Category: Sports

• ICC chairman and chief executive to reach Pakistan tomorrow.
• Greg Barclay will be first ICC chairman to tour Pakistan since 2008.
• Discussion on October World Cup is also expected to take place.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Najam Sethi is expected to raise the issue of the proposed financial model (2024-2027) with the top officials of the International Cricket Council (ICC) who are scheduled to reach Lahore tomorrow, The News reported Monday.

ICC Chairman Greg Barclay and Chief Executive Geoff Allardice will meet Sethi (who is also an ICC Director), PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer and other officials at the board’s headquarters.

The PCB chief has already expressed his concerns over the distribution criteria questioning what rules were followed for the proposed distribution model.

Ex-ICC chief Ehsan Mani had also termed it “nonsensical” and urged the cricket’s regulating authority to review it.   

Well-placed sources within the board told The News that besides other issues confronting the game of cricket, the matter relating to the proposed financial distribution model is also expected to come under discussion during ICC top officials’ two-day visit to Pakistan.

According to the proposed financial model, Pakistan is expected to get around 5.75% with India a whopping share of 38.5%. England (6.89%) and Australia (6.25%) are other top recipients of ICC finances for 2024-27, according to an estimate.

Pakistan’s contention has been that its players’ ICC ranking, especially in the white-ball format, is the best. 

“Our cricketers are leading the ranking in white-ball format. Pakistan is the No 2 team in ODI and No 3 in T20. How come we receive less amount. What the PCB wants to know is which criteria have been followed for such a proposed model,” an official said.

“The discussion on October World Cup is also expected to take place. Pakistan’s stance is very clear — participation in World Cup to be held in India largely depends on permission from the government of Pakistan. However, the option of playing at a neutral venue cannot be ruled out,” the official said.

When asked about the expected official ACC announcement on the Asia Cup, the source said that could well be made anytime now. 

“ICC has nothing to do with it,” the source added.

It should be noted that while Allardice has regularly visited Pakistan, first as ICC general manager — cricket and then as ICC chief executive, this will be Barclay’s first visit to Pakistan.

Barclay will be the first ICC chairman to tour Pakistan since ICC President Ray Mali’s visit in 2008. This will also be the first time since October 2004 that both the top two ICC officials will together visit the Pakistan cricket headquarters.

Without King of Clay Rafael Nadal playing, can Novak Djokovic win — and set the men’s record for most Grand Slams? Or will the victor be heir apparent Carlos Alcaraz?

Iga Swiatek has won two out of the past three French Open titles, but will Aryna Sabalenka or Elena Rybakina get the better of the world No. 1? And can Coco Gauff back up her magical run to the final from last year, or take the doubles title with Jessica Pegula?

Our experts attempt to answer these questions and make their predictions as the French Open starts on Sunday.

Who will win the women’s singles title and why?

Chris Evert: I pick Swiatek to win because she’s still the more experienced and consistent player on the women’s side on clay. I think she has paced herself well and will be fresh and ready to go. She moves better than most of her opponents and is hungry. She wants more majors on her résumé and this surface is maybe her best chance with the growing power in the game.

Cliff Drysdale: Swiatek to win. But she needs for Sabalenka to not be at her best. Sabalenka has overwhelming power, but she is not as mentally strong and could struggle to make the final stages. Swiatek has all-time groundstrokes but not a blockbuster serve, so a power player always has a shot.

Simon Cambers: Swiatek. I know she’s got a problem with Rybakina, and she has panicked a couple of times against the bigger hitters when things don’t go her way lately, but she’s a class act and the best player in the world, even more so on clay. You don’t win the title in Paris twice (in the past three years) without being able to cope with all kinds of challenges, and I expect her to make it three.

Bill Connelly: Swiatek is the favorite for all the obvious reasons — she’s won 18 of her past 19 matches at Roland Garros (dropping only three sets in the process) and 40 of her past 44 on clay. But Sabalenka and Rybakina have played at elite levels of late, too, and former contender Barbora Krejcikova (the 2021 champ) has had some awfully strong moments of late. Swiatek’s the top name, but if you ask me to take Swiatek or the field, I’m taking the field.

