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Guatemala paralysed as pro-democracy protests run into second week
Guatemala paralysed as pro-democracy protests run into second week
Protesters are demanding the removal of the attorney-general, whom they accuse of undermining democracy.
1970-01-01 08:00
Euro 2028: Will host nations get automatic qualification?
Euro 2028: Will host nations get automatic qualification?
Euro 2028 will be played across the UK and Ireland after Uefa announced the hosts following a meeting of it’s Executive Committee on Tuesday morning. The UK and Ireland bid delegation included a presentation from the five Football Association leaders and Wales’ former captain Gareth Bales with six football youth ambassadors on hand to explain how they will support the development and diversity of the game around their local communities. It was a formality that the UK and Ireland would be awarded the tournament after Turkey’s withdrawal left them as the only remaining bid for Euro 2028. However, not all the host nations are guaranteed to be participating in their home tournament. Usually, staging a major tournament means the hosts automatically qualify for the competition but with Euro 2028 being spread across an unprecedented five nations that is likely not going to be the case for this edition of the European Championship. In its bid guidelines, Uefa says: “In case(s) of more than two joint-host associations, the automatic qualification of all the host teams cannot be guaranteed and shall be subject to a decision to be made in conjunction with decisions concerning the qualifying competition.” Basically, as the UK and Ireland bid has more than two hosts Uefa will decide if all five should qualify automatically. They are unlikely to offer more than the two automatic places already in place so, in theory, three of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could miss Euro 2028 entirely. But is there a way all five nations could still qualify? Yes. The teams can qualify for the tournament through merit, making it through Uefa’s qualification rounds as though they were not hosting the tournament. The English FA has already informed Uefa that they will be rejecting an automatic qualification spot for England. Of the five nations involved in hosting Euro 2028, England are the most likely side to successfully make it through qualifying which also leaves the automatic spots open for two of the other sides. The FA also believes playing competitive qualifying games would provide the team with better preparation for the tournament than a series of friendlies in the build-up, something which Euro 2024 hosts, Germany, are currently struggling with. There is also talk about all five teams going through qualifying with the possibility of two ‘backstop’ qualification spots available for those who may miss out. In that case, the highest-ranking nations who failed to qualify would go through or the two sides that come closest to qualifying. However, this approach is said to have some reservations within Uefa about offering a ‘backdoor’ entry to nations who have failed to qualify, as well as its potential impact on the normal qualifying process. As it stands, qualifying through merit seems to be the only guarantee of all five host nations featuring at Euro 2028 but time and compromise may lead to other avenues being explored. Read More Cardiff, Glasgow, Dublin... The Euro 2028 final should be staged anywhere but Wembley Sunak says jointly hosting Euro 2028 will deliver ‘massive boost’ to economy Euro 2028 venues: UK and Ireland name 10 stadiums as Anfield and Old Trafford miss out FA reveal tournment plans after UK and Ireland confirmed as Euro 2028 hosts UK and Ireland confirmed as joint hosts of Euro 2028 How Fifa and Uefa turned choosing tournament hosts into a ‘stitch-up’
1970-01-01 08:00
Israeli soldier and militants killed in confrontation on Lebanon frontier
Israeli soldier and militants killed in confrontation on Lebanon frontier
An Israeli soldier was killed on Monday in a clash with Palestinian gunmen who crossed from Lebanon.
1970-01-01 08:00
US Treasury's Yellen pledges support for Morocco's quake recovery efforts
US Treasury's Yellen pledges support for Morocco's quake recovery efforts
By David Lawder MARRAKECH, Morocco U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday said her government, the International Monetary
1970-01-01 08:00
Garry Cook vows to make Birmingham ‘a powerhouse’ amid Wayne Rooney reports
Garry Cook vows to make Birmingham ‘a powerhouse’ amid Wayne Rooney reports
Birmingham chief executive Garry Cook has blamed “misalignment” for the circumstances that led to John Eustace’s sacking but vowed to make the club “a football powerhouse” amid reports Wayne Rooney is set to take charge as boss. Eustace’s departure from St Andrew’s on Monday morning further stoked rumours that former England captain Rooney is due to be appointed as manager following his DC United exit on Sunday. While an update on the new boss is expected in “the coming days”, Cook explained the timing of Eustace’s exit was driven by facilitating the best possible circumstances for his successor. It became clear that there was a misalignment with the leadership of the club. Birmingham City CEO Garry Cook In a statement posted to the club’s official website, Cook wrote: “John had clear ambitions and goals for the season. Unfortunately, following a series of meetings over a number of months, it became clear that there was a misalignment with the leadership of the club. When this happens, the best thing to do is to part company. “The timing of the decision allows the incoming manager sufficient time to evaluate the playing staff ahead of the January and summer transfer windows. “In a short period, the owners, board members and club leadership have overseen the start of a transformation that not even the most optimistic Blues fan would have considered possible. And this is just the beginning.” Birmingham, who sit sixth in the Championship, have made a solid start to the season with five wins, three draws and three losses, including a come-from-behind 3-1 derby win over West Brom on Friday. Eustace led Birmingham to safety last season, a feat Cook acknowledged in a meeting on Monday morning in which he “shared the reasons for the decision to part company”. Cook did not directly discuss the recruitment process for a new boss in his statement, but hinted at ambitions to attract top talent. He added: “The owners and board members are ambitious. They are driven to help make Birmingham City a football powerhouse. It will not happen overnight. It is a step-by-step approach. “We are well aware of what has happened at Blues over the past decade. We believe we have moved on from those dark days giving hope and aspiration to existing and new fans. Our intent is to be judged over what we do in the years to come and be ambitious with the new story that we are writing. “Creating a winning culture in an organisation that has been on its back foot for a number of years is not easy. My executive team are aware that we are aspiring to be world class, but it takes more than words. “Birmingham City Football Club needs world-class professionals across every department, to enhance our performance on and off the pitch. Experienced people who know how to be successful and are driven by winning. We are not going to stop identifying and adding such talent to help us realise our ambition.” Read More Catalans win in Grand Final would ‘make huge noise around the world’ – McNamara A closer look at the UK and Ireland’s host venues for Euro 2028 A closer look at the UK and Ireland’s host venues for Euro 2028 James Ryan and Mack Hansen injury doubts for Ireland against New Zealand Dawid Malan hits superb hundred as England post 364 for nine against Bangladesh Anna Shackley looks forward after ‘a really nice last couple of months’
1970-01-01 08:00
Spain confirm Lamine Yamal injury decision following Barcelona disagreement
Spain confirm Lamine Yamal injury decision following Barcelona disagreement
The Spanish FA have released a statement on the availability of Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal for their upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers.
