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La Liga President Rejects Courtois’ Plea to Delay Real Madrid’s 25-26 Opener for More Rest Time

Thibaut Courtois #1 of Real Madrid C. F. reacts during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal match between Winner Game 59 and Winner Game 60 at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
Thibaut Courtois #1 of Real Madrid C. F. reacts during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal match between Winner Game 59 and Winner Game 60 at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
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La Liga President Rejects Courtois’ Plea to Delay Real Madrid’s 25-26 Opener for More Rest Time

Thibaut Courtois #1 of Real Madrid C. F. reacts during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal match between Winner Game 59 and Winner Game 60 at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)
Thibaut Courtois #1 of Real Madrid C. F. reacts during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 semifinal match between Winner Game 59 and Winner Game 60 at MetLife Stadium on July 09, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Getty Images/AFP)

Spanish league president Javier Tebas rejected Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' plea to postpone the team's 2025-26 opener to give players time to rest following the expanded Club World Cup.

Real Madrid was eliminated with a 4-0 semifinal loss to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday and will have a 41-day offseason before their La Liga opener against Osasuna on Aug. 19.

Tebas said the decision not to move the opener was made by the Spanish Football Federation and La Liga agreed with it. He said players were to have 21 days off and 21 days of preseason training.

"I believe that they will have 20 days to rest instead of 21 and no other leagues like the Premier League for Chelsea or the French Ligue 1 for PSG are changing the games," he said through a translator during a Friday interview with The Associated Press. "So I don’t believe that we should change the calendar for that reason, especially thinking that it’s a matter of one day."

Real Madrid played 68 competitive matches in a season that started Aug. 18: 38 in the league, 14 in the Champions League, six each in the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup, two in the Spanish Super Cup and one apiece in the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup.

PSG will play its 65th game in Sunday's Club World Cup final and Chelsea its 64th. PSG opens its season from Aug. 15-17 at Nantes and Chelsea starts against Crystal Palace on Aug. 17.

"It’s always the same for La Liga," Courtois said Wednesday. "To listen those comments from a president it’s something that I haven’t seen it in Italy, or in England, nor the NBA and NFL. It’s fine if Tebas doesn’t like the Club World Cup, but it exists. It’s part of the FIFA calendar. We’re here competing, and it seems this gentleman just wants to be the focus. I’ve never seen a president of another competition speak like that. The players' health is on the line."

On other topics:

Real Madrid causing problems Tebas said Real Madrid seeking its own path rather than working collectively with La Liga is his biggest problem.

"They don’t actually understand that we’re a huge league and that if we will collaborate it’s going to be positive for all of us," he said. "The believe in the Super League and in order to get a strong Super League they need a weak national league. So they are working toward that objective."

Camp Nou renovation Barcelona hopes to move back to Camp Nou after two seasons at the Olympic Stadium. Camp Nou's renovations are ongoing.

"They are waiting for a license that is provided by the city hall," Tebas said. "We believe that probably by the fourth week of the competition he should be ready to play again."

That would put the Blaugrana on track for a mid-September return to a venue that will remain under construction.

Barcelona is on track to meeting financial guidelines that would allow them to make moves in the transfer market.

"Barcelona’s financial situation is good," Tebas said. "They are close to acquiring all the players they want in the coming months."

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Sports

Rebrov Leaves Role as Ukraine Coach

Ukraine national soccer team head coach Serhiy Rebrov attends a press conference in Herzogenaurach, Germany, 02 June 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Ukraine national soccer team head coach Serhiy Rebrov attends a press conference in Herzogenaurach, Germany, 02 June 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
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Rebrov Leaves Role as Ukraine Coach

Ukraine national soccer team head coach Serhiy Rebrov attends a press conference in Herzogenaurach, Germany, 02 June 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK
Ukraine national soccer team head coach Serhiy Rebrov attends a press conference in Herzogenaurach, Germany, 02 June 2024. EPA/RONALD WITTEK

Serhiy Rebrov has stepped down as coach of the Ukraine national football team, the Ukrainian Association of Football announced on Wednesday.

The former Dynamo Kyiv and Tottenham Hotspur striker took charge in 2023 and led Ukraine to the European Championship in Germany the following year. However, the team missed out on this year's World Cup after a 3-1 loss to Sweden in the qualification playoff semi-finals, Reuters reported.