Tom Hamilton: I’m going for Rybakina. The reigning Wimbledon champion is becoming a superb all-court force, and after winning Indian Wells back in March, she has since backed it up on clay with a triumph at the Italian Open — though this was in part helped by three walkovers en route to the title. There’ll be others like Swiatek and Sabalenka who will push her close, but Rybakina can secure her second Slam in Paris.

D’Arcy Maine: Rybakina. While Swiatek has been the most dominant on the surface over the past few seasons, she hasn’t had her best stretch on clay this season and had to retire during her quarterfinal match against Rybakina in Rome with a thigh injury. Rybakina — who went on to win the title at the Italian Open — has been playing with something to prove this year. She would likely face Swiatek in the semis, and then potentially Sabalenka in the final (in what would be a rematch of the Australian Open final), but major title No. 2 seems well within reach.

Alyssa Roenigk: Swiatek. She won’t have an easy path through Sabalenka, though. She lost to the Belarusian in Madrid in May, and if Swiatek bows out before the semis, Sabalenka overtakes her as the world No. 1.

Who will win the men’s singles title and why?

Evert: My men’s choice is more difficult. Alcaraz or Djokovic … I am picking Alcaraz because of his sterling record this year. Djokovic has had injuries and is not in peak form coming into the French. Alcaraz, at times, has looked spectacular and unbeatable. He has no weakness, a beautiful drop shot, power, and he can sprint around the court like nobody’s business!

Drysdale: Alcaraz, of course. The only question is how many of the three majors left will he win! He has no weakness, and boasts an array of offensive weapons.

Cambers: Everyone says it’s more open than ever before, and that’s probably true. But that doesn’t mean a big name won’t win. Alcaraz is the one, for me. The Spaniard has not peaked in the clay-court season but still won two titles. Losing early in Rome will have given him time to rest and prepare well, and he’s got everything needed to win. Of course Djokovic is the biggest threat, and the likes of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune will go well, but if Alcaraz is in top form, he’s the man.

Connelly: “I always like my chances in Grand Slams against anybody on any surface, best-of-five. Let’s see how it goes.” That’s what Djokovic said in a recent news conference. For as shaky as he has looked of late — he comes to Paris having won just five of his past nine matches — best-of-five really is a different animal, and he has won 45 of his past 47 best-of-five matches. Alcaraz is the betting favorite, and I know why, but it’s so hard to bet against Djokovic in these tournaments.

Hamilton: It feels like this will be one of the most open men’s singles draws in recent memory due to the absence of Nadal, but there’s a clear favorite: Alcaraz. Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev will push him close, but Alcaraz can win his second Slam with triumph at Paris. The US Open champion is in wonderful form on clay — recent shock defeat to Fabian Marozsan notwithstanding — having taken the Barcelona Open and then the Madrid Open. He is in formidable form and is perfectly poised to continue the Spanish domination started by Nadal.

Maine: Alcaraz and Djokovic are the favorites for a reason, and their potential semifinal clash could be epic, but I’m picking Rune to win his first major. On the other side of the draw from those two, and playing some exceptional tennis on clay right now with a title in Munich and final appearances in Monte Carlo and Rome, the 20-year-old is absolutely brimming with confidence and momentum. Seemingly never scared of the stage nor opponent — he has beaten Djokovic twice since November — Rune could easily take the next step in his rapidly ascending career in Paris.

Roenigk: Alcaraz has fast become the favorite on any surface, and certainly on clay. The world No. 1 has won four of seven tournaments this season, including two Masters 1000s on clay. Yeah, yeah, there’s that shock loss to Marozsan, but that could have as much to do with why Alcaraz will win his second Slam as his relentless counterattack and masterful drop shots. The guy has a short-term memory for bad play and will be keen to put that loss in the rearview.

Which women’s player could surprise here?

Evert: A long shot outside the top 10 would be Jelena Ostapenko. She’s starting to play well again and has that added confidence of winning this title before.

Drysdale: Pegula is clearly, at No. 3 ranking, not an outside pick, but she has struggled at the majors so is not in the discussion seriously. She is my pick to surprise.

Cambers: I would not be surprised to see Ostapenko have another good French Open. It’s six years since the Latvian stunned everyone by winning the title — remember those 50 winners in the final alone? — but she’s back on form. She can blow hot and cold, but when she’s hot, very few players can stop her.

