Latest news with #JohnTerry
The Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Ryan Giggs says 11-a-side football remains the cornerstone of the sport
FORMER Manchester United star Ryan Giggs believes the traditional 11-a-side format will continue to be the cornerstone of global football, despite the growing popularity of small-sided formats such as 7-a-side. Speaking at a Liga 7x7 All Stars 2025 tournament event held at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium, Cheras, here, the Welshman said even though the shorter format offers entertainment and engagement, particularly among younger audiences, but it cannot replace the full version of the game. 'I think obviously 11-a-side will always be there, and I think there's room for smaller formats of the game as well. 'Quicker games, rolling subs, more goals, more excitement, but it'll never replace 11-a-side because that's your bread and butter in every league and every international league in the world,' he told a pre match press conference, here, today. Meanwhile, former Chelsea and England captain John Terry shared similar sentiments, saying the 7-a-side format is exciting and has strong digital appeal, especially when combined with social media personalities and content creators. 'This format and this style of football is very exciting. The game's changed over the last 10 years and the actual following of these kinds of games and events is really big,' he said. On the other hand, Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov, said the small-sided football has its advantage in developing technical ability, thanks to its tight spaces. 'This type of football is always popular in my country (Bulgaria). Even when I was a little boy, I still play to this day five-a-side, six-a-side, seven-a-side, so it's nothing new to me,' he said. For today's tournament, Giggs will lead Team Wizards, Terry will be the captain Team Bangsa Bola, Berbatov will spearhead Team Zurich while former national striker Safee Sali will spearhead Team Harimau. The one-day tournament feature four teams and will also play by a mix of retired professionals, prominent figures such as former Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Capital A Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC) Malaysia chair Tan Sri Nazir Razak as well as local celebrities and influencers. Among the rules are each match will be played in 30 minutes with 15 minutes each half, no slide tackles and rolling-substitutions with players can be in and out the game anytime and unlimited. - Bernama
The Star
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Chelsea legend Terry backs small-side football
the Liga 7X7 Zurich matches. John Terry. 19 JULY 2025 —CHAN TAK KONG/The Star PETALING JAYA: Chelsea legend John Terry has thrown his support behind the rising wave of five-a-side and seven-a-side football tournaments that blend social media influencers, streamers, and former professionals, calling it a refreshing evolution in the global football landscape. Speaking before the start of the Liga 7x7 All-Stars tournament at the Cheras Football Stadium yesterday, Terry praised the growing trend that has gripped fans and players alike around the world. "First of all, it's a great concept. We're doing something very similar back home, called the Ballers League,' said the former England international. "Speaking to Adam (founder of the league Adam Azman) and the guys here organising it, the format works. Hopefully, this is the start of something we can come back to annually and keep building on. It's a great idea." With small pitches and modified rules, the format caters not just to up-and-coming talent but also to former players like Terry, who still relish the competitive edge without the physical toll of the 11-a-side game. "The pitch is quite small, which is nice for us older players,' he joked. "So yeah, I'm looking forward to it." Beyond the appeal to retired professionals, Terry was particularly enthusiastic about how the inclusion of digital creators has transformed how fans engage with the sport. "This format and this style of football are very exciting. The game's changed over the last 10 years - it's slower than when we played - but the eyes we can get on it now with streamers, YouTubers, and social media influencers is massive. "A mix of ex-footballers and influencers works. The events are getting big followings and that helps to grow the game differently." Turning his attention to his beloved Chelsea, Terry expressed optimism about the club's direction heading into the 2025-2026 season, especially after the team's triumph at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. "Well, I think it's exciting. The club have a lot of players at the moment and I'm sure there's going to be some movement in the market still,' he noted. "But listen, it's good to go and win the Club World Cup over in America. That bodes well for the season." Terry, who captained Chelsea through one of their most successful eras, emphasised the importance of regrouping ahead of the Premier League restart. "Hopefully the players can get some rest now and come back ready to go again. As a Chelsea ex-player and a Chelsea fan, it's an exciting time to be a Chelsea supporter."
