Latest news with #Covid-disrupted
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bath semi-final a 'dream game' for Bristol
Pat Lam took over at Bristol Bears in 2017 after leaving Irish club Connacht [Getty Images] Bristol Bears' Premiership semi-final against Bath has been described as a "dream game" by director of rugby Pat Lam. Lam's side go into the match as underdogs having finished the season fourth, 14 points behind their local rivals in the regular season standings. Advertisement However, a league double over Bath this season backs up Lam's notion that his side "know how to beat Bath" - a defiant claim made following his side's 52-26 victory against Harlequins which confirmed Bears' play-off spot. "We're proud of that record, but it's the next one that counts," Lam told BBC Radio Bristol. "We've never played a derby game as a semi-final and for us we've never been in a final. It is the dream game really. "There's so much interest in it. We've already picked that up from both sets of supporters. There's good banter going back and forth." Advertisement Having joined the club in 2017, it is just the second time Lam has led Bristol into the Premiership post-season shake-up, having been defeated in the semi-finals by Wasps during the Covid-disrupted 2019-20 campaign. After missing out on making the top four by just two points last season, Bristol held off late challenges from Gloucester and Saracens to set up Friday's mouth-watering clash at The Rec. "Our goal was never to just get in the top four though; this is just the first stage," Lam added. "Last year, we showed shoots that we're coming back and we missed out. This year, with the smallest squad and probably the cheapest squad we've had in my whole time here, to do what the boys have done is brilliant." Advertisement Having clinched a home semi-final back in April, Bath coach Johann van Graan has used the past month to tinker with his side and gave seven players their debut in last Saturday's 36-26 defeat by Saracens. "They've been able to rotate their squad," Lam said. "They have that ability to play one week, rest the next week and then play one week." The 56-year-old said he had to make last-minute alterations to his squad's preparations on Wednesday after attending Tuesday's rugby awards, which saw Ellis Genge named as Community Player of the Season. But Lam, a Premiership winner as a player with Newcastle Falcons, will not let that slightly disrupted preparation be any form of excuse for his players. Advertisement "We had the awards dinner which meant we had to move things back a couple of hours because we didn't get back until 2am," he added. "We had a 45-minute session so that's our prep but that's all we need - we just need to make sure we're on the same page and the priority is a full tank to go against an unbelievable Bath team. "That's our challenge. Their challenge is separate but our challenge is the six days turnover and getting to the start line as fully fresh as we can. "Hopefully we've managed that right but we won't know until we see what happens on Friday." Lam confirmed Genge and lock James Dun were "100%" fit but England back Max Malins remains a long-term absentee.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
The numbers behind Chelsea's latest WSL title
Chelsea won the 2023-24 WSL title by goal difference on the final day [Getty Images] Yet another Women's Super League trophy is coming Chelsea's way. The Blues wrapped up their sixth successive league title with two games to spare when they beat Manchester United on Wednesday night. Advertisement It is the first time in five seasons the title race has not been decided on the final day. But have Chelsea really been that dominant? And how does their latest triumph compare to the previous five? BBC Sport takes a look. Bompastor's record-breaking season Under Emma Hayes, Chelsea established themselves as the dominant force in England's top division and Sonia Bompastor has continued that legacy. The club have now won six WSL titles in a row and nine overall - three times as many titles as any other side. Bompastor has hit the ground running since joining the Blues, with her side going unbeaten in 20 league games this term - a new record for the longest unbeaten streak in a single WSL season. Advertisement Excluding the inaugural WSL season in 2011, Bompastor becomes the first manager to win the title in her first season in the competition. Another invincible WSL season? Only once in the past five seasons have Chelsea gone unbeaten in the WSL. That was during the 2019-20 campaign when the season was suspended early because of the the coronavirus pandemic. Chelsea had only played 15 games at that point and they were named WSL winners based on a points-per-game ratio. If the Blues avoid defeat against Tottenham and Liverpool in their remaining two games they will become the first team to have completed an 'invincible' season twice, having gone 18 games unbeaten in 2017-18. Advertisement Manchester City (2016) and Arsenal (2012) are the only other teams to have gone unbeaten in a WSL season, but that was when each team played just 16 games and 14 games respectively. Two more victories would also see Chelsea reach 60 points and overtake the 58 set by Hayes' Blues in 2022-23 for the highest points total in WSL history. Comebacks, narrow wins and leaving it late While 54 goals in 20 games might seem like a decent goals-to-game ratio, Chelsea haven't been as prolific in front of the posts compared to other seasons. Unless the Blues can score eight more goals in their last two games, it will be their lowest goal tally since the Covid-disrupted season when they scored 47. Advertisement Chelsea have become used to blowing teams away, but they've often had to slog out results this time around. Last term, they won 13 games by a margin of three or more goals. This season, just six of their wins have been by three or more goals. In fact, Bompastor's side have won eight games by just one goal, while only two of their 18 wins under Hayes last season were decided by a single goal. And, they've left it late on plenty of occasions. Almost a third of their goals this season have come in the final 15 minutes of matches - compared to 9% in the opening 15 minutes. Comebacks have also been a specialty, with the Blues winning eight points from losing positions - second only to Manchester City (10 points). Head here to get involved
