FIFA 17 review: For the first time in years EA’s annual footy title feels fresh October 5, 2016 For years, the FIFA series has been coasting. A new player on the box, a shiny new sponsor on the ball, a gameplay tweak here and there. Just enough to keep fans playing for another year. FIFA 17 is a more significant update, adding more than a handful of tackling animations. While you won’t find [...]
Giving World Cup to Qatar and Russia may be best thing to happen to football, says Fifa vice-president Victor Montagliani October 5, 2016 One of football governing body Fifa’s leading officials has suggested that the controversial votes to stage the World Cup in Qatar and Russia “may be the best thing” to have happened to the game. Victor Montagliani – a vice-president of Fifa and head of the Concacaf confederation which governs North America, Central America and the [...]
Adil Rashid’s leg-spin holds no fear for Bangladesh’s batsmen, insists all-rounder Sabbir Rahman October 5, 2016 Bangladesh all-rounder Sabbir Rahman goaded England ahead of Friday’s opening one-day clash by insisting Adil Rashid’s leg-spin bowling holds no fear for his side’s batsmen. Rashid has forced himself into the one-day reckoning over the past 18 months and is England’s leading wicket-taker in 50-over contests since the 2015 World Cup, claiming 38 scalps. The [...]
Durham’s punishment is harsh but fair, although the ECB need to look at Test match scheduling October 5, 2016 It's sad to see what has happened to Durham. They’ve been in the top flight since 2006 and have won the County Championship three times in the last nine years – I feel really sorry for them. There will be a lot of upset and angry players in that dressing room and I understand that, [...]
Former FIA boss Max Mosley says he warned organisation about deal that threatens Liberty Media’s takeover of F1 October 5, 2016 Formula One’s former governor Max Mosley says he warned the sport’s authorities against taking a controversial stake in it which now threatens to put the brakes on the sale of the business. American conglomerate Liberty Media last month agreed to buy F1’s parent company Delta Topco for £3.3bn from its controlling shareholder, private equity firm [...]
Sports and second screens: How stadium designers and broadcasters are dealing with the smartphone revolution October 5, 2016 Pep Guardiola isn't the only figure in elite sports for whom the prevalence of smartphone use has disrupted business as usual The Manchester City manager has cut off 3g and Wi-Fi connection from the club's training complex in order to pull his players' gaze away from screen and back onto the team. Yet for broadcasters, rights holders, club [...]
European leagues threaten to rebel against Uefa over “totally crazy” changes to European club competition October 5, 2016 The chairman of Europe's football leagues insists they are ready to defy Uefa over the governing body's "totally crazy" plans for changes to the Champions League and Europa League. Lars-Christer Olsson said the leagues might break their agreement not to schedule domestic fixtures on the same night as Uefa competitions unless changes set to take effect from 2018 were scrapped. [...]
Eddie Hearn: Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko could happen as soon as December with both boxers keen to fight October 5, 2016 Anthony Joshua could fight Wladimir Klitschko before the end of the year according to promoter Eddie Hearn, who described a meeting between the pair as "the most likely scenario". Klitschko is in Joshua's sights after the Ukrainian's planned rematch with Tyson Fury this month was cancelled due the latter's medical condition. Both boxers are said to be [...]
12 things you need to know about this year’s Frieze Art Fair October 5, 2016 Frieze officially begins tomorrow, with 160 art global galleries exhibiting works by more than 1,000 artists, all inside a giant tent in Regent's Park. Here’s a list of everything you need to know – and what you need to see – as Frieze turns 25 years old. 1. The 1990s are in: To celebrate a quarter [...]
Queenies are a blast from the past for Mark Hix, who recommends baking them in herbs October 5, 2016 When I was at primary school my mate Mark Hawker’s dad had a fishing boat, and from it I would watch the local ships come in piled high with sacks of queen scallops fished from the reefs. Sadly, over-trawling put an end to all that, and you rarely see them fished in Lyme bay any [...]