Sports
Ryder Cup Star’s Dad Boycotts Event After Raging at Rory McIlroy’s Behaviour
Xander Schauffele will, without a doubt, be one of Team USA’s key men at Bethpage Black this weekend, but a consistent face in his entourage will be absent: his father, Stefan.
The 60-year-old has decided to boycott the Ryder Cup entirely, insisting the near-century-old tournament has grown “toxic”, pointing the finger at the controversy that marred the last edition in Rome.
This year’s edition is already looking like a blockbuster. The Ryder Cup has returned to American soil, with Schauffele partnering with close friend Patrick Cantlay at 12:42pm UK time this afternoon, the 27th of September, against Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton. Team Europe arrive as holders after a dominant display in Italy, winning 16.5-11.5, but the US will be gunning to bounce back in front of their home crowd. They’ll have to come from behind, however, after a poor opening day saw them slip to a three-point deficit.
Xander Schauffele’s Father Skipping Ryder Cup
Despite the excitement surrounding the weekend, Stefan Schauffele will not be there to see any of it. The German-born coach has overseen much of his son’s career, such as his 2024 PGA Championship victory, but Stefan says the Ryder Cup has crossed a line.
Speaking to The Times in July, he recalled previous incidents that soured his view on the competition.
“I was there [at Whistling Straits] when they called Shane Lowry’s wife a w**** in front of him. I couldn’t believe my ears,” he said.
“Then I saw what happened in Rome. That was utterly disgusting claiming this money bull**** and Rory [McIlroy] behaved disgustingly in my opinion [when he confronted Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava].
“It’s only going to get worse. It’s ruined my appetite for the Ryder Cup. It becomes unwatchable.”
Rory McIlroy’s Ryder Cup Controversy in Rome
Grand Slam champion, Rory McIlroy, took issue with Joe LaCava’s overzealous celebrations after Cantlay put a crucial putt away. LaCava waved his hat enthusiastically in a cyclic fashion toward spectators, suggestively in reference to the American’s demonstration of competing “hatless” for players not receiving compensation for competing in the Ryder Cup.
The Northern Irish golfer wasn’t pleased with LaCava’s display, arguing it got in the way of his preparation to line up his putt. Further to the harsh words that seemed to be shared, McIlroy challenged Justin Thomas’ caddie, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, in the car park. These issues seemed to dim the lights of Europe’s stellar triumph against America, with these dramatic exchanges bleeding into the crowd too.
As Stefan mentioned, Open Championship winner Shane Lowry’s wife was subject to intimidating words after Team USA’s 19-9 victory. Lowry has said that while most Wisconsin spectators were genuine, a “small percentage” of them went far beyond the line of what he would expect of golf supporters.
“I thought I got on well with the crowd last week as best I could. But they are obviously a home crowd, and they are going to be a partisan crowd. Some of the stuff is not very nice, but that’s just the way it is.”
McIlroy too faced choice words from supporters in Hazeltine nearly a decade ago, after his break-up with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. Despite the positive connotations of “Sweet Caroline” in other sports, the Minnesotan home crowd used the lyrics to jab at McIlroy’s personal life.
However, despite all the noise around his father’s boycott, Xander will be determined to aid Team USA in picking up a third successive home victory.
Sports
Jack Charlton’s Son Handed £200k Tax Bill For England World Cup Medal
The son of England legend Jack Charlton has told of an inheritance tax row surrounding ownership of his father’s World Cup winners’ medal.
Charlton, who played over 750 games for Leeds United, immortalised himself as part of England’s World Cup-winning squad of 1966. The older brother of Bobby, Jack started at centre back alongside captain Bobby Moore in the final, with England defeating West Germany 4-2 after extra time.
However, on the 60th anniversary of England’s triumph, his son John has revealed that he is no longer in possession of his father’s medal. John Charlton was left the incredible piece of sporting memorabilia in his father’s will, but has had to give it back to his mother.
Jack Charlton’s World Cup Winners’ Medal
John appeared on talkSPORT Breakfast to discuss the 60th anniversary of England’s World Cup win, as well as Eddie Howe’s departure as Newcastle manager. Speaking about his father and uncle’s medals, he stated, “Funny enough, me and Eddie (Howe) were talking about his medal.
