In March this year, Craig Gordon travelled to London to see a man called Usamah Jannoun, a spine doctor who didn’t sugarcoat the risks involved in the treatment the 43-year-old needed to fix a neck injury.

“You’ve read the information leaflet,” Jannoun told the injured Hearts and Scotland goalkeeper.

“You could get paralysis, you could die…”

From there to here – in Charlotte, North Carolina getting ready for a World Cup that must have seemed like an impossible dream only a few short months ago.

Behind-the-scenes footage of Gordon talking to Jannoun features in Icons of Football, a BBC Scotland documentary on Gordon’s life and times, available on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday at 06:00 BST. It’s by turns emotional, harrowing and inspirational.

Gordon says his entire career has been a series of comebacks, a litany of fights against the odds.

Through a succession of serious injuries – ankle issues, broken arms, broken leg, knee surgeries, neck and shoulder problems – he has missed an estimated 1,975 days of football or around 200 games. Way back in 2012 he suffered patellar tendonitis, a career-threatening condition that kept him out for two years.

He visited experts in Sweden and Spain, had three surgeries and visited a psychologist because his club at the time – Sunderland – thought the pain that left him in major difficulty when trying to climb the stairs or walk down the street might have been all in his head. It was not.

A surgeon advised Gordon to retire. He decided to carry on. From 2012 to 2014 he played no football. He was the forgotten man, cast into a recurring nightmare of rehab and hope.

“I suppose I try and hide it,” he says of the upset caused by all the physical trauma. “There are definitely times where I’ve cried because of injury. I just probably don’t show it to everybody else.”

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The World Cup referee from Somalia who was denied entry to the United States after arriving in Miami and subsequently cut from the tournament by FIFA was set to make history for his country.

Omar Artan was going to be the first referee from Somalia to officiate at a World Cup after making FIFA’s final list for the tournament, which was announced two months ago. He is one of Africa’s top referees and was named the continent’s best male referee in 2025.

He was denied entry at Miami International Airport on Saturday over “vetting concerns,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement without giving details of those concerns. Artan was issued a visa to travel to the U.S. last week, according to the Somalia Embassy in Kenya that processed it.

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said Tuesday the referee was denied admittance for “very good reason” but also declined to go into details.

The move to deny a FIFA-appointed match official permission to enter a World Cup host country is highly unusual. Artan was due to meet up with other World Cup referees at their training base in Miami.

Somalia is one of nearly 40 countries subjected to new travel restrictions under the Trump administration’s strict crackdown on immigration. That raised concerns that fans, players and officials from those countries — most of which are African — might be caught up in the crackdown and denied entry for the World Cup despite having valid visas.

The Somalia Youth and Sports Ministry said on Tuesday that its embassy in the U.S. was trying to resolve the problem to allow Artan to referee at the World Cup, which opens on Thursday.

The refusal to allow him into the U.S. might be related to the larger travel restrictions on Somalia “rather than any specific allegation against him,” Isse Aden Abshir, a senior adviser at the Somalia sports ministry, told The Associated Press.

Artan subjected to ‘additional inspection’

Customs and Border Protection said in a statement Monday that Artan “underwent additional inspection” on arrival and called it “a routine part of CBP’s inspection process when officers need to verify information or determine admissibility.”

“Following inspection, the traveler, a referee for the FIFA World Cup, was determined to be inadmissible due to vetting concerns and was denied entry,” CBP said.

CBP said all travelers seeking entry into the U.S. — including World Cup players, coaches and staff — were subject to CBP inspection and vetting.

“Admissibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis using law enforcement, national security, and immigration information available at the time of inspection,” the CBP statement said. “CBP officers have the authority to question travelers, conduct inspections, and determine admissibility consistent with U.S. law.”

FIFA drops ref from World Cup

FIFA said it was not involved in the immigration processes and was informed by U.S. authorities that Artan’s “status will not be changed at present.” It said Artan wouldn’t be able to train and officiate at the World Cup.

“In line with previous FIFA events, a host government ultimately determines who receives a visa and who is admitted into their country,” FIFA said.

Still, FIFA and its president Gianni Infantino built close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump’s government as the U.S. prepared to co-host with Mexico and Canada and had publicly stressed how that would help the World Cup run smoothly.

Infantino did not immediately comment on the issue, while FIFA released a statement on behalf of Artan.

“Despite the circumstances, I am in a positive mood and I am focused on the next challenges in my refereeing career,” Artan said in the statement.

He was to make history for Somalia

Artan was praised as one of Africa’s best referees and was the ref for the decisive leg of the African Champions League final last month — Africa’s biggest club soccer game.

