Teams will be penalised for grappling from corners at the World Cup this summer as referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina makes a number of major changes ahead of the tournament

Referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has brought in a major crackdown on grappling at corners at the World Cup this summer.

And that will come as a major blow for England boss Thomas Tuchel, who has admitted that he wanted to use set-pieces – including free kicks, corners and throw-ins – as a major weapon in the United States.

FIFA are bringing in a raft of new directives ahead of the tournament to crackdown on players covering their mouths, time-wasting, hydration breaks and also new VAR rules to intervene on wrongly awarded corners, second yellow cards and also mistaken identity.

And the really eye-catching directive is a clampdown on grappling at corners, which Arsenal have turned into a work of art in the Premier League as Mikel Arteta’s champions scored 24 goals from set-pieces last season.

At the moment, there is effectively a free-for-all where you can push, block and foul before a corner or free kick is taken and FIFA want to stop that happening at the World Cup.

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Referee chiefs have been able to gain last-minute approval from law makers IFAB to allow VAR checks to allow fouls to be given for penalty box grappling BEFORE corners and free kicks to be given.

IFAB confirmed in a statement: “The IFAB has approved a clarification to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocol for use at the 2026 FIFA World Cup regarding clear offences committed by the attacking team before the ball is in play at a corner kick or free kick that have a direct impact on a goal, penalty kick, or disciplinary sanction.

“If the offence meets the criteria set out in the clarification, the VAR will recommend an on-field review, following which, if the referee determines that an offence occurred before the ball was in play, the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken and the corner kick or free kick will be retaken.”

Tuchel admitted that he has been working on it with the express idea that set-pieces will be important because of searing heat and conditions in the United States this summer. But Collina made it very clear that they are looking at a clampdown – and have even used an England goal as one of the examples of what will not be allowed in a pre-tournament presentation to referees this summer.

Ben White scored for England against Uruguay at Wembley in March but there were accusations that Adam Wharton blocked José María Giménez in the build-up and refs were shown that to make sure that would not count in future.

Collina said: “The incident at Wembley was very serious. The ball was not in play and there was a clear foul committed by an illegal block against the defender. That block was the only projected threat preventing the defender from being able to defend on his opponent.

“This happens a lot when defenders mark man to man and attackers try to create space but we are convinced that this goal cannot stand. It is completely unfair.”

But the move has already caused something of a potential backlash because the new clampdown is seen as being one way traffic. Attackers can be punished for fouls before the set-piece is taken – but it will not apply to defenders which would result in a penalty.

Collina also defended the decision to allow VAR to intervene on even more incidents during the World Cup such as corner kicks and yellow cards.

He added: “I would ask those fans or fans or whatever they are, if they would be happy that their team, club or national team, lose an important competition because of this kind of incident. Would they be happy?

“Would they say: ‘Oh, ok, we lost the match, the corner kick, it was a fake corner kick, but we accept it because the VAR is written that cannot intervene.’ Do you think that they would be happy? What do you think?”

The key points

• Red card will be shown to any player covering their mouth while talking to an opponent in what is deemed an “aggressive manner.” Doing it in a friendly way is fine. Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was given a six game ban for covering his mouth while talking to Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior.
• Players or coaches will be given an automatic red card if they leave the field of play in protest at a referee’s decision. This follows the crazy scenes at the African Cup of Nations.
• There will be a five second throw-in countdown to crackdown on time-wasting and if the throw is not taken in time then it will be awarded to the opponent.
• A new goal kick countdown of five seconds will be imposed by the referee – and a corner will be awarded for any violation.
• Players must leave the field within 10 seconds of being substituted – unless injured or for safety reasons. If the rule is broken then the sub will not be allowed to enter the field of play until the ref says so in the next break of play.
• Players cannot re-enter the pitch for one minute if they go off for treatment. This is designed to crack down on time-wasting. There are exceptions if a keeper is injured, concussion and also if a penalty kick is awarded and the injured player is the penalty taker.
• VAR can now intervene on second yellow cards, in cases of mistaken identity on yellow and red cards and corner kicks being wrongly awarded.
• There will be a three minute hydration break at the midway point in each half in every game through the tournament.

