Over recent weeks, the England cricket hierarchy has been at pains to show it has learned lessons from a dismal Ashes in Australia. Chief executive Richard Gould, director Rob Key and captain Ben Stokes have led a charm offensive aimed at showing they really do care about county cricket, that they will not be giving failing England players any more leeway, and that preparing for a Test series might actually be a good thing.
Stokes grabbed more attention this week with another interview on the ECB website, in which he insisted his relationship with head coach Brendon McCullum is not strained by a difference of opinion on England’s approach, and that they are “95 per cent aligned”.
All of which has left former England captain Michael Vaughan perplexed. “I have no idea why that interview was released,” Vaughan says. “I don’t think there’d have been one person waking up that morning thinking, ‘Oh, Ben and Baz have got an issue’. Two hours later, that interview gets released, and it’s clear that they’ve had a bit of a problem in the winter.”
Vaughan was not convinced by Key and Gould’s PowerPoint presentation to the media at Lord’s that attempted to lay out England’s next steps and was dismissed as “management speak” in some quarters. “The corporate messaging was just corporate messaging,” says Vaughan. “Slideshows for slideshows’ sake, just to try and prove that they’re becoming more of an attention-to-detail organisation.
“If they really wanted to put on a front, then Ben Stokes, Rob Key and Baz McCullum should have been presenting those slides in front of the media. I have no idea why Richard Gould was talking about cricket. He’s the CEO. He’s what I call the bean counter of the game, and looks after the finances.”
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Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum insist they will be keeping a keen eye on the County Championship (Robbie Stephenson/PA)
The question now is whether England will really change. Can the bridge between the County Championship and the England Test team be rebuilt after it was left to decay for four years?
There are certainly places up for grabs when England take on New Zealand at Lord’s in June, in the first of three Tests. Zak Crawley’s position as an opener is in serious doubt. The bowling unit is not set in stone. Vaughan, who is speaking to promote the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup, a new national hardball competition for state schools, believes there must be changes at both ends of the line-up if England are to start afresh.
“They need tone-setters with bat and ball, so they need someone who opens the batting with Ben Duckett. You can’t expect to be the No 1 team in the world with someone who averages 31 from 64 games [Crawley]. We need to get away from just selecting players because they play in the vibe this era has created. Your opening batters have got to average over 40.
“And then I’d be looking at someone like Ollie Robinson. With the new ball in Australia, they were poor, and they need someone that’s going to set the tone. England needs to sit with Ollie and if it’s a mental thing, if it’s a fitness thing, if it’s an attitude problem that Ollie Robinson has, England have to iron it out. They’re not a good enough team to just put someone like Ollie Robinson on the scrapheap. You look at his numbers in Test match cricket, they’re up there.”
Vaughan at the launch of the Barclays Knight-Stokes Cup at Lord’s this week (Jed Leicester)
There is plenty of time for County Championship players to catch the eye, with four more rounds of games before McCullum and Stokes pick their side. But there is already a familiar name at the top of the run scoring charts: Jamie Smith had an Ashes to forget with the bat and the gloves, but he has made a brilliant start to the season at Surrey, scoring two centuries in two matches batting at three.
The concern with Smith is that his teammate Ben Foakes is Surrey’s preferred wicketkeeper. Smith is likely to retain his place in the England Test team, even after some brainless shots down under, but his glovework needs attention. Vaughan says it is time for him to knuckle down and learn the art of the keeper, even if that means taking matters into his own hands.
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“He’s obviously not keeping for Surrey, which is a problem for me. Like Shoaib Bashir, he wasn’t getting in his county team, but he’s [an] England spinner, that can’t be right. But [Smith] should play because he’s too good … His batting’s going to be fine at seven – I’m sure he’ll end up maybe at six in time.
“But I just look at Matthew Prior, when he first started for England as a wicketkeeper-batter, and his keeping was a little bit flawed, and suddenly he went and worked away with [former England wicketkeeper] Bruce French, worked his nuts off every morning and drilled and caught loads of balls and became a brilliant wicketkeeper-batter. I look at Jamie Smith and think, ‘Go on, take a leaf out of Prior’s book’.”
England were criticised for their lack of specialist coaches at the Ashes, with only a temporary bowling coach and no fielding coach on the tour, during which they dropped 18 catches. There was also no keeping coach to work with Smith directly on his struggles behind the stumps.