Connelly: I’m not sure if picking the No. 13 player (and 2021 French Open champion) is enough of a surprise, but I can’t help but think Krejcikova is in a good position to make a run. In the past eight months she has gone 5-4 against top-five opponents (and 2-0 against Swiatek). She’s vulnerable to upsets, but if she can clear some early hurdles, she could make a big run.

Hamilton: If fit, Anhelina Kalinina could have great run in Paris. She reached the final of the Italian Open only to have to retire with a thigh injury. She reached only the second round previously but has the ability to go far further. She defeated Veronika Kudermetova in the semifinals in Rome, and she too has the potential to do well in Roland Garros.

Maine: There are several women in the draw more than capable of a surprise deep run but perhaps none more so than Ostapenko. She hasn’t advanced past the third round in Paris since her breakthrough victory in 2017 but is coming off a semifinal run at the Italian Open, with impressive wins over Krejcikova, Daria Kasatkina and Paula Badosa, and reached her first Australian Open quarterfinals earlier this season. And if her results don’t surprise, rest assured that something she does on court certainly will.

Roenigk: It feels odd to type “surprise” and “Coco Gauff” and “French Open” in the same sentence as an answer to this question. But there. I just did. Last year’s runner-up has had to refind her footing after making her first Grand Slam final here last year, and she’s playing without a coach right now. On the doubles court, she has been a force on clay, making back-to-back finals with teammate Pegula in Madrid and Rome. In Roland Garros, she finds her singles game, too.

Which men’s player could surprise?

Evert: Alexander Zverev, who has a chance if his serve, forehand and fitness are working well … but I think the winner will come out of the top 10.

Drysdale: Jannik Sinner is my pick to surprise. His speed is the one and only element where Alcaraz can claim an advantage. He is also on the friendly side of the draw.

Cambers: Looking at the draw, Sinner must have a big chance to go deep. The Italian is in the bottom half of the draw, which means he avoids Alcaraz, Djokovic, Tsitsipas and Rublev, and he is perfectly at home on clay. Providing he is fully fit again after a few health issues early in the clay-court season, he has the game to do it.

Connelly: Cameron Norrie doesn’t quite have the upside of other stars, but slowly has put together an interesting résumé. He won Indian Wells in 2021 and reached the Monte Carlo final last year, and he’s gone 14-5 on clay this year. If the draw does open up more than normal this year, a sure-and-steady guy like Norrie might benefit significantly.

If you’re the sentimental type, maybe you look for a surprise from Dominic Thiem? The two-time finalist has been slowly working his way back into form. Maybe Roland Garros speeds that rebound up?

Hamilton: For a huge outsider, have a look at Spaniard Roberto Carballes Baena to get through to the second week. He’s got an 8-3 win-loss record on clay this season and took 250-level event earlier in the clay-court season when he triumphed at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech. But for a shout of someone who could upset the applecart and reach the latter stages, have a look at Jan-Lennard Struff. He reached the final in Madrid only to lose to Alcaraz but could make a run in Paris.

Maine: Zhizhen Zhang. He has never won match at a major, but he had never recorded a victory at a Masters 1000-level event either until just a few weeks ago. He then went on to reach the quarterfinals in Madrid behind hard-fought, three-set victories over Denis Shapovalov, Norrie and Taylor Fritz. Clearly able to pull off an upset, the 26-year-old could achieve more career milestones in Paris. Interestingly, he’ll first have to get through Dusan Lajovic, who was the surprise champion at the Srpska Open in April, and whoever wins that opening-round match could do some damage.

Roenigk: I’m going with an American player while conceding that clay isn’t exactly our strong suit. Fritz, the current standout in a talented group of young U.S. players, has a chance to surprise in Paris. He’s playing incredibly well this season, has held his top-10 ranking since October and recently made the semifinals in Monte Carlo and Munich on clay. His best showing at Roland Garros? The third round in 2020. He betters that this year.

OMAHA, Neb. — Eight of the 16 regional hosts selected for the NCAA tournament are from the Southeastern Conference, the Division I Baseball Committee announced Sunday night.

The hosts have locked up spots in the national tournament, and the rest of the 64-team field will be unveiled Monday.