He spoke in a recent interview with the Al Jazeera TV network about how he was honored to be selected as the first Somali to referee at the World Cup and how he faced challenges in his conflict-torn country in East Africa, including sometimes having to change his route to training because of explosions in the streets of the capital, Mogadishu.

“You cannot give up as a referee,” Artan said in the interview. This (going to the World Cup) was my big, big target and I’m really excited.”

___

Imray reported from Cape Town, South Africa. AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva and AP writer Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed.

___

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Scarborough Fringe has launched its 2026 programme for its ten-day festival, which will run from Friday (June 12) to Sunday (June 21).  

Free and ticketed performances will feature theatre, music, comedy, spoken word, children’s shows, talks and workshops.

Recommended reading:

Artists and performers will also be offering meditative sound baths, immersive experiences, and theatre and street performances.

Resident glass expert on the BBC’s The Repair Shop, Matt Nickels, will open up his studio (Image: Scarborough Fringe Festival)

Speaking about this, Festival Manager for The Scarborough Fair, Catherine Goble, said: The Fringe programme is really exciting this year. We’re showcasing local, national and international talent in venues across the town, in a wide array of genres.

“There really is something for everyone.

“What sets Scarborough apart from bigger fringe festivals in the UK is the financial accessibility.

“All our shows are free or low-cost. We aim to mainly sell advance tickets, to ensure nobody is disappointed on the door, and we really encourage early purchases to guarantee a seat.

“Some of our venues are small capacity and we want as many people to enjoy the shows as possible.”

Carter Sampson is set to take centre stage on June 20 (Image: Scarborough Fringe Festival)

Scarborough Fringe is part of The Scarborough Fair, a year-round culture and sports programme.

The festival’s line up includes a performance by Aidan Jones, an Australian pianist who combines his love of stand-up comedy with his music – a performance hailed by The Guardian as “side-splittingly funny” on June 19.

Meanwhile, chart-topping singer Carter Sampson is set to take centre stage on June 20 at the Woodend Gallery & Studios, with resident glass expert on the BBC’s The Repair Shop, Matt Nickels, opening up his Studio 26 – where he works alongside established Scarborough artist Rachel Welford – on July 11.

Three local theatre groups will also be performing shows – all written, directed and performed by local creatives.

For younger audiences, the Astro Dog Planetarium is inviting families to join them for an immersive solar system experience at the Scarborough Market Hall Mezzanine on June 20.

In total, 115 events are signed up to appear at the festival.  

For more and a full programme of events, please see here.

North East artisan bakery firm Deep North will be taking over the former Hobo Coffee House on the town’s High Street. 

The independent brand prides itself on being a by-scratch bakery, meaning everything from the dough and jams to fillings and glazes are homemade.

From crème brûlée and ‘Homer’ doughnuts to brown butter and miso caramel, the chain is hailed for its “to die for” offerings.

The firm teased doughnut lovers on Monday with an Instagram post saying: “Yarm… fancy a doughnut?”

Deep North is opening in Yarm (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Deep North currently operates three sites in the North East; Front Street in Tynemouth, Stepney Bank in Ouseburn, Newcastle, and Sheepfolds Stables in Sunderland. 

It also operates from the Mother Mercy cocktail bar in Heaton, Newcastle, on weekends. 

Deep North has now erected signs on the former coffee shop in Yarm for its new venture, saying artisan doughnuts and speciality coffee will be coming “very soon”.

What Yarm residents can expect from Deep North (Image: DEEP NORTH)

The company was founded by schoolfriends Phil King and Tom Clark, who opened in Tynemouth in summer 2022. 

Phil King of Deep North (Image: NEL)

Before setting it up, Phil had worked on the commercial side of professional football, and having trained as an apprentice chef at Café 21 in Newcastle, Tom went on to enjoy a 20-year career in the Navy. 

The news of Deep North’s expansion comes just days after “best of the best” patisserie Soigné confirmed it was moving into the former Fourteen Drops in Yarm after putting up new signs on the windows.

Soigné, which is run by father and son Stephen and Josh Palmer, has seen huge success since opening in Ingleby Barwick last May.

The upcoming Deep North unit has been empty since Hobo Coffee House closed in May 2025, having been based there for the last ten years. 

Hobo has since moved to Padel Up, on Preston Farm Industrial Estate. 

Last September, UJI Matcha announced it was due to move into the unit and even put up a sign, but this never came to fruition. 

All Saints’ Primary has been on this journey for a few years, encouraging and motivating not just the children, but the whole school community to read for enjoyment.

