8+ mon, 2+ week ago (421+ words) Liverpool fans booed the national anthem before the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle at Wembley Stadium Many Liverpool fans booed the national anthem as it was played at Wembley Stadium before Sunday's Carabao Cup final against Newcastle. Liverpool supporters have a long-held opposition towards the establishment, with the booing of the national anthem becoming widespread in the 1980s and during the Conservative government's "managed decline" of the city. The failings of the government following the Hillsborough disaster further entrenched those feelings. That anger against social and economic inequality among a left-leaning city and fanbase have remained, and the national anthem continues to be booed when Liverpool play showpiece finals, and those exceptional moments when the national anthem is played before Premier League games, as was the case on the day of King Charles III's coronation. On that occasion, Liverpool decided to…...

7+ mon, 6+ hour ago (1838+ words) The families of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau are still grieving their deaths last August after they were hit by a suspected drunken driver in New Jersey on the eve of their sister's wedding The family called him John. It wasn't until John Gaudreau played for Boston College that he picked up the "Johnny Hockey" nickname that followed him through 11 seasons in the NHL. His mother, Jane, gleefully recalled the "Johnny Hockey" T-shirts and sing-song chants BC fans bestowed on their beloved wizard on the ice. At home in New Jersey, older brother Matthew, who also played hockey for Boston College, and sisters Kristen and Katie couldn't help but tease their brother with the nickname as his popularity and All-Star career grew through stops in Calgary and Columbus. Take one night during the NHL Awards in Las Vegas, just one family…...

11+ mon, 3+ week ago (556+ words) Ipswich 1-2 Bournemouth: Substitutes Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara scored in the closing moment to turn the game around. Late goals from Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara saw Bournemouth come from behind to condemn Ipswich to a crushing 2-1 defeat. Town blew another Portman Road lead as their wait for a first Premier League home win continued following some drama at the death. Conor Chaplin's first Premier League goal looked to have finally ended Town's duck in front of their own fans. But for the fourth time this season they were pegged back at home after taking the lead as Unal equalised for the Cherries three minutes from the end. Fellow substitute Ouattara then grabbed a winner deep into stoppage time for the Cherries, who earlier in the season had scored three times from the 87th minute on to beat Everton 3-2. Sunday's win…...

2+ mon, 2+ week ago (766+ words) For many dedicated sports fans, keeping up with their favorite teams has become a juggling act. About 4 in 10 people who follow sports "extremely" or "very" closely use cable or satellite TV and a sports-only streaming platform, according to the poll, compared with about 2 in 10 people who follow sports "somewhat" closely. For many fans " particularly those who want to watch out-of-market teams or follow regular-season play closely " there's no other option. Creating a more seamless form of live sports distribution means essentially rebuilding the cable bundles many have ditched over the last few years. New services are emerging " most recently, ESPN's latest direct-to-consumer streaming service, which debuted in August " but for the most part, sports fans stick to multiple platforms and subscriptions. Sometimes, they choose instead to stop regularly watching a favorite sport or team. Streaming, cable " or both The people…...

2+ mon, 2+ week ago (692+ words) Beyond the noticeable changes in the new NHL collective bargaining agreement like expanding the regular season to 84 games and implementing a playoff salary cap is an investment in caring for former players that has not existed until now. The league and union will contribute $4 million annually to the newly established Retired Players Emergency Healthcare and Wellness Fund. NHL Alumni Association president and executive director Glenn Healy, a retired goaltender, said the plan provides access to a family doctor and a mental wellness professional for any player, "whether you played one shift or 10,000 games." Healy, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly and NHLPA assistant executive director Ron Hainsey shared details about the plan Tuesday for a small group of reporters attending the league's annual preseason player media tour. "Our wellness plan is not like basketball," Healy said. "It's not like football. We're different…...

2+ mon, 2+ week ago (158+ words) Judge rules that an employer can refuse to employ a Spurs fan - An employment judge has ruled that employers can lawfully reject a job candidate if their support for a rival football team could disrupt office harmony. - This hypothetical example was given by Judge Daniel Wright during a case brought by Russian national Maia Kalina against Digitas LBI. - Mr Wright suggested that an interviewer should be permitted to reject a job applicant who is an avid Tottenham Hotspur fan if the office was full of Arsenal supporters. - Ms Kalina alleged she was not hired because she was not outgoing, did not enjoy pub culture, or cursing, which she perceived as typically British traits. - The interviewer, Stephanie Hill, testified that another candidate was chosen based on who was a "better fit" for the team. - Judge Wright dismissed Ms Kalina's claims, stating…...

2+ mon, 5+ day ago (553+ words) Head coach Kevin Rouet believes his players are ready to deliver on the biggest stage as Canada attempt to turn the tables on England in Saturday's World Cup final. The Maple Leafs lost 26-19 to the Red Roses in the semi-finals of the last World Cup and were arguably the better team last October during a 21-12 defeat in the WXV1 tournament in Vancouver. Frenchman Rouet accepts his team are underdogs ahead of the sold-out Twickenham showdown as hosts England bid to extend their remarkable 32-Test winning run and remain top of the world rankings. Yet Canada, who sit second in the global standings, are unbeaten in 2025 and made a statement of intent to reach the final by outclassing defending champions New Zealand in an impressive 34-19 victory. "I think we were very close in the last World Cup," said Rouet, who was appointed…...

1+ mon, 1+ day ago (655+ words) From scandal-hit Russian figure skaters to the thousands of officials and media who faced a daily assault on their nasal passages, the Covid-stricken Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics proved a Games many wished to forget. Throw in a grim medal haul for Great Britain " salvaged only by double curling glory in the Games" final days " and it was not difficult to regard the distant Milan-Cortina Games in 2026 as an eminently more appealing prospect. One hundred days out from a return to the pinnacle of winter sports, the prospect of more daily testing misery has gone and with it the gloom that hung over a team who " curlers excepted " were never able to reach their potential in such uniquely-difficult circumstances. Chief among those to leave the Chinese capital frustrated was Charlotte Bankes, the snowboard-cross hopeful who had swept into the Games as world…...

5+ mon, 3+ week ago (566+ words) Russell Martin has emerged as the late front-runner as Rangers close in on the appointment of a new head coach. The former Rangers and Scotland defender was reported to be finalising personal terms after accepting the position, which became vacant in February when Philippe Clement was sacked. The apparently imminent appointment is the latest in a series of major developments at Ibrox. An American consortium led by Andrew Cavenagh and 49ers Enterprises secured a majority shareholding on Friday and new sporting director Kevin Thelwell officially began work on Monday. Thelwell stated on his first day that the recruitment of a new head coach would come to a conclusion "in the coming days. Outgoing Real Madrid assistant manager Davide Ancelotti and former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard " who reportedly pulled out of the running " were also among the leading candidates. Martin has been…...

7+ mon, 5+ day ago (202+ words) A judge declared a mistrial in the sexual assault case involving five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. A judge declared a mistrial Friday in the sexual assault case involving five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team. The ruling from a judge in Ontario means a new trial will be held for Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote, who have all pleaded not guilty to sexual assault. McLeod has also pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of being a party to the offense of sexual assault. The trial began Wednesday and the prosecution's first witness only briefly took the stand before testimony was put on hold for legal arguments that took place in the…...