Sport

Heather Knight: England captain admits social media post charge

Published

4 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Heather Knight: England captain admits social media post charge

England women captain Heather Knight has admitted a charge over a social media post in 2012 when she was pictured in blackface.

Knight, who was 21 at the time, was attending an end-of-season fancy dress party at a cricket club in Kent.

A picture of Knight in blackface was posted to the Facebook account of another individual.

She has been reprimanded by the Cricket Discipline Commission and fined £1,000, which is suspended for two years.

“I’m truly sorry for the mistake I made in 2012,” said the 33-year-old in a statement issued via the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

“It was wrong, and I have long regretted it. Back then, I simply was not as educated as to the implications and consequences of my actions as I have become since. There was no ill-intent meant.

“Whilst I can’t change the past, I am passionate and committed to using my platform to promote inclusivity across the game, ensuring under-represented groups are afforded the same opportunities and fulfilment within the game as I have.”

Knight has been England captain since 2016 and will continue to lead the team at the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates next month.

The batter has been with the England team on their training camp in Abu Dhabi since 13 September.

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MMA

Watch Sean O’Malley continue to troll Merab Dvalishvili after UFC 306 loss

Published

58 seconds ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Watch Sean O’Malley continue to troll Merab Dvalishvili after UFC 306 loss

Sean O’Malley continues to troll Merab Dvalishvili.

At UFC 306, Dvalishvili earned a unanimous decision win over O’Malley, claiming the bantamweight title. In the immediate aftermath, O’Malley said he had “no excuses” however, “Suga” quickly changed his tune, later arguing that he should have won three rounds of the fight and arguing he was still the bantamweight champion. In response, Dvalishvili fired back at O’Malley with a video mocking the former champion as his “son.”

And now O’Malley has responded.

On Monday, O’Malley dropped another video on his social media, mocking Dvalishvili and their fight, saying he was working on things he learned in his last fight, before holding a heavy bag and lightly kneeing it, then feigning getting hurt to the body and head afterward.

“What’s up guys. I’ve got surgery on Oct. 3, [but that] doesn’t mean I’m not going to continue to improve and take away things I learned from my last fight and start implementing now.”

O’Malley is scheduled for surgery to repair a torn labrum in his hip on Oct. 3, suffered before UFC 306, and hopes to return to action next summer. Meanwhile, Dvalishvili is likely to face Umar Nurmagomedov in the first defense of his bantamweight title.

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Sport

Manchester United new stadium: No public cash going on club’s stadium plans

Published

21 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Manchester United new stadium: No public cash going on club's stadium plans

No public money will be spent on Manchester United’s plans for revamping their Old Trafford home for the time being, the mayor of Greater Manchester has confirmed.

Andy Burnham has outlined ambitions to redevelop the stadium alongside a “mixed use” neighbourhood featuring apartment blocks, shopping centres and new public transport stations.

The club’s owners are currently considering whether to pursue a £2bn plan for a brand new 100,000-seat stadium or redevelop the existing ground.

However, a freight rail terminal situated behind the stadium needs to be moved to free up land to make room for any expansion and Mr Burnham suggested some taxpayers’ cash could go into infrastructure needed to move it to Merseyside.

Old Trafford, which currently has a capacity of 74,310, has been Manchester United’s home since 1910.

While it will be up to the club to fund any new stadium or refurbishment, the mayor said it was possible some taxpayer cash could go into infrastructure for the new neighbourhood in the future, to help build transport links.

Mr Burnham has now called on the government to fund plans to connect the under-construction Parkside freight terminal on the St Helens-Wigan border to the West Coast Main Line, which could cost in the region of hundreds of millions of pounds.

“What you have here is the huge potential to fix the rail system of the north west of England,” he said at the Labour conference in Liverpool.

Mr Burnham added taking the freight to Parkside and out of Manchester city centre “fixes things for passengers”.

“They won’t have to have the freight disruption,” he said. “What that then does is free up the space around Old Trafford so the club is able to have all of its options looked at and has the biggest possible footprint to use so it can bring forward the most ambitious regeneration.

“We hope it’s the best football stadium in the world, which brings benefits to residents around it.”

The mayor was joined by ex-Manchester United and England star Gary Neville, who sits on a taskforce created by the club to evaluate the best options for the future of Old Trafford.

Neville said he was “not bothered if it’s either” a new stadium, or the existing one being refurbished.

