And… breathe… Callum McGregor steps up for Celtic when it matters.
Celtic now 4-0 up on aggregate and heading to the league phase of the Champions League.
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.
Brilliant!
Brave independent reporter @advancesarah has just ambushed Sly News live on air in Belfast and demanded they start reporting the truth.
They gutlessly cut back to the studio…
The arrested Sudanese man was an 'asylum seeker'.
He entered Britain in February 2023, immediately claiming asylum, according to the police.
Who was the immigration minister at the time? And then when the man was granted leave to remain in our country?
Reform's Robert Jenrick.
Who was Home Secretary?
Reform's Suella Braverman.
They were responsible for our borders.
They failed, in the most horrific way, with the most horrific consequences.
A Restore Britain Government will abolish the entire asylum system.
No more asylum seekers.
Anyone who entered our country illegally will be deported, regardless of current status.
Enough.
Restore Britain will not fail you.
🚨 NEW: Mohammed Fahir Amaaz and Muhammad Amaad have been cleared over the alleged assault of a male police officer at Manchester Airport
Two juries failed to reach a verdict and no further trial will take place
📢 "Let's push the boat out. Buy a ticket. Get to 10k."
John and the team need all the support you have to give at Hampden next weekend as we go into what will be a historic match.
Be a part of it. Get your ticket ➡️ https://t.co/HbuxFWGnoJ