Each regional will be made up of four teams playing in a double-elimination format. All are scheduled from Friday through Monday. Regional winners advance to best-of-three super regionals, and those eight winners go on to the College World Series in Omaha beginning June 16.

Wake Forest (47-10), among four Atlantic Coast Conference teams to be named hosts, is expected to be the No. 1 overall seed after winning the league’s regular-season championship and leading the nation in wins.

SEC hosts are Alabama (40-19), Arkansas (41-16), Auburn (34-21-1), Florida (44-14), Kentucky (36-18), LSU (43-15), South Carolina (39-19) and Vanderbilt (41-18).

Joining Wake Forest as ACC hosts are Clemson (43-17), Miami (40-19) and Virginia (45-12).

Oklahoma State (41-18) is the only Big 12 host, and Stanford (38-16) is the only one from the Pac-12.

Coastal Carolina (39-19) of the Sun Belt Conference and Indiana State of the Missouri Valley (42-15) are the other hosts. Indiana State is hosting for the first time.

This year marks the first time since 2013 — and second time since the tournament went to its current format in 1999 — that no team from the state of Texas will host.

Miami (29), LSU (27) and Stanford (21) have each hosted regionals at least 20 times.

Auburn, Florida, Miami, Oklahoma St. and Stanford hosted in 2022.

The summer transfer window may not be open yet in Europe, but teams are getting ready for it, and there’s plenty of gossip swirling around. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumours, comings, goings and, of course, done deals!

TOP STORY: Newcastle ready to move on Foxes pair

Leicester City winger Harvey Barnes is keen on move to Newcastle United if the Magpies push hard to sign him, according to Football Insider. Newcastle are also looking at his Foxes teammate James Maddison and Chelsea attacking midfielder Mason Mount.

Barnes, 25, scored the opener in Leicester’s 2-1 win over West Ham United on the final day of the campaign, although that didn’t prove enough to keep them in the Premier League as Everton beat AFC Bournemouth.

It is suggested that Barnes wanted to leave the Foxes regardless of the league they would be in next term.

Barnes has two years left on his current deal and is hoping to join a club that can regularly compete in the Champions League following an impressive individual campaign, in which he scored 13 Premier League goals despite Leicester’s struggles.

That makes him the club’s top goal-scorer this term, but Leicester are willing to let him leave if their demands of £40 million are met, as the club looks to raise funds for the summer transfer window.

Maddison is also likely to leave the King Power Stadium following the Foxes’ relegation, while Mount’s future has been widely discussed as the 24-year-old enters the final year of his Chelsea contract.

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PAPER GOSSIP

– West Ham United striker Gianluca Scamacca wants to return to Italy with his preference being to join Juventus, according to Calciomercato. The Bianconeri have been monitoring the 24-year-old and it is felt that now could be the perfect time to make a move.

– Marseille forward Alexis Sanchez is summer option for Lyon, claims Ekrem Konur, who adds, however, that the 34-year-old is not priority. The Chile international has recorded 14 goals and three assists in 34 Ligue 1 matches this season.

– Toulouse midfielder Stijn Spierings is in advanced negotiations to join PSV Eindhoven as free agent, according to Foot Mercato. His fellow Dutch midfielder Branco van den Boomen is very close to joining Ajax Amsterdam, while their teammate Rafael Ratao has received an offer from Al Wahda in the UAE.

– Sergej Milinkovic-Savic‘s future at Lazio is uncertain, according to Calciomercato. The 28-year-old was previously rated at around €100m but manager Maurizio Sarri could now be willing to let the midfielder leave for far less. Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have all been earmarked as potential suitors

LSU gymnastics star Olivia Dunne showed there is no real offseason in the sport as even on the Memorial Day weekend holiday she had to stay flexible with a maneuver on the beach.

The New Jersey native was in a black bikini when she posted one of her latest videos on TikTok to her more than 7.4 million followers. Dunne performed an impressive backflip off a rock.

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“some beach-nastics to start the summer off right,” she captioned the video.

The video received more than 330,000 likes in just a few hours.

Dunne has already had an incredible offseason. She signed another name, image and likeness deal – this time with Sports Illustrated – and will appear in the magazine’s swimsuit edition for the first time.

She traveled to Puerto Rico in January to shoot for the magazine just ahead of the Tigers finishing in fourth place in the NCAA Gymnastics Championships to cap off an unbelievable season.

