FBI investigating whether Fifa president Sepp Blatter knew about $100m bribery scandal, says new report December 6, 2015 Embattled world football chief Sepp Blatter’s grip on power faces a new threat after it was alleged that the FBI is investigating the Fifa president’s possible involvement in a $100m bribery scandal. Federal agents are probing illicit payments made by now-defunct sports marketing company ISL to officials, including Blatter’s predecessor Joao Havelange, according to the [...]
Kyle Edmund wins $250,000 and doubles his season’s prize money in the space of three hours December 6, 2015 British youngster Kyle Edmund’s landmark week culminated in lucrative fashion on Saturday night when he more than doubled his 2015 earnings with victory at the inaugural Tie Break Tens event in London. The 20-year-old, part of Great Britain’s historic Davis Cup triumph in Belgium just six days earlier, beat team-mate Andy Murray in the final [...]
Manchester City’s reliance on Vincent Kompany exposed by rampant Stoke – City have now failed to keep a clean sheet in seven games without their captain December 5, 2015 Manchester City were once again left to rue the absence of Vincent Kompany after losing 2-0 at Stoke, a defeat which leaves them vulnerable to being overtaken at the Premier League summit. Two goals from Marko Arnautovic – created by a rampaging Xherdan Shaqiri – inflicted upon City their second defeat in three Premier League [...]
Arsene Wenger: Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez “could’ve been killed” by Norwich player December 5, 2015 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger lambasted Norwich City defender Ryan Bennett for shoving Alexis Sanchez during a 1-1 draw last weekend, arguing his star player "could've been killed". The Gunners will be without Sanchez for their game against Sunderland today, after he was forced off with a hamstring injury during the Norwich fixture. His removal came shortly after an [...]
Fifa crisis: Corruption charges keeps sponsors away December 5, 2015 Fifa is struggling to attract new sponsors as it battles to repair its image in the wake of numerous corruption scandals. Football's under-fire governing body has 27 slots allocated for potential partners unfilled, having failed to attract a single new sponsor for over two years. Fifa suffered a £67m loss in 2015 as sponsors steered [...]
Christmas with the Coopers review: A real reheated turkey December 4, 2015 12A | ★☆☆☆☆ A glittering cast assembles for this yuletide comedy about a dysfunctional family whose separating parents (John Goodman and Diane Keaton) want everyone to come together for Christmas Day. “It’s like trying to schedule happiness,” grumbles Alan Arkin’s grandpa, when explaining why he hates Christmas, the irony being that the film he’s appearing [...]
Krampus review: Finally, a film for people who hate Christmas December 4, 2015 15 | ★★★★☆ Finally, a film for people who hate Christmas. You know the type, the ones who claim Die Hard is their favourite Christmas film; they’ll love Krampus. They’ll be banging on about it for years. It’s a horror movie of sorts that tells the tale of a horned demon that exists in central European [...]
The Night Before review: A festive buddy comedy lacking in Christmas cheer December 4, 2015 Cert 15 | ★★☆☆☆ A festive tumbling barrel of semi-improvised dick and drug jokes, The Night Before is a semi-funny Christmas buddy comedy in which lifelong friends Ethan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Isaac (Seth Rogen) and Chris (Anthony Mackie) hoof it around Manhattan in an attempt to recreate their once honoured annual traditions. Ethan is a developmentally arrested [...]
Fifa corruption: Brazil and Argentina football chiefs bribed to pick best players in Copa America December 4, 2015 The corruption uncovered within the heart of international football has so far been limited to business contracts and tournament voting – yet new charges from US officials suggest its rotten influence could even extend to the action on the pitch. Among the multitude of corruption charges levelled against current and former Fifa executives in the [...]
Chris Froome releases performance and blood data to satisfy Tour de France doubters December 4, 2015 Chris Froome hopes doubts over his two Tour de France wins can be put to rest after releasing physiological data which suggests his success in recent years can be attributed to weight loss. Three sets of data, from 2007, this year's Tour and independent tests in August have been published in this month's edition of [...]