All Saints’ Primary in Airdrie have recently achieved the prestigious Gold Reading Schools Award from the Scottish Book Trust.

All Saints’ has been on this journey for a few years, encouraging and motivating not just the children, but the whole school community to read for enjoyment.

The All Saints’ Reader Leaders, a group of children and staff, have worked hard to change the reading culture and attitudes across the school, where reading is viewed as a treat rather than a chore.

From CAR (chill and read) time, reading challenges, book fairs, the creation of 2 in-school libraries, comic club, visits and projects with Airdrie Library and support from local businesses and establishments, All Saints’ have found the fun and joy in reading and actively share and talk about books they enjoy.

All Saints’ are proud to be a Gold Reading School.

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

Available for over a year

Today, a Sudanese man in his 30s is being held on suspicion of attempted murder after a knife attack in North Belfast.

Footage of the attack has been widely shared on social media. Politicians in Westminster and Stormont have appealed for calm while the police carry out their investigation, while some have called for faster transparency and information about the identity and immigration status of the suspect.

Adam is joined by Chris Page, the BBC’s Ireland correspondent, and Joe Pike, senior political correspondent, to discuss what we know about the events and the political reaction.

Plus, SpaceX, Elon Musk’s spaceflight corporation is set to debut on the stock market this week giving members of the public the opportunity to buy shares in the company. Simon Jack joins Adam in the studio to explain why investors will be closely watching the debut.

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Miranda Slade with Anna Harris. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Ricardo McCarthy. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Programme WebsiteShow less

Maitiu Mág Tighearnán has been identified as one of the heroic passers-by who leapt in to try to stop the bloody attack in Belfast on Monday

Advertisement

The community is celebrating the courageous actions of a local man with a campaign to ‘buy him a pint’, which already has more than £7,000 raised, as it emerges he may have saved a life amid a knife attack in Belfast.

Emergency services descended on the Kinnaird Avenue area in north Belfast on Monday (June 8) night to reports of a stabbing.

Video footage of the assault also showed several people attempting to intervene and stop the attacker from inflicting further injury as the victim lay apparently helpless in the street.

The victim, a man in his 40s, is now in hospital in critical condition. Police have also said a Sudanese man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Now, locals have launched a GoFundMe to offer a man who appeared to try and stop the attack a pint. Maitiu Mág Tighearnán has been identified as the man who appeared to have stepped in to help, reports Belfast Live.

The fundraiser, which has been launched by Niall Donnan, has already passed £7,700 at the time of writing. It states: “I have set up this GoFundMe so the people of our land can show our support to Matt for his incredible bravery and courage.

“100% of donations will be sent to Matt directly. Let’s buy him a pint!”

The gesture comes as the “extraordinary courage” of those who intervened have been celebrated across Northern Ireland and beyond.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said it was important to “acknowledge at the very outset the bravery of those members of the public who ran towards danger to intervene and help the injured man”.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said he believed their heroism may have saved the life of the victim. He said: “They showed extraordinary courage and bravery to step in, to put themselves in danger to save, I think possibly, a man’s life because of their selfless acts, and I want, on behalf of everybody I’m sure, to thank them for that,” he told the Press Association at the scene on Tuesday morning.

Mr Finucane said his thoughts first and foremost are with the victim, and his family and friends, but also with residents who witnessed what happened, police who came upon a horrific scene, and first responders from the Ambulance Service.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn also said members of the public who intervened “showed the very best of humanity”.

The ‘barbaric’ attack has caused widespread outrage and been condemned by politicians and community leaders across NI.

A number of protests have been planned for the evening of Tuesday, June 9, in response to the incident. This has led to a number of businesses closing early and sending their staff home.

If you would like to donate and buy a pint for the ‘knife attack hero’ please follow this link.

Imagine calling yourself part of the Dingle family when you can’t even spot an easy scam.

Emmerdale’s Caleb Milligan (William Ash) is having this exact existential crisis. He got caught out easily by a scammer using a fake version of his daughter Steph’s voice to ask him for £5,000. He paid it without question, and now he’s embarrassed himself and is an embarrassment to the Dingle name.

The scammer also now knows he’s an easy target. That is one bruised ego and he should hang his head in shame. Caleb decides to call the police and vows revenge on whoever has done this to him.

As Caleb tries to figure out how this happened, Ruby (Beth Cordingly) mentions that the scammer seemed to know a private detail about Laurel and Ross, suggesting who ever it is, is close.

What Caleb doesn’t know and what makes it all the worse, is that he’s being scammed by a teenager – Jai Sharma’s (Chris Bisson) son Archie (Kai Assi). He’s been outsmarted by a kid, Jai’s kid.