Jamie Smith has been in sublime form for his county this month (Getty)
“The coaching has to get better, it’s as simple as that,” adds Vaughan. “Baz McCullum has got to coach the team, and he needs to bring in expertise. And if Jamie Smith is working with Alec Stewart or Bruce French, whoever, Jack Russell, that wicketkeeper coach should be around the England team for the preparation days. And if I was the coach of England, which I’m not, I’d be fine with players bringing in their own coaches to make sure that they’re ready for the Thursday start.
“I’ve never, ever seen a keeper improve by not catching balls. You have to do all the drills. You have to catch loads of balls, and that’s on the Tuesday morning, the Wednesday morning, the Thursday morning, the Friday morning. Every single keeper that I see that gets to the top in their profession are catching balls all the time. I just need to see a bit more of that.”
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Over a thousand teams have signed up for the chance to play at Lord’s as stars encourage greater access to cricket in state schools. Find out more here.
Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter walks the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony, Jan. 31, 2015, at Symphony Hall in Phoenix, appearing at the annual event celebrating the league’s top players and achievements during Super Bowl week festivities. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
Hall of Fame Minnesota Vikings wideout Cris Carter was rather obviously not a huge fan of J.J. McCarthy, using his platform to criticize the passer a few times during the 2025 regular season. But in the 2026 offseason, Carter thinks McCarthy will eventually get a chance to prove himself.
Minnesota has a new QB1 for now, but Carter clearly believes McCarthy still has meaningful time to reclaim the job.
The Vikings now have Kyler Murray on the roster for QB1 duty, yet Carter says not to count out McCarthy just yet.
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The Vikings’ Quarterback Timeline Still Leaves Room
A fresh take from the Vikings legend.
Cris Carter reacts during the Enshrinees Gold Jacket dinner, with Aug 2, 2019 marking the event at the Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center in Canton, Ohio. The Hall of Fame wide receiver took part in the annual ceremony honoring the newest class ahead of enshrinement weekend festivities. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Carter on McCarthy
Carter spoke to Heavy this week, and to the surprise of some, he unloaded an optimistic McCarthy take.
“J.J. McCarthy, he’s still going to get an opportunity because most quarterbacks aren’t going to stay healthy for 17 games, so there will be an opportunity for him not only to learn and get better, but also to watch and learn from a guy like Kyler Murray … But I’d expect Kyler to be the starter this season,” Carter said.
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He added about the Vikings’ offense, “Kevin O’Connell has proven with this offense when he’s had a healthy QB, he’s been able to win 12, 13, 14 games during the regular season. If you look at the nucleus of players they do have coming back … you’d have to be looking at the Vikings to be back in the playoffs and competing for the NFC.”
“Their offensive and defensive lines are more fortified than they were 2 years ago; they just need consistent quarterback play and the ability to allow that defense to be able to turn the ball over and get after the quarterback.”
For the most part, Carter was spot-on.
McCarthy’s Whirlwind 2025 Campaign
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McCarthy showcased his potential late in 2025 in games against Detroit, Washington, Dallas, and New York, demonstrating confidence and effective offensive leadership.
However, the rest of his record is less promising. Recurring injuries hampered his performance and prevented him from achieving week-to-week consistency. By the end of 2025, he ranked last in EPA+CPOE, highlighting an underwhelming first season as a starter.
Ultimately, McCarthy’s availability is the major concern. Since entering the league in 2024, he has missed 24 of 34 possible games, resulting in a 70% absence rate over two seasons. He started the season with a memorable moment at Soldier Field, struggled the following week, got hurt, returned with a vengeance, got hurt, got hot in December, and then got hurt again.
Carter Is Correct on QB Injuries
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One thing is certain from Carter’s musings: Murray isn’t necessarily an Iron Man. He’s missed 26% of all games in his career, translating to a pattern of staying under center 12 or 13 games per season. If his history catches up with him in 2026, well, McCarthy will be ready to step in as the QB2, assuming he keeps Carson Wentz at bay, whom Minnesota signed last month for more depth.
There’s a world where Murray gets hurt — again, he’s not known for extreme durability — and McCarthy enters the lineup. Then, you know, he could just stay there if his mechanics have improved and his maturation mirrored that of an NFL starter.
McCarthy’s story doesn’t have to be over in Minnesota. It might just require some serendipity if the form of a Murray injury, as morbid as that sounds.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) exchanges words with Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore (2) following the game, with Dec 7, 2025 marking the matchup at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. McCarthy showed visible emotion during the postgame interaction after a hard-fought contest. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Zone Coverage‘s Wyatt Wade wrote last month, “While Murray’s signing helps the Vikings in 2026, it could create an issue in the future. McCarthy and Brosmer have only one more year on their contracts beyond this season. As a first-round pick, McCarthy has a club option after 2027, and Brosmer would be a restricted free agent.”
