'Kelleher deserves to play' in final
Former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld hopes head coach Arne Slot plays Caoimhin Kelleher in goal for Sunday's Carabao Cup final despite opting for Alisson in the semi-final against Tottenham.Speaking to BBC Radio Merseyside, Westerveld said: "I was surprised when Alisson played in the semi-finals because usually Kelleher plays all of these games, but I think it was to do with Alisson coming back [from injury] and getting him for the Champions League."Kelleher deserves to play the game as he has been so good for us, but I won't be surprised if he leaves at the end of the season because a goalkeeper wants to play. "He has played so many games for Liverpool this season and he is so important for them."We really need a goalkeeper like him and he thoroughly deserves to play in the final so hopefully he can make a difference and win it for us as well."Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Father describes how son, 15, died during a kickboxing match: ‘It felt like a lifetime'
A father has spoken of his heartbreak at the loss of his "beautiful son" who died after collapsing during an unsanctioned kickboxing match. Fifteen-year-old Alex Eastwood collapsed after the third round of a "light contact" kickboxing bout in a ring at a gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan, on 29 June 2024. He was rushed to hospital but had suffered a serious head injury. His father, Stephen Eastwood, 40, from Liverpool, stayed with Alex at his hospital bedside until he passed away three days later. Speaking at Bolton Coroner's Court, he said: "I would just like people to remember him as a wonderful, beautiful son. He was just a lovely, lovely boy. He was a beautiful soul." Michael Pemberton, assistant coroner for Manchester (West), has already raised concerns with the government about the safety of children in combat sports. Alex took up kickboxing aged nine, trained five times a week at Hurricane Combat and Fitness club in Fazakerley, Liverpool, and had a "meteoric" rise in the sport, having competed at high levels. He had grown to 6ft 7ins, weighed 80kg and had just finished his GCSEs the week before the fight was arranged with another opponent at the gym in Wigan. The bout was to be the 'main event' but was an unofficial or unsanctioned event as it was a charity fundraiser, not a bout to win a title under the main governing body for the sport in the UK, Kickboxing GB. Alex, who was wearing a headguard, suddenly became unwell after the end of the third and final, two-minute round. Father-of-three Mr Eastwood said he noticed his son, 'not looking right' as he held on to the ropes to make his way back to his corner. He added: 'I have run, dived into the ring under the ropes landed on my back. I have grabbed hold of my son, holding on to him, laid him on the ring. 'At that point, it just turned into a chaotic scene. You had two first aiders in the ring, I was pacing around using profanities and swearing. 'My son's breathing was like a big bulldog on a sunny day, struggling. 'He did have what seemed like a seizure. 'It felt like a lifetime, sir.' Paramedics arrived and took the teenager first to hospital in Wigan and then on to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where surgeons were waiting to operate. But it was discovered he had suffered catastrophic brain damage and bleeding. Mr Eastwood said he, Alex's step-mother Nikita, his two siblings and other family spent time with him at the hospital. His father stayed with him at his bedside until he died on July 2, last year. His organs were donated. Daniel Wigelsworth, one of Alex's coaches at Hurricane Combat and Fitness in Liverpool, said he was party to arrangements for the bout Alex took part in, along with Dale Bannister, owner of the TKMA gym in Wigan, which was setting up a charity event. They arranged the fight with Alex's opponent, who has not been named, as a 'good match up' in terms of weight, age and skill. The inquest also heard there did not appear to be any definitive rules on the length of rounds and Mr Wigelsworth said the rules are 'unclear' with different interpretations of 'light contact' rules during bouts, it being left to coaches and referees. Mr Wigelsworth said he believed Alex's opponent was a year older than him, but in fact was two years his senior. The inquest heard competitions, exhibition events and 'fight nights' can be put on by individual clubs and independent promoters, and the governing body does not sanction fundraising events. Gordon Mitchell, director at Kickboxing GB, said the sport has a number of governing bodies that sanction fights but Kickboxing GB is the only one in the UK recognised by Sport England, the body supporting grassroots sport, and the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO), which is itself recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Mr Mitchell said Kickboxing GB would never sanction 'light contact' bouts in a boxing ring due to safety reasons and these only take place outside a ring on mats. He said this is because it is easier to stop a fight on mats, by stepping off the mat, for example, if there is a mismatch. But he said in a bout in a ring, 'you are stuck between the ropes' and reliant on the referee to step in to stop a fight. 'There's more rules about stopping the fight early, on mats,' Mr Mitchell said. Adam Korn, a solicitor representing the Eastwood family, said despite these rules, unsanctioned, exhibition or 'fight night' bouts are frequently held up and down the country. Mr Korn said: 'Is that a concern to you?' 'Yes,' Mr Mitchell said. Mr Mitchell said he was aware of one other combat-related child death in the UK. Earlier this year the coroner wrote a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the government about the lack of regulation of contact sports for children, with no minimum standards or risk management. The inquest continues on Tuesday morning.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Inquest hears how boy, 15, collapsed after kickboxing bout
