Sepp Blatter: You cannot buy a World Cup and I have committed nothing criminal, says former Fifa boss February 20, 2016 Disgraced former Fifa president Sepp Blatter has insisted "you cannot buy a World Cup" and claimed the controversial vote to award the 2018 and 2022 tournaments to Russia and Qatar was not fixed. Fifa will elect its new president on Friday after Blatter, along with former Uefa president Michel Platini, was banned from football for [...]
Anthony Joshua: Charles Martin’s IBF heavyweight belt “belongs to me” February 20, 2016 Not many boxers get offered a world title fight just over two years into their professional career – and even fewer would feel ready to take one so early. But Anthony Joshua is a cut above most boxers and when the opportunity to fight unbeaten American Charles Martin for his IBF heavyweight belt arised, he didn’t [...]
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger tells Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham to forget about loaning his players February 19, 2016 Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal's rivals at the top of the Premier League they can forget about taking any of his players on loan. The Arsenal boss admitted he blocked a loan move for right-back Mathieu Debuchy to Manchester United last month, and suggested he would never lend one of his players to a direct [...]
Manny Pacquiao “accepts” Nike’s decision to cancel his sponsorship – but reaffirms views on homosexuality February 19, 2016 Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao says he accepts Nike's decision to drop him from their sponsored athletes roster, but has repeated the criticism of homosexuality which cost him the endorsement. Nike moved swiftly to cancel their sponsorship of the welterweight fighter this week, describing his comments that gay people were "worse than animals" as "abhorrent". Yet [...]
Delacroix at the National Gallery does this magnificent painter a disservice February 19, 2016 The National Gallery | ★★☆☆☆ Measuring the influence of one artist on another is no easy task, and the National Gallery fails to pull it off convincingly in this muddled and problematic exhibition. Curators attempt to trace the influence of Delacroix – best known as the romantic painter of the iconic Liberty Leading the People – [...]
Uncle Vanya at the Almeida is brilliantly acted, cleverly staged and gratifyingly reinterpreted February 19, 2016 Almeida | ★★★★★ Anton Chekhov is a cornerstone of modern theatre, one of the fathers of realism; he eschews action in favour of mood and character, and while his Uncle Vanya is an undoubted masterpiece, the prospect of three and a half hours of Russian misery isn’t necessarily the most enticing prospect. Rejoice then that [...]
Manchester United players face wage cut as Midtjylland loss dents Champions League qualification hopes February 19, 2016 Manchester United's squad could face a 25 per cent wage cut if they fail to turn around their stuttering form and qualify for the Champions League. Louis Van Gaal's side crashed to a 2-1 defeat to Danish champions FC Midtjylland in the Europa League on Thursday night and are six points behind fourth-placed Manchester City [...]
Cristiano Ronaldo paid over €1m for a single day’s sponsorship work by Saudi Arabian firm February 19, 2016 Cristiano Ronaldo was named as the best-paid footballer in the world last year and leaked documents have shed light on just how he makes his fortune with lucrative off the pitch endorsements. The Real Madrid superstar appears to have been received over €1m from a Saudi Arabian telecom company for just a single day's work [...]
Performing for the Camera at Tate Modern works as a history lesson but says little about the here and now February 19, 2016 Tate Modern | ★★★☆☆ Performing for the Camera asks – and generally answers – a series of questions about the role of photography in the artistic process. Does it capture or create? (The latter). Is the result different from the performance? (Yes). Does being observed, as in particle physics, somehow alter the performance itself? (Yes). These [...]
Fiorentina 1, Tottenham Hotspur 1: Pochettino warns Alli to cool it and learn self-control February 18, 2016 Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino insists teenage midfielder Dele Alli must learn to curb his devilish streak after escaping with a yellow card following a petulant kick at defender Nenad Tomovic during his side’s draw with Fiorentina last night. Spurs will take a potentially critical away goal into next week’s second leg after midfielder Nacer Chadli [...]