Countdown to 2025-26 season is on - but are Brentford ready?
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BBC News
2 minutes ago
- BBC News
Tributes paid to Leicester City stadium announcer Bradley Varnam
Tributes have been paid to Leicester City's long-serving stadium announcer Bradley Varnam, who has died after a short Varnam, who was 56, began his role with the club at the old Filbert Street stadium in 1997, and continued when the Foxes moved to the King Power Stadium in 2002. In a statement, the club said it was "deeply saddened" and he was "an enduring part of the matchday experience for generations of supporters".A club spokesperson said: "Over the years, Bradley's voice became the soundtrack to countless moments in the club's history – from the highs to the lows, and everything in between." The spokesperson added: "His presence on matchdays will be sorely missed by players, staff and supporters alike."On social media, former player Steve Walsh said: "Heartbroken to hear about the passing of Bradley Varnam."From my playing days at Filbert Street to my visits back to King Power, Brad was always there with a smile, a joke, and that legendary voice that became part of Leicester City's heartbeat."A true gent who loved the club and its people."
The Guardian
32 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Frustrated Crystal Palace count cost after Cas upholds Europa League ban
The news Steve Parish was dreading arrived less than 24 hours after he basked in the glory of watching Crystal Palace win their second trophy in three months. Parish had been confident the club's appeal against their demotion from the Europa League would succeed as he discussed their prospects in the bowels of Wembley stadium after the Community Shield victory against Liverpool on Sunday. 'I really am, even more after Friday,' the club chair said. 'I don't understand that we cannot be in the competition. I really can't. But it's up to the judges to decide. We trust them and that they listened to everything we said so let's see.' Confirmation from the court of arbitration for sport that it had upheld the decision made by Uefa's club financial control body to punish Palace for breaching its multi-club ownership rules has brought Parish and the team's supporters back to earth. The Cas statement made clear the role of John Textor, the American businessman who last month sold his 43% stake in Palace to the New York Jets owner, Woody Johnson, was decisive. Textor has admitted that seconds after Palace's victory against Manchester City in May's FA Cup final that he feared for the worst regarding participation in the Europa League, given that he owns Lyon, who also qualified. The Cas panel – consisting of a Dutch former striker, a Swiss former fencer who competed in the 1984 Olympics and an Italian professor – backed Uefa's findings that Textor 'was a board member with decisive influence over both clubs at the time of Uefa's assessment date'. It also dismissed Palace's argument that they had received unfair treatment compared to Nottingham Forest and Lyon, and said missing the 1 March deadline for Textor to place his shares into a blind trust had been crucial. Textor has been the target of most Palace fans' frustration, although several have also taken aim at the Nottingham Forest owner, Evangelos Marinakis. Forest, who are poised to take Palace's Europa League place, wrote to Uefa a few weeks after the FA Cup final expressing concern that Palace may have contravened multi-club ownership regulations. Parish suggested last month in an interview with Gary Lineker that their Premier League rivals had played a role in the decision to ban them. 'We were told that and I think it's been made public,' he said. 'These things seem to be played out in public. There doesn't seem to be a lot of confidentiality that comes out of certain organisations. But we're led to believe that that's the issue – if there wasn't somebody that wanted to get in as a consequence, then there wouldn't be a problem. 'People have got to look at themselves. Some people will say it's fine, some people will say it's not. I don't really have control of that. I only have control of the arguments that we put forward to Uefa.' Forest declined to comment on Parish's remarks at the time. Palace's case is believed to have included evidence that only members of the European Club Association were informed Uefa's 1 March deadline for complying with multi-club rules could be extended until 31 May – a fact that enabled Marinakis to place Forest into a blind trust when it seemed they might qualify for the Champions League along with his Greek club, Olympiakos. Palace are also understood to have highlighted the burgeoning friendship between Marinakis and Textor. The American denies that had any bearing on his conduct and described as untrue reports he is planning to incorporate his Brazilian club Botafogo into the Greek shipping magnate's network of clubs. Forest sent a legal delegation to the Cas hearing to argue their case and they have been silent since Palace were demoted by Uefa last month. Marinakis has resumed control of shares in the two-time European champions after they finished seventh in the Premier League. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Their supporters can look forward to the Europa League's league stage while Palace prepare for a Conference League playoff against the losers of the Europa League qualifier between Norway's Fredrikstad and Midtjylland of Denmark. Midtjylland lead 3-1 going into their home leg on Thursday. It is estimated demotion will cost Palace up to £20m in lost revenue, given the Conference League's league stage has two fewer games than the Europa League's, although Oliver Glasner will fancy his chances of winning a competition that has had two English winners in its first four editions. The chance for Palace to play in Europe for the first time since a short-lived Intertoto Cup experience in 1998, when they qualified after being the only English team to apply for entry, will be consolation for a club that also missed out in 1991 when they finished third in the old First Division. Only the top two went into Europe via league position.
Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Strictly Come Dancing's 2025 second star is REVEALED: Love Island winner Dani Dyer is confirmed to be taking part in the new series
The second star set to compete in Strictly Come Dancing 2025 has been revealed. Former Love Island winner Dani Dyer is the next name to have been confirmed after Olympian and Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey was announced today. Harry , known for his alter-ego Nitro, was the first celebrity revealed to taking part in the new series, after competing on the Christmas Special last year. His involvement was revealed in a prank to CBBC Newsround viewers, after the BBC had previously said the first stars taking part would be revealed much later in the day. Flexing his reputation as a star of Gladiators: Epic Pranks, Harry, 36, appeared live in the Newsround studio disguised as 'world-famous choreographer Nicky Trott', there to talk about his recent work on a scientific study into the benefits of dancing. His disguise was not enough to fool Newsround presenter Jenny Lawrence though, who quickly rumbled who she was really talking to. Harry then gave the real reason he was there: to tell the world he's taking part in the new series of Strictly Come Dancing! Harry is an Olympian, multi gold medal-winning Team GB sprinter, and star of Gladiators. As a sprinter he has competed at the highest level in the UK since his youth, becoming the first athlete to win gold medals at both 100 and 200 metres at the World Youth Championships, and winning the 2005 BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award aged 17. Harry has gone on to win gold in the 4x100m relay at the European Championships and at the Commonwealth Games. He has competed in two Olympic games and is a three-time European Champion and two-time Commonwealth Champion. In 2023, Harry was unveiled as Nitro in the hit BBC series Gladiators, and he took part in last year's Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special partnered with Nancy Xu. On joining Strictly Come Dancing, Harry said: 'After the Christmas Special, it was so nice I just had to do it twice! I'm so excited to be part of the Strictly family this series and I'm ready to give it all I've got. 'I'll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let's hope I'm as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.' The next three celebrity contestants joining the new series of Strictly will be announced live on The One Show at 7pm. His involvement was revealed in a prank to CBBC Newsround viewers on Monday, after the BBC had previously said the first stars taking part would be revealed much later in the day Harry is set to take part in Strictly's main series, after competing in the Christmas Special last year with Nancy Xu (pictured) On Sunday it was reported that Natalie Imbruglia and Delta Goodrem are 'in negotiations' to take part in the show. A new report suggested the two Australian stars are both in talks to appear while another former Neighbours star - Stefan Dennis - is also said to be in the running. A source told The Sun: 'Talks are at a point where things could go in a number of different directions but if both celebrities signed up then that would be seen as quite a coup for the show. 'Delta and Natalie would bring some glamour to the programme, and be some of this year's most eagerly anticipated competitors. 'If all three former Neighbours stars end up performing, the Strictly dance floor will end up looking more like Ramsay Street.' Strictly's new series has been hit by a string of scandals in the lead-up to its return, including revelations that the broadcaster had hired a law firm to probe allegations of drug taking by two individuals. One of the stars involved in the drugs probe was also suspected of drinking while working on the show after crew smelt alcohol on their breath. The Sun alleged that it was widely known that the pair, who have not been named, took the Class A substance, and that one of these Strictly performers was known for being a drinker. The publication have now reported that junior members of the team were asked to keep an eye on them during last year's show and to look for signs that they may have been boozing during work hours. Over the weekend, a staffer also claimed they were offered cocaine by one of the show's stars. He told The Sun: 'The main partying is on site at Elstree after filming of the live show has finished. Boozing and drug taking goes on until 3am, sometimes 4am. The smoking area outside is a hive of activity. Cocaine gets taken there'. He went on to claim that drug use was so common on the show, that when he found a suspicious bag of white powder, an unfazed senior producer told him to 'leave it on my desk' as the incident failed to raise even an eyebrow. The staff member also said the show's annual special filmed at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom was an especially 'big party night' full of debauchery. 'I was offered cocaine by a star at an after show party. Lots of people would go back to the hotel. It was a closed-off party, just for the cast and crew. It went on until 5am, even to 6am, it was insane. People were wired and you could see it in their eyes'. A BBC spokesperson told Daily Mail: 'We have clear protocols and policies in place for dealing with any serious complaint raised with us. We would always encourage people to speak to us if they have concerns. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further.' The shock allegations come amid a long period of controversy for the BBC and Strictly over the past year or so. In July last year, more than six months after quitting the show citing 'personal reasons', actress Amanda Abbington accused pro dancer Giovanni Pernice of 'unnecessary, cruel and mean behaviour' during their time dancing together on Strictly. Giovanni rejected the claims immediately, and a BBC investigation ruled in September that her claims of physical aggression and threatening behaviour were not upheld. When BBC bosses published their report into Giovanni's behaviour, it cleared him of the most serious allegations of physical aggression, but upheld verbal bullying and harassment. Complaints of verbal bullying and harassment meant the BBC issued an apology to Amanda, but Giovanni said he was 'pleased the report has not found any evidence of threatening or abusive behaviour '. Elsewhere, the show was plunged into crisis after Welsh opera singer Wynne Evans made a controversial joke during his time preparing for the Strictly tour in January. He used a vile sexual innuendo and was also caught up in a 'wandering hand' incident with dance partner Katya Jones , who seemed to remove his arm from her lower waist on the show. After the BBC launched an investigation into his conduct, bosses decided not to renew his radio contract for his show. The TV star confirmed in May that they will not be renewing his one-year rolling contract following a four-month investigation after the inappropriate comments made during his time on Strictly. Elsewhere, in further scandals for the BBC, Gregg Wallace was recently dismissed from MasterChef after more than 40 complaints against him were upheld following a BBC investigation. While his co-star John Torode was also sacked after two decades over allegations that he used the N-word, which he claims to have 'absolutely no recollection' of. In separate further controversy, it's recently been reported that Naga Munchetty could face an investigation from BBC bosses after she was accused of bullying a junior colleague. The BBC Breakfast host, 50, has been placed 'under review' while bosses consider escalating complaints to a formal investigation, The Sun reports. A source said higher-ups had heard from several colleagues and logged concerns over her 'hard' and 'bullying' behaviour on the breakfast show, as well as her Radio 5 Live show.
