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1·1 year agoJeremy Wilson, chief sports reporter at The Telegraph, reports:
Just how many Ally McCoists are there? It was one of many unanswered questions hanging in the Paris air on Tuesday night after the Scot had woken at 5.45am ahead of his radio show before commentating for TNT Sports at Newcastle United’s dramatic 1-1 draw with PSG. And yet the real drama would not begin until he was fully 16 hours into his day.
Rio Ferdinand had been taken ill during the second half shortly before PSG’s deeply controversial equaliser and so there was only one answer when an emergency pitchside substitute was required. Cue the ever versatile McCoist who, from the gantry up in the gods of the Parc des Princes, bolted from his place next to co-commentator Darren Fletcher before displaying a touchline urgency rarely seen since he was regularly scoring 30 goals a season at Glasgow Rangers.
The rosy cheeks that suddenly appeared on the screen, raging at the injustice of Kylian Mbappe’s crucial goal, was a consequence not just of the unexpected exertion but how even the most infectiously enthusiastic man in football is reaching the end of his tether with Var.
“It will just annoy me, but go on,” said McCoist, when asked if he wanted to see a replay of the penalty decision before a second watch confirmed his first instincts.
“That’s a shambles,” he declared. “An horrendous decision. Honestly, that’s not on. If that’s a penalty, we may as well give the game up. It’s bordering on robbery.”
As Newcastle manager Eddie Howe bit his tongue but looked on admiringly, it was a monologue that would soon have McCoist trending on social media and swathes of the North East added to an already bulging list of fans. His phone was also lighting up with dozens of supportive messages.
“I’m fuming – and I’ve not got a dog in the fight,” McCoist would later say, still shaking his head before finally leaving the stadium shortly after midnight and then waking up five hours later to vent some more on the radio.
It had been a frantic finale for the entire 40-strong TNT team in France.
Presenter Laura Woods, the broadcaster’s star summer signing, was herself literally putting a pen through the words she had just formulated ahead of a post-match analysis that would pivot from deconstructing a famous victory to a potentially season-changing Var intervention.
Producer Thom Hambleton was also ripping up the script and relaying thoughts to Woods’s ear-piece from inside a screen-filled truck outside the stadium.
Joel Miller, the resident stats guru (described by Fletcher as “the only person in the history of BT or TNT Sports to have never made a mistake”), was another in full flow, having earlier arrived with a full hand-crafted A4 grid of the nine different possible group permutations.
1·1 year agoFrom The Telegraph’s Chris Bascombe:
Everton have been docked 10 points for breaching the Premier League’s spending rules in an unprecedented punishment for a top-flight club.
An independent commission set up to examine the club’s losses during the era of Farhad Moshiri has found the club guilty.
It means Sean Dyche’s side drop into the bottom three of the Premier League with immediate effect, second from bottom.
Everton are reeling after the decision and have vowed to appeal to the Premier League board.
Club officials are shocked and bewildered that their mitigation was rejected.
The Premier League recommended in October that Everton face a maximum 12-point deduction for breaching profit and sustainability rules, as reported by Telegraph Sport.
The top flight recommended the punishment to be extremely severe.
Everton’s case was heard by the independent commission after they recorded financial losses of £304 million over a three-year period, which is well over the permitted amount of £105 million set out by the Premier League.
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From The Telegraph:
The Football Association has been dragged into a fresh Israel row after a council member posted on social media that “Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu”.
Wasim Haq, who also has roles with England Golf and the Lawn Tennis Association, immediately apologised as campaign groups accused him of anti-Semitism.
Haq, who joined the FA’s council in 2019 as a “BAME Football Communities Representative”, wrote in a now deleted post on X: “Netanyahu has sacrificed his own people to maintain power…whilst #Palestinians are trying to maintain their sanity. Adolf Hitler would be proud of Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Among those to express immediate concern was Lord Wolfson of Tredegar KC, who chairs the Football Regulatory Authority which also sits within the FA.