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
The numbers behind Chelsea's latest WSL title
Yet another Women's Super League trophy is coming Chelsea's Blues wrapped up their sixth successive league title with two games to spare when they beat Manchester United on Wednesday is the first time in five seasons the title race has not been decided on the final have Chelsea really been that dominant? And how does their latest triumph compare to the previous five? BBC Sport takes a look. Bompastor's record-breaking season Under Emma Hayes, Chelsea established themselves as the dominant force in England's top division and Sonia Bompastor has continued that club have now won six WSL titles in a row and nine overall - three times as many titles as any other has hit the ground running since joining the Blues, with her side going unbeaten in 20 league games this term - a new record for the longest unbeaten streak in a single WSL the inaugural WSL season in 2011, Bompastor becomes the first manager to win the title in her first season in the competition. Another invincible WSL season? Only once in the past five seasons have Chelsea gone unbeaten in the WSL. That was during the 2019-20 campaign when the season was suspended early because of the the coronavirus had only played 15 games at that point and they were named WSL winners based on a points-per-game the Blues avoid defeat against Tottenham and Liverpool in their remaining two games they will become the first team to have completed an 'invincible' season twice, having gone 18 games unbeaten in City (2016) and Arsenal (2012) are the only other teams to have gone unbeaten in a WSL season, but that was when each team played just 16 games and 14 games more victories would also see Chelsea reach 60 points and overtake the 58 set by Hayes' Blues in 2022-23 for the highest points total in WSL history. Comebacks, narrow wins and leaving it late While 54 goals in 20 games might seem like a decent goals-to-game ratio, Chelsea haven't been as prolific in front of the posts compared to other the Blues can score eight more goals in their last two games, it will be their lowest goal tally since the Covid-disrupted season when they scored have become used to blowing teams away, but they've often had to slog out results this time term, they won 13 games by a margin of three or more goals. This season, just six of their wins have been by three or more fact, Bompastor's side have won eight games by just one goal, while only two of their 18 wins under Hayes last season were decided by a single they've left it late on plenty of occasions. Almost a third of their goals this season have come in the final 15 minutes of matches - compared to 9% in the opening 15 have also been a specialty, with the Blues winning eight points from losing positions - second only to Manchester City (10 points). Head here to get involved
Telegraph
24-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Premier League clubs in talks to end transfer window before start of season
Premier League clubs will discuss closing the summer transfer window this year on August 14, two days before the start of the 2025-2026 season, when they meet on Thursday – a measure that was previously introduced in past years and then abandoned. The proposal is currently scheduled to go to a vote which would require a super-majority of 14 to pass but if the preliminary discussions between owners and chief executives suggest there is little support for the idea among that cohort it is likely to be stopped pre-vote. The idea was formulated in early February at a meeting of sporting directors from the 20 clubs, and those in similar roles, who feel that it would be better for managers to have their squad in place before the season begins. But there are problems persuading other European leagues to fall into line and then there is the question of the Saudi Pro League, now globally the second-biggest spender on fees after the Premier League. The Saudi clubs spent £119 million in the last January window and have indicated that they will continue to bid against Premier League clubs for the best players. Many Premier League owners and executives feel that shutting the window earlier would give them a disadvantage in negotiations. Telegraph Sport reported last month that the consortium of Premier League sporting directors had also suggested that the January window be cut to two weeks to minimise disruption to the managers' squads. In the summer players can arrive and leave after the season has begun and it was the view of the sporting directors that preparation, as well as the integrity of the league, would be better served by stopping all trading before the 2025-2026 season starts on Saturday August 16. The summer window shut early in 2018 and 2019 in time for the start of the season although that was found to be disadvantageous in the market and so the clubs reverted to the old system after the Covid-disrupted season.
