Latest news with #TottenhamHotspur
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Beyoncé: Visually impaired fan 'dehumanised' at London concert
A visually impaired Beyoncé fan said she was treated in a "dehumanising" way after being asked to give up her cane to access the VIP area at the pop star's concert at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Obigbesan, who spent £489 on a standing VIP ticket, said staff told her she was a "health and safety risk".Ms Obigbesan told BBC Radio London's Eddie Nestor she contacted the providers of the VIP package ahead of the 10 June show to flag her access needs but received no response.A Tottenham Hotspurs spokesperson apologised, refunded her ticket, and said the experience "fell far short" of its standards. When she arrived at the stadium, she said stewards initially helped her to the VIP check-in point, where she received her wristband and when she reached the pitch area, security staff stopped her."They just automatically started talking to the ladies that were with me being like, 'she can't go down there, she can't go down there'," she said. She said she tried to explain that her long cane was a visual aid and did not affect her mobility, as the staff told her walking aids were not allowed in standing sections."In the end, I gave up my cane to the medic team and then they let me go down," she said. "It was more my confidence and my independence… it felt dehumanising."Ms Obigbesan said she later asked a security guard to help her find the toilet, but overheard staff discussing her while inside the cubicle."When I came out, they'd contacted the safety officer who was trying to relocate me," she said. "They were saying it's not safe for me down there because people won't know I'm visually impaired – I said I could have my cane back."She was eventually moved to a seated area two levels above where she had originally been placed."It's a three-hour show but I barely remember any of it because I was crying so much," she Obigbesan said that while there may have been failure in communication between the ticket sellers and the stadium staff, people with disabilities should not need to warn venues to meet basic needs. In a statement, Tottenham Hotspur said: "We accept this was not reflective of the VIP package Esther had purchased via the promoter and that her overall experience did not meet the standards we consider acceptable as a venue."The stadium said its access team acted "in the interests of Esther's safety" on the night, but acknowledged the situation "fell far short of the experience" Luke, customer services operations manager at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, told the BBC the club had since improved steward training, reviewed briefings, and updated ticket holder said the club had apologised to Ms Obigbesan, refunded her ticket, and invited her to a Kendrick Lamar concert on Wednesday as a guest."It's not about seeing the disability aid or the visual aid," he said. "It's about seeing the patron… and ensuring that we communicate with them, and not through them, which is what happened in this place."
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sky Sports: Morgan Gibbs-White Absent from Nottingham Forest Training Camp
Morgan Gibbs-White's Forest Absence: What It Means for Club and Player Sky Sports has reported that Morgan Gibbs-White has not joined Nottingham Forest on their pre-season training camp in Portugal due to a personal matter. While the midfielder's absence is unrelated to football or transfer business, the timing has sparked renewed focus on his situation with the club. Unpacking Gibbs-White's Absence According to Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett, the issue was 'communicated by the midfielder internally' and Forest are 'happy to respect his privacy.' The club has made no public comment but expect him to join the squad, who arrived at Faro airport today, later this week. This development comes at a delicate time for Forest and Gibbs-White. There has been persistent tension following Tottenham Hotspur's £60m bid for the 25-year-old, a move that Forest blocked. Spurs, now led by new manager Thomas Frank after Ange Postecoglou's dismissal, remain keen on the midfielder. Yet relations between the two clubs are strained. Transfer Saga: Forest Hold Firm The stand-off has been fuelled by Forest's accusations that Tottenham made an illegal approach and breached a confidentiality clause regarding Gibbs-White's buy-out figure. Forest have written to both Spurs and Gibbs-White's agent, reserving the right to pursue legal action if necessary. Despite this, Gibbs-White has not signalled any intention to push for a transfer. As the original Sky Sports report highlights, he 'has continued to report for duty in line with his personal training plan' and there is 'no indication he will take strike action or try to force through a move.' Photo: IMAGO Tottenham's Interest Remains Alive With Thomas Frank eager to reshape his Spurs squad, Gibbs-White remains a key target. Tottenham are 'prepared to meet his £60m clause' but have yet to make a formal move since the dispute erupted. For now, the situation is deadlocked, leaving both clubs in limbo. Forest's position is clear: they want to keep one of their standout players, particularly after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. Gibbs-White, meanwhile, must balance his career ambitions with loyalty to a club