FK Arsenal Tivat given 10-year ban for match-fixing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
30 minutes ago
- The Independent
Hannah Hampton's comeback story defies belief and leads England to Euro 2025 glory
It was, as Sarina Wiegman said, a 'fairytale'. But Hannah Hampton had believed from the start, having proved everyone wrong just to reach Euro 2025. Even when Hampton overcame the doubts and the advice of doctors who said she would not become a goalkeeper, she did not believe the England fans would welcome her after replacing a legend between the posts in Mary Earps. Hampton finished the Euros as England's hero in the penalty shootout win over Spain, perhaps as the tournament's best player, and with Wiegman jumping into arms after saving the spot-kicks from Aitana Bonmati and Mariona Caldentey. 'Every player has her own story and her journey has been incredible too,' Wiegman said. 'It's a little bit like a fairytale when you then stop those penalties in the final.' "We're the team that never gives up,' said Hampton, but she had saved them. England led for just four minutes and 52 seconds of the knockout stages but finished Euro 2025 as the champions. They relied on their spirit and determination but also their new No 1: the player of the match in the quarter-finals and final. The defiant stopper of four penalties across two shootouts, aided by the help of a 'cheat-sheet' on her water bottle. There are many sliding doors moments of England's Euros win, a tournament Wiegman described as the 'most chaotic and ridiculous' she had experienced. Some came in the final, as Spain led 1-0 and pushed for more. Other came three months ago, such as when Michelle Agyemang was called into Wiegman's squad for the first time because of an injury to Alessia Russo, beginning a timeline where the 19-year-old would twice rescue them. But many of those fateful moments where England stood on the brink of crashing out, only to remain alive, involve Hampton. There was the diving stop to deny Fridolina Rolfo when England were 2-0 down to Sweden in the quarter-finals. The point-blank save from Emma Severini when England were 1-0 down to Italy with just minutes to go in their semi-final. In a tournament where England clawed their way through, Hampton ensured England's heartrate never went completely flat. It is fitting, as Hampton's own story is a comeback in itself. She was born with an eye condition called strabismus and as a child underwent several corrective procedures. Doctors told her that she couldn't play football and then said to her parents that she wouldn't be able to become a professional. To this day, Hampton does not have full depth perception, but has still made it to the highest level of the game. Hampton was part of England's squad at the last Euros but was dropped by Wiegman after the tournament amid reports of her behaviour and attitude at camp. At 21, Hampton was left out by her club Aston Villa, too, while the negative headlines and stories circulating made her want to quit completely. She didn't, and instead put her head down, proving herself to first Emma Hayes and then Sonia Bompastor to claim her place at Chelsea. But Hampton also arrived at the Euros with more pressure on her shoulders than anyone in the England squad, at her first major tournament a starter while stepping into the gloves left by a legend. Earps' retirement, just weeks before the Euros, added to the scrutiny Hampton faced as she inherited the No 1 jersey. For all that the 24-year-old paid a glowing tribute to Earps and her legacy, it is to Hampton's immense credit that her predecessor's name has barely been mentioned this month. Hampton, simply, has raised the level. She would have been England's No 1 anyway, even if Earps had not retired. She not only made crucial saves throughout the tournament, showing immense athleticism and reach, but also commanded her box and showed bravery to come for crosses. Even with a bloodied nose against Sweden in the quarter-finals, Hampton pushed through the bodies to punch clear. Against Spain, too, Hampton's aggressive decision-making under pressure ensured the world champions did not create any more chances from crosses after Caldentey's first-half header. Her quality on the ball was never in doubt. Hampton's upbringing in Spain and her early years playing as a striker meant she developed excellent technique and at the Euros she has displayed her passing range. Against Spain, England were comfortable going back towards their goalkeeper, who was able to then play out or go long with accuracy. In a Euros that was defined by exceptional goalkeeper, Hampton stood out as the finest at the tournament. She has a claim, too, to have been England's best player, and was certainly their most consistent from the opening defeat to France to their final victory over Spain. If Bonmati, for all of the Ballon d'Or holder's obvious quality and her own inspirational moments, felt like a default pick for player of the tournament, Hampton may have a more persuasive claim. 'There are a lot of things I had to deal with before the tournament, my teammates helped me through,' Hampton said. And there she stood, as a back-to-back Euros winner, but now firmly in the spotlight and shining in it.