Barnama
6 days ago
- Sport
- Barnama
11-a-side Format Will Always Be Cornerstone Of Football
KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (Bernama) -- Former Manchester United star Ryan Giggs believes the traditional 11-a-side format will continue to be the cornerstone of global football, despite the growing popularity of small-sided formats such as 7-a-side. Speaking at a Liga 7x7 All Stars 2025 tournament event held at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium, Cheras, here, the Welshman said even though the shorter format offers entertainment and engagement, particularly among younger audiences, but it cannot replace the full version of the game. 'I think obviously 11-a-side will always be there, and I think there's room for smaller formats of the game as well. bootstrap slideshow 'Quicker games, rolling subs, more goals, more excitement, but it'll never replace 11-a-side because that's your bread and butter in every league and every international league in the world,' he told a pre match press conference, here, today. Meanwhile, former Chelsea and England captain John Terry shared similar sentiments, saying the 7-a-side format is exciting and has strong digital appeal, especially when combined with social media personalities and content creators. 'This format and this style of football is very exciting. The game's changed over the last 10 years and the actual following of these kinds of games and events is really big,' he said. On the other hand, Manchester United forward Dimitar Berbatov, said the small-sided football has its advantage in developing technical ability, thanks to its tight spaces. 'This type of football is always popular in my country (Bulgaria). Even when I was a little boy, I still play to this day five-a-side, six-a-side, seven-a-side, so it's nothing new to me,' he said. For today's tournament, Giggs will lead Team Wizards, Terry will be the captain Team Bangsa Bola, Berbatov will spearhead Team Zurich while former national striker Safee Sali will spearhead Team Harimau.
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Anton Ferdinand tells all on his racial abuse row with John Terry in emotional podcast - as he reveals it felt like 'me versus football' and faced racism at almost every stadium amid legal battle
Anton Ferdinand has opened up on his historic racial abuse row with John Terry, claiming the fall-out left him feeling like it was 'me versus football'. The former Premier League star says he was made to feel like he was the guilty party and that he suffered more racial abuse as a result of the saga. In 2011, Ferdinand claimed Terry had used racially-charged language towards him during a match between QPR and Chelsea at Loftus Road. He admits he did not hear it at the time, but video footage led to Terry being alleged to have called Ferdinand a 'f****** black ****'. Terry was charged of racial abuse in a criminal law case but was cleared in court. He insisted he had said to Ferdinand: 'Oi, Anton, do you think I called you a black ****?' Nevertheless, Terry was stripped of the England captaincy and as hit with a four-match ban and fined £220,000 by the Football Association. Fabio Capello resigned as England manager as he disagreed with the FA's decision to defrock Terry of the armband. Now, speaking to the How Do You Cope? podcast, Ferdinand, 40, has given his recount of the day and subsequent events - including the role his mother Janice, who died in 2017, played in restraining him from confronting Terry after full time. 'On the pitch I did not hear one bit of racism. It was caught on camera on Sky Sports,' he began. 'I didn't know anything about it while the game was going on. If I had have heard it, while the game was going on, I would've have done anything, but in the tunnel after the game we would've been fighting. 'It was only when I went up to my box at Loftus Road and my mum said, "Anton, are you alright?" I was like: "Yeah, of course, we've just beat Chelsea, I'm unbelievable." My mum went: "Did John Terry racially abuse you?" "No." My wife said: "You better have a look at this and handed me her brother's phone. 