James put up 14 points and six assists in the first quarter alone against Dallas. He factored into the Lakers’ first 23 points of the game.

James had 18 points, eight assists and four rebounds by halftime. He topped double digits in assists during the third quarter, but he didn't come out of the game during the fourth quarter before he grabbed the three rebounds necessary to get the triple-double.

He almost had it a few possessions earlier, but Austin Reaves beat him to a board — and got an earful from the rest of the Lakers.

“Everybody on the team yelled at me,” Reaves said. “I don't catch myself looking at the stats during the game, so we went to the bench and everybody let me know about it. He didn't, but everybody (else), and I looked at him and said, ‘Shoot, my fault.’”

James was selected for his 22nd All-Star appearance this weekend at Intuit Dome even though he has missed 18 games this season due to injury. That means James is ineligible for inclusion on his 22nd All-NBA team at the end of his unprecedented 23rd season.

James entered this game averaging 21.8 points, 6.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game for the Lakers, who are in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race despite playing only 10 games with James, Doncic and Reaves simultaneously healthy. James missed the first 14 games of the season while dealing with sciatica.

James has 152 career triple-doubles when the playoffs are included.

Sports

Tottenham Winger Odobert Sidelined with ACL Tear

10 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Tottenham Hotspur's Wilson Odobert receives medical treatment during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
10 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Tottenham Hotspur's Wilson Odobert receives medical treatment during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
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Tottenham Winger Odobert Sidelined with ACL Tear

10 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Tottenham Hotspur's Wilson Odobert receives medical treatment during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
10 February 2026, United Kingdom, London: Tottenham Hotspur's Wilson Odobert receives medical treatment during the English Premier League soccer match between Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo: John Walton/PA Wire/dpa

Tottenham Hotspur's French winger Wilson Odobert has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament tear, the Premier League club said on Thursday, after the 21-year-old was forced off during Tuesday's 2-1 loss at home to Newcastle United.

Spurs, who sacked manager Thomas Frank on Wednesday amid an ⁠eight-game run without ⁠a league win, said Odobert will have surgery. British media reported that he could miss the rest of the season.

"We can confirm that ⁠Wilson Odobert has sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee," Reuters quoted Tottenham as saying in a statement.

Spurs, who are only five points above the relegation zone, have faced several injury setbacks this season.

Their long list of absentees include forward ⁠Richarlison, ⁠three defenders and several midfielders including James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur and Lucas Bergvall.

Captain Cristian Romero criticized the club's thin squad in an Instagram post earlier this month.

Spurs, who are languishing in 16th place, next host league leaders Arsenal on February 22.