Latest news with #ex-SkySports
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Joey Barton hits back at Jeff Stelling in Lionesses row after 'monstrosity' claim
England beat Sweden to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2025 following a late comeback and a farcical penalty shootout in which the Lionesses missed more spot kicks than they scored Joey Barton clashed with legendary presenter Jeff Stelling during England's dramatic victory over Sweden in the quarter-finals of the Women's European Championship. The Lionesses found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening 25 minutes and were on course to surrender their Euros crown. But two late goals from Lucy Bronze and Michelle Agyemang rescued the game for Sarina Wiegman's reigning champions and prompted extra-time in Zurich. The contest then went to penalties, where chaos ensued. Only five of the 14 penalties taken between both sides found the back of the net, with Sweden missing the chance to win it when their goalkeeper - who heroically saved four spot kicks - stepped up and humiliatingly blazed her effort over the bar. Eventually, strikes for Alessia Russo, Chloe Kelly and Bronze spared England's blushes and booked a semi-final clash with Italy on Sunday. But it wasn't during the error-laden penalty shootout when Barton, 42, took to social media and criticised the quality of the match. "Is this a knockout game this monstrosity?" the former Premier League midfielder posted on X. Stelling replied by asking: "Bet you haven't turned off though Joey?" Barton responded an hour later and wrote: "I did Jeff. That's how bad it was. You can't tell me that's proper football. It's pure cosplay nonsense… And YOU know it!" Barton's criticism of women's football - and female punditry - is nothing new, nor is Stelling's backing for the Lionesses. The ex-Sky Sports presenter, who now works for talkSPORT, replied to a number of tweets during the match defending the women's game. The pair previously worked alongside each other but share opposing views. During a 2024 interview with the Guardian, Stelling discussed Barton's career outside of football and the frequent accusations of sexism, with some theorising that he's only made headline-grabbing claims about women in football to draw attention to his podcast. Asked if he's followed the Barton furore, Stelling said: "Oh, yes. You can't avoid it, can you? I've worked with Joey a couple of times and I enjoyed his company then. "But you've absolutely nailed it. Initially, I'm sure this was to gain some traction for the podcast. Unfortunately it's become a monster and totally wrong to say women have no right to talk about football." Stelling has seen first-hand how badly women can be treated in the football sphere. As a boy, he attended Hartlepool United matches with his sister Sue, who was six years older than him. "She would honestly be the only woman in the ground," Stelling explained. "There were no toilet facilities for women and it was very foreboding and unwelcoming." The 70-year-old added: "It was a totally sexist environment. To see a woman at football was a shock and they didn't understand she was just my big sister doing me a massive favour in taking me to the game. I'm so glad that's changed because you now see so many women and families at football matches."
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Graeme Souness looking to raise $1M as Liverpool legend embarks on toughest challenge yet
Former Liverpool captain and manager Graeme Souness is embarking on his toughest challenge to date by swimming the English Channel and back to raise money for a cause close to his heart. After walking from QPR's Loftus Road to Wembley Stadium for the British Heart Foundation, the ex-Sky Sports pundit will look to conquer another fundraising feat before the end of April. The Reds legend - who won five league titles and three European Cups in his glittering spell at Anfield - was characterized by his full-blooded displays on the field during his storied playing days. Now, he is turning his passions towards raising awareness and funds to help people suffering with the condition of epidermolysis bullosa (EB). The 71-year-old is a vice-president of DEBRA UK, a charity which was established to support those living with EB - an illness which leaves sufferers with painful blisters, open wounds, and excruciating itching. READ MORE: Alan Hansen health latest as Liverpool legend spotted at Anfield amid title celebrations READ MORE: Liverpool legend tells Arne Slot how rest of Premier League will respond to title win Back in 2023, Kop hero Souness swam the Channel for the charity and raised £1.5m (£2m) for the cause. This time around, he will be swimming double the distance he did last time, as he looks to raise £750,000 ($1m) to fund two EB clinical trials - which could lead to treatments to alleviate the pain those suffering from the condition live with on a daily basis. In his role as an ambassador for DEBRA, Souness is set to don his wetsuit and hit the water on April 30 at Dover. In a statement issued by the charity, the ex-Liverpool skipper expressed his commitment to helping individuals living with EB, such as his friend Isla Grist. He said: "I had to do something for my wee friend, Isla, and the thousands of other children and adults affected by this cruel condition. "With the money raised DEBRA UK was able to start testing drugs which could be life-changing but there are many more drugs that they need to test if we are to secure effective treatments for every form of EB, treatments that could help stop the extreme pain. "This is why we're getting back in the water once again. It's going to be tough; I'm 71 now and it's double the distance, but I know we can do this, we must do this, we must be the difference for EB." In an exclusive interview with last week, Souness spoke passionately about his dedication to the charity, his efforts to raise awareness of the condition and his hope that he can improve the lives of those living with EB. He said: "DEBRA is a charity that helps people with a genetic condition called EB, you're born with it and it's a genetic condition. "The best day of your life is the day you are born because it just gets worse as you get older. It's life-limiting and these poor kids have no respite from the pain and itch that they have every waking moment of their lives. Speaking about swimming the English Channel - and back - for DEBRA this month, he spoke excitedly about what will be his second crossing of the strait which separates Dover from Calais in France. He said: "So, two years ago we swam the channel as a relay team - which means an hour in the water and five out, then another in. "We did that and we're attempting to do it again. We're going to attempt to swim there and swim back. I've prepared for it and trained for it and I wish it was tomorrow!" READ MORE: Graeme Souness outlines what Arne Slot needs for Liverpool to build on Premier League success READ MORE: Graeme Souness opens up on Anfield memories, Everton wondergoal and Bob Paisley's thoughts on titles Opening up on his desire to help those affected by the condition through his courageous efforts, he added: "It's such a horrible thing to witness. These poor kids, there's not a lot we can do for them but the whole idea is on two fronts. "Firstly to make people aware that this condition exists and secondly raise enough money to repurpose drugs that are already on the market but can be used by scientists and researchers to make them work for our kids that suffer from this."