Rebrov will remain involved with the UAF in a different capacity, the statement added.

"Today, we need to move forward and adopt new decisions that will become the foundation of the future national team," said UAF President Andriy Shevchenko.

The UAF said that a new coach would be announced later.

Sports

Sinner’s Mastery Mindset Makes Him Man to Beat as Clay Swing Intensifies

Laureus World Sports Awards - Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain - April 20, 2026 Italy's Jannik Sinner poses on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony. (Reuters)
Laureus World Sports Awards - Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain - April 20, 2026 Italy's Jannik Sinner poses on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony. (Reuters)
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Sinner’s Mastery Mindset Makes Him Man to Beat as Clay Swing Intensifies

Laureus World Sports Awards - Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain - April 20, 2026 Italy's Jannik Sinner poses on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony. (Reuters)
Laureus World Sports Awards - Palacio de Cibeles, Madrid, Spain - April 20, 2026 Italy's Jannik Sinner poses on the red carpet ahead of the awards ceremony. (Reuters)

Jannik Sinner was once viewed as an explosive talent custom-built for hardcourt tennis but the four-times Grand Slam champion's assiduous work on his patience and control has made him the man to beat on clay heading into the French Open.

It had long been assumed that in his era-defining rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner would scoop up more Grand Slam titles on faster surfaces while the Spaniard would have the edge on red dirt.

Alcaraz, who has won seven majors, remains a formidable claycourt player and is the reigning Roland Garros champion but lost to Sinner in the Monte Carlo final earlier this month. He then suffered a wrist injury in Barcelona that has disrupted his preparations for Paris.

Sinner's progression will continue this week ‌in Madrid, which ‌is at a higher altitude than the other European clay venues ‌and ⁠quickens the pace ⁠of the surface, offering another opportunity for the 24-year-old to showcase his adaptability.

"Here it's a very unique playing style," Sinner said.

"It's a very high altitude and it can be windy at times, so it's very difficult to play. But I think every different kind of claycourt can help me as I'm trying to improve as a player."

Results at the big tournaments seemingly offer little to choose between Sinner and Alcaraz over the last couple of years but former player and sports psychologist Jeff Greenwald believes he has identified some ⁠subtle differences emerging.

"Sinner, even more than Alcaraz, has this unflappable demeanor that ‌is built from this deep love and appreciation of the process," ‌Greenwald told Reuters.

"He's the poster child for mastery, a desire to be as good as he can be, ‌which overrides the ever fluctuating, short-term obsession with this point, this win, that is almost always ‌trading the short-term result for longer-term success."

DECISIVE ADVANTAGES

That focus on mastery over moments has steadily reshaped Sinner's approach on clay, where his tactical discipline and ability to handle uncertainty are standing out as decisive advantages ahead of the French Open, which begins on May 24.

Sinner's mental strength could be tested in a different way as he confronts ‌the weight of expectation that comes with being seen by many as the favorite rather than the challenger over the next few weeks.

Greenwald said ⁠expectations were the most ⁠natural, yet potentially damaging, distractions for even great players.

"They try to not get preoccupied by them with the 'process mindset' as best they can but most of the players are vulnerable to this reality, given that their livelihoods are on the line," he added.

"This is where Sinner has an advantage ... he didn't develop this (mindset) after becoming successful. It was baked into his training and development. So whether he's labelled a favorite by the media and other players, this will not affect him.

"More than anything, it'll only solidify the confidence, remarkable resilience and joy he brings to every match."

If Alcaraz is fit to play, the French Open could prove a major mental test for Sinner after he lost to his great rival in last year's epic title clash.

However, with the career Grand Slam on the line for the Italian, he wants Alcaraz to be on the other side of the net at Roland Garros.

"When you want to win, you want to do it by beating the best and he's among them," Sinner said.

