Kazakhstan will host the 2029 Asian Winter Games after Saudi Arabia’s withdrawal.

Almaty has been named as the new venue by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

The decision was announced at the Winter Olympic Games in Italy, where OCA President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani thanked Kazakhstan for its commitment to developing winter sports.

“We have no doubt we will build on this legacy and deliver an unforgettable Games in 2029,” he said.

The Games – scheduled to be held at the Trojena resort in the new Saudi Arabian city of Neom – were initially postponed last month.

No official reason for the delay was provided at the time, though reports from Singapore publication The Straits Times, external suggesting there had been a delay in constructing the ski resort.

The reports also suggested discussions had been held over the possibility of Saudi Arabia hosting the Games in 2033 instead.

Real Madrid returned to training this week after two days off following their win against Rayo Vallecano – but on Wednesday their session looked quite different.

Squad members were taking part in high-intensity drills while wearing unusual blue masks.

Several players, including Trent Alexander-Arnold, shared photos of themselves wearing the masks on social media, sparking curiosity about them.

The masks have been introduced under the guidance of Antonio Pintus, Real Madrid’s performance manager, who oversees the players’ physical conditioning.

While the masks may resemble altitude-training equipment, their purpose is very different.

Worn during short 15-20 minute stress tests, Pintus told Real Madrid TV that the Cosmed K5 masks are “designed to find out the players’ aerobic and anaerobic thresholds and their current power”.

The masks allow staff to analyse exact VO2 max levels – this is the maximum rate at which the body can consume and use oxygen during intense exercise. The technology can also assess whether players are relying more on fats or carbohydrates for fuel.

With crucial La Liga fixtures against Valencia and Real Sociedad approaching, as well as Champions League knockout ties against Benfica, Real Madrid will be keen to ensure their squad is operating at peak physical levels as the season enters a decisive phase.

‘Just one way of looking at a player’s conditioning levels’ – analysis

Sports physiotherapist Ben Warbuton explained that these masks are traditionally used in controlled environments, such as on a treadmill or exercise bike, to assess fitness levels. However, Real Madrid have adapted the technology so it can be used during normal training sessions.

“They’ve got hold of high-tech equipment to complete it during training,” Waarbuton said. “This benefits the coaches because they can test the players and train at the same time.”

He added that traditional VO2 max testing can be impractical during the season. “If all players did a treadmill or bike test, it would be very time-consuming. They would lose a training session, and a treadmill is a harder and different surface to grass,” he explained.

By integrating the masks into football-specific drills, Warbuton says there is also a reduced injury risk.

“By wearing these masks in training, there’s a slight decrease in the risk of soft-tissue injuries, such as tight calves. They don’t waste a session and still get valuable fitness information.”

The data gathered allows staff to assess each player’s condition and tailor workloads accordingly.

“The results will tell the coaches how fit the players are,” Warbuton added. “They’ll compare them to their own baselines, or to other players in the same position. Players with a lower VO2 max may need extra fitness and conditioning work.

“It’s just one way of looking at a player’s conditioning levels. I imagine it’s very expensive, which is why not all clubs adopt it.”

The Saudi Pro League has warned Cristiano Ronaldo “no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club” amid doubts over his future at Al-Nassr.

The Portugal forward, 41, was left out of Al-Nassr’s squad for Monday’s Saudi Pro League game against Al-Riyadh.

Portuguese outlet A Bola, external reported Ronaldo refused to play, having grown dissatisfied with how the club was being run by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

BBC Sport has been told former Real Madrid team-mate Karim Benzema’s move to league leaders Al-Hilal from Al‑Ittihad earlier this week was the principle reason for Ronaldo’s frustration at Al-Nassr.

French striker Benzema, 38, scored a hat-trick on his debut for Al-Hilal in a 6-0 win over Al-Okhdood on Thursday.

Both Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal – the country’s most successful club with 19 league titles – are among the teams controlled by the PIF, which also backs Newcastle United.