“The Vikings also haven’t signed Wentz yet and seem hesitant to bring in another quarterback to challenge McCarthy for the backup spot. If Murray stays healthy and chooses to leave after this season, the team is right back where they started before this offseason, if not in a bit worse situation.”
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Vikings’ Life Easier if McCarthy Is Good
Minnesota picked McCarthy with a purpose in 2024 — to be the franchise quarterback after Kirk Cousins. That plan has not worked. Injuries have spoiled the forecast.
But that doesn’t mean anyone has to be low on his future. His stock took a major hit when Murray signed the dotted line, rest assured. Yet, the Vikings’ long-term outlook would be so much easier if McCarthy arrived to 2026 as an improved and healthy man. It wouldn’t matter if Murray worked out, and the Vikings wouldn’t need to eye young quarterbacks in 2027 or 2028.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrates after a road win over the Chicago Bears, with Sep 8, 2025 marking the game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. McCarthy reacted with energy after helping Minnesota secure an early-season divisional victory in a hostile NFC North environment. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images.
In that vein, Minnesota might have two favorable outcomes churning: a chance for Murray to get back on track as a Pro Bowl quarterback, and if he does not, a hope that McCarthy develops and matures, as was the plan in the spring of 2024.
Carter is right that McCarthy will probably get a chance to strut his stuff in 2026. Given Murray’s history, it might be weird if he stays 100% healthy in all 17 games.
STUTTGART, GERMANY – APRIL 16: Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in action against Diana Shnaider of Russia during the Women’s Singles second round match on day four of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix 2026 at Porsche Arena on April 16, 2026 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
Elena Rybakina has moved into the quarter-finals in Stuttgart with a straight-sets win over Diana Shnaider, 6-3, 6-4.
Rybakina dropped just three points on serve in the opening set and lost only one point behind her first serve in the second.
She has now won five matches in a row, having lifted the title in 2024.
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After the match, she was asked about finally being able to enjoy the Porsche she won in Stuttgart in 2024.
“Well winning the tournament gave me a good push to finally take my exams and get the drivers license,” she said. “I have the drivers license. I’m enjoying the car… It’s been amazing. Super happy to be back.”
Rybakina also spoke about her calm approach on court.
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“Well I’m trying to control myself that’s for sure… I’m trying to focus on the next point. Forget the mistake as soon as possible. Overall a pretty calm person. It helps on the court.”
On how she spends time away from tennis, she added:
“Definitely not fishing… If it’s been a really difficult week, then I try to stay and relax… If I have a longer vacation I prefer to do something fun. A rollercoaster or something fun with the friends, family.”
Despite being debutants, Palace were installed as favourites to win the Conference League at the start of the season.
It took a while for them to live up to that tag, with many of their performances in Europe looking somewhat turgid.
But their 3-0 win against Fiorentina – two-time finalists in the Conference League – showed what they are capable of.
Next up for Palace is a two-legged semi-final with Shakhtar, with Strasbourg facing Rayo Vallecano in the other tie.
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“They made light work of them [Fiorentina] really, but from here on in they will expect some really tough games, there is some good quality in the competition,” added Tomkins.
“The question is whether they can bring the positivity from the first leg. That was the best I’ve seen them for a while, the three-week break did them the world of good and they looked like the team we saw early this season and last season.”
The season will end with Glasner’s departure, but it could also end with a European prize.
“Of course, that is what we all want,” said the Austrian.
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“We want to enjoy our life together, not just the football. The more successful you are, the more you enjoy your life.
“When you play the semi-final, you want to get it all at the end and that’s what we will go for.”
Shreyas Iyer was at his acrobatic best as he played the lead role in a fantabulous catch to dismiss Hardik Pandya in a Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings IPL 2026 match in Mumbai on Thursday. The catch came on the third ball of the 18th over bowled by Marco Jansen. Pandya had just hit a six and were starting to look dangerous. The third delivery of the over would have also gone past the boundary but for Iyer. Iyer ran in from long-on and leapt to reverse-cup the ball while airborne before throwing it to Xavier Bartlett, who completed the catch. Replays showed that Iyer had released the ball on time. After the catch was completed, Iyer gestured to the Mumbai crowd, urging them to applaud. Though the scorecard might say that Pandya was caught by Bartlett, it was ‘practically’ Iyer’s catch.