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Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

A £600,000 resurfacing scheme ended on the road a few months ago

The Infrastructure Minister has said they are “deeply concerned” about a bonfire in South Belfast that could cause damage to a £600,000 resurfacing project that ended a few months ago.

A bonfire is starting to be built at the junction of A55 Milltown Road and Milltown Hill that has the potential to damage a road that was recently resurfaced. Work ended on the road in February. A bonfire is normally built at the location and has caused damage to road and pavement previously.

Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins has expressed deep concern regarding the bonfire and the risk it could pose to the recently completed resurfacing scheme and the wider public being so close to a road. She has asked for community leaders and political representatives to come together to address the concerns and find the best way to address the risks.

A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said: “The Minister is deeply concerned about the building of bonfires on Departmental land, or adjacent to the public road, given the potential risk they can present to the public. There has been a significant investment made in the Milltown Road, close to this site, with the recent completion of a 1km resurfacing scheme at significant costs to public finances.

“The Minister is urging political and community leaders to come together to address safety concerns around the bonfire and the potential damage to the road. She has asked Department officials to proactively engage with multi-agency partners to determine the most appropriate way to address risks associated with this bonfire.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Assistant Commissioner Pat Goulbourne, who the strategic event commander for London Fire Brigade, said: “Fortunately, the fire caused only a small amount of damage to the exterior of the building. Pyrotechnics are also believed to have triggered the fire alarms at several other locations in the area.

A major search has been launched for an 11-year-boy who disappeared after entering the River Don in South Yorkshire.

Emergency crews were called to Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough at 8pm yesterday to reports the young boy had entered the water.

A specialist search operation is ongoing involving th National Police Air Service, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

The boy’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

Members of the public have been asked to avoid area while enquiries continue.

Response team inspector Neil Pryce said: ‘We know, from witnesses and items left on the riverbank, where the boy entered the water.

‘Utilising specialist knowledge and skills, a coordinated multi-agency operation is underway and we are doing everything we can to find this young man.

‘We are invaluably assisted by an underwater search team, supported from above by the police helicopter and drones.

‘This is a tragic incident and we understand that members of the public want to do all they can to help but we must ask that, for everyone’s safety, only those who are involved in our operation enter the River Don.

‘To give the boy and his family the dignity they deserve, we ask that people do not spectate or film the search operation.’

Some 15 people have drowned in waterways across the country over the heatwave.

A 19-year-old man died on Thursday after entering Balderton Lake in Nottinghamshire.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Authorities in Hawaii have charged a 36-year-old man with murder in connection with the deaths of three people in a remote community known for its eclectic, communal lifestyle.

The Hawaii Police Department said Jacob Daniel Baker was charged on Saturday with first- and second-degree murder.

He remained in custody without bail on Sunday and was scheduled to make his first court appearance on Monday. It was not immediately clear whether he had legal representation.

The charges come two days after Baker was arrested following a manhunt on Hawaii’s Big Island, where the three victims were found in the rural Puna district, an area known for its lush tropical landscape and free-spirited community.

Robert Shine, 69, was found dead Monday partially submerged in a cement pond, according to police. The second victim, a 79-year-old man, was discovered Tuesday a few hundred feet away. Friends identified him as Chitta Morse.

Police found the third victim, 69-year-old John Carse, late Tuesday at a property 19 miles (31 kilometers) from where the other two bodies were located.

Police have not given a suspected motive for the killings. Hawaii Police Chief Reed Mahuna has said investigators found no connections among the victims other than that two of them lived near each other.

In addition to the murder charges, Baker also faces counts of burglary, auto theft and criminal damage to property.

The killings left residents on edge in Puna, a community set amid lush jungle and barren lava fields where people seeking to live off-grid commonly trade work for lodging.

Puna resident Stephen Shaffer said that Baker had worked for his ex-wife, climbing coconut trees on land where she grows fruit, in exchange for a place to live. After several months, Shaffer said, his ex-wife sought a restraining order against Baker, saying she felt threatened by him.

