Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake detained for alleged match-fixing
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Sachithra Senanayake has been detained on allegations of attempted match-fixing after he surrendered to police
2023-09-06 22:50
Spurs respond to Robbie Williams' 'Ange-ball' chant with ultimate gift
Tottenham Hotspur has responded after Robbie Williams released a cover of his hit song 'Angels', but changed the words to 'Ange-ball' in dedication to manager, Ange Postecoglou. "Guess I'm a Spurs fan now then", the artist joked at the end of the video - and the team have now made sure he is. Williams filmed himself in a recent update showing that Tottenham Hotspur had sent him and his wife, Ayda, matching football shirts. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter
2023-09-06 22:29
Luis Rubiales fallout live: Rfef boss accused of sexual assault while Jorge Vilda hits out at ‘unfair’ sacking
Luis Rubiales is fighting to clear his name and remain in his job as president of the Spanish FA (Rfef) amid increasing pressure and criticism after his conduct across the Women’s World Cup final. After kissing Spain’ Jenni Hermoso, with the player insisting it was without consent and not welcomed, the fallout has seen the Spanish federation widely criticised for their lack of immediate response and Rubiales’ insistence he is in the right. Meanwhile, manager of the women’s team Jorge Vilda has been sacked, adding a further layer to the ongoing discussion and subsequent changes at the head of the federation. Follow all the latest updates regarding Spain’s women’s team, Rubiales and Vilda below.
2023-09-06 22:19
Wilson Tennis Racket Maker Amer Sports Files for US IPO
Amer Sports, the maker of Wilson tennis rackets and Salomon ski boots, has filed confidentially for a US
2023-09-06 22:18
Talking points ahead of Northern Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifier in Slovenia
Northern Ireland resume their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign when they take on Slovenia in Ljubljana on Thursday. The match is part of an away double-header in Group H, with Michael O’Neill’s men travelling to Astana to face Kazakhstan at the weekend. Here, the PA news agency looks at the key talking points ahead of Thursday’s match. No end to injury woes Michael O’Neill has not had much luck on the injury front since his return to the Northern Ireland job in December. Key players Stuart Dallas, Steven Davis and Corry Evans have not been fit to play since last year, and the injury list goes on with the likes of Shane Ferguson, Jamal Lewis, Conor Bradley Shayne Lavery, Dale Taylor and Aaron Donnelly all sidelined, while Dan Ballard has reported to camp with a concern after Sunderland’s 5-0 win over Southampton. Limited options O’Neill’s squad includes several players with limited or no experience at international level, leaving the manager to put some square pegs in round holes when it comes to naming a side. The loss of Lewis along with Ferguson means there is no naturally left full-back or wing-back in the squad, so although Bradley is out and Hume might fancy his favoured right wing-back role, chances are he will be on the left again. Josh Magennis and Conor Washington are back from injury, and may go straight back into the side after Lavery and Taylor were forced out. Evans and Cathcart As young as this Northern Ireland side is in many departments, the centre of defence is still anchored by Jonny Evans and Craig Cathcart. However, there is a different concern with the two seasoned campaigners. Evans enjoyed a pre-season with Manchester United before signing a one-year contract with his boyhood club, but the 35-year-old’s second-half appearance as a substitute in Sunday’s loss at Arsenal was his first competitive football since Northern Ireland’s June qualifiers. Cathcart comes into these fixtures even more undercooked, having been without a club since he left Watford at the end of last season. The 34-year-old has been training with the Hornets but is bound to be short of match fitness. With an injury concern over Ballard, Northern Ireland are stretched at the back. Group goals With so many senior players out and so many youngsters in, O’Neill said in June that qualifying was no longer the goal in this campaign, but the mood music has changed coming into this camp. O’Neill sounded a different tone when he announced his squad last month, and the players too have been talking about how two good results in this window could get them back in the mix before October’s double-header at Windsor Park. Whether they have the resources to do it remains to be seen. Fine margins Northern Ireland have taken only three points from their opening four qualifiers, and those came in the opening fixture away to minnows San Marino. But while everything else has been a defeat, the losses to Denmark away and Finland and Kazakhstan in Belfast have all come by a 1-0 margin. Scoring has been a long-term problem for Northern Ireland, but they have remained defensively strong and will take confidence from that with more experienced strikers back in the fold.
