Williams sets up tilt for 20th career grand slam title June 4, 2015 TOP seed Serena Williams shook off the effects of illness and the loss of the opening set to confirm her place in the French Open final by dispatching Switzerland’s Timea Bacsinszky yesterday. World No1 Williams came from a set down for the fourth time at Roland Garros this year, surpassing her previous record of three [...]
This World Cup row is over, now real battle set to start June 4, 2015 Women’s football showpiece kicks off tomorrow. ALREADY the biggest ever in terms of number of teams, hopes are high that this year’s Women’s World Cup, which starts in Canada tomorrow, will also prove to the best-supported. Organisers forecast that 1.5m spectators will attend the 24-team tournament, and say another 500m could follow it on television. [...]
Fifa’s sponsors will welcome corruption scrutiny – but only for so long June 4, 2015 Corruption allegations aside, Sepp Blatter’s decision to resign was the right move for Fifa, its sponsors and football. Fifa is now faced with the challenge of rebuilding its reputation. Had it not had the monopoly on international football, the organisation would be dead in the water by now. However, responsibility for reshaping the [...]
Fifty scents: Richard E Grant on being led by his nose, speaking to peacocks and watching his neighbours ‘at it’ June 4, 2015 When Richard E Grant suggested we meet at Fulham’s exclusive Hurlingham members’ club, it seemed to make perfect sense. He lives just up the road in Richmond and it’s exactly the kind of place I can imagine him hanging out, especially after having watched him star in Downton Abbey. I had visions of wood-panelled walls, winchester sofas, views over the croquet [...]
Disgraced Fifa exec Chuck Blazer showed off meeting Vladimir Putin and Miss Universe in a weird and wonderful blog June 4, 2015 Chuck Blazer, the former Fifa official who admitted accepting bribes to vote for World Cup bids, wasn't exactly shy of showing off his jet-setting, cake-eating, Vladimir Putin-high fiving lifestyle during his time in office. Read more: Chuck Blazer admits accepting bribes for World Cup bids The details of the eccentric American's guilty plea to 10 charges [...]
David Beckham blasts “despicable, unacceptable” Fifa and calls for change June 4, 2015 David Beckham has slammed Fifa over the "despicable" allegations of corruption which have dogged the organisation in recent days. Read more: US Fifa investigation includes 2018 and 2022 World Cups The former England captain – a key figure in the country's failed 2018 World Cup bid – celebrated president Sepp Blatter's announcement that he intends [...]
Former Fifa vice president Jack Warner fears for his life as he promises “avalanche” of evidence implicating Sepp Blatter June 4, 2015 Former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner says he will prove a link between football's governing body and the government in his native Trinidad and Tobago. Read more: Interpol issues red notice putting Jack Warner on most wanted list Warner, yesterday placed on Interpol's most-wanted listed, said in an extraordinary television address that he fears for his [...]
World wide: New exhibition offers a rare glimpse of Alighiero Boetti, a true 20th century maverick June 4, 2015 Alighiero Boetti 1989 embroidery on fabric, 103 x 107.5 cm, courtesy of the Mazzoleni London Alighiero Boetti (1940-94) is a refreshing antidote to all the things “conceptual artist” has come to connote: sterility, aloofness, opaque jargon that says too much to say anything at all. While his work is complex and its meaning elusive, [...]
Beyond memory: Tomoko Yoneda’s first UK solo exhibition in 10 years June 4, 2015 Nothing in the zen-like spaces photographed by Tomoko Yoneda indicates the destruction that once reigned in them, but the titles offer a clue. In Lovers After the Thaw (pictured), a couple embrace in a swimming pool in post-Cold War Hungary. In Sniper View, a nondescript city-scape is injected with a sense of danger when you [...]
Beautiful things: Slip-on shoes, azure sunglasses and the Acqua di Parma shaving kit June 4, 2015 From top: Emporio Armani suede driving shoe, $278, armani.com; Dolce & Gabbana Madonna and Majolica Amalfi slippers, £415, store.dolcegabbana.com; Bally Lorian moccasins, £395, bally.co.uk The number one trend in men’s footwear is the slip-on shoe. Whether you’re after a moccasin or a loafer, we have you covered. The slip-on is back. Whether it [...]