“I think there’s only him and my uncle Bobby who have kept their medals. Everybody else doesn’t have them anymore.”
When asked about the whereabouts of his father’s medal, John replied, “I’ve got it. Well, there’s a bit of a problem with it, actually.”
Inheritance Tax Row
The interview with Stuart Pearce and Andy Goldstein took an unexpected turn, as John revealed that the medal belonged to him, but was not actually in his possession.
“When I say I’ve got it, it was left to me in my dad’s will, but the tax man wants £200,000 off me in Inheritance Tax.”
But when asked whether he plans to sell his father’s prized possession, he seemed reluctant to do so. “No, I’ve given it back to my mother because, whilst she’s got it, I don’t have to pay that money.”
Despite being taken aback by the stipulations of UK tax law, John remained optimistic that a solution could be reached. “There’s a journalist from the Daily Mirror who’s been working on it and helping us to try and sort it, but the same applies to Olympic gymnasts and people like that.
“If they decide to sell their gold medals, they’re going to have to pay. Their family, sorry, pass it on, they’re going to have to pay Inheritance Tax on that. This is something that they’ve been trying to sort out.”
Currently, Inheritance Tax in the UK is 40% on estates that surpass the £325,000 threshold. And as for John Charlton’s situation, he also has to consider other World Cup memorabilia into that figure. He is also in possession of Jack Charlton’s World Cup final shirt and England cap, with the latter being the only one he retained from his football career.
“His shirt and his medal are in a safe place, tucked away,” revealed John. “And the England cap that he got because he only got one cap for the tournament and that’s the only cap that he left. He gave the rest away.”
Jack Charlton played 35 times for England over five years, with his first cap coming a year prior to England’s successful 1966 campaign. In domestic football, he was a one-club man. Having played for Leeds United for 21 years, Charlton is still the all-time leading appearance maker for the club.
After retiring from club football, Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle, and the Republic of Ireland. He led the latter to their first World Cup in 1990.
Sports
Ultimate vs Ultimate Plus Editions Compared
You can pre-order EA Sports FC 27 now, with the game being launched with a slick trailer and informative deep dives.
EA has spiced things up a little bit this year by introducing a boosted tier system for the game’s release. Alongside the Standard and Ultimate editions, gamers will have the new option of the Ultimate Plus edition.
Each edition comes with its own unique features, bonuses, and price structure, and GIVEMESPORT have broken down these key characteristics to help users choose the edition that best suits their gaming experience.
EA Sports FC 27 Ultimate Plus Edition Bonuses
The Ultimate Plus Edition offers gamers the biggest pre-order bonus bundle in the series’ history, designed for serious fans of the Ultimate Team gameplay mode.
However, there is a caveat that players must be aware of: this edition is only available from July 23 to August 31, and players cannot purchase it after this date nor upgrade to it later.
|
Ultimate Plus Edition Core Bonuses |
|---|
|
Full game with up to 7 days Early Access |
|
10,000 FC Points |
|
Premium Season Passes for Seasons 1 through 5 |
|
85+ OVR International ICON Player Item |
|
Additional Player Evolution Slot |
|
1 of 5 Hall of FUT Direct Player Pick (Akinfenwa, Giovani dos Santos, Remy, Fellaini, or Elia) |
EA Sports FC 27 Ultimate Edition Bonuses
The Ultimate Edition returns as the longstanding premium option, but the rewards and bonuses available to players differ depending on when the game is bought.
August 31 Pre-Order (Early Bird)
|
Ultimate Edition Bonuses |
|---|
|
FUT Bonuses: 85+ OVR International ICON, 7 days Early Access, Season 1 Premium Pass, 6,000 FC Points, and an Extra Evo Slot. |
|
The Grounds: Signature Sweatsuit, Mbappé Tier 3 AMP, and 2x AXP for 10 Matches. |
|
Career Mode: Pre-Order Challenges, Dynamic OVR Pre-Season Boost, 3 ICONs/Heroes, 5-Star Coach, 5-Star Youth/Senior Scouts, and 5 Manager Live Challenge Slots. |
|
FC 26 Bonuses: 99 DRI Stat Evo and a 93+ OVR ICON Player Pick. |
Pre-Order after August 31 but before September 24
The user will receive everything listed above, except for the 85+ OVR International ICON item.
