Football should change to reflect the edifying attitude evidenced at London 2012, but England's friendly against Italy last night should be a warning not to over-sanitise a game built on tribalism and passion.

The flame for the Paralympic torch will be kindled at the summit of each home nation's highest peak

Former champion Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the US Open with the knee injury that has kept him out of action since Wimbledon.

Giant cauldrons will be lit on the four highest peaks in Britain to mark the start of the Paralympic torch relay. Organisers today unveiled plans for the 24-hour relay which is significantly smaller than the procession which preceded the larger Olympic Games.

Kelner's View

Never mind that Kevin Pietersen may be English cricket's best batsman. Given that he is unable adequately to explain derogatory text messages about some of his team-mates allegedly sent to their opponents, he can expect little sympathy for being excluded from the side.

Many of you will be reading these words in the traditional manner, by turning over the page of a newspaper, scanning the headline, and then reading the columnist's first paragraph before deciding that life is too short after all.

Black cabs fell into black holes today as Manganese Bronze — maker of the iconic London taxi — said it found accounting errors going back more than two years.

It is the international friendly no club wanted to be played and football is the sport that is getting it in the neck for failing to live up to the spirit of Team GB, the nation's new sporting sweethearts. Of all the England teams over all the years, and Frank Lampard had to walk into this one as captain.

The cheers of the crowd have barely died away but already minority sports that revelled in their moment in the Olympic sun are facing the realities of a tough future.

The Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has relaxed Government regulations on the amount of minimum outdoor space schools must provide pupils for playing team games.

Black cabs fell into black holes yesterday as Manganese Bronze – maker of the well-known London taxi – said it had found accounting errors going back more than two years.

The cheers of the crowd have barely died away but already minority sports that revelled in their moment in the Olympic sun are facing the realities of a tough future.

Captain says team-mates should not take all the blame for game's beleaguered position