This is the year when the game of two halves became the game of four quarters. And the greatest sport and event was damaged for fistfuls of dollars. Hydration breaks ruin the game’s flow and frustrates fans and viewers. If hydration breaks were solely about player welfare then they would be linked to the temperature in the stadia. It’s a nonsense having a three-minute break in an air-conditioned arena.
Fifa should long ago have established a working party of coaches, sports scientists, national team doctors and Fifpro to agree a set temperature at kickoff, say 25C, which triggers the breaks. That would prove the breaks were for player welfare. At the moment, and to nobody’s surprise, it is widely accepted that these breaks are for US TV to accommodate commercials. Big bucks for the small screen.
Fifa should have thought more about the effect on games and to fan (and viewer) experience when negotiating. Coaches’ desire for a mid-half tactical time-out masquerading as a drinks stop should be resisted anyway. Games have been played for 150 years without needing such intervention. Coaches can shout instructions. And who says that 22 mins and 67 mins is when a coach needs to intervene anyway. It’s nonsense. It’s about money.
Respected and sane footballing voices from Virgil van Dijk to Mauricio Pochettino have spoken out against the breaks. Fifa should listen to them not appear only to listen to the rustle of dollar bills. It’s important that there is resistance to this from all over. Because if we tolerate this, our TV games could be next. BBC can’t do ads, ITV says it won’t follow its US counterparts. But it has been discussed by TV people. It’ll come one day. #FIFAWorldCup.
Don't know if this is common knowledge, but the BBC has produced a spoiler-free link to watch World Cup match highlights without knowing the score.
Simply go here:
https://t.co/dg52CjYbN8
The World Cup starts tonight! ⚽️ But by the end of the first match, we’ll be one man down.
Someone dies by suicide in our country every 90 minutes. Three-quarters of these are men.
I spoke with Luke the co-founder of @andysmanclubuk about male suicide, mental health and the help that is out there. 👇
Andy's Man Club is an incredible organisation that helps men across Britain open up, talk about what is going on in their lives, and help one another. I have been to sessions in my constituency and was overwhelmed by the support they can offer men dealing with all sorts of problems in their lives - small or large.
In each session, a football is passed around the group to share thoughts, challenges, and successes. Simple, but effective and liberating!
As a government, we take mental heath - and men's mental health - seriously. We published England’s first Men's Health Strategy last year, which committed further funding for suicide prevention programmes, recognising that suicide is one of the biggest killer of men under 50.
We are investing £3.6 million in community based suicide prevention projects - and supporting the @premierleague Together Against Suicide initiative with @samaritans.
And this is a challenge for all of us, not just government. As a society we can do more to encourage men to open up, get the weight off their shoulders. That is a key part of our Men and Boys work led by @DavidLammy - amplifying the issues, assuring folk there is help out there.
Enjoy the football, look out for one another, and know there is support out there!
James Milner has called time on an outstanding career after confirming his retirement from professional football. 💙🤍
James bows out as one of the Premier League’s all‑time greats and brought a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism to the Albion. �James Milner has called time on an outstanding career after confirming his retirement from professional football. 💙🤍
James bows out as one of the Premier League’s all‑time greats and brought a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism to the Albion. �James Milner has called time on an outstanding career after confirming his retirement from professional football. 💙🤍
James bows out as one of the Premier League’s all‑time greats and brought a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism to the Albion. �James Milner has called time on an outstanding career after confirming his retirement from professional football. 💙🤍
James bows out as one of the Premier League’s all‑time greats and brought a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism to the Albion. �James Milner has called time on an outstanding career after confirming his retirement from professional football. 💙🤍
James bows out as one of the Premier League’s all‑time greats and brought a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism to the Albion. �James Milner has called time on an outstanding career after confirming his retirement from professional football. 💙🤍
James bows out as one of the Premier League’s all‑time greats and brought a wealth of experience, leadership and professionalism to the Albion. 👏
After a day like this, only fools think burning fossil fuels for any longer than is necessary makes sense. The much derided Ed Miliband is right: his critics ultimately enemies of life on earth. https://t.co/QCnHuTOqm4
Nigel Farage really is a one trick pony. His divisive and inflammatory comments about immigration is all he has.
Is it any wonder he won’t want you to know that net migration has fallen by 82% since its peak under the conservatives and small boat crossings are down by approximately 40% so far in 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
LETS MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOW THE REAL FACTS
Nigel Farage really is a one trick pony. His divisive and inflammatory comments about immigration is all he has.
Is it any wonder we won’t want you to know that net migration has fallen by 82% since its peak under the conservatives and small boat crossings are down by approximately 40% so far in 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.
LETS MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC KNOW THE REAL FACTS
Since 19th March - 67 votes in Parliament
Farage has not voted in a single one
£8216 per month before tax paid by the taxpayer
2 months of achieving net zero for those who voted him in to Clacton
He is just laughing at the taxpayer
𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗘́𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴 : 𝗟𝗔 𝗙𝗘̂𝗧𝗘 𝗔̀ 𝗟’𝗘𝗦𝗧
La 115e édition du Tour de France partira samedi 24 juin 2028 depuis @VilledeReims.
Le Grand Départ 2028 explorera la @regiongrandest : 6️⃣ villes-étapes seront reliées : Charleville-Mézières, Épernay, Metz, Reims, Thionville et Verdun.
𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟴 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗗𝗘́𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧: 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗬 𝗜𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗘𝗦𝗧
Reims will host the start of the 115th edition of the Tour de France on Saturday, 24 June.
The 2028 Grand Départ will connect six stage cities: Charleville-Mézières, Épernay, Metz, Reims, Thionville and Verdun in the Grand Est Region.
#TDF2028
To celebrate the launch of @paul_c_watson new release ‘Around the world in 80 clubs’, STINGZ™️ are giving away a copy of the book AND a @SweeperPod jersey!
To be in with a chance:
• Follow @SweeperPod
• Follow @StingzProwear
• share this post and tag 2 mates or football teams
Winner to be selected Friday 22nd 10:00am!
Good luck!
🌍 📕 ⚽️
As it's Friday, I'm asking all my followers to please retweet (and comment) on this post if you see it, to help my bird account be seen! 🙏😀
To make it worth sharing, here's a cute little Wren reflection. 😍 🐦
Thank you very much! 📷😊♥️
This should be one of the top stories. Not a peep on @BBCNews early evening bulletin. Even more sinister there’s no mention anywhere on the BBC News App #GetHarborneOut
Always check in on your loved ones. 😇🙏
At #BHAWOL, we're proud to be supporting the #PLInsideMatters campaign to keep the conversation
on mental health going. 💙🤍