SHREYAS IYER, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!
One of the best catches you would see in the #TATAIPL history
A belligerent century from Quinton de Kock (112 not out) and a gritty 50 from Naman Dhir pulled Mumbai Indians out of doldrums and lifted them to an under-par 195/6 against Punjab Kings in their Indian Premier League match here on Thursday.
Confined to warming the bench so far, de Kock replaced Rohit Sharma and smacked his third IPL hundred to lead an inspirational fightback for the troubled Mumbai Indians, who had slipped to 15/2 in three overs and had their backs firmly pressed against the wall.
The veteran Protea batter was in his elements during his unbeaten ton — a 60-ball 112 not out (8x4s, 7x6s) and his first in IPL since 2022 — clobbering the ball powerfully on the leg-side and picking boundaries with precision and terrific timing on the off.
India and Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh (3/22) swung the ball precariously with immaculate lengths to snaffle two key wickets early on, while a third came late in the innings. PBKS completes the chase in less than 17 overs.
With PTI inputs
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Tushar Deshpande’s Brilliant Final Act Ensures Thrilling Win For RR Over Gujarat Titans
Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians players after the match at Wankhede stadium. (Pic credit: IPL)
NEW DELHI: Punjab Kings continued their dominant run in the ongoing IPL 2026 season, dismantling Mumbai Indians by seven wickets to climb to the top of the points table on Thursday. The victory ensured Punjab remain the only unbeaten side in the tournament so far, extending their strong start to nine points from five matches.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The win pushed PBKS ahead of defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Rajasthan Royals, who are now second and third on the table with eight points each. RCB, led by Rajat Patidar, hold a slight edge on net run rate (+1.503), the best in the season so far, while RR trail closely behind. The top three remain tightly packed, separated by only a point, setting up an intense race for the top spots in the coming fixtures.At the other end of the table, Mumbai Indians’ struggles deepened with their fourth defeat in five matches. The five-time champions are languishing in ninth place in the ten-team standings with just two points, sitting just above Kolkata Knight Riders, who remain winless with one point from a rain-affected fixture against PBKS earlier in the season.The mid-table battle remains equally congested, with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings all locked on four points each. Sunrisers Hyderabad currently occupy fourth spot on net run rate, with Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings following in close succession, underlining how little separates the middle order of the table at this stage of the competition.With Punjab in imperious form and several teams tightly bunched behind them, the IPL 2026 standings remain finely poised as the tournament heads into a crucial phase.
Latest IPL 2026 Points Table after MI vs PBKS match
While their initial battle in 2015 may have been an underwhelming affair inside the ring, it became the highest grossing event in the history of boxing, making it clear why there is demand for it to happen again despite both men now being well into their 40s.
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Over the past few weeks though, doubts have started to be raised about their clash, after Mayweather claimed that there were still details that had to be finalised, and if it was to take place it would be an exhibition rather than a professional contest.
With frustration clearly growing, Pacquiao has now sent a fresh message to Mayweather in a video captured by ESNews, first making it clear that his rival must proceed with the contest.
“He has no way to get out of the fight. He’s fighting. Sanctioned fight.”
Pacquiao then finished by sending a stern and clear warning to Mayweather.
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“Be a man.”
With the conflicting reports continuing to come out of both camps, a definitive decision over the fight will have to be made soon.
Quinton de Kock – he came, he saw and he conquered. Playing his first match of IPL 2026, Quinton de Kock slammed an unbeaten ton. De Kock’s 112* and a gritty 50 from Naman Dhir pulled Mumbai Indians out of the doldrums and lifted them to an under-par 195/6 against Punjab Kings in their Indian Premier League match here on Thursday. Confined to warming the bench so far, de Kock replaced Rohit Sharma and smashed his third IPL hundred to lead an inspirational fightback for the troubled Mumbai Indians, who had slipped to 15/2 in three overs and had their backs firmly pressed against the wall.
With the ton, de Kock surpassed MS Dhoni on the elite list of designated wicketkeepers in the IPL to have scored most 50-plus scores.
Most 50-plus scores by a designated wicketkeeper in the IPL
He is also the first overseas player to score a century for three different IPL teams.
Players to score hundreds for three IPL teams
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KL Rahul – Punjab Kings, Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals
Sanju Samson – Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings
Quinton de Kock – Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians
De Kock’s 112* against PBKS is the highest score by any MI batter in the first innings of an IPL match. He broke the record held by Rohit Sharma (109 vs KKR, 2012). Sanath Jayasuriya‘s 114* against Chennai Super Kings remains the highest individual score by a Mumbai Indians batter in IPL history.
