A trade deal has been struck between the UK and European Union following the historic exit of the UK from the Union. In a press conference, Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, expressed his relief that the “clock is no longer ticking” and highlighted the positives from the deal and ceremoniously thanked the negotiating teams…
Norfolk to move into tier 4
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock, announced today (23 December 2020) that Norfolk will move into Tier 4 of the COVID restrictions in England at 00:01 on Boxing Day (26 December 2020). The Government website states: “If you live in Tier 4 you must not leave or be outside of…
Black British Business Person Of the Year, Segun Osuntokun: “ Fix the system, not the people”
Segun Osuntokun has an impressive collection of books. Last month, the managing partner of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner was named the Black British Business Person of the Year. Meeting virtually, he smiles before pushing himself forward on a spin chair. “As a corporate solicitor, I don’t regard myself as a business person, so to be…
Keep it off me head son!
Usually I only hear mention of head injuries in football when people say I must have one for supporting Arsenal. The Gunners recently played Wolves and the unnerving sound of David Luiz and Raúl Jiménez’s heads coming together sent shockwaves through the footballing world. We know now that Jiménez is in hospital recovering from a…
The battle of the EPLs
Recently, news of plans for a European Premier League have emerged, with a financial package of almost £5 billion being assembled to form the potential breakaway competition. Unlike previous proposals for a European Super League, this idea is planned to work alongside the English Premier League. Nevertheless, whether or not the two competitions can work…
History made: The first all-Black officiating team in the NFL
Monday Night Football on the 24th November saw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers face off against the Los Angeles Rams. However, it was not the play of the teams that night that will forever go down in NFL history. For the first time in the National Football League’s history, an all-Black officiating crew worked a game….
Why diving isn’t worth making a song and dance about
Erik Lamela’s theatrical reaction to Anthony Martial’s flick to his face in the Tottenham-Manchester United game in October provides a useful case study for the problems with diving and exaggeration in football. Graeme Souness described Lamela’s display as ‘very Latin’ – a remark for which he was later accused of xenophobic stereotyping. However, I believe…
Tranquility in Victory: How Mercedes Are Rewriting Formula One’s Record Books
It is hardly surprising that Mercedes’ record-breaking seventh consecutive Constructors’ Title was accompanied by an ongoing curiosity of what makes the Brackley squad unbeaten in Formula One’s new V6 hybrid era. Historically, there has been a tendency to link any sports team’s performance to an individual or a group of individuals in the management. Ferrari’s…
The men of a thousand faces
If any of the Welsh 2016 European Championship squad are reading this and take issue, my editor can give you my details. Ovie Ejeheri, Arsenal’s highly-rated young goalkeeper has three nations competing for his gloves: England, Nigeria and Uganda. Ovie himself was born in England, yet his father is Nigerian and his mother Ugandan. As…