Reuters Sports News Summary

24 friendlies against South Africa, Kilgore said they will spend time addressing players' disappointment and emotions from their Round of 16 exit to Sweden at the World Cup last month. Putin says IOC is distorting Olympic ideal Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday of politicising sport, as it weighs a decision on Russian athletes' participation in next year's Games in Paris.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Kevin Porter Jr. arrested on domestic violence charges

The girlfriend of Houston Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. suffered a fractured neck vertebra and a cut above her right eye when she was assaulted in a hotel room, New York City prosecutors said Tuesday at Porter's arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court. Porter, 23, is facing charges of felony assault and strangulation following the incident, alleged to have taken place Monday at the Millennium Hilton. He was not required to enter a plea at the arraignment and is scheduled to return to the Manhattan courtroom on Oct. 16.

Former Spanish soccer chief Rubiales to testify in court in Hermoso kiss case

Former Spanish soccer chief Luis Rubiales will testify before the High Court in Madrid on Friday over his allegedly unsolicited kiss on the lips of World Cup winner Jenni Hermoso, the court said on Tuesday. The incident, at the medal ceremony following the Spanish women's team's World Cup victory in Sydney, Australia, last month, unleashed a wave of indignation against sexism and macho behaviour in Spain.

Tennis-Halep to appeal four-year ban for anti-doping rule violations

Romania's former world number one Simona Halep said on Tuesday that she would appeal to sport's highest court against the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) decision to ban her for four years after two separate anti-doping rule violations. The 31-year-old former Wimbledon and French Open champion had been provisionally suspended since October 2022 after testing positive for banned blood-booster roxadustat at the U.S. Open last year where she lost in the first round.

Soccer-US women's team ready to turn the page on disappointing World Cup

The U.S. women's soccer team will take time to address their worst-ever performance at a Women's World Cup before shifting focus to next year's Paris Olympics, interim head coach Twila Kilgore said on Tuesday. When the team gathers for a camp ahead of Sept. 21 and Sept. 24 friendlies against South Africa, Kilgore said they will spend time addressing players' disappointment and emotions from their Round of 16 exit to Sweden at the World Cup last month.

Putin says IOC is distorting Olympic ideal

Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday of politicising sport, as it weighs a decision on Russian athletes' participation in next year's Games in Paris. Russians are facing the likelihood of having to compete under a neutral flag in Paris because of Putin's invasion of Ukraine. The IOC has taken no final decision but said athletes should not be punished for the acts of their governments.

Soccer-"It's a joke": Southgate criticises treatment of England defender Maguire

England manager Gareth Southgate defended Harry Maguire after Scotland fans sarcastically mocked the defender, who scored an own goal in a friendly on Tuesday which England won 3-1 at Hampden Park. Maguire, who began the match on the bench for England, was brought on at halftime due to an injury to Marc Guehi and faced ironic cheers from the Scottish fans for every pass he completed.

Soccer-Messi-less Argentina cruise to 3-0 win over Bolivia

Argentina rested captain Lionel Messi but they still made light work of Bolivia as they won 3-0 to claim their second victory of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Tuesday. Angel Di Maria took over as captain in Messi's absence and shone, providing two assists before halftime.

Soccer-Bellingham shines as England cruise to victory in Scotland

England brought Scotland crashing back down to earth with a comfortable 3-1 victory in a friendly at Hampden Park with Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane on target on Tuesday. After five successive Euro 2024 qualifying wins there was a euphoric atmosphere amongst the Tartan Army who sensed an opportunity for a first home win against England since 1985.

Tennis-Serbia and France off to winning starts in Davis Cup

Serbia made a victorious start to their Davis Cup Finals group stage campaign by beating South Korea on Tuesday before 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic arrives for tougher tests ahead. Djokovic will join the team in Valencia shortly for their last two Group C ties against Spain and the Czech Republic later this week, having claimed the U.S. Open crown on Sunday to equal Margaret Court's record haul of 24 major singles titles.

Soccer-Romania beat Kosovo in match suspended after Serbia chants

Romania beat Kosovo 2-0 in a Euro 2024 qualifier that was suspended on Tuesday for just under an hour after Romanian fans repeatedly shouted pro-Serbia chants. The game in Bucharest was stopped in the 18th minute after some of the crowd chanted "Serbia Serbia" and a player confronted people in the stands displaying a sign saying "Kosovo is Serbia", with the referee sending the players back to the changing rooms.