As the Philadelphia Eagles await any further discipline for standout defensive tackle Jalen Carter, a speech from the spring could be instructive as to where the NFL might end up.

At the owner’s meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent told head coaches, general managers and executives gathered in one room that sportsmanship posed one of the biggest threats to the league’s brand.

During that meeting, Vincent warned coaches, GMs and executives that there would be, as one source recalled, “zero tolerance for acts that demean the game,” and that the league would come down hard on any violators.

The NFL now is mulling what discipline to impose on Carter, who was ejected from Thursday night’s season opener for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the first play from scrimmage.

At the very least, Carter will face a substantial fine, and he could also be suspended, sources told ESPN. A decision by the NFL is expected Monday, according to sources, as the Eagles return to work and get ready for a Super Bowl rematch in Kansas City next Sunday against the Chiefs.

Sportsmanship is hardly the NFL’s only point of emphasis from this past offseason. The league also is vowing to crack down on player celebrations that involve violent gestures or are sexually suggestive in nature. The NFL saw too much of it last year, and it will be flagged more frequently this season.

After the opening kickoff Thursday, there was an injury delay for Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren, who remained on the ground for several minutes. During that time, Carter and Prescott got face-to-face, and Carter spit on Prescott as the two began to separate.

“It was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won’t happen again,” Carter said after the game. “I feel bad for my teammates and the fans out there. … It won’t happen again. I can make that promise.”

Later, video showed Prescott spitting in the direction of Carter and the Eagles’ defense before Carter spit on him.

Asked whether he is concerned about being suspended by the NFL, Carter said: “If I get that text or that call and have that conversation, we’ll handle it then.”

Eagles coach Nick Sirianni did not reveal whether Carter would face any internal discipline, saying any action would be kept in-house.

“I want these guys to play with great energy, great tenacity while doing it within the rules of the game,” Sirianni said after Philadelphia’s 24-20 victory. “So we’ll address that.”

ESPN’s Tim McManus contributed to this report.

A blockbuster clash between Pakistan and India will headline the Asia Cup, starting Tuesday, marking their first cricket meeting since the May military conflict.

The T20I tournament, a crucial build-up to the upcoming World Cup in India and Sri Lanka (February–March), kicks off in Abu Dhabi with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong.

Arch-rivals Pakistan and India meet in Dubai on September 14, with bowling legend Wasim Akram urging players and fans “to remain disciplined and not cross the line.”

The two neighbours, who haven’t played a bilateral series since 2012, are in the same group and could meet up to three times before the final on September 28.

Tensions remain high after the four-day May conflict—their deadliest clash since 1999—which killed more than 70 people in missile, drone, and artillery exchanges.

Lingering bitterness also saw India’s veterans team, led by Yuvraj Singh, withdraw from facing Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends in England earlier this year.

Ex-spinner Harbhajan Singh has strongly opposed the Asia Cup match, saying, “Until the big issues are resolved, cricket is a very small matter.”

India, the defending Asia Cup champions, head into the tournament as favourites with skipper Suryakumar Yadav and a commanding 10-3 T20I record over Pakistan.

Their last meeting, in February’s Champions Trophy, saw India beat Pakistan by six wickets on the way to lifting the trophy.

Pakistan will be without star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, both dropped from the shortest format because of poor form.

India won the previous Asia Cup, which was played in a 50-over format in 2023, when they beat hosts Sri Lanka in the final in Colombo.

India are strong favourites to retain their crown.

The five full members of the Asian Cricket Council Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka earned automatic qualification to the tournament.

They are joined by Hong Kong, Oman and the UAE, teams that secured their spots by finishing in the top three of the ACC men’s Premier Cup.

Group A is made up of India, Pakistan, the hosts UAE and Oman.

Group B comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.

The group stage will be followed by a Super Four round, followed by the final in Dubai.

• Pakistan last faced India in Champions Trophy in February.
• Arch-rivals will clash again in Dubai on September 14.
• Asia Cup to serve as build-up towards T20I World Cup in 2026.

NEW DELHI: A blockbuster between Pakistan and India headlines the Asia Cup starting on Tuesday as they face off for the first time in cricket since the military conflict in May.

Along with regional bragging rights, the T20I competition will serve as a build-up towards the T20I World Cup in February-March in India and Sri Lanka.

The eight-team event in the United Arab Emirates begins when Afghanistan play minnows Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan clash in Dubai on September 14, with Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram saying players and fans from both teams should “remain disciplined and not cross the line”.

The neighbours have not met on either side’s soil in a bilateral series since 2012 and only play each other in international tournaments on neutral ground as part of a compromise deal.

The two Asian cricketing giants have been clubbed together in the same group and could potentially meet three times in the tournament, which concludes on September 28.

There have been tensions in the build-up after the two countries fought an intense four-day conflict — their worst since 1999.

The hostilities in May left more than 70 people dead in missile, drone and artillery exchanges, before a ceasefire was reached eventually.

With lingering bitterness, an Indian team of retired players withdrew from their semi-final with Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends in July-August in England.

Led by former international Yuvraj Singh, the Indians also refused to play Pakistan in the group stage of the tournament, as clamour grew among fans to boycott the games.

Strong favourites

Pakistan and India last met in cricket, again in Dubai, in February in the 50-over Champions Trophy, with India winning by six wickets and going on to lift the title.

They are also defending Asia Cup champions and led by Suryakumar Yadav, are favourites against their old foes with a 10-3 win record against Pakistan in T20Is.

Pakistan will be without star players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, both dropped from the shortest format because of poor form.

India won the previous Asia Cup, which was played in a 50-over format in 2023, when they beat hosts Sri Lanka in the final in Colombo. India are strong favourites to retain their crown.

The five full members of the Asian Cricket Council — Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka — earned automatic qualification to the tournament.

They are joined by Hong Kong, Oman and the UAE, teams that secured their spots by finishing in the top three of the ACC men’s Premier Cup.

Group A is made up of India, Pakistan, the hosts UAE and Oman.

Group B comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka.

The group stage will be followed by a Super Four round, followed by the final in Dubai.