Donald Hyatt, a friend of Shaffer’s ex-wife and of two of the men killed, said Baker left the cabin where he had been living months ago. Hyatt said that Baker recently returned claiming “squatter’s rights” and threatened Shaffer’s ex.

Just days before the killings, two women had requested temporary restraining orders against Baker, saying he had threatened and harassed them, according to court records. A judge denied both applications, saying there was not enough proof of harassment.

Court records showed Baker named in 20 other cases in the past two decades, many of them traffic infractions. In most of those cases, Baker had no attorney and represented himself.

An urgent appeal has been issued to help locate Irish man Tommy O’Neill, who has been missing in Ibiza for over two weeks

An urgent plea has been launched to trace an Irish man who has vanished in Ibiza for more than a fortnight.

Efforts are ongoing to find 34-year-old Irish national Tommy O’Neill, who was last spotted at the Amistat Hostel in San Antonio, Ibiza on May 13. Neither Tommy’s relatives nor friends have reportedly been in contact with him for two weeks.

Tommy’s relatives, who are worried about his welfare, have urged any solo travellers who might have encountered the Irish man to get in touch. Tommy is said to be six feet tall with dark brown curly hair.

His brother posted on social media: “Hi everyone, we are deeply concerned for the wellbeing of my brother, Tommy O’Neill, and urgently need your help.

“He was last seen on May 13 at the Amistat Hostel in San Antonio, Ibiza, and his family and friends have not heard from him in two weeks. We have filed a missing person’s report, but we’re hoping that fellow solo travellers may have crossed paths with Tommy in recent days and can help where possible.”, reports the Irish Mirror.

“Tommy is a 34-year-old Irish man, six feet tall, with dark brown curly hair (as shown in the attached photo). His mental health has deteriorated recently, so he is currently very vulnerable and may be acting unusually or appearing confused.

“If you recall seeing or speaking to anyone matching this description around San Antonio or anywhere else on the island over the last two weeks, please contact me immediately.

“Please WhatsApp me at +49 2933 780 if you have any information at all, no matter how small it might seem. Please share this post to help us reach as many people in Ibiza as possible. Thank you.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told the Irish Mirror: “The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance. As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of individual cases.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

As summer approaches, supermarkets have started filling up with seasonal goodies.

In addition to delicious drinks, ice cream, and picky bits, you can expect to see some brand-new chocolate products hitting the shelves.

And if Cadbury is your favourite, you’re in for a treat.

That’s because the confectionery giant has just quietly dropped a new chocolate bar, with a rather unexpected flavour.

Cadbury has released a Strawberries & Creme Frappe Dairy Milk bar in the UK.

Inspired by a fruity summer drink, the chocolate bar features crispy strawberry-flavoured rice pieces in a smooth creamy layer, all encased in classic Dairy Milk chocolate.

Fans are already ‘hunting it down’ in shops, and some shoppers have found it in supermarkets such as Morrisons and The Food Warehouse.

On Instagram, @treatsinstore shared a closer look at the bar, which was priced at £1.75.

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Those who want to try it will need to be quick, as it’s a limited-edition item, meaning it won’t be around for long.

While Cadbury hasn’t shared any kind of announcement about the bar online, photos of it have already been circulating on social media.

Over on Facebook, the chocolate bar was hailed as ‘incredible’, and many said they would be ‘keeping an eye out’ to try one.

A few people also pointed out that it was very similar to a discontinued Cadbury product – the Dairy Milk Strawberries & Creme bar.

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This was launched in 2013 and made a comeback in 2014, before ultimately being axed for good in 2015. It featured milk chocolate with a creamy strawberry filling.

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While there are similarities between the two, the big difference here is that the new frappe one has crispy pieces inside, while the other was smooth.

Will you be trying Cadbury’s new Strawberries & Creme Frappe bar?

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This comes after Cadbury confirmed a brand new Twirl bar is heading to the UK later this year.

