US President Donald Trump has celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling against transgender women playing in women’s sport, calling it a “big win.”

A 6-3 Supreme Court ruling issued on Tuesday (June 30th) allows states to ban transgender student-athletes from competing in female sports. This prohibits transgender athletes from joining girls’ and women’s teams at public schools and universities.

The ruling focused on the cases of Lindsay Hecox, a college student in Idaho, and Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 15-year-old high school student from West Virginia. It’s expected to have a sweeping impact because Idaho and West Virginia’s prohibitions against transgender athletes are replicated in 25 other states.

Trump Calls Court Ruling ‘Big Win’

Credit: Aaron Schwartz / Pool/Sipa USA

Trump took to Truth Social to give his verdict on the ruling and a situation he views as “ridiculous.” The president wrote:

Trump made a ban on transgender people a central pillar of his 2024 campaign, and critics believe the ruling is a major blow to transgender rights. The justices are, however, divided on the separate issue of whether the bans violate federal law.

The nine justices decided that the bans do not violate a civil rights law called Title IX. This prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools and was enacted in 1972 to ensure equal opportunities in academics and athletics and to address sexual harassment.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that state legislatures and schools were “better equipped” and “the more appropriate entities” to assess competing medical and scientific considerations. The ruling received responses from civil rights organisations, elected officials and athletes, with some, including Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black, claiming it continues “attacks on transgender young people” which “must stop.”

Trump View on Transgender Women in Women’s Sport

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Trump has long campaigned for banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports. He vowed to defend women from “gender ideology extremism.”

The US president signed an Executive Order last year aiming to clearly define male and female and the biological reality of two sexes. He vowed to defend women and said that “you just ban it. You just don’t let it happen.”

The White House claims that the majority of American people “overwhelmingly agree with Trump.” They state that “roughly seven in 10 Americans oppose men (transgender) in women’s sports.”

The Supreme Court previously backed Trump-enforced restrictions on trans people. This includes a Pentagon policy banning trans people from serving in the military.

Arsenal have accepted an offer for one of their important players this summer, as Turkish outlet Sporx reports that an exit could be just around the corner.

The Gunners are looking at the possibility of some sales over the course of the transfer market, with the squad featuring plenty of quality and depth in almost every position.

In the midfield, Christian Norgaard has been linked with an exit, while the left wing has been another area of consideration for a possible move out of the door.

Gabriel Martinelli has been linked with plenty of interest, but it seems as though it could be Leandro Trossard who makes a transfer away from Arsenal before the window slams shut.

Arsenal Accept Leandro Trossard Bid

As Trossard enters the final year of his contract with Arsenal, several teams have been showing interest in a deal to sign the 31-year-old this summer.

Among those most interested is Besiktas, as the club have made it clear that they wish to land the Belgian international as a marquee signing on the market.

With recent rumours surrounding an exit, Turkish outlet Sporx claims that Arsenal have accepted a €20 million (£17.2 million) bid from Besiktas to allow Trossard to leave the club.

The final decision is now down to the experienced forward, as the report claims that there is also intense interest from Saudi Arabia with some clubs looking to use their financial muscle to get a deal done.

Any final call on his future may come in the next few weeks, as Trossard is currently away on international duty with Belgium at the 2026 World Cup.

The 31-year-old has already scored two goals and assisted once for the Red Devils during a challenging campaign so far, which continues with a clash against Senegal in the round of 32.

A decision could follow his side’s exit, whenever that may be. For now, though, his future seemingly remains up in the air.

Trossard Has Been Key For Arsenal

Since signing him from Brighton back in January 2023, Trossard has been nothing short of a key star for Arsenal whenever the team needed some inspiration.

Be it his impact from the start or from the bench, the Belgian star offered plenty of quality and versatility without any question of where his place in the team may be.

That selflessness, and his ability to arrive in the most important moments, has cemented his place as an icon for years to come. His 174 appearances have been made with 36 goals and 34 assists.