“I’m very concerned that a member of the FA Council [who’s also an Observing Board Member of the Inclusion Advisory Board] posted in these terms,” said the peer, who resigned as a junior justice minister in the Government last year.
“I have already asked for an immediate, formal and urgent investigation,” he said, adding that the FA had “adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism in January 2021.”
Haq’s message was deleted soon after being posted in the early hours of Sunday, but it was discovered in archived messages by GnasherJew; a campaign group which uses Open Source Intelligence to uncover anti-Semitism.
The FA, which introduced black and ethnic minorities football communities as part of 2017 governance reforms to further help diversify its council, said: “He has deleted the tweet and apologises for causing offence.”
Haq’s post comes just weeks after the FA sparked anger among other members of its own council after a perceived failure to condemn historic tweets on boycotting Israel by Inclusion Advisory Board chair Deji Davies.
Davies had deleted his Twitter posts from 2013, and issued a statement saying the tweet was deleted “as I do not wish to cause any further offence”, that he continues to learn about the subject and stood by the FA’s message of peace and unity for all.
Haq, meanwhile, has been openly posting messages of support for Palestine in recent days. Several messages across his platforms include posts about children innocently caught up in the conflict in Gaza. His latest post with a video of a young girl attached says: “I’m only ten…I don’t know what to do…”
GnasherJew, which sent Telegraph Sport evidence proving the Hitler message had been sent, said Haq was a “disgrace”.
“Introducing you to Wasim Haq,” the organisation posted online. “This vile post needs no explanation. Suffice to say he’s said nothing about the 7th Oct massacre.”
Haq has been approached independently by Telegraph Sport for comment.
As well as being a council member at the FA, Haq is a senior independent director at England Golf, a nominated council member at the LTA and senior advisor to the CEO at Golf Saudi.
Haq has also been managing partner at First Team Partners with “over 25 years of experience and has held senior management roles across the UK strategic consulting landscape in the healthcare, sports marketing and sports recruitment industries”.
He said after his appointment to his unpaid role at the FA: “Whatever your background, in England, there are opportunities for everyone from all walks of life to be involved. I really believe The FA is ‘for all’ and I am delighted to be involved.”
After the conflict erupted when Hamas launched a terrorist attack in Israel, the FA had come under criticism from Jewish leaders for announcing the Wembley Stadium arch would not be illuminated in blue and white.
Read the article here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/11/12/fa-council-member-compares-benjamin-netanyahu-adolf-hitler/
From The Telegraph’s Business Editor, Ben Marlow:
Big business swamped Liverpool’s Arena and Convention Centre, turning the Labour party conference into a mini-Davos. Google, Mastercard, Ikea and Barclays paid for exhibition stands next to the main conference hall. Deliveroo and Goldman Sachs held fringe events. The parliamentary lounge sponsor was Lloyds bank.
A special business forum with Keir Starmer, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow business secretary Jonathan Reynolds was sold out a month beforehand – 200 bigwigs snapped up tickets at a cost of £2,520 a piece. Hundreds more put their names on a waiting list in the hope that someone would drop out.
Amid the jostling, one exhibitor in particular stood out, and not just because of the green and yellow hydrogen-powered 4x4 that was parked in front of its stand. Billionaire industrialist Sir Jim Ratcliffe had dispatched a top team from his chemicals empire Ineos to the jamboree.
As the second-richest man in Britain, one of the country’s most prominent Brexiteers, biggest carbon emitters and a two-time tax exile, it is hard to think of a more unlikely Labour backer. But Ratcliffe’s delegation had serious work to do.
“It was a big team of people and they were coming and going all the time,” one delegate said.
After 10 years of cheap money and mostly friendly government, Britain’s foremost industrialist is facing spiralling interest rates and the prospect of Ed Miliband in charge of energy policy.
Having spent months battling Qatar to invest in his beloved Manchester United, rocketing costs have left Ineos facing its most serious financial squeeze since the credit crunch. Then, debts from a decade of dizzying deal-making came within a whisker of overwhelming it.