A tearful father told an inquest how his 15-year-old 'beautiful son' suddenly collapsed after an unsanctioned kickboxing match. Stephen Eastwood, 40, from Liverpool, said he stayed with his son Alex Eastwood at his hospital bedside until he passed away three days after the fatal bout. He told Bolton Coroner's Court: 'I would just like people to remember him as a wonderful, beautiful son. 'He was just a lovely, lovely boy. He was a beautiful soul.' Alex collapsed after the third and final round of a 'light contact' kickboxing bout in a ring at a gym in Platt Bridge, Wigan on June 29 2024. He was rushed to hospital but had suffered a serious head injury. Unusually, Michael Pemberton, assistant coroner for Manchester (West), ahead of Alex's inquest, which started on Monday, has already raised concerns with the government in March this year about the safety of children in combat sports. Alex took up kickboxing aged nine, trained five times a week at Hurricane Combat and Fitness club in Fazakerley, Liverpool and had a 'meteoric' rise in the sport, having competed at high levels. He had grown to 6ft 7ins, weighed 80kg and had just finished his GCSEs the week before the fight was arranged with another opponent at the gym in Wigan. The bout was to be the 'main event' but was an unofficial or unsanctioned event as it was a charity fundraiser, not a bout to win a title under the main governing body for the sport in the UK, Kickboxing GB. Alex, who was wearing a headguard, suddenly became unwell after the end of the third and final, two-minute round. Father-of-three Mr Eastwood said he noticed his son, 'not looking right' as he held on to the ropes to make his way back to his corner. He added: 'I have run, dived into the ring under the ropes landed on my back. I have grabbed hold of my son, holding on to him, laid him on the ring. 'At that point, it just turned into a chaotic scene. You had two first aiders in the ring, I was pacing around using profanities and swearing. 'My son's breathing was like a big bulldog on a sunny day, struggling. 'He did have what seemed like a seizure. 'It felt like a lifetime, sir.' Paramedics arrived and took the teenager first to hospital in Wigan and then on to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where surgeons were waiting to operate. But it was discovered he had suffered catastrophic brain damage and bleeding. Mr Eastwood said he, Alex's step-mother Nikita, his two siblings and other family spent time with him at the hospital. His father stayed with him at his bedside until he died on July 2, last year. His organs were donated. Daniel Wigelsworth, one of Alex's coaches at Hurricane Combat and Fitness in Liverpool, said he was party to arrangements for the bout Alex took part in, along with Dale Bannister, owner of the TKMA gym in Wigan, which was setting up a charity event. They arranged the fight with Alex's opponent, who has not been named, as a 'good match up' in terms of weight, age and skill. The inquest also heard there did not appear to be any definitive rules on the length of rounds and Mr Wigelsworth said the rules are 'unclear' with different interpretations of 'light contact' rules during bouts, it being left to coaches and referees. Mr Wigelsworth said he believed Alex's opponent was a year older than him, but in fact was two years his senior. The inquest heard competitions, exhibition events and 'fight nights' can be put on by individual clubs and independent promoters, and the governing body does not sanction fundraising events. Gordon Mitchell, director at Kickboxing GB, said the sport has a number of governing bodies that sanction fights but Kickboxing GB is the only one in the UK recognised by Sport England, the body supporting grassroots sport, and the World Association of Kickboxing Organisations (WAKO), which is itself recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Mr Mitchell said Kickboxing GB would never sanction 'light contact' bouts in a boxing ring due to safety reasons and these only take place outside a ring on mats. He said this is because it is easier to stop a fight on mats, by stepping off the mat, for example, if there is a mismatch. But he said in a bout in a ring, 'you are stuck between the ropes' and reliant on the referee to step in to stop a fight. 'There's more rules about stopping the fight early, on mats,' Mr Mitchell said. Adam Korn, a solicitor representing the Eastwood family, said despite these rules, unsanctioned, exhibition or 'fight night' bouts are frequently held up and down the country. Mr Korn said: 'Is that a concern to you?' 'Yes,' Mr Mitchell said. Mr Mitchell said he was aware of one other combat-related child death in the UK. Earlier this year the coroner wrote a Prevention of Future Deaths report to the government about the lack of regulation of contact sports for children, with no minimum standards or risk management. The inquest continues on Tuesday morning.