Purchase on or after September 25 (Global Release Date)
Users will only receive the base FC Points, Evolution Slot, Career Mode items, and The Grounds items. They will not be granted Early Access, the Season 1 Pass, or the 85+ OVR International ICON.
Ultimate Plus vs Ultimate: Which Edition Should You Buy?
For players aiming to pre-order before August 31, the decision comes down to how much you play Ultimate Team. The increased bonuses, particularly the four additional Premium Passes and the boosted FC Points, justify putting the extra pennies down for the Ultimate Plus Edition.
Still, for players who aren’t sure whether they want to commit to future season passes, or how much time they can commit to the Ultimate Team experience, pre-ordering the Ultimate Edition before that August 31 deadline is still a great way to grab a good haul of bonuses for your money.
EA Sports FC 27 Pre-Order Prices: All Editions
Here is the pricing structure for each edition of EA Sports FC 27:
|
Edition |
UK Price |
US Price |
Canada Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Standard |
£69.99 |
$69.99 |
$89.99 |
|
Ultimate |
£99.99 |
$99.99 |
$129.99 |
|
Ultimate Plus |
£139.99 |
$149.99 |
$199.99 |
Sports
Mykhailo Mudryk Available For Chelsea as Ban Lifted and Statement Released
Chelsea winger Mykhailo Mudryk is officially available to return to professional football after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) partially upheld his appeal against his ban for doping.
Mudryk, who signed for Chelsea in 2023 for an initial fee of £62m, has not played a competitive match since November 2024, following a provisional suspension by the FA. Subsequent tests delivered an “adverse finding” for the banned substance meldonium.
The Ukraine international was hit with a significant ban of four years by the FA, but lodged an appeal to CAS against the punishment. The longstanding governing body agreed to allow the 25-year-old to return to professional football “with immediate effect.” Mudryk conceded that he had broken anti-doping rules, agreeing to a suspension that equalled the time he had already served.
Mudryk has shared his gratitude at returning to football, stating that the ban led to the “most difficult period” of his career.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk star added: “As I have always maintained from the outset of this case, I have never knowingly or intentionally taken any banned substance.”
Chelsea has already commented on the positive verdict regarding the Ukrainian winger, stating that the club looks forward to returning Mudryk to “full fitness, [and reintegrating him] back into the squad and back on to the pitch.” The 25-year-old is expected to join their pre-season tour.
FA Update on Mykhailo Mudryk
The English FA shared the following statement on their website in relation to Mudryk’s four-year ban being lifted:
“The FA can confirm that the anti-doping disciplinary proceedings against Mykhailo Mudryk were resolved with the agreement of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on 30 July 2026. In the context of that agreement, Mr Mudryk has accepted his commission of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and accepted a period of ineligibility.
“On 22 October 2024, Mr Mudryk was subject to an out-of-competition doping control, which revealed the presence of a low concentration of meldonium, a prohibited substance. The FA notified Mr Mudryk of that finding on 4 December 2024 and imposed a provisional suspension. On 23 May 2025, the FA charged Mr Mudryk with ADRVs in breach of Regulations 3 and 4 of its 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations.
“On 7 to 9 January 2026, a hearing took place before an independent Regulatory Commission. The Regulatory Commission found that Mr Mudryk had committed the charged ADRVs and imposed a four-year period of ineligibility. Subsequently, Mr Mudryk filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Since then, changes have been made to WADA Technical Document (TD2027MRL) which, while not retroactive, mean that if Mr Mudryk’s sample was collected today, the concentration of meldonium in the sample would not have been reported and no ADRVs would have resulted.
“Further to that development and to other circumstances of the case, The FA and Mr Mudryk have now – with the agreement of WADA – resolved the appeal proceedings in accordance with Article 10.8.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code and Regulation 90 of the 2024 Anti-Doping Regulations. As a part of the agreement, Mr Mudryk accepted that he had committed the ADRVs charged and acceded to a period of ineligibility equal to the time served at the date of the agreement.
“Mr Mudryk is no longer ineligible and may return to competition with immediate effect.”
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