LSU STAR GYMNAST OLIVIA DUNNE DETAILS WHAT SHE’S LEARNED FROM GOLF INFLUENCER PAIGE SPIRANAC

LSU’s Olivia Dunne looks on during the Podium Challenge, March 3, 2023, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports)

“Being a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model is a dream come true,” Dunne said in a video posted to the publication’s Instagram page. “There’s a lot of young girls who look up to me, and I feel like a lot of young girls also follow Sports Illustrated. So, both of our brands, I think, align because we both want to inspire the younger generation.”

Dunne is among the college athletes with the highest NIL valuations, according to On3 Sports. She also spoke with Sports Illustrated about being at the forefront of the NIL craze.

“As a woman, no one really expected a gymnast to be at the forefront of (name, image and likeness deals),” she told the publication. “Most people expected football, baseball, basketball. To be a woman at the forefront, and trying to make the playing field more level, is definitely a step in the right direction.”

Dunne made clear to younger women that “you are more than just your sport.”

Olivia Dunne of LSU poses for photos prior to a meet against Auburn at Neville Arena on February 10, 2023, in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne/Getty Images)

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Dunne will be entering her senior season later this year.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe has been named Ligue 1 Player of the Season for the fourth consecutive year, beating teammate Lionel Messi and other contenders for the prestigious award. 

The 24-year-old forward had an impressive season, scoring 28 goals in 33 matches as PSG secured their 11th French title. 

The award ceremony took place in Paris, where Mbappe was crowned the winner ahead of Messi, Lens duo Loïs Openda and Séko Fofana, and Lille striker Jonathan David. With this fourth win, Mbappe surpassed Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s record and became the only player to have won the award four times.

Mbappe expressed his gratitude to his teammates, staff, and those who work behind the scenes, emphasizing his desire to make a lasting impact in the sport. He acknowledged his surprise at achieving such success at a young age but expressed his happiness at making history in his country. Mbappe’s contract with PSG is set to expire in 2024, with a possible one-year extension.

In addition to Mbappe’s recognition, Franck Haise was named the best coach of the season for leading RC Lens to second place, securing the team’s return to the UEFA Champions League after 21 years. Lens also had four players selected for the Ligue 1 Team of the Season: goalkeeper Brice Samba, defender Kevin Danso, midfielder Séko Fofana, and striker Loïs Openda. PSG had four players included as well, with Mbappe and Messi leading the attacking line, and Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi as the fullbacks.

Mbappe’s achievement as a four-time winner of the Ligue 1 Player of the Season award highlights his exceptional talent and contribution to the sport. With his outstanding performances and consistent goal-scoring abilities, he remains a key player for PSG and an integral part of French football. As fans eagerly await his next move, Mbappe reassured them that he would be with the club for the upcoming season, leaving speculation about his future open-ended.

Josef Newgarden passed Marcus Ericsson on the final lap of the Indianapolis 500 to win the race Sunday, and after he crossed the start-finish line, he parked his car and raced toward the grandstand.

Newgarden started to climb the catch fence but slipped underneath and went right into the crowd. The fans went wild and several people took out their phones to record the moment.

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After he celebrated in Victory Lane, he explained what he was thinking going into the crowd.

“I’ve always wanted to go into the crowd here in Indianapolis,” Newgarden told NBC Sports. “I’ve seen people go up into the fence. I wanted to go through the fence. I wanted to celebrate with the people. I just thought it would be so cool to be in that energy because I know what that energy is like on race day. 

JEWEL’S TWIST ON NATIONAL ANTHEM AT INDIANAPOLIS 500 FAILS TO RESONATE WITH FANS, PANNED AS ‘DISRESPECTFUL’

“This was a dream of mine. If this was ever going to happen, I wanted to do that.”

Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, climbs the catch fence after winning the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 28, 2023. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

It was Newgarden’s first-ever win at the Indy 500. He needed to make a shrewd move and pass Ericsson on the final lap to pick up the win.

Ericsson was trying to become the first back-to-back winner since Helio Castroneves did it in 2001 and 2002.

Josef Newgarden, driver of the #2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, celebrates with fans after winning the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 28, 2023. (Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

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Newgarden has two wins on the year. He won in Texas earlier in the season.