Sports

Mexico to Beef Up Security at Tourist Sites after Shooting at Pyramids in Lead Up to World Cup

National Guard troops patrol the Teotihuacan pyramids, which remained closed a day after a gunman opened fire on tourists at the archaeological site outside Mexico City, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
National Guard troops patrol the Teotihuacan pyramids, which remained closed a day after a gunman opened fire on tourists at the archaeological site outside Mexico City, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
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Mexico to Beef Up Security at Tourist Sites after Shooting at Pyramids in Lead Up to World Cup

National Guard troops patrol the Teotihuacan pyramids, which remained closed a day after a gunman opened fire on tourists at the archaeological site outside Mexico City, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
National Guard troops patrol the Teotihuacan pyramids, which remained closed a day after a gunman opened fire on tourists at the archaeological site outside Mexico City, Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

Mexico’s government said it was beefing up security at tourist sites after a man opened fire on tourists at pyramids outside of Mexico City less than two months before the FIFA World Cup.

The Monday shooting, carried out by a lone gunman on top of one of the Teotihuacan pyramids — a UNESCO Heritage Site and one of Mexico's most frequented tourist attractions — killed one Canadian tourist and injured a dozen more.

It also set off a flurry of questions the next morning by reporters to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum about what security protocols her government was taking ahead of the sports competition, which Mexico will jointly host with the United States and Canada over the summer.

About an hour from Mexico City, Teotihuacan was slated to be a key site for visitors during the festivities. Just days before the shooting, local lawmakers even pushed forward an initiative to revive a nighttime interactive light show projected on the pyramids for World Cup visitors, which was previous suspended at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The unexpected act of violence comes as Sheinbaum's government has gone to great lengths to project an image of safety ahead of the soccer competition, following a surge of cartel violence February in the World Cup host city of Guadalajara.

"Events like this only further magnify the negative images that Mexico has on security issues, undermining the narrative that President Sheinbaum is trying to build that Mexico is a safe country," The Associated Press quoted Mexican security analyst David Saucedo as saying.

On Tuesday, Sheinbaum acknowledged that the archaeological site lacked security filters to prevent the attack in part, she said, because the shooting “was an isolated incident" that hasn't occurred before in such a public space.

While Mexico suffers from cartel violence, especially in strategic and rural areas, mass shootings in public spaces are rare in Mexico compared to the US, where it is much easier to legally obtain a gun.

She noted that the shooter appeared to be motivated by “outside influences," particularly the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado.

“Our obligation as a government is to take the appropriate measures to ensure that a situation like this does not happen again. But clearly, we all know — Mexicans know — that this is something that had not previously taken place,” Sheinbaum said Tuesday morning.

Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch, the face of the government's crackdown on cartels, said on Tuesday that security forces had been ordered to “immediately strengthen security" at archaeological sites and major tourist destinations across the country.

He said the government will increase the presence of Mexican National Guard, boost security checks at key sites and fortify surveillance systems to “identify and prevent any threats” against citizens and visitors.

The announcement was an effort by Mexican authorities to assuage ongoing concerns about violence in Mexico ahead of the tournament.

Sheinbaum's government has touted security successes under her leadership. Homicides have dipped sharply since she taken office to the lowest levels in a decade, government figures show. The government has also taken out a number of top capos and highlighted a dip in fentanyl seizures at the US-Mexico border.

But they have hit hurdles in recent months, namely a burst a violence in Guadalajara in February, triggered by the killing of Mexico’s most powerful cartel boss. The bloodshed was met with a wave of concern by people in and outside of Mexico.

Sheinbaum vowed there would be “no risk” for fans coming to the tournament and FIFA president Gianni Infantino said he had “full confidence” in Mexico as a host country.

Sheinbaum later met with FIFA representatives to assess security for the World Cup matches to be played in Mexico.

Mexico’s government doubled down on security measures, which include deploying 100,000 security forces across the country, particularly concentrated in the country’s three host cities, Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey.

Officials said it would deploy more than 2,000 military vehicles, as well as dozens of air crafts and drones, and establish security perimeters around areas like stadiums and airports in key cities.

"As you can see, we are very prepared for the World Cup," Sheinbaum said in early March.

Despite the rare nature of the Monday shooting at the pyramids, the extreme act of violence reignited scrutiny by some about the government's capacity to prevent violence during the soccer tournament, and once again boosted pressures on the government.

FIFA was approached for comment about the pyramid shooting, but the soccer body typically does not address security issues and incidents that happen away from tournament venues.

Saucedo, the security analyst, said that pressures to concentrate security in host cities and tourist areas like Teotihuacan may come at the expense of other more crime-torn areas in greater need of police and military.

"Events like the one that took place yesterday in Teotihuacan clearly show that public safety agencies are overwhelmed," he said.