As Ratcliffe turns 71 years-old, questions over how Ineos navigates this next chapter are unavoidable for a billionaire increasingly stepping into the limelight. Will the swashbuckling dealmaker again lead it into calmer waters and a new era of growth? Or is his swelling collection of trophy assets the sign of a man preparing to hand over day-to-day running of Britain’s biggest private company?Either way, the tycoon and the sprawling petrochemicals conglomerate that he has spent 25 years assembling are at a crossroads.
Boy’s toys
Ratcliffe has assembled an impressive collection of boy’s toys even for someone with a fortune estimated at nearly £30bn by the Sunday Times Rich List.
He has a private jet and a £130m mega-yacht complete with an underwater viewing window in its wine cellar. Ratcliffe splits his time between homes in Monaco – where he has controversially chosen to become a tax exile for the second time – Majorca, Chelsea, and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. He is radically redeveloping his beachside property in Hampshire, too, to the irritation of some neighbours.
Ratcliffe also owns the struggling fashion label Belstaff, and has started a car company from scratch. It was the Ineos Grenadier – a 4X4 that aims to replace the discontinued Land Rover Defender – on show at the Labour Party conference.
His attention has increasingly been divided by sport, too. In 2017, he bought Swiss side FC Lausanne-Sport and despite admitting to some “silly errors” – they were relegated into the second tier last year – he went on to pay £88m for French top-flight side OGC Nice in 2019.
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https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2023/10/21/manchester-united-sale-jim-ratcliffe-ineos-bid/
James Ducker, Northern football correspondent at The Telegraph, writes:
Erling Haaland launched a foul-mouthed tirade at referee Simon Hooper after Manchester City’s dramatic 3-3 draw against Tottenham ended in anger and controversy at the Etihad Stadium.
Haaland led a furious protest when Hooper decided to pull play back for a foul in the fifth minute of stoppage time moments after appearing to play the advantage when the City striker released Jack Grealish through on goal.
The Norwegian – incensed at Hooper seemingly reneging on his original decision and denying a goal-scoring opportunity – charged over to the referee, who was surrounded by an angry mob of City players.
Haaland appeared to scream “F— off! F— off!” at Hooper and was booked for his trouble before getting involved in a clash with Spurs players Giovani Lo Celso and Brennan Johnson at the final whistle when he launched another expletive-strewn rant.
City’s No 9 later took to social media to further vent his anger, posting “Wtf”, which means ‘What the f—”, on X above a video of the incident, a move that could yet land him in hot water with the Football Association.
City, who had come from behind to lead 2-1 and then 3-2 before Dejan Kulusevski plundered a 90th-minute equaliser, also risked being charged by the FA for failing to control their players given the way Hooper was confronted.
Why Haaland was so furious…
Haaland is fouled
The game has entered its fifth minute of stoppage time when, with the scoreline locked at 3-3 after Dejan Kulusevski’s late equaliser, Rodri plays a pass into Haaland. Emerson Royal, the Tottenham defender, comes sliding in and catches Haaland with a poor, lunging challenge.
Referee goes to stop play
The tackle results in the Manchester City striker momentarily falling to his knees and, at that moment, Simon Hooper, the referee, appears ready to blow his whistle, stop the play and award a free-kick.
Haaland gets up and referee signals advantage
Haaland has no intention of staying down and quickly jumps to his feet and turns. Hooper spots the Norwegian’s reaction and resists blowing for the foul and then raises an arm, seemingly to signal advantage being played. It looks like an excellent piece of officiating.
Grealish released but referee blows for free-kick
Haaland’s clipped pass over the top is a beauty and releases team-mate Jack Grealish ahead of three Spurs players, only for Hooper to inexplicably blow his whistle and call the play back, reneging on what appeared his original decision to play the advantage.
Grealish through on goal
Grealish appeared onside and through on goal, even if it cannot be certain the England midfielder would not have been caught. Asked after the game if Spurs had got away with one in that instance, Ange Postecoglou, the Spurs manager, conceded: “Yeah, I guess so, mate.”