At times, he has been the scorer Arsenal needs. At other points, he has been the one to set them up. While there may be stars who can add even more quality, Trossard has been nothing short of an immense signing.

Replacing him will be tough, but if Arsenal can recoup some money for an experienced star entering the final year of his deal, then it may prove to be an even better bit of business.

When Diego Maradona warned the footballing world about hosting the World Cup in the USA and Mexico, few realised he predicted one of the most controversial features of this summer’s tournament.

The 2026 World Cup has been a polarising one thus far for several reasons, and there have been plenty of decisions that have frustrated fans. None more so than the introduction of hydration breaks, which FIFA brought in to keep players safe in humid conditions.

Back in the UK, a heatwave has had England supporters heading to their local supermarkets to buy fans and stock up on water. Temperatures of 30 degrees are the norm in the USA and Canada, but for players who spend their club seasons in Europe, it’s a major issue.

That said, the hydration breaks haven’t solely been focused on benefiting players’ welfare. The break in play has been a commercial tool for many countries outside the UK, a development Maradona foresaw when speaking eight years ago.

Maradona Ridiculed Hosting World Cup in North America

The late Maradona, who passed away in November 2020, hit out at FIFA’s decision to take the World Cup to the USA, Canada and Mexico. In a clip from an interview back in 2018, he reacted scathingly to the three nations being handed the tournament:

“There’s no passion. The Canadians may be good skiers, and the Americans wanted to have four periods of 25 [minutes] for the advertising.”

Looking back, Maradona’s dig at ‘four periods of 25 minutes of advertising’ holds true for the much-hated hydration breaks. Viewers outside of the UK are greeted by adverts which roll 20 seconds after the first hydration whistle and end just 30 seconds before the restart.

UK broadcasters BBC and ITV don’t turn to additional adverts; instead, they cut to their studios for mid-match comments from pundits. The US in particular breaks to cut to commercials, and experts believe advertising revenue generates more than £189m in America alone, per The Sun.

Some question whether the breaks are more about boosting commercial revenue than about factoring in player welfare. US television uses more ad breaks than the UK, and their timing differs: shows often lead straight into one another rather than taking a break as they do in the UK.

Maradona, who won the World Cup in 1986 in Mexico, also criticised the culture of North America and the country where he achieved glory: “Mexico doesn’t deserve it. The Mexicans come up against Brazil or Germany… and ‘boom,’ they’re out.”

FIFA raised suspicions about the rationale for hydration breaks after making three-minute stoppages mandatory for every match during the tournament. That even includes games played in air-conditioned stadiums or in mild temperatures.

What World Cup Managers Think

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Hydration breaks are undoubtedly causing uproar among fans of the sport who aren’t fond of four breaks in play. For managers, though, it gives them the opportunity to gather their players and put tactics across, especially if they are losing.

Several goals were scored immediately after these breaks, although overall match momentum dropped 17 per cent on average during hydration breaks in the group stage. That’s why, unsurprisingly, there are a fair few coaches who have made their feelings clear over the feature.

England boss Thomas Tuchel isn’t a fan and feels they are a hindrance: “I think that it interrupts and changes the identity of a football match much more than I thought. Of course I had hydration breaks before when it was really, really hot and needed but they were shorter.”

Didier Deschamps echoed Maradona’s stance when speaking back in March. The France boss said: “It’s good for you, the broadcaster, to have the commercial break, but having those three minutes changes the game… No matter the team, if they’re on a roll, three minutes ruins everything.”

There have been instances when the breaks have benefitted a team, including Brazil in their 3-0 win over Haiti. Carlo Ancelotti alluded to this after the game: “We have a possibility for player recovery, and you can also put some adjustments on the game.”

FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists that the breaks are used only to keep players safe. When fans look back on the tournament in years to come, it’s fair to say that many will be reminded of the breaks rather than the events that unfolded on the pitch.