Times
30 minutes ago
- Times
LTA ‘breaking law' by letting trans women play in female contests
The Lawn Tennis Association has been accused of breaking the law by encouraging tennis clubs to allow transgender women to play in internal competitions for female players. In January this year the LTA, Britain's national governing body for tennis, banned trans women from competing in the women's category for most domestic tournaments. However, the ban did not extend to social tournaments and championship competitions held within tennis clubs, in which many female grassroots players compete. Instead, in an update of its trans and non-binary participation policy, the LTA ruled that it was at the discretion of the individual clubs as to whether trans women should be allowed to take part in these internal 'non-specified competitions'. The guidance also goes a step further by encouraging tennis clubs to permit transgender women to participate in female competitions they hold internally. It states: 'We strongly encourage venues to start from a presumption of being inclusive for trans and non-binary players by ensuring they provide competitive opportunities which allow them to take part in the category which matches their gender identity.' In addition, it says that officials and organisers need to think about what is more important at this level of competition: 'Ensuring absolute fairness in the competition or making trans people feel included and a part of your tennis community by enabling them to compete in the category that matches their gender identity.' Campaigners lobbying for female sporting categories to remain single-sex claim that the LTA's policy is 'unlawful', which the tennis governing body denies. They say it leaves tennis clubs open to being sued, particularly in light of the Supreme Court judgment earlier this year. The Supreme Court ruled in April that under the Equality Act 2010 the legal definition of a 'man' and a 'woman' refers to their biological sex. In the wake of this judgment many sporting bodies moved to amend their transgender inclusion policies to ban trans women from competing in female categories. Su Wong from SEEN in Sport, one of the campaign groups opposed to the LTA's guidance, said: 'Most people are unaware that the LTA is encouraging clubs to adopt a policy that exposes them to risk of litigation. 'They are encouraging tennis players to be allowed to self-ID as the opposite sex, which is not recognised in UK law, and they have not adjusted this policy following the Supreme Court ruling. 'Inclusion' somehow never includes the women who want to play single-sex sports.' Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, who has campaigned to keep women's sport single sex, wrote on X: 'This is an insane & illegal position by the LTA.' Sharron Davies LIA TOBY/GETTY IMAGES A senior LTA source rejected the suggestion that the Supreme Court judgment requires sporting governing bodies to ban trans women from playing the female category at levels including recreational play. He told The Times that it was important clubs had flexibility to set their own rules about trans inclusion in internal competitions for a number of reasons. For example, he said it would be 'nonsensical' if a club specifically set up for LGBTQ people could not hold a competition which was trans and non-binary inclusive. He made the further point that banning transgender women from all forms of competition in the female category would mean that they could not play in the gender with which they identify at any time, even with people who were perfectly happy to do so. But Wong questioned: 'Why don't the LTA recognise that trans players are already included in their own sex and mixed-sex categories and focus on making them feel welcomed and included there?' • A spokesman for the LTA said 'A policy which allows clubs the freedom to make their decisions locally is compliant with the law. 'However, we will continue to keep the policy under review, in particular in the context of any further guidance from government and other relevant public sector bodies'. The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which has issued an 'interim update' on the practical implications of the Supreme Court judgment, said it will address the rules about when competitive sports can be single sex in due course.
The Sun
30 minutes ago
- The Sun
‘Premier League should be trembling' – Fans in meltdown as Pep Guardiola shows off shock new look
PEP GUARDIOLA has sent Premier League fans into meltdown after he debuted a stunning new look. The Manchester City boss is hoping to mastermind his squad back to winning ways next season after finishing third in the league and going trophyless. 3 3 3 City's squad returns to pre-season on July 28 following their exploits in the Club World Cup. But the Spaniard forced fans to do a double take after spotting him with a remarkable new facial feature. Guardiola, 54, ditched his usual beard for a striking moustache. The new look quickly went viral as fans discussed it. One fan said: "The league is not ready for a bald moustache Josep Guardiola." A second said: "You can't just post 'Pep Guardiola' now has a moustache' and expect us to get on with our lives." A third added: "Bro what???" A fourth said: "Premier League should be trembling now." A fifth said: "Pep Guardiola saw the announcement of the start of production for the fourth season of Ted Lasso and decided to pay tribute to his idol." Ted Lasso recently announced its return for a fourth season, but Guardiola previously appeared in the last episode of season three of the Apple TV show, which he is a big fan of. Pep Guardiola and stunning daughter Maria belt out Oasis classic as Man City boss parties with Gallagher family at gig Guardiola could have even been inspired by a moustache he saw in 2021. He told TNT Sports correspondent Fred Caldeira at the time: "I really like your moustache, Fred. "You are so attractive and sexy." And he may be hoping the new look can give City a fresh push towards silverware. City have a pre-season game against Palermo on August 9. They then kick-off their Premier League season with an away trip to Wolves. Tottenham then visit the Etihad for City's first home game of the campaign.