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Nuno Mendes ‘cancelled out' Lamine Yamal and won more trophies than Dembele – so why's he not a Ballon d'Or contender?
Why should Mendes be counting himself out of the most coveted individual award in football ? NU-ONE ELSE Nuno Mendes 'cancelled out' Lamine Yamal and won more trophies than Dembele – so why's he not a Ballon d'Or contender? HE is a Champions League, treble-winning superstar who by his own admission recently 'cancelled out' one of the most talented players around in Lamine Yamal. Yet Paris Saint-Germain's Nuno Mendes does not appear to be in the conversation when it comes to Ballon d'Or nominations ahead of September's crowning. Why? 7 Nuno Mendes pocked Lamine Yamal during his Man of the Match performance during Portugal's Nations League win over Spain 7 Mendes also guided Paris Saint-Germain to the treble, which included the Champions League title 7 Fans have called for Mendes to be in the Ballon d'Or conversation The 22-year-old full-back lit up Portugal's Nations League final triumph over Spain on Sunday night, earning a Man of the Match award. He scored a beautiful equaliser to make it 1-1 in the first half – a low driven effort any striker, including his 40-year-old teammate Cristiano Ronaldo, would have been proud of. He then stepped up to rifle in an impressive spot-kick in the shoot-out, having given 17-year-old winger Yamal – a Ballon d'Or favourite – a night to forget in Munich, a real schooling in the arts of defending and positional domination. Mendes said post-match: 'It was a clash [with Yamal] like many others I have had during the season. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS RED ALERT Man Utd release 10 players including Eriksen and Evans as summer overhaul begins 'I have faced up to many great players, very technically skilled players who can make a difference, but today I cancelled out Lamine and [did] not let him do what he does best. "This helped the team and I am happy I helped the team to win this trophy. It's all about being consistent. 'I have played many good games and it's about the work I do individually and with the coaches at PSG and Portugal. 'The Ballon d'Or? I play with Ousmane [Dembele] and he had a wonderful season, Lamine also had a wonderful season. But Ousmane will be in the Club World Cup and Lamine won't, so I'm very happy for Ousmane. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 'I wish him the best for the Ballon d'Or and I and his teammates will help him get there. 'I play my football; there are players who are closer to that prize. I don't focus much on it.' New footage shows Cristiano Ronaldo's wild reaction to Portugal Nations League win as Man Utd star is 'used as shield' 7 Mendes said he 'cancelled out' Ballon d'Or contender Lamine Yamal on Sunday night 7 Mendes' PSG team-mate Ousmane Dembele is among the favourites for the Ball d'Or He can add modesty to his growing list of attributes, but why should Mendes be counting himself out of the most coveted individual award in football? It is the peak of snobbery in the sport that the grandest of prizes – one that Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have dominated over the years – focuses on attackers and goal-getters. It will likely carry on this year too. Barcelona's Yamal, PSG's Dembele and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah are the favourites. As Jamie Carragher once famously said: 'No one wants to grow up and be a Gary Neville', but is that changing? Full-backs are now sexy, admired, idolised and coveted. Surely the day is coming where someone in that position will win the Ballon d'Or for the very first time. 7 Trent Alexander-Arnold has rewritten the full-back rule book in recent years with his passing ability and goal involvements, and has openly admitted to be eyeing the Ballon d'Or now as he prepares to don the shirt of Real Madrid next season. Arsenal's Myles Lewis-Skelly has emerged as another young full-back prodigy after scoring on his England debut back in March, someone who originally came through the Hale End academy as a midfielder. But Mendes appears to be on another planet right now. Against Spain, he had more successful dribbles, touches, tackles, final-third passes and successful duels in the opposition box than any other Portugal player. He tasted Champions League glory against Inter Milan on May 31, having already pocketed a Ligue 1 and cup double, and could yet lift more silverware at the Club World Cup in the States next month. The Ballon d'Or is often about goals, with Erling Haaland, Vinicius Jr, Robert Lewandowski and Sadio Mane coming close to winning it in recent editions. Yet it is also about big titles, and very few players can rival Mendes in that regard, but because he is a defender, the limelight will likely – and perhaps wrongly – be on others. Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk is the last defender to feature in the Ballon d'Or top three back in 2019, and you have to go back to 2006 for a defender to win it outright – Italy's Fabio Cannavaro after leading his nation to a World Cup win. Time is on Mendes' side to replicate that and Manchester City holding midfielder Rodri's recent win will encourage him. Play a starring role in Portugal winning the World Cup across the pond next summer and full-backs may finally get their moment in the sun.