CARY, N.C. — Izzy Scane scored four goals to set two Northwestern scoring records and lead the top-seeded Wildcats to their first NCAA women’s lacrosse championship in 11 years with a dominating 18-6 win over third-seeded Boston College on a rain-soaked Sunday afternoon.

Freshman Madison Taylor also had four goals and Erin Coykendall added three for the Wildcats (21-1), who won their eighth championship (second only to Maryland’s 14) with their 21st straight victory.

Hailey Rhatigan scored twice and Emerson Bohlig, Elle Hansen, Samantha Smith and Samantha White also had goals for Northwestern, which outshot the Eagles 42-19 and had a 17-8 advantage in draw controls.

Scane, the favorite to win the national player of the year award, reached 99 goals for the season, one more than she scored in 2021, before she sat out last year with an ACL injury. Scane, a graduate student who said she would return next season, moved past Selena Lasota for the career scoring record with 291.

Molly Laliberty, a transfer from Division III Tufts, had three saves behind a stout defense.

White led that dominating defense with six ground balls while causing three turnovers. She also had seven draw controls, one less than Smith, and both are sophomores.

Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller is 53-11 in the NCAA tournament, a record for tournament wins. It was also her 10th title (eight as the Wildcats’ coach and two as a player at Maryland). Her eight titles match Terrapins coach Cindy Timchal for the most in history.

“Honestly, it means everything,” Amonte Hiller said. “I can’t even tell you what went into this. So many years from 2012, the last time we won … it means so much. I am so proud of this group. I said in the summer before the season we have to get them to believe. They believed in everything. It’s so sweet. I’m so proud of this group.”

Boston College (19-4), which suffered its worst loss of the season, was in the championship game for the sixth straight time with only a title in 2021 to show for it. Kayla Martello scored three goals and Belle Smith added two.

Jenn Medjid, who leads the team with 83 goals, was held to one third-period goal on four shots.

BC finished with 21 turnovers, one short of its season high, and five yellow cards and a green card. The Wildcats were not carded. Northwestern scored three times on six free-position shots, while the Eagles were 0-for-3.

Boston College’s six straight finals appearances are the most since Northwestern was in eight straight from 2005 to 2012, with the Wildcats winning seven. Since then, Northwestern has lost in the semifinals five times.

With Taylor scoring twice after free-position starts, Northwestern led 3-0 after one period, only the second time this season Boston College didn’t score in a 15-minute period.

The Eagles got goals from Martello and Smith 37 seconds apart early in the second period, but the Northwestern defense shut them down, holding them without a shot for more than nine minutes. Meanwhile, the Wildcats responded with three goals for a 6-2 lead at the half.

Taylor scored two more as Northwestern dominated the third quarter to take an 11-4 lead.

The two teams played at Northwestern in February, with the Wildcats winning 15-14.

LEEDS, England — “Leeds are falling apart again” sang the Tottenham fans in their corner of Elland Road. The Leeds United supporters at the other end of the stadium thought briefly about coming up with their own put down but instead joined in. Their team were falling apart and they couldn’t deny it.

In a game Leeds needed to win to stand any chance of staying up, they lost 4-1 with barely a flicker of fight.

The next time Leeds are here, they will be playing in the Championship, swapping fixtures with Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal for games against Plymouth Argyle and Rotherham United, and they only have themselves to blame.

After circling the drain a year ago and only surviving with a win over Brentford on the final day, this season has been one littered with mistakes on and off the pitch.

How was Jesse Marsch allowed to continue as manager until February? How was a club record fee squandered on Georginio Rutter in the January transfer window only for the striker to barely play? How do you manage to concede nearly 80 goals in Premier League season? And how do you move from Marcelo Bielsa to Sam Allardyce — via Marsch and Javi Gracia — in little over a year?

Most of those questions are to be answered by owner Andrea Radrizzani, who has taken the club back to the division he found them in six years ago.

Supporters want him gone, and 49ers Enterprises, which owns 44% of the club, wants a full takeover, but the issue of who will be in charge of the boardroom next season is still up in the air. Allardyce said afterward that “it’s the first thing that needs to be sorted” this summer. Only then, he said, can a decision be made on who the manager will be and what the squad might look like. Allardyce hasn’t ruled out staying, although a record of four games, three defeats and 11 goals conceded hasn’t done him any favours.

