Sports & Casinos UK

Video released of federation president Mehdi TajFifa has no plans to move Iran games to MexicoIran will “boycott the United States” but “not the World Cup”, the Iranian football federation president, Mehdi Taj, said in a video released by the Iranian press agency Fars.Iran are scheduled to play their group matches in the US in this summer’s tournament. “We will be preparing for the World Cup,” Taj said. “We will boycott the United States but not the the World Cup.” Continue reading...

Nottingham Forest seek to overturn a one-goal Europa League deficit against a familiar foe who were early champions of the set piece“I like a bit of chaos and structure both on and off the pitch,” says Midtjylland’s technical director, Kristian Kjær. “Getting the right mix is most important.” Perfecting this balance has enabled the Danish side to thrive in Europe, powered by a global recruitment model and innovation.Nottingham Forest travel to the MCH Arena on Thursday seeking to overturn a one-goal deficit from the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie, having also lost to Midtjylland in the group stage this season. This is the furthest the Danish club, founded in 1999, have progressed in Europe. “It must have been insane to be starting the club [just over] 25 years ago and then see where we are today,” says Kjær. “What a ride.” Continue reading...

Sacked managers and released players gain protectionEmployment Rights Act changes happen in JanuaryPremier League and EFL clubs will be more vulnerable to unfair dismissal claims from sacked managers and released players from next year after changes to employment law. Under the Employment Rights Act (ERA), which comes into effect on 1 January, employees will gain protection from unfair dismissal after six months rather than two years of service.In another significant change, the cap on compensation awards at employment tribunals of £118,223 will be removed, giving dismissed managers and players a far greater incentive to bring a claim. Continue reading...

Three years ago Luvo Manyonga knew he must change his life or die. In Poland this week, the former world champion makes an extraordinary return to athletics’ top tableSprawled prone in the dirt, the cold metal of a baseball bat cracking against his skull, spine and down to the legs that had once propelled him to glory, Luvo Manyonga experienced an epiphany. This existence could not continue; he must change his life or die.Manyonga had been a drug addict for as long as he could remember, seeking recreational highs that provided the opposite of the performance-enhancing shortcuts that some of his deceitful athletics rivals might have pursued. Continue reading...

Hoskins, who was an Olympic cyclist like Dennis, was struck by his car in 2023. His return to Instagram included picture with caption ‘an absolute weapon’The Olympic cyclist Rohan Dennis, who 10 months ago was given a 17-month suspended sentence after his car fatally struck his wife, has returned to social media with a post describing a Porsche as an “absolute weapon”.Melissa Hoskins, an acclaimed world and Olympic cyclist, died when she was struck by a car driven by her husband near their home at Medindie, in Adelaide’s inner north, in December 2023. Continue reading...

The Egypt forward led Galatasaray a merry dance for 17 second-half minutes to Anfield’s delightWelcome back, Mo. The old place has missed you. How many more of these are we going to get?It would be incorrect to say this was Mohamed Salah’s night at Anfield. It was instead Mohamed Salah’s 17 second‑half minutes, although these were the decisive 17 minutes in this Champions League tie, and one of those interludes at this ground where a kind of voodoo descends, the night goes a little wonky and ghosts flicker at the edge of things. Continue reading...

Two-goal display against Atlético gives Tudor hope his playmaker can inspire strugglers to Premier League safetyThe kind of night that saves a season? That might be pushing it. A comeback for the ages was on, then off, then on again for a little while: a flickering traffic light that, like Tottenham’s season to date, stopped ultimately on red. But they will hoover up any morsels of hope at this point and at least, when a considerably sub‑capacity crowd applauded them off at the end, the appreciation was deservedly heartfelt. If the adage goes that a win can work wonders, perhaps Igor Tudor will be able to cajole a brand of magic now that he has finally achieved one.Most of the inspiration here, on a night when nobody let a customarily depleted Spurs down, came from the sparkly feet of Xavi Simons. His year in north London has taken on the same stuttering pattern, weeks of liftoff and others of inconsequence. He had started Tudor’s first two games, a reward of sorts for the dynamic form that could not ultimately save Thomas Frank, but his new manager’s affections had quickly waned. Recalled to chase an essentially lost cause, Simons’ task was to display the ingenuity and drive that might propel Spurs out of peril in the longer term. Continue reading...

All but two of party complete long journey back to IranWelcome ceremony planned for ‘children of the homeland’ The Iranian women’s football team, whose plight has become embroiled in the Middle East war, have returned to Iran where they were promised a welcome ceremony in Tehran.Seven members of the delegation had sought asylum in Australia last week after their decision not to sing the national anthem before their opening game at the Women’s Asian Cup. Continue reading...

Teenager scores winner against Brighton on full debutUnited lose ground in title race after draw with West HamChelsea leapt above Manchester United to go second in the Women’s Super League as the teenager Lexi Potter scored the winner against Brighton on her first senior start.The defending champions beat United in the League Cup final on Sunday and rubbed salt into the wounds by nipping a point ahead of them with a 2-1 victory at Kingsmeadow. Continue reading...

Manager insists: ‘I have no problem picking myself up’Derby meeting with Sunderland on Sunday will be ‘huge’Eddie Howe urged his Newcastle players to recover quickly from the 7-2 thrashing at Barcelona that ended their Champions League interest at the last‑16 stage, going out 8-3 on aggregate.Anthony Elanga scored twice in reply to goals from Barça’s Raphinha and Marc Bernal in the first half, before a penalty from Lamine Yamal in first-half stoppage time. Newcastle collapsed in the second half, with further goals from Fermín López, a Robert Lewandowski double and another for Raphinha racking up an embarrassing scoreline. Continue reading...