1970-01-01 08:00
A closer look at the UK and Ireland’s host venues for Euro 2028
A closer look at the UK and Ireland’s host venues for Euro 2028
The UK and Ireland’s bid to host Euro 2028 has been approved by UEFA’s executive committee after Turkey pulled out of the running. Here, the PA news agency looks at the 10 stadia across five nations which will host the matches in just under five years’ time. ENGLAND Wembley England’s national stadium will host the final – and potentially both semi-finals – having also been the venue for the Euro 96 finale and the decisive England v Italy clash at Euro 2020. The Football Association will be working hard with the authorities to ensure there is no repeat of the chaotic scenes which surrounded that match. Wembley is celebrating its centenary this year, with the original stadium opening in 1923 for the British Empire Exhibition. Etihad Stadium Work is set to begin later this year on increasing the capacity of treble-winning Manchester City’s ground to almost 62,000 by 2025. The club left their former home ground Maine Road and moved into the stadium in 2003. It was built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games and hosted the 2008 UEFA Cup final, while England’s football and rugby union sides have both staged fixtures there. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Spurs’ home is the largest club stadium in London, with a capacity of over 62,000. Opened in April 2019, the stadium includes a retractable pitch with a synthetic NFL surface underneath. Its 17,500-seat, single-tier South Stand is the largest in the UK and features Europe’s longest bar – The Goal Line. Everton Stadium The Toffees’ new home at Bramley-Moore Dock is scheduled for completion late next year. Developers are working to a capacity of 52,888. St James’ Park St James’ Park, home to Newcastle since the club was formed in 1892, also hosted matches at Euro 96. Newcastle are considering options to develop the stadium which might mean the capacity, currently 52,305, has increased by the time the championship begins in 2028. Villa Park Villa Park hosted three World Cup matches in 1966 and four matches during Euro 96. A go-to ground for FA Cup semi-finals – hosting 55 – the stadium is set to be redeveloped to increase capacity to over 50,000 ahead of the tournament. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND Aviva Stadium The Dublin venue, which holds over 51,000 people and officially opened in 2010, regularly hosts Republic of Ireland football matches and those of the Ireland rugby union team, as well as high-profile Gaelic sports. The stadium, built on the site of the former Lansdowne Road Stadium, which was demolished in 2007, had been part of the original multi-country plans to host Euro 2020 but could not ultimately provide UEFA with the necessary assurances over minimum spectator levels amid the Covid-19 pandemic. NORTHERN IRELAND Casement Park Construction on the site in the Andersonstown area of Belfast is due to get under way next year with completion by 2026. The capacity of the stadium is set to be 34,500. It was opened in 1953 to stage Gaelic games and has since been home to the Antrim Gaelic Athletic Association. SCOTLAND Hampden Park Scotland’s national stadium did host matches at Euro 2020. The Scottish Football Association has also bid to stage the Champions League final in 2026 or 2027 at the stadium, which currently holds just over 50,000. However, developers have put forward proposals to upgrade the stadium and increase capacity to 65,000. A record British crowd of 149,415 saw Scotland beat England 3-1 at Hampden in 1937. WALES Principality Stadium The Cardiff venue has hosted major European football events before, having staged the 2017 Champions League final. Set to be the second-largest venue in the tournament with a capacity of 74,500. Read More Catalans win in Grand Final would ‘make huge noise around the world’ – McNamara A closer look at the UK and Ireland’s host venues for Euro 2028 James Ryan and Mack Hansen injury doubts for Ireland against New Zealand Dawid Malan hits superb hundred as England post 364 for nine against Bangladesh Anna Shackley looks forward after ‘a really nice last couple of months’ Football rumours: Manchester United looking to send Jