‘Inappropriate text messages’ to female colleagues force Marc Overmars to resign at Ajax with immediate effect February 7, 2022 Marc Overmars has left his role at Ajax after sending a series of “inappropriate messages” to female colleagues, the Dutch giants have announced. Director of football affairs Overmars has stood down after discussions with chief executive Edwin van der Sar and the supervisory board following reports of alleged misconduct. A statement on Ajax’s official website [...]
Six Nations: France start with win but there’s room for growth February 7, 2022 France’s opening round victory over Italy in the Six Nations on Sunday wasn’t dripping with a special je ne sais quoi, but it was a hard earned result to get their promising quest for a Grand Slam underway. Flying wing Gabin Villiere had three career tries prior to kick-off in Paris but doubled that tally [...]
Five talking points from FA Cup weekend as Nottingham Forest stun Leicester February 6, 2022 If anyone thought their elimination of Arsenal was a fluke, Nottingham Forest underlined that it was nothing of the sort with a barnstorming 4-1win over another top-flight opponent in Leicester City in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday. Forest were irresistible as they raced into a 3-0 lead inside 32 minutes, albeit helped by [...]
Watch: Reporter violently removed and dragged away by Chinese officers during live broadcast at Beijing Olympics February 6, 2022 A Dutch reporter was in the middle of a live broadcast when Chinese security officials showed up, surrounded him and dragged the journalist away. During a live report on broadcaster NOS, on Friday night, the reporter, Sjoerd den Daas, was mid-air when security officials interrupted and dragged him away. Another officer held his hand in [...]
EP: 110 Sandown, Wetherby, Dublin Racing Festival & Hong Kong February 4, 2022 The Grade 1 Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown gives the novices a chance to show their possible Cheltenham credentials on Saturday. Wetherby stages the Grade 2 Towton Novices’ Chase over 3 miles on the same afternoon with more Festival hopefuls in action. Richard Bandey sends Saint Palais to Wetherby for the feature race, and he [...]
Neil Hopkins: Why TikTok is big news for the Six Nations February 4, 2022 Kids, eh? On one hand, Alan Hansen reckoned you couldn’t win anything with them, on the other, The Who figured they’re alright. The dilemma facing almost every sport that isn’t football is how to attract younger audiences without alienating what the European Super League disparagingly labelled “legacy fans”. As the Six Nations looms, rugby union’s [...]
Ollie Phillips: ‘England’s squad is uninspiring but it’s dangerous’ February 4, 2022 Tomorrow’s Calcutta Cup will no doubt be explosive. There’s a real clash of styles in the Six Nations match between Scotland and England in Edinburgh – but that’s just going to make the game even more exciting. I really like the England squad, and bar Elliot Daly at No13 it is a 23 in form, [...]
Back Green Book to add a new chapter to Williams purple patch February 3, 2022 LEOPARDSTOWN takes centre stage this weekend, but there is still some good action closer to home at Sandown, Wetherby and Musselburgh. Having said that, punting opportunities look few and far between with a number of small fields. At Wetherby, Ahoy Senor should get back on the winning trail in the Grade 2 William Hill Towton [...]
Leopardstown at mercy of Mullins and Elliott again February 3, 2022 THERE have been 60 races run over four years since the launch of the Dublin Racing Festival back in 2018 with Willie Mullins (22) and Gordon Elliott (11) responsible for 33 of those winners. The pair once again appear to hold all the aces ahead of this season’s two-day renewal which gets underway at Leopardstown [...]
West Ham and familiar faces in Kidderminster’s FA Cup crosshairs February 3, 2022 West Ham United’s top brass would have been forgiven for wincing when they were drawn to face Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend. Not only do the lowest ranked team left in the competition pose the threat of a humiliating elimination; the non-league outfit’s taste for an upset is also already [...]