All football

Several England internationals, including Lucy Bronze, Rachel Daly and Leah Williamson, played in boys’ teams until around the age of 12. Although opinion is divided on the merits of mixed football and, particularly, the risk of injury at adult level, Williamson feels girls can only improve by learning to compensate for their physiological disadvantages on the pitch. … [Read more...] about Ellen Fokkema breaks Dutch age barrier to play football against men

“We’re currently in a time when everyone is railing against VAR and the controversies that VAR has caused. But VAR isn’t killing anybody. … [Read more...] about Chris Sutton is threatening to sue the Professional Footballers’ Association or the FA over his dad’s dementia

 'I always swore to my mum that if one day I was in a position to help, then I would, and an opportunity presented itself. I took a risk, yes. But I reduced the risk by educating myself. I had listened and I had spoken to those most affected.  … [Read more...] about First black man to photograph a Vogue cover in magazine’s 104-year history captures images of footballer Marcus Rashford for Black Lives Matter-themed edition

It is heartbreaking to read Khashoggi’s celebrated September 2017 column in the Washington Post, headlined “Saudi Arabia wasn’t always this repressive. Now it’s unbearable”. His tone was anguished for his country, more sorrow than anger, constructive in his plea for the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to halt the growing arrests, persecution and intimidation of critics, and fulfil his “Vision 2030” promises of tolerance. According to the Post and other reports in the US, the CIA concluded in November 2018 that the crown prince personally ordered the murder. He has always denied it. Bin Salman is chairman of the Public Investment Fund, the sovereign wealth, state-building vehicle that was providing the money to buy Newcastle. … [Read more...] about Why north-east is protesting over Saudi Arabia failure to buy Newcastle

Tynesiders concerned about the kingdom’s appalling human rights record and Jamal Khashoggi’s murder have been offered no window into PIF’s world because of the opaque nature of Saudi business and society. Their attention has instead turned to the £80m donation the Reuben Foundation made to Oxford University last week and the slow-burn soap opera of Staveley’s £1.6bn high-court battle with Barclays. … [Read more...] about Premier League returns but at Newcastle everything has stopped