'I looked at it, saw it clear as day what was said, gave it back. I'd had a conversation with John Terry just before I came up, he'd called me in to see if I knew anything about it, I didn't know anything about it, I said I'll see you at Shaun Wright-Phillips' birthday this evening, embraced him, and walked to my box. 'I saw it, gave it back, started walking back to the dressing room because I was about to confront him. The only person who could stop me happened to be at the game, which was my mum. She shouted at the top of her voice and asked me to come back. Just out of pure respect for my mum, I turned around and came back because I was boiling with so much anger. 'She said to me: "Anton, I've raised you, I know what you want to do. But if you do do that, you're going to become the problem, so don't." 'I turned on my phone, an old-school Blackberry curve, and so much information was trying to come through it that it just turned off. It's never turned on since.' He added: The FA were in contact to come and sit down with me. I had to give a statement. When I was in the meeting for that statement, that's the day I realised I was in trouble. 'They were questioning me like I had done something wrong. 'Anything that happened negatively towards Chelsea, towards John Terry, towards England... it wasn't just about Chelsea, it was about England, so every club was involved in this. It was always my fault. '(Terry) got stripped of the armband. I didn't ask them to strip him - the FA took that upon themselves. Do I think it was the right decision? One hundred percent. 'I got booed everywhere I went. The only place I didn't get booed was Sunderland, because I'd played for them and the fans know me personally, and West Ham because West Ham knew me as a nine year old kid all the way until the first team. Everywhere else in the country I got booed and hammered and heard a racial slur. 'It was me versus football, it felt like it. While he was talking and making statement after statement in the press, I was told I couldn't speak. "Don't speak, it's going to hinder the FA's hearing and conclusion." 'I didn't want the police to get involved - I wanted football to deal with it because it was a footballing matter. Let the footballing people deal with it. But the CPS people got involved and I wasn't allowed to speak because it could jeopardise the court case. 'I was having to be tight-lipped which I really struggled with.' Ferdinand posted a tweet that said 'the door was still open to chat' and asked Terry to call him Terry was charged for using racist language by the CPS in December 2011 and he pleaded not guilty when his trial started eight months later, before being acquitted. The FA then charged him for using 'abusive and/or insulting words or behaviour' which 'included a reference to the ethnic origin and or race of Ferdinand'. The five-time Premier League winner opted not to appeal the decision and subsequently apologised for the 'language used'. In a statement, Terry said: 'After careful consideration, I have decided not to appeal against the FA judgment. He added: 'Although I'm disappointed with the FA judgment, I accept that the language I used, regardless of the context, is not acceptable on the football field or indeed in any walk of life.' Terry added during his interview with Jordan that he had also attempted to speak to Anton about the incident in 2011. 'I tried to make contact with Anton that evening after the game,' he said. 'And I basically got shut down instantly from all of them. 'I knew Anton, we were mates, we knew each other and always got on well. Obviously, I got on well with Rio. We could have done something that was more powerful than what came about in the end. And that's probably my disappointment because it's [racism] is in the game. 'Clearly in the stadiums and all of that now that we need to get out for sure. We could have done something very powerful as a group of players, not only us but everybody else I think at the time.'
