The news of the Premier League’s return on 17 June has been greeted with jubilation by football fans across the world. Now, the players and managerial staff must galvanise themselves for what promises to be an intense fixture list. With Liverpool set to stroll to the title, much of the excitement will focus on the […]
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The show must go on…eventually
There is growing sentiment that the coronavirus pandemic will see the abrupt termination of this year’s football season. Today Fifa’s chief doctor, Michel d’Hooghe, warned against restarting the interrupted 2019/20 campaign and in France it was announced that the Ligue 1 season would not resume. While d’Hooghe suggested teams and governing bodies focus their attention […]
Are we set for a sporting annus mirabilis in 2021?
Speaking as someone who postponed his wedding today, it’s easy to cast your eyes away from the disappointment of current events. As an ardent sports fan, this summer looked set to be full of highlights capable of igniting passions and inspiring hobbyists. For now at least, that’s all gone: club football, the Six Nations, Euro […]
Sport must do more to combat drug cheats
The handling of doping irregularities by athletes was put into sharp contrast today. Chinese swimming star Sun Yang received an eight-year ban for a missed test, having previously served a three-month suspension in 2014 for taking a prohibited stimulant. Hours later, the head of the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Brett Clothier, warned that the high-profile […]
Klopp right to adopt hardline stance
Everyone loves Jurgen Klopp. The smile, the charm and the exciting playing style of his teams have long made it hard for us not to. But now with Liverpool unbeaten in the league and strolling to the title, he’s also hugely admired for his success. So it must be a shock to suddenly receive criticism. […]
It could be lonely this Christmas for Szczęsny
At the start of the season it was difficult not to feel a little sorry for Wojciech Szczęsny. The Polish goalkeeper joined Juventus back in the summer of 2017. He signed for the club on the understanding that he would be Gianluigi Buffon’s understudy for the final season of the Italian’s career, and would then […]