New York Times
28-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Former Premier League referee David Coote handed 16-month UEFA ban for ‘bringing football into disrepute'
Former Premier League referee David Coote has been banned from officiating in UEFA competitions for 16 months. European football's governing body confirmed on Friday Coote had been sanctioned for 'violating the basic rules of decent conduct' and 'bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute'. Advertisement He is banned from participating in any UEFA refereeing activity until June 30, 2026. Coote was suspended by the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) and UEFA on November 11 after a video emerged on social media of the 42-year-old making derogatory comments about former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. On November 14, UEFA appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to evaluate a potential violation of the governing body's disciplinary regulations. Coote had his contract terminated by PGMOL in December following an investigation into his conduct. On November 14, The Sun published a separate video which it claimed showed Coote sniffing white powder through a rolled-up bank note. The PGMOL's investigation related to both incidents, while Coote remains the subject of a separate Football Association (FA) investigation over an alleged betting breach, which he denies. Both PGMOL and UEFA investigations were launched after a video emerged appearing to show Coote and another man discussing a Premier League match between Liverpool and Burnley during the Covid-disrupted 2019-20 season. Coote, who was the fourth official for the fixture, called Liverpool's performance 's***', adding of Klopp: 'He accused me of lying and then just had a right f***ing pop at me. 'I've got no interest in speaking to someone who's f***ing arrogant. I do my best not to speak to him. You can see me there with mask on. Social distancing — 10 metres apart. But my God, German c***, f*** me.' A second video appearing to show Coote sniffing white powder was published three days later, which The Sun reported was from July 6, one day after the Euro 2024 quarter-final between France and Portugal in Hamburg where Coote was the support VAR. The Athletic has been unable to verify the video nor confirm Coote's identity. Advertisement In an interview with The Sun on January 27, Coote came out as gay and said that the effects of hiding his sexuality contributed to the behaviour that led to his dismissal. 'My sexuality isn't the only reason that led me to be in that position,' said Coote. 'But I'm not telling an authentic story if I don't say that I'm gay, and that I've had real struggles dealing with hiding that. Coote also addressed his use of cocaine. 'It's not something I was reliant on day by day, week by week, month by month,' he said. 'I've had long periods where I've not used it — but it was one of the escape routes I had. Just getting away from the stresses, the relentlessness of the job. It fills me with a huge sense of shame to say that I took that route.' GO DEEPER The inside story of David Coote, PGMOL and the Premier League's biggest refereeing crisis A separate investigation was launched by the FA over allegations, first reported by The Sun, relating to a booking received by Leeds United's Ezgjan Alioski from Coote during their Championship game against West Bromwich Albion in October 2019. It is claimed Coote discussed the possibility of issuing Alioski a yellow card with a friend before the game. The Sun reported Coote accepted a discussion with a friend had taken place, but that nothing inappropriate happened, nor is it suggested he gained financially from the booking. Alioski was booked for a late, sliding challenge and the decision appears routine. Coote released a statement in response to 'strongly refute' what he called 'false and defamatory allegations'. He added: 'Whatever issues I may have had in my personal life they have never affected my decision-making on the field. I have always held the integrity of the game in the highest regard, refereeing matches impartially and to the best of my ability.' Coote's most recent game as a Premier League referee was Liverpool's 2-0 win over Aston Villa on November 9. The Nottinghamshire-born official took charge of his first top-flight game in 2017-18 and was named a Select One referee, the highest level in the UK, for the following campaign. ()