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Superinjunctions: The draconian court-issued gagging orders used to keep information secret
The Ministry of Defence used an unprecedented superinjunction to cover up a data breach that put an estimated 100,000 Afghans at risk of reprisals from the Taliban. The superinjunction was granted contra mundum, meaning 'against the world', by the courts. Here's what you need to know about the legal order: What is a superinjunction? An injunction is a legal order which prevents a person or publication reporting certain information, which is said to be confidential or private. A superinjunction adds an extra layer to this by banning the reporting of the existence of the order itself. Under a superinjunction, a person cannot publicise or inform others about the existence of the order, or the underlying legal proceedings. Superinjunctions need to be kept under review by the court and can only be granted when they are strictly necessary. If someone breaches a superinjunction they may be found in contempt of court and could be imprisoned, fined or have their assets seized. The use of superinjunctions, also colloquially referred to as gagging orders, gained prominence in the 2000s after a string of celebrity scandals. A committee was set up in 2010 to examine their use following the Trafigura and John Terry cases. In the case of Trafigura, an oil-trading firm was granted a superinjunction against The Guardian to stop the paper publishing details of a report commissioned by the company into a toxic-dumping incident in Ivory Coast. In the John Terry case, the former England captain was initially granted a superinjunction preventing a News of the World story about his private life. Journalist Andrew Marr also took out a controversial superinjunction in 2011 over an extramarital affair, and later admitted he felt 'uneasy' about using such an order. Superinjunctions are now rarely used. According to a written parliamentary question answered in April 2024, there is currently just one superinjunction in force which was made in the Kings Bench Division of the High Court. Following an inquiry into the use of superinjunctions in the 2000s, a mechanism was put in place to enable parliament to have a record of the number of superinjunctions currently in force. This is collected by HM Courts and Tribunals Service. The Ministry of Defence told the court that it did not think it likely that the one superinjunction referred to in parliamentary questions was the one used in the Afghan leak case. This is because the Afghan superinjunction relates to national security and is therefore exempt from being reported. However as the MoD did not know if a second superinjunction was in place, it could not be sure. Why was this superinjunction without precedent? This superinjunction was granted 'contra mundum'. Contra mundum, Latin for 'against the world', means it is applied to anyone and everyone. The effect is that a person could be found in contempt of court if they shared any information about the injunction, whether or not they are participating in the proceedings. There has been previous use of contra mundum injunctions, but High Court judges believed this to be the first contra mundum superinjunction. This is also believed to be the first superinjunction granted to the British government . How long has the superinjunction been in place? The superinjunction was granted on 1 September 2023 meaning it was in place for more than 21 months. Did the government apply for this superinjunction? No, the government did not initially apply for a superinjunction. They applied for a 'time-limited' injunction for a period of four months. Mr Justice Knowles, the High Court judge who first heard the case, granted the contra mundum superinjunction proactively. What have judges said about this superinjunction? When the case came in front of Mr Justice Nicklin in September 2023, he commented on the exceptional nature of the injunction. He wrote that 'such orders are wholly exceptional, require very clear and compelling justification, and must be kept under active review by the court.' He added: 'A superinjunction granted in proceedings contra mundum is, I believe, unprecedented. The court will want to give anxious consideration at the earliest point as to whether there remains a justification for such an order or whether some lesser restrictions ought to be imposed'. The case was passed to Mr Justice Chamberlain for all future hearings. In a request to the attorney general for the appointment of security-cleared lawyers in the case, Justice Chamberlain wrote that 'as far as the court is aware, this is the first contra mundum superinjunction which has ever been granted'. He described the effect of such a superinjunction in a judgement from November 2023 (but which can only now be reported), writing: 'The grant of a superinjunction to the government is likely to give rise to understandable suspicion that the court's processes are being used for the purposes of censorship. This is corrosive of the public's trust in government… the grant of a superinjunction has the effect of completely shutting down these mechanisms of accountability, at least while the injunction is in force'. 'In this case, the policy decisions in question could themselves have implications for the lives and safety of many individuals. If the superinjunction is continued, they will be taken in a scrutiny vacuum. I work on the basis that ministers will do their honest best to take the decisions they consider in the national interest, but it is axiomatic in our system that decisions subject to public and parliamentary scrutiny are not only more legitimate, but are also likely to be better than ones taken in secret'. Why and when was the superinjunction lifted? The Afghan data breach superinjunction was lifted by Mr Justice Chamberlain at 12pm on Tuesday, July 15. He made the decision to lift the order after defence secretary John Healey came to the view it was no longer necessary. The Ministry of Defence told the court that he had considered the conclusions of a policy review commissioned by the government into the data breach and response to it. As a result of this review, the Ministry of Defence's assumptions on the risk posed to individuals named on the database had changed. Mr Healey made the decision to close the Afghan Response Route (ARR) set up to evacuate those affected and to recommend the injunction be discharged.