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The veteran Proteas batter was in his element during his unbeaten ton – a 60-ball 112 not out (8x4s, 7x6s) and his first IPL hundred since 2022 – clobbering the ball powerfully on the leg side and picking boundaries with precision and terrific timing on the off side.
India and Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh (3/22) swung the ball prodigiously with immaculate lengths to snaffle two key wickets early on, while a third came late in the innings.
After beating Ryan Rickelton (2) persistently with deliveries that swung away from the left-hander, Arshdeep had the South African caught at deep square leg on a shortish ball. He was all over India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav (0), luring him outside off on the first ball and beating him with swing to have a thick edge flying to short third man.
With Suryakumar back in the hut and Tilak Varma (8) out of sorts, MI took a punt by promoting Dhir to No. 4, and the right-handed batter repaid the faith with a gutsy knock that required patience.
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Dhir was also lucky when on 10, as Yuzvendra Chahal spilled a sitter at short fine leg off Marco Jansen in the fifth over. He was fortunate again when a misjudgement in calling for a single in the next over did not result in de Kock being run out at the non-striker’s end, as Shreyas Iyer missed the direct hit.
Mumbai Indians once again had an underwhelming powerplay – 48 for 2 – but the home camp was relieved that there was no further damage. The pair had already begun the rebuilding work, and from there on, neither de Kock nor Dhir put a foot wrong in their century stand.
De Kock and Dhir put on 132 off 68 balls in a robust third-wicket partnership that not only revived MI but also built a strong platform to push for a big total. However, the hosts could not manage to score at more than 10 runs an over.
With strong bottom-hand strokeplay, Dhir struck three sixes and as many fours, playing the perfect second fiddle to de Kock. The partnership ended immediately after Dhir completed his half-century, hitting one straight to long-off.
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In the 18th over, Iyer had his arms spread wide in celebration after he caught the ball off Hardik Pandya (14) while airborne near the ropes at long-on and hurled it to Xavier Bartlett for a superbly executed catch.
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IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season
People with disabilities are being shut out of the 2026 World Cup, according to fans and rights campaigners.
In stark contrast to previous tournaments, this year’s event in the US, Canada and Mexico, has no separate ticket ballot, is charging for companions who usually go free and has failed to provide free or reduced cost accessible parking. And that’s without mentioning the cost of the tickets themselves.
“I originally was going and thinking America would be amazing, and Canada and Mexico too. I’ve been many times. I know you can get about, the transport is all set up, hotels, everything is accessible, so you didn’t have any of that worry. But now the whole thing about ticketing… it’s just impossible to get tickets,” England fan Jo McNicol told DW.
“I just think they’ve priced people out. They’ve not restricted it, so anyone can get a wheelchair ticket, an accessible ticket. You don’t have to prove you need one, which is what you normally do.”
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Profit before people?
McNicol has been a regular at club matches and international tournaments for many years and was at the last World Cup in Qatar, where she found the accessibility “fabulous”. There, she said, fans with disabilities were given a proportion of the available tickets to purchase upon proof of their disability, as is also generally the case in sporting events in Europe.
Given that, McNicol booked a flight and rented a campervan for a trip this year. But she has been unable to secure tickets through the ballot system run by tournament organizers FIFA and is now unlikely to attend.
The organization has come under fire for excessive profiteering. This has included: the high initial prices of tickets, adding new higher categories to tickets without announcement, moving people’s seats after purchase, making transport and parking much more expensive than normal and profiting from a 15% levy on buyer and seller in a newly-introduced resale portal.
With category 4 tickets, the cheapest, seemingly not available for disabled fans —perhaps because they are found in the furthest, highest corners of the ground — McNicol and those like her can only access category 3 and above through said portal. This is despite no matches having been announced by FIFA as sold out. The BBC reported earlier this month that the cheapest category 3 ticket for England’s opening match is $898 (€762), up from a face value of $265.
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Disabled fans pay twice
James Flanagan from advocacy group Football Supporters Europe said tickets in Qatar were available to fans with disabilities for about $10 and that FIFA’s current policies are a “step back” that is “excluding people with disabilities from the tournament.”
With many requiring assistance at matches, Flanagan said charging for a companion was an extra penalty.
“Charging for a companion ticket, which FIFA have included in their policies, effectively doubles the cost,” he told DW. “Accessible parking will also not be discounted. All of this will challenge fans with disabilities, and time is running out to change.”