Haaland fury
Haaland reacts furiously, charging over to Hooper to lead the inquest as other disbelieving City players, including Ruben Dias, Mateo Kovacic and Rodri surround the beleaguered official. Haaland is a picture of pent-up rage, unable to compute the decision and bellowing in the face of Hooper. City’s No 9 is then booked after appearing to shout “F— off! F— off!” at the referee. Haaland eventually walks away but is seen throwing his arms around in disgust at the decision as others continue the protest. Royal is also shown a yellow card.
Haaland clashes with Spurs staff
Haaland had still not calmed down by the time the final whistle goes a few minutes later and, after the Tottenham player Giovani Lo Celso knocked into him as he went to leave the pitch, City’s top scorer turned out and was seen apparently screaming “F— you! F— you!” in his opponent’s direction. A stand-off with another Spurs player, Brennan Johnson, briefly ensues, with Postecoglou at one point trying to motion Haaland away.
Haaland would later vent his anger on social media, posting the caption “Wtf” – shorthand for ‘What the f—’ – above a video of the incident on Twitter.
Guardiola: I won’t do an Arteta
Pep Guardiola warned he would not “do a Mikel Arteta” by launching into a verbal assault of the officials, as the Arsenal manager had done in the wake of his side’s 1-0 defeat against Newcastle last month.
“Next question, I will not do a Mikel Arteta comment,” he said.
But the City manager insisted Haaland’s reaction was “normal” in the heat of the moment and claimed Hooper would have been “disappointed” by the decision had he been representing the club.
Guardiola also joked that, if the rules prohibiting players from challenging the officials had been applied correctly, 10 City players – all except the captain – should have been sent off.
“It’s normal,” Guardiola said. “His [Haaland’s] reaction was the same for [the other] 10 players. The rules are you cannot talk with the referees or fourth officials so we should have had 10 players sent off today.
“He’s [Haaland] a little bit disappointed. Even the referee – if he played for Man City today he would be disappointed for that action, that’s for sure.
“It is hard when you review the image, the referee decides to blow the whistle after he has already said to play on. After the pass, the whistle, so I do not understand this action.”
Guardiola said he was “surprised” Hooper had blown his whistle having initially signalled advantage to City.
“In that action it’s football,” he said. “I make mistakes, the players make mistakes. It surprised me because in the moment Erling went down for the action from [Emerson Royal] if you whistle in that moment it’s fine.
“But when he stands up and continues and the referee in that moment makes that gesture to ‘play on, play on’ and after he [Haaland] makes the pass he then stops the game. I don’t want to criticise him.
“On the touchline sometimes I lose my mind and my gestures are not proper but here normally for many years as a manager I’m not a guy when I’m refreshed to comment. But I would say we didn’t draw for that.”
‘He made a mistake, it’s a poor call’
Ange Postecoglou admitted that Spurs had perhaps been fortunate when asked if his side had “got away with one” in that instance. “Yeah, I guess so, mate,” the Tottenham manager said.
Hooper’s decision drew criticism from a number of former players. Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender, claimed the referee had “panicked” while Micah Richards said the decision was hard to fathom.
“The referee had a brilliant game today until this moment,” the former City defender said. “I don’t understand. He puts the whistle to his mouth, he waves it on but stops to play advantage. Grealish is clearly through but then he stops the play, which I just don’t understand.
“The evidence is there for all to see. He didn’t blow it the first time but then Grealish is through and he blows it to stop play. He’s cost him a one-on-one chance with the keeper.”
Roy Keane, the former Manchester United captain, claimed City should have been more frustrated about Tottenham’s equaliser. “He’s made a mistake,” Keane said.
“There’s been a few out there today. It’s a poor call, he’s played advantage and give him credit for that, but then he’s stopped it and made a mistake. It’s a poor decision but City should be the critical ones who let Spurs off the hook.”
Link: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/12/03/erling-haaland-man-city-tottenham-referee-fury-simon-hooper/