In his postmatch news conference, he apologised to the fans but also pointed the finger of blame at his players, insisting that the biggest difference between Leeds and Tottenham was “unforced errors.” It was 90 minutes of self-inflicted damage. Even before the game, Allardyce wrote in his programme notes that Leeds have been “punished for the errors we have made” and it was no different against Spurs.

Inside the first 30 seconds, Weston McKennie fluffed simple pass, giving the ball to Son Heung-Min. Leeds didn’t see it again until they were 1-0 down, and after watching Pedro Porro nip in front of Pascal Struijk to set up the chance for Harry Kane, all Allardyce could do was stand on the touchline and shake his head.

While VAR checked the goal, the home fans began chanting in support of Bielsa, the popular former manager who was sacked in 2022, and Jack Harrison and Rodrigo had an argument.

And as if conceding inside the first two minutes of the first half wasn’t bad enough, Leeds did it again in the second. Kane wanted the ball more than Liam Cooper, Struijk had the chance to clear the pass but miskicked and Porro finished it off, ending any flickering hope of a dramatic Leeds escape.

The frustration in the stands had long since crossed into anger. Chants of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” were aimed at the players while Italian broadcasting boss Radrizzani was told to “sell the club and f— off home.”

News of an Everton goal at Goodison Park then filtered through, and the first Leeds fans started to slip out of the stadium, more than half an hour before full-time. They missed Harrison pulling a goal back for Leeds, who then, in-keeping with a calamitous performance, gifted another goal to Kane.

Allardyce reflected ruefully afterwards that “you would have thought they might have learned from the first two, but no.”

When a pitch invader sprinted out and evaded a couple of burly security staff before being wrestled to the floor, he was serenaded by the home fans who sang “sign him up” and “he’s shown more fight than you.” It was hard to argue when Leeds had done so little to help themselves.

The fourth goal from Lucas Moura was a lovely moment for the Brazilian on his final Spurs appearance, but it only happened because of even more woeful Leeds defending. Leeds have conceded 157 top-flight goals since the start of last season, more than any other side in Europe’s top five leagues. It’s a stat that reeks of relegation.

It’s tempting on days like this to suggest that a club of Leeds’ size will be back in the Premier League soon, but their fans know better than most that it’s not that simple. The last time they were relegated from the top flight in 2004, it took them 16 years to return, and their spell away also included three seasons in the third division of English football.

Leeds have fallen apart, but the question now is how quickly can they be put back together?

Leicester City and Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League on the final day of the season after Everton ensured their own survival with a narrow victory on Sunday.

Leicester put together one of the all-time underdog sports stories when they lifted the Premier League title in 2016 but now face life in the Championship despite a 2-1 victory on Sunday over West Ham United.

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Leeds will join them in England’s second tier after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. The club led a difficult season that saw them sack managers Jesse Marsch and Javi Gracia before hiring Sam Allardyce with four games remaining.

Meanwhile, a superb strike from Abdoulaye Doucoure helped Everton to 1-0 win over Bournemouth, maintaining the club’s record of never having been relegated from the Premier League as they enter their final season at longtime home Goodison Park.

Since winning the Premier League, Leicester had enjoyed two fifth-place finishes and won the FA Cup in 2021. However, a summer transfer window in which the club signed just one outfield player, followed by failing to win any of their opening six league games meant the club faced a fight to stay up this season.

Manager Brendan Rodgers looked to have steadied the ship soon after, with the club in 13th place when the Premier League paused for the 2022 World Cup. But a run of five losses in six matches led to Rodgers’ dismissal on April 2 and the appointment of Dean Smith on an interim basis.

Leicester entered Sunday two points behind Everton, needing Sean Dyche’s side to drop points, and things looked to be heading in the right direction for Smith with goals from Harvey Barnes and Wout Faes enough to secure three points.

However, Dourcoure’s thunderous strike from the edge of the box on 57 minutes proved crucial and meant Everton stayed up on 36 points, two ahead of Leicester.

Leeds, who finished five points from safety, were on the losing end of a superb display from Harry Kane, who netted twice in a convincing Spurs win.

Southampton are the third side losing their Premier League status, having finished bottom of the table.