2023-09-06 22:18
Scotland squad has ‘perfect’ mix, says midfielder Ryan Christie
Ryan Christie believes the Scotland squad has the “perfect” mix as it looks to take a giant step toward Euro 2024 against Cyprus. Steve Clarke’s side have won their first four qualifiers to sit top of Group A, eight points ahead of Georgia and Norway and nine ahead of Spain, albeit the Spanish have only played two fixtures. After thrilling wins, most notably away to Norway and at home to Spain, the Scots are looking to at least extend their unbeaten run to nine games in Larnaca on Friday, hoping to eventually reach a second successive European Championship finals. Scotland then host England in a 150th anniversary match at Hampden and can qualify that night if results in the other group games go their way. Talking about the team spirit and confidence in the camp, Bournemouth midfielder Christie, 28, said: “It is probably the perfect mix. I’ve never had it so perfect in any other club I have been a part of in my career. “You can see it when everybody meets up and has a brilliant laugh with each other, but when game time rolls around or when we’re on the training pitch everybody’s completely locked in. “So it’s just a nice feeling. I think it also helps when everybody’s meeting up and everyone’s just kind of sliding in again back to normal and ready to go again. It definitely helps and hopefully that will help on Friday. “I think the togetherness is always spoken about a lot, but the belief and confidence we have within ourselves as a group now has never been higher. Obviously qualifying for the last Euros and when we had that kind of slip qualifying for the World Cup, we were desperate to bounce back from that. To be fair ever since that we’ve been right back on track. “The group of boys we’ve got now, from experience right down to the young boys pushing in, everybody’s pushing in the same direction and starting to show.” We need to now keep qualifying for these tournaments because we've got a good enough squad to do it Ryan Christie Christie believes the squad has benefited from the experience of qualifying for Euro 2020, the first time Scotland have reached the finals of a major tournament since 1998. The former Inverness and Celtic player, who will win his 40th cap if selected in Larnaca, added: “Obviously qualifying for the last one, and I’m sure you guys (in the media) felt it too, was just like a massive weight off the shoulders, if anything. “And up to that point, it felt like almost we were jinxed not to qualify for anything. “So to get rid of that feeling was nice. It’s definitely gone. And now we need to now keep qualifying for these tournaments because we’ve got a good enough squad to do it. “We know that so we put that pressure on ourselves from within. I think before the last Euros we qualified for there was a pressure externally as well for us. It feels like everybody’s together.” Christie scored the first of his five Scotland goals in a 2-1 win over Cyprus in Nicosia in November 2019. “Very good memories,” he said of that contest. “My memories are that it was tough to be honest. That’s my first memory. “It’s easy for the onlookers or supporters to overlook Cyprus but, especially when you’re playing away from home against these guys, they make it so hard. “That last game was a tough one. So we expect the same on Friday.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Topsy Ojo backs Steve Borthwick’s England to come good at World Cup Rory McIlroy vows to take ‘sensible’ approach to pre-Ryder Cup stag do Charlie Nicholas urges Scotland to capitalise on Euro qualification chance
2023-09-06 21:57
Phillips, Cargill make statement about Black team ownership by winning professional softball title
Former Major League Baseball star Brandon Phillips and current women's pro wrestler Jade Cargill took on professional sports franchise ownership together less than a year ago
2023-09-06 21:56
Spanish soccer player Jenni Hermoso accuses Luis Rubiales of sexual assault for World Cup kiss
Spanish state prosecutors say soccer player Jenni Hermoso has accused Luis Rubiales of sexual assault for kissing her on the lips without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final
2023-09-06 21:53
Taylor Swift fans are helping Jude Bellingham win the Golden Boy award
It appears Jude Bellingham could win the Golden Boy award thanks to all thanks to dedicated Swifties. In an unlikely crossover, the Real Madrid and England player is in the lead to win the prestigious award for best player in Europe under the age of 21. Notable past winners of the prize include Lionel Messi ,Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Raheem Sterling and Wayne Rooney. Alongside the 20-year-old in this year's contenders is Barcelona player Alejandro Balde, however a recent confession about noting liking a certain musician might have ruined his chances. During an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Balde said: "Do I like Taylor Swift? No, I don't like her music". At one point Badle was leading the fan vote by 13 per cent, according to Spanish journalist Martin Manin. Votes though for have Bellingham shot up and rightly so. The midfielder has had an impressive run at Real Madrid so far as he is now the third player in Los Blancos' history to score in each of his first four games for the club. This rush of votes has seemingly came from Swifties who weren't impressed with Balde's comments about the 'Anti-Hero' singer. "Hey Swifties, we can't let this Badle guy win the Golden Boy Award. Vote for Jude Bellingham here," Twitter user @notpythonn tweeted which went viral with over 6.8m views, and 30,000 likes. As a result of the Swifties taking action, the number of votes for Bellingham jumped from 30,000 to 100,000. Now, Bellingham has an overwhelming majority of 89.1 per cent after 3 million votes cast, while Balde in second place has just 8.4 per cent of votes, with Jamal Musiala in third (0.7 per cent). Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-09-06 21:52
Spain star Jennifer Hermoso submits official complaint against Luis Rubiales over unwanted kiss
Spanish star player Jennifer Hermoso has filed an official complaint with prosecutors against the president of the country's soccer federation, Luis Rubiales, over an unwanted kiss at the Women's World Cup final.