Ronaldo posted a picture of himself back in training on Wednesday, but Saudi Pro League officials are unsure if he will play against Al‑Ittihad on Friday.

In a statement issued to BBC Sport, a Saudi Pro League spokesperson said: “The Saudi Pro League is structured around a simple principle: every club operates independently under the same rules.

“Clubs have their own boards, their own executives and their own football leadership. Decisions on recruitment, spending and strategy sit with those clubs, within a financial framework designed to ensure sustainability and competitive balance. That framework applies equally across the league.

“Cristiano has been fully engaged with Al-Nassr since his arrival and has played an important role in the club’s growth and ambition,” added the Saudi Pro League spokesperson. “Like any elite competitor, he wants to win.

“But no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club.

“Recent transfer activity demonstrates that independence clearly. One club strengthened in a particular way. Another chose a different approach. Those were club decisions, taken within approved financial parameters.”

Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr in 2022 after leaving Manchester United mid-season, becoming the best-paid player in football history with an annual salary of £177m, but has only won the Arab Club Champions Cup with them.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner signed a new two-year contract in June 2025.

Before he agreed the new deal, however, there was speculation he might leave Al-Nassr with a loan move to rivals Al-Hilal among those touted.

Al-Nassr only signed Iraq Under-23 midfielder Hayder Abdulkareem in the January transfer window.

Al-Hilal are unbeaten in the league this season and lead with 50 points after 20 games, while Al-Nassr are four points behind in third place, although they have a game in hand.

The Saudi Pro League spokesperson said: “The competitiveness of the league speaks for itself. With only a few points separating the top four, the title race is very much alive. That level of balance reflects a system that is working as intended.

“The focus remains on football – on the pitch, where it belongs – and on maintaining a credible, competitive competition for players and fans.”

Leicester City have been docked six points by the English Football League for breaching financial rules.

The deduction will be applied immediately meaning the Foxes fall from 17th to 20th in the Championship and are only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.

It comes after Leicester were charged by the Premier League in May for a profit and sustainability (PSR) breach in the three years up to 2023-24.

Leicester were relegated from the top flight last season and are currently without a permanent manager after Marti Cifuentes was sacked in January.

In a statement Leicester said they were “disappointed” with the decision, branding it “disproportionate”.

“While the commission’s findings significantly reduced the unprecedented scale of the sanction originally sought by the Premier League, the recommendation remains disproportionate and does not adequately reflect the mitigating factors presented, the importance of which cannot be overstated given the potential impact on our sporting ambitions this season,” the statement said.

“We are now reviewing the decision in full and considering the options available to us.

“We remain committed to engaging constructively and ensuring that any action is fair, proportionate and determined through the appropriate processes.”

Under PSR, Premier League clubs cannot lose more than £105m over three years but the figure is reduced by £22m for every season a club spends outside the top flight.

Leicester’s accounts for the period ending 30 June, 2024, showed a loss of £19.4m.

In their 2022-23 accounts Leicester confirmed an £89.7m loss while in the 12 months up to May 2022 they lost a club record £92.5m.

Those figures do not take into account ‘add backs’ – costs such as building infrastructure and investing in women’s football that the Premier League and EFL view as in general interests of clubs.

Leicester are winless in their last four Championship fixtures, losing three. Interim head coach Andy King takes the Foxes to face Birmingham City on Saturday (15:01).

Despite being charged by the Premier League, the EFL took on the case following their relegation to the second tier.

Although the Premier League had jurisdiction, the Foxes have been sanctioned under EFL PSR rules.

Leicester had argued their case should be have been considered over a 36-month period rather than 37 months caused by a delay in submitting their accounts for 2023-24.

The commission ruled that it should be 36 months meaning the club’s overspend of the EFL’s rules during that period was £20.8m above the £83m limit.

Although a maximum 12-point penalty could have been imposed, the committee worked down based on Leicester’s percentage overspend and settled on six in light of the club’s “improving financial position” over the assessment period.