“The most important thing is Manchester United end up with a world-class stadium,” he added.

“I’m more interested in the overall masterplan in the surrounding area. We have seen what happens when you put football at the heart of that regeneration.”

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Sport

Rafael Nadal: Former world number one included in Spain’s Davis Cup squad

Published

42 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Rafael Nadal: Former world number one included in Spain's Davis Cup squad

Nadal missed the US Open because he said he would not “be able to give my 100% at this time”.

He then pulled out of the Laver Cup earlier in September, saying he believed there are “other players who can help the team deliver the win”.

Nadal also missed the Australian Open in January through injury and decided not to play Wimbledon to focus on the Olympics.

He previously hinted at retirement later this year, but said before the French Open he was not “100%” certain that would be the last time he played at Roland Garros.

The Davis Cup quarter-finals take place 19-21 November, with the semi-finals following on consecutive days before the final on Sunday, 24 November.

Reigning world number one Jannik Sinner is set to lead defending champions Italy, who will seek to become the first team to retain the title since 2013.

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MMA

Alex Pereira ‘breaks game first and shoots on Khalil Rountree’

Published

43 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Alex Pereira ‘breaks game first and shoots on Khalil Rountree’

John Wood thinks Alex Pereira will resort to wrestling Khalil Rountree at some point during UFC 307.

Rountree (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC) challenges light heavyweight champion Pereira (11-2 MMA, 8-1 UFC) in the Oct. 5 main event from Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Rountree vowed not to wrestle the former two-division Glory Kickboxing champion to find success. His head coach Wood doubled down on that promise, and went as far as saying it’ll be Pereira needing to change up his game plan.

“I believe, honestly, my gut, I think Pereira shoots on Khalil,” Wood told ESPN. “I think he’s the one that breaks game first and shoots on Khalil to try to get that takedown, because that’s actually something he’s done. I mean, we ain’t shooting over here, I can tell you that.

“Khalil can – it’s not like we don’t train MMA, wrestling, wrestling defense, all these things. … I think Alex shoots first, but yes, I would be shocked if this fight goes five rounds. Someone is going out on their shield. It’s going to happen, and obviously I think I know who it is.”

According to DraftKings, Rountree is a +350 underdog against Pereira, who’s a -455 favorite to retain his title. Pereira is coming off knockouts of Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka in the past six months. Rountree made it five straight wins when he knocked out former title challenger Anthony Smith in his most recent appearance in December 2023.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 307.

Be sure to visit the MMA Junkie Instagram page and YouTube channel to discuss this and more content with fans of mixed martial arts.

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Football

Elland Road capacity to expand to 53,000

Published

44 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Elland Road capacity to expand to 53,000

Elland Road can currently hold 37,645 supporters

Nigel French/PA Wire Inside Elland Road stadium — Elland Road can currently hold 37,645 supporters

Leeds United Football Club has announced plans to increase the capacity of its stadium to accommodate 53,000 supporters.

The Elland Road ground can currently hold 37,645 fans and has been full for every home match played in the last six years.

There are also 26,000 supporters on the waiting list for season tickets.

The plans would also see the ground modernised to meet UEFA Category 4 regulations for “elite” European stadia.

Paraag Marathe, chairman of Leeds United and president of the club’s owners, 49ers Enterprises, said: “We recognise how important Elland Road is to the Leeds United fans and the wider community.

“The opportunity to refresh a century-old stadium, coupled with the legacy of Leeds United, is unprecedented.

“Our plans reinforce our commitment to the long-term success of the club and I am excited that we are going to be able to welcome thousands more supporters to every game, in a stadium that retains the unique atmosphere of Elland Road.

“We look forward to sharing our plans with supporters and the local community for their input.”

‘Enhanced atmosphere’

The capacity of the new Elland Road would be the seventh-largest of any club ground in the country.

The stadium has been the team’s home since Leeds United was formed in 1919.

Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: “Expanding and enhancing the existing ground will allow many more fans access to games while protecting the unique Elland Road atmosphere.

“This investment can also be a catalyst for wider regeneration plans for south Leeds, which represents an opportunity of national significance.

“Getting there will be easier with work to improve Leeds Station and the introduction of a White Rose rail station, along with the potential of a proposed mass transit route from the city centre close to the ground.

“We’ve had some very positive initial meetings with their team and look forward to working with them on this important vision, to ensure this project moves forward and unlocks significant benefits to the city and its communities.”

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