2023-09-06 21:50
Polish golfer Meronk received 'a big shock' when he was left off Europe's Ryder Cup team
Polish golfer Adrian Meronk says he received “a big shock” when captain Luke Donald called to let him know that he wouldn’t be picked for Europe’s Ryder Cup team
2023-09-06 21:47
Charlie Nicholas urges Scotland to capitalise on Euro qualification chance
Scotland will stay humble as they look to battle past Cyprus and keep themselves in the driving seat to qualify for Euro 2024, according to former national team striker Charlie Nicholas. Steve Clarke’s men are aiming for a fifth straight Group A win in Larnaca on Friday night, which, if other results go their way next week, could see Scotland’s place in the finals confirmed. Nicholas, who played for Scotland at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, believes Clarke will not allow any thoughts of having already booked a ticket to Germany next summer as his team focus on showing the required mentality in the heat of the AEK Arena. “This is the first time I can ever recall being in a position of comfort in a group like this. It is a kind of weird experience,” Nicholas told the PA news agency. “Steve Clarke’s business as a manager is being serious, so the boys will stay humble – and I do think they will get it tough in Cyprus. “Now this becomes the most important one, because it would give us a really nice buffer if we were to win it, but it will be tight. “It will be in the heat, which obviously doesn’t complement us, but we have put ourselves in a great position so we must not let it slip now.” Scotland’s assistant coach John Carver has branded the current squad the “most focused group” he has ever worked with, having seen them beat Spain at Hampden Park in March and then win away in Norway. Nicholas added: “Looking at these guys, what you have got is a lot of important players playing at top football clubs – even with Kieran Tierney’s move, it is to a top club in Spain (at Real Sociedad). “There is a lot of knowledge in there and also with that desire – they will be told the whole truth when it comes to these qualifying games, because we are so close to it. “If we go and win in Cyprus, that doesn’t guarantee us (qualification), but it more or less does – and in Scotland we have learned never to take too much for granted. “They are a well-respected group with what they stand for together. There is no faking with these guys, they are bang on the money and know where they are trying to get to.” On September 17, Nicholas will be joining broadcaster Jeff Stelling when he takes on a 34th marathon Football March for Prostate Cancer UK, from Wembley to Wycombe Wanderers, in honour of the late Bill Turnbull. Former Celtic and Arsenal striker Nicholas lost his father, Chic, to prostate cancer, which affects one in eight men, in December 2009. The Scot stressed the importance of early diagnosis, which brings with it more options for advanced treatments such as radiotherapy and better life outcomes. “I think we (men) are a bit afraid about it, because you don’t want to turn up at the doctors and think you are going to get bad news,” Nicholas said. “It is scary and it is not nice to go and find out – but the thing is if you have symptoms, then just go and get it checked. “Because if you sadly have got it and they can spot it early enough, that actually puts you in a good position. It might not sound like it, but you really are.” :: Jeff Stelling’s Football March 2023 is sponsored by specialist cancer care provider GenesisCare. You can sponsor Jeff to honour Bill’s legacy and help beat prostate cancer via – https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/JeffStellingsFootballMarch2023 Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Saudi Arabian human rights activist says Newcastle protests can make difference Dan Cole ready for ‘dangerous’ Argentina in England’s World Cup opener Manchester United taking abuse allegations made against Antony ‘seriously’
2023-09-06 20:52