Uefa outlaw long contract transfer loophole exploited by Chelsea June 29, 2023 Chelsea and other clubs will no longer be able to exploit a transfer loophole by handing new signings long contracts after Uefa outlawed the practice. Eight of Chelsea’s most recent signings, including Enzo Fernandez, Mykhailo Mudryk and new arrival Christopher Nkunku joined on extra-long contracts, some lasting until 2031. The strategy helped the Blues to [...]
Ashes: Women’s Test follows men’s in breaking Sky Sports records June 29, 2023 The only Women’s Ashes Test of this year’s series set record-breaking broadcasting figures for Sky Sports just days after the opening Test of the men’s series did the same. The Test – the only one in the Women’s Ashes series, which is contested over all three international formats – saw a peak audience of 480,000 [...]
London has a Soho problem. We need to fix it now. June 29, 2023 It was that gloriously sleazy bard of synth-pop Marc Almond who captured it perfectly: “People come from all over the world to see this little place they’ve seen in movies and read about in history books: Soho.” Soho is London’s other Square Mile, filled not with the chatter of high finance, but with the clink [...]
Ed Warner: When risk in sport is a smart choice June 29, 2023 This week columnist Ed Warner looks at risk in sport and how sometimes, such as in Bazball in cricket, it can be the smartest choice. A team of sub-10 second sprinters can be beaten to 4x100m relay gold by a quartet who have never broken that magic barrier. The trick is risk management in the [...]
Root saves England face on Ashes day that goes Australia’s way June 28, 2023 Part-time spinner Joe Root took two late wickets to salvage some pride for England on the opening day of the second Test of the Ashes against Australia. The tourists concluded the final session of Wednesday’s opening day at Lord’s on 339-5 with England’s stalwart seamers Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson struggling on the north London [...]
Plan your Pride in London weekend with our handy guide June 28, 2023 It’s the biggest weekend in the LGBTQI+ calendar – here’s all you need to know to plan your celebrationsLast year marked the 50th anniversary of Pride in the UK, with a record 1.5m people flocking to central London to watch an estimated 30,000 event participants, from flag bearers to stewards to drag acts.This year, with [...]
Indiana Jones and The Dial of Destiny review: A nostalgic treat June 28, 2023 One of the most beloved heroes in cinema history returns for a fifth and final crack of the whip. Normally, nothing is final in Hollywood, but given star Harrison Ford is 81 next month, his claim that he’s done with the character should be taken seriously. It’s 15 years since audiences last saw him in [...]
Alcaraz first non ‘big four’ top seed at Wimbledon since 2003 June 28, 2023 Men’s world No1 tennis player Carlos Alcaraz will head into next week’s Wimbledon Championships as the first non big four – Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – seed since 2003. The 20-year-old Spaniard heads into the only grass court Grand Slam on the circuit fresh off a victorious run at the [...]
Declan Rice: Arsenal poised to clinch British record transfer after Man City pull out June 28, 2023 Arsenal are poised to complete the signing of West Ham and England midfielder Declan Rice for a transfer fee that could reach a British record £105m. Manchester City’s withdrawal from the race to sign Rice has left the way clear for Arsenal to make the 24-year-old by far their most expensive signing. Last season’s Premier [...]
Enhanced Games ‘flies in face of world-agreed system’ – former British Olympic chief June 28, 2023 Plans for a doped-up alternative to the Olympics, the Enhanced Games, “fly in the face of a world-agreed system” requested and supported by athletes, says former British Olympic chief Sir Craig Reedie. The Enhanced Games, the brainchild of London-based lawyer Aron D’Souza, has ambitions to launch as soon as next year with the promise that [...]