The new product is a Golden Dipped Twirl.

This will see the classic flaky chocolate filling coated in a layer of smooth golden, caramelised white chocolate, as opposed to the standard milk chocolate.

And the brand also recently released two new desserts, one of which featured Twirl pieces.

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There are two new ‘made to share’ Cadbury Pots of Joy, which feature extra add-ins. The first has Twirl chocolate pieces, while the other features mini Oreo biscuits.

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Soccer Aid viewers were left with serious second-hand embarrassment during this year’s game thanks to surprise appearances from two Hollywood legends.

Having been in the UK to promote Toy Story 5, Tom Hanks (the voice of Woody) and Tim Allen (who voices Buzz Lightyear) dropped by the London Stadium to get a slice of the Soccer Aid action.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the annual tournament raises vital funds for Unicef and welcomes some of the biggest names in sport and showbiz to battle it out on the pitch in teams England and the World XI.

Hanks, 69, and Allen, 72, weren’t there for a kickabout, obviously, but ITV still made the most of them, as podcaster and influencer GK Barry nabbed them for a cheeky interview… which quickly descended into chaos.

Chatting from the tunnel, it was clear they didn’t quite grasp what was happening – but tried their best to appear invested.

The segment also saw Paddy McGuinness lean in for a quick selfie with Hanks, while Danny Dyer brazenly rubbed his head.

As GK asked the stars which celebs they were excited to see play, Hanks named Soccer Aid founder Robbie Williams… and that’s pretty much all he had.

GK helped them out, listing the likes of Tom Hiddleston and Wayne Rooney (England’s captain), which kept them engaged for what ended up being a very bizarre couple of minutes of television.

Heaping praise on the I’m A Celebrity star, @Joshmitchison wrote on X: ‘Wow that was awful fair play to GK for keeping that kind of together’.

‘Tom Hanks and Tim Allen have no idea who any of those people are’, mocked @GingerFil7.

‘This feels like some sort of weird fever dream right now’, laughed @chutch92, asking, ‘What is happening?’

@AlexPaterson0 quipped that the actors ‘look like they have been on the alcohol’ and ‘haven’t got a clue what it’s about’, prompting @JohnKeeno to suggest that Hanks did seem to be a ‘fan’, but Allen ‘couldn’t give a c**p’.

‘Why am I watching Woody and Buzz talking with Danny Dyer’, added a bewildered @Si_23Q.

@SocialMediaJon1 joked that GK interviewing Hanks isn’t something they ‘ever’ thought they’d see, with @LadyFerny echoing: ‘Buzz and Woody randomly turn up’.

Thankfully, the duo seemed a bit more put-together when they stepped up for a very important role in the match.

Hank and Allen brought out the match ball to roaring cheers from the stadium, Allen declaring, ‘Whoa! That is a crowd!’ before Hanks comically slicked back his hair using the trophy as a mirror.

After fist-bumping some of the kids on-pitch, they made their way to presenters Alex Scott and Dermot O’Leary, with Hanks saying with a smile: ‘What a lovely, intimate way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

‘All of my best friends are here.’

Allen then read out the fundraising total, which had already exceeded £4million ahead of kick-off, giving the people a real, ahem, buzz by shouting finally: ‘To infinity and beyond!’

Reacting to their feature, @EvertonHel called them ‘legends’, and @Villaboy89 said they are ‘Disney royalty’.

For 2026, Soccer Aid welcomed back some frequent faces, such as Tom Grennan, Sam Thompson, and Alex Brooker, while newbies included Baby Reindeer’s Richard Gadd and youngest-ever Soccer Aid player, Adolescence’s Owen Cooper, who is 16.

Other celebs taking part for the good cause were Maisie Adam, Chloe Burrows, Jordan North, Damson Idris, Olly Murs, and Joe Marler, while Harry Redknapp and Bradley Walsh sat on the management team.

Completing the line-up, we had several pro footie players, such as Jermain Defoe, Jen Beattie, and Dimitar Berbatov.