that has given him a central role. Looking Ahead for Forest and Gibbs-White The coming weeks will be critical. If Gibbs-White rejoins the squad as planned and resumes preparations, tensions may cool. However, if Tottenham make a renewed push, Forest will face tough decisions. As one insider put it: 'Forest's bosses shut down lines of communication with Spurs,' showing they are determined to defend their interests. Forest supporters and Premier League watchers will be watching closely to see if this personal matter stays separate from the footballing drama, or if it becomes another chapter in an ongoing saga. Our View – EPL Index Analysis From the perspective of a Nottingham Forest supporter, this situation feels painfully familiar. We have seen too many talented players eyed up by bigger clubs, and Gibbs-White's case is another blow just as we prepare for a critical season. Forest invested heavily in him, not just financially but in building the team around his creativity and leadership. Now, with Tottenham circling and tensions rising, fans feel we are left clinging to statements about privacy and internal matters while fearing the worst. The appointment of Thomas Frank at Spurs has only made things more uneasy. Frank is known for spotting talent and improving players, and for him, Gibbs-White fits perfectly. As a Forest fan, it's hard not to feel we are fighting a losing battle. Legal threats and closed-door warnings might slow Spurs down, but will they truly keep a determined player and a top-six club at bay? Many of us worry this personal absence, no matter the reason, creates an opening for more speculation, more whispers, and ultimately more pressure on the club to sell. We want Gibbs-White to stay and help us push on, but right now, we fear the off-pitch drama will overshadow what really matters: results on the pitch.
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Morgan Gibbs-White misses start of Nottingham Forest pre-season camp in fresh twist to Spurs saga
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has not travelled with the squad for their pre-season camp in Portugal amid strong links with a move away from the club. Gibbs-White was set for a medical at Tottenham Hotspur earlier this month after Spurs were understood to have triggered his £60m release clause. However, Forest accused Spurs of an allegedly illegal approach for Gibbs-White - contacting the player directly before going to the club - and the protracted saga has failed to move on the weeks since. Forest are currently considering legal action against Spurs. The England international has now made himself notable for his absence from the travelling Forest pack, but it understood that this is not transfer related. He has instead not travelled with the rest of the squad due to a personal reason and is expected he will join up with the team later in the week. Gibbs-White had already returned to pre-season training with Forest last Monday and has trained again with the club since. He also started Forest's 0-0 friendly draw with Chesterfield on Saturday at the SMH Group Stadium and played the first half. Forest will spend the next week-and-a-half in Portugal on a training camp and will play friendlies against Premier League side Fulham and Portuguese side Estoril Praia.
The Sun
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Morgan Gibbs-White does NOT travel with Nottingham Forest for pre-season due to ‘personal matter'
MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE has not travelled with the Nottingham Forest squad to Portugal for pre-season due to a "personal matter". Forest are set to face Fulham this Saturday in Faro, Portugal as part of their preparations for the new season. 2 According to The Telegraph, Gibbs-White's absence is due to a private and personal matter completely unrelated to football. The England international is expected to join up with the team later this week. Forest are currently in a standoff with Tottenham Hotspur over a deal despite them meeting his £60million release clause. is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Sky News
13 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News
Paul Gascoigne: Former England footballer taken to hospital after collapse at home
Paul Gascoigne was rushed to hospital after collapsing at his home in Dorset, according to reports. The Sun reported on Sunday evening that the former Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle and Rangers midfielder was found semi-conscious in the bedroom of his home in Poole. The 58-year-old is said to now be in an acute medical ward in a stable condition, and is expected to remain in hospital for several days for treatment. Former Brighton defender Steve Foster, who reportedly found Gascoigne, told the outlet that he thanks "everyone for the support he's received so far from so many old friends who wish him well and want to see him back to his best". Gascoigne, who played for England 57 times, has endured a decades-long public battle with drink and mental health problems which started during his playing career and worsened after his retirement from football in 2004. In 2020, he said he had been able to turn his life around after having anti-alcohol pellets sewn in his stomach, which would make him sick if he had a drink. Last March, he told the High Performance podcast that he was a "sad drunk" living in a spare room at the Dorset home of his agent Katie Davies.