“They won’t even guarantee that the PA [companion] ticket is going to be next to you,” said McNicol, who uses a wheelchair. “But you need them. If I drop something on the floor, I can’t pick it up. If I want to use the bathroom, I need help. And also you just want to sit with someone that you want to sit with, rather than sit with a bunch of strangers. You want that choice.”
Fans ignored by FIFA
FIFA’s policy is that “companions will be seated as close to you as possible. However, the exact seat location cannot be guaranteed, and FIFA Ticketing cannot ensure that it will be immediately adjacent to your seat.”
Flanagan sees this as unacceptable. “It is not a choice that people have to have a companion with them. That is a necessity, and it’s an unfair financial burden on people with disabilities. We believe that the policy contradicts FIFA’s own commitments on inclusion and human rights,” he said.
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“FIFA needs to listen to people with disabilities, and I don’t think fans are being consulted.”
With public transport limited at many venues, parking is also a bone of contention for fans with disabilities. While FIFA’s general accessibility policy does make note that disabled parking “should be provided and located next to the stadium or close by” it does not suggest it should be free or subsidized. And it isn’t.
“Currently, fans are being asked to fork out extortionate prices for match tickets, but also $150 to $300 on an accessible parking depending on the venue,” added Flanagan. “The prices that these fans have to pay are just not acceptable.”
There are so many great golf courses out there. Some are private and require an invite to access, while others are public and provide a great place for everyone to play. But here’s my take: even if a golfer belongs to a private club, they should still make time to play public courses.
One of my tennis teammates invited me and another player on the team to play nine holes at a public course, West Palm Beach Golf Park. It sounded like fun, so we all agreed to go. This isn’t something I do often — I usually play golf with my family and spend most of my free time playing tennis — but I figured, why not?
We ended up having a great time, and it made me realize this is something I should do more often. Here are a few reasons why public golf is fun for everyone — and can help your game.
1. Exposure to new courses
There are so many excellent public golf courses, and even those that aren’t considered premier can still be a lot of fun. They often have a more relaxed atmosphere, which can make the experience even more enjoyable.
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We played The Park West Palm Beach, an amazing facility that truly offers something for everyone. We played the front nine of the championship course later in the day, which worked out perfectly — it fit our schedule and allowed the course to maximize use throughout the day.
The course itself is outstanding and presents a good challenge. The fairways are relatively wide, but there are plenty of bunkers, and the greens are quite undulating. It’s designed to be playable for all skill levels, and everyone in our group had a great time.
When you are playing new courses, it forces you to adapt your game and hit some shots you normally wouldn’t. And by expanding your horizons, you are adapting your game in new ways.
2. Socializing takes the pressure off
Playing public golf allows you to play and meet people you otherwise wouldn’t — and that can be a great thing for your game as it shifts your expectations and takes the pressure off your performance.
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Golf gives you time between shots to relax, talk, and catch up. It was great to hear what’s going on in everyone’s lives and spend that uninterrupted time together. While we all focused when it was our turn to hit, we also had plenty of chances to laugh and enjoy each other’s company.
3. Walking the course
At my home course, I almost always ride in a cart. It’s just what I’ve gotten used to. But when we checked in, we were told our group would be walking, which caught me off guard.
That said, I walk and carry my bag when I play in Ireland and Scotland, so why not here? My friends used push carts, and I carried my bag.
I really enjoyed walking and plan to do it more often. When you walk, it can help you get into a better rhythm between shots, which can lead to better scoring.
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When we arrived at the first tee, we found out we’d be paired with another golfer, something that’s very common at busy public courses.
He turned out to be a recent graduate from Providence College who had played on the golf team, so he was clearly a strong player. He was not only talented but also great to play with. We kept up well, and it was enjoyable getting to know someone new while sharing the round.
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While being paired with strangers can feel intimidating at first, it almost always works out well. Plus, it can get you out of your comfort zone and help you become better at playing in front of people you don’t know, which is a great skill to have.
5. Accomplishing individual goals
One of the best things about golf is that, regardless of skill level, there are always small wins that make the round feel rewarding.
I played pretty well overall, aside from one hole where I got a bit too aggressive going for a pin. I did birdie the final hole, though, which was a great way to finish.
My friend Nicole recorded her lowest nine-hole score, which was exciting to see. Jessica, who had recently made a significant posture adjustment, also played really well.
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All in all, it was a great day on the course, and it never would’ve been possible without access to a great public course.
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