Unicef ambassador and pop icon Williams, 52, also performs during the half-time show to celebrate two decades of the charity event, which has raised more than £121m.

As explained by Soccer Aid, the money raised from this year’s game could help Unicef’s work with families, communities, and trusted partners to bring ‘life-changing support to children around the world, like clean water, vital vaccinations, or the opportunity to learn, so that every child can get the best start in life’.

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As ever, there are some legends of the game taking to the pitch, too, with Wayne Rooney, Jack Wilshere and Joleon Lescott all set to roll back the years, as Adolescence actor Owen Cooper stands to become the event’s youngest-ever participant. Follow all the action from the London Stadium LIVE below with Standard Sport’s dedicated match blog!

In a new video uploaded to his YouTube channel today (May 31), the day after the BGT final, the star announced he would be splitting from the seven-man social media group.

The Sidemen (SDMN), which also consists of Miniminter, Zerkaa, Vikkstar123, TBJZL, Behzinga, and Wroetoshaw, have been together since 2013, and have millions of subscribers across multiple channels.

However, KSI, whose real name is Olajide ‘JJ’ Olatunji, is set to ‘leave’ the group.

KSI announces he is ‘leaving’ YouTube group The Sidemen

In a video posted on social media, he said: “This is honestly the hardest video I’ve ever had to make in my life.

“I’ve gone back and forth on this decision for a very long time.

“I’ve spent months trying to figure out what the right thing to do is.

“But after a lot of thought, I’ve decided that I will no longer be doing Sidemen videos.”

He later added: “The truth is, nothing bad has happened.

“This decision is completely my own.

“Over the last few years, I’ve felt myself being pulled in a lot of directions than ever before.

“Between everything else in my life, I feel like I’ve been running at full speed at 100mph.

“I’ve spent so long trying to be everything for everyone, trying to be everywhere, trying to do it all, trying not to let anyone down.

“But somewhere along the way, I started losing the balance in my own life.”

KSI joined the judging panel full-time for the latest series of Britain’s Got Talent (Image: Thames/ITV)

KSI went on to thank each of the Sidemen, as well as the crew behind the scenes and the fans.

He concluded by saying: “For now, I need to focus on myself, and I need to focus on fixing my work-life balance, just so I can finally focus on my health, and finally make time to see my family and make time to see my partner.”

“There isn’t an atom of bad feeling between him and The Sidemen, both understand that they’ve got huge workloads and are enjoying massive success,” an insider told The Sun.

“That just means they’ll have to move in different directions, but that doesn’t mean they won’t work together again at some point in the future.”

Is KSI really leaving the Sidemen?

Some fans were not entirely convinced the news was true.

It is not the first time KSI has left the group, having claimed to have split from The Sidemen in 2017.

KSI is officially leaving the Sidemen. 💔

He will no longer be appearing in Sidemen videos from today, Sunday 31st May. pic.twitter.com/3OeB8GsnA8

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— Sidemen Updates (@sdmnfcupdates) May 31, 2026

However, this did not officially happen, and instead led to a series of back-and-forth ‘diss tracks’ from members of the group.

Fans of the group did predict that the latest announcement was a forfeit of some kind.

One wrote: “This has to be a forfeit.”

Another added: “This can’t be real.”

A third said: “I really can’t tell if it’s true or not.”

However, others believed the announcement, with one writing: “Good on him. I wish him well. Time to focus on family and relationships.”

Another said: “It’s real, and that’s okay. Family and relationships above content all day, every day.”

KSI’s departure from the Sidemen was confirmed in a social media post from the group.

It read: “We’re sad to share the news that JJ has decided not to continue as part of the Sidemen.

“We had an amazing time on this journey with him and we wish him all the best with his future endeavours.

Recommended reading:

“This doesn’t change anything for the rest of us.

“We’re still committed to creating the best content, events and shows that we can for you all.

“This came as a surprise to us and we know it will be an adjustment for you, but we’ve got lots of exciting stuff planned that we can’t wait to share.”

Are you a fan of The Sidemen? Let us know in the comments.