Barcelona remain relaxed about Torres’ situation despite the growing uncertainty surrounding his future. They say they will speak to him when he returns to training, as planned. He was not a regular starter under Hansi Flick last season and ended the campaign with 21 goals and three assists in 49 appearances. But he is one…
In the slides, Fifa’s central argument was that football does not raise enough cash in relation to its fan base, that “Fifa has been under-monetised versus other leagues” and so “global football development gets squeezed”. It did this with reference to a comparative chart showing annual revenue as well as revenue per fan for Fifa,…
Is straight sex the most perverse sex of all? Gregg Araki’s new film makes a convincing case. Titled I Want Your Sex, the movie is a deliriously fun and often hilarious study of desire, power and art that features bondage, full-frontal and a vagina made out of pink chewed-up bubble gum. “For me, it is…
In a statement released after Thursday’s meeting, which was held virtually and chaired by president Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa said it and its 55 member associations “stand as one”. “We unanimously and unequivocally reject Fifa’s proposal to transfer ownership interests in the World Cup and other Fifa competitions to private investors,” it said. On Wednesday, Uefa…
Satellite view of Tuapse Oil Refinery, Russia. Ukrainian drones struck fuel storage tanks at the Rosneft‑operated facility, igniting a major fire visible for kilometers. Gallo Images | Gallo Images | Getty Images The Strait of Hormuz is rattling global trade, but the waterway is just one example of a vital maritime corridor becoming a frontline,…
European football’s governing body Uefa and Prime Minister Andy Burnham have criticised proposals from Fifa to seek private investment in its competitions, including the World Cup. Fifa – the sport’s global governing body – said it intends to expand “football development funding” to more than $10bn (£7.5bn) and invite third-party investment in a new venture….
Pick of the weekThe Positive Distraction Podcast While he is best known for his No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels, Alexander McCall Smith has something of a soft spot for short stories, which can “cover a whole sweep of history in a couple of paragraphs”. His new series features a selection of short original works…
Polo legend Nacho Figueras says the centuries-old horseback sport could finally be poised for a mainstream breakthrough thanks to the recent success of the World Cup. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at The St. Regis British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup in the UK last weekend, Figueras says the resounding buzz and…
Mount Olympus has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT The mythical Greek mountain was unanimously recognised as a natural and cultural asset of outstanding universal value to humanity during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, which has been meeting since 19 July in the city of Busan in South Korea….
The Rapture 9pm, BBC One Climate crisis catastrophes, charismatic religious leaders and a troubled girl who reckons she can predict the end of the world … there’s a lot going on in this ambitious new five-part drama. Set in Wales during a brutal heatwave, the story follows Dr Gabs Fox (Ruth Madeley), who is dealing…