Kerry discovers what Archie is doing and despite a crisis of conscience, decides to encourage him. They’re thrown off course when Pollard (Chris Chittell) catches them and threatens to call the police, but some fast talking from Kerry gets him to back down.

Caleb’s pride is dented and he needs to come up with a fix. Having seen Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton) with a counterfeit purse, it gives him an idea.

Caleb plans to start selling knock-off goods to get his head back in the game. He has a depot and haulage vehicles, the perfect platform for his crime.

He feels that doing this will give him back his edge, but he must keep it secret from Jai. But he can’t do it alone, so pulls in Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) to be his right-hand man. He trusts Billy – he was the one he gave his bank account details to, to transfer the money.

Billy is reluctant, but it’s not long before Caleb is piling on the pressure and Billy agrees to make the drop. Their new counterfeit business is up and running.

Another point he doesn’t know, is that after telling Jai about the whole swindling situation, Jai starts putting two and two together, realising his son is somehow involved.

Don’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Add us as a Preferred Source

Advertisement

He corners Kerry and demands to know what she’s done, but will Kerry rat on the lad?

MORE: Emmerdale’s Kerry plays with fire as she scams Caleb – with shock accomplice

MORE: All Emmerdale spoilers for next week as legend horrifically attacked

MORE: Emmerdale ‘confirms’ who wipes the grin off Dr Todd’s face – and it’s not Charity or Jacob

In the past, World Cup hosts have tended to give Fifa what they want – and that includes easy access for officials and supporters.

It has been the case with two of the most divisive World Cups, in Russia and Qatar.

Indeed, Russia positively rolled out the red carpet in 2018, removing any need for a visa.

All supporters required was a valid passport and personalised card known as a ‘Fan ID’ to prove they were travelling for the football.

In Qatar, fans needed a Hayya card – serving a dual purpose as a pre-screened travel entry document and an entry pass to games.

That is not the case in the United States, with claims that barriers have consistently put fans off making the trip.

“You’re supposed to be welcoming fans from around the world,” Thomas Concannon, who leads the FSA’s England fans’ group, told BBC Sport in April.

“And I think at this stage, fans couldn’t feel less welcome.”

It is not even as though Trump inherited the tournament from another administration. It was endorsed and backed by his presidency, with the intention to bid lodged a few months after he took office in 2017.

What has changed is the sheer extent of the immigration crackdown.

Trump is happy to take the plaudits for the glitz and the glamour of the World Cup, but it will not distract from that key aim.

It is not just Artan who cannot get into the United States. Supporters of Iraq, which is not on the banned list, have described how they have given up trying to get into the country.

Iran, meanwhile, on Tuesday said its allocation of tickets for the group stage has been revoked, because of a decision taken by US authorities.

Infantino’s words seem hollow. It is clear that this Trump administration has placed immigration above anything else – including this World Cup.

The next test will come on Sunday, when Iran are due to fly into the United States for the first time.

Iran has accused the US of denying visas to 15 “integral” members of their backroom staff.

The squad are permitted to fly in and out of the country from Tijuana in Mexico within 24 hours for each match – but this has yet to be tested.

If a team cannot attend their own game, it would be another unprecedented twist.

“Never have we seen so many World Cup coaches, team operations, fans and even senior administrators within Fifa member associations, subject to so much interrogation and exclusion,” Fare’s Powar added.

“The disruption is such that one has to ask who is running the World Cup. Is it Fifa or is it the US government with its racially charged immigration policies?”

As Fifa cannot get all of its referees into the country, it feels like the US government is in control.

Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister has appealed for “calm” following the “barbaric” Belfast knife attack.

Speaking at a press conference at Stormont, Naomi Long said: “I think all of us were horrified at what we witnessed unfolding last night in North Belfast. And I understand that many people in that community this morning will be traumatised, they will be fearful, and they will be angry at what unfolded on their doorstep, and they have every right to be so.”

The leader of the Alliance Party appealed for people “to remain calm, to allow the police to do their work in terms of their investigation”.

Ms Long added: “Allow the justice system to hold the individual responsible to account for what was a shockingly barbaric attack on our streets. We do not want police resources and other people to be caught up in what could become a very heated situation.

“We want the police to be able to focus on this investigation and deliver the justice that the victim and his family and the wider community deserves.

“We also know that there are many in our community today who are fearful, who are afraid because they fear that others will associate them with the person who was involved in this attack.

“We need to reassure them too that their safety, along with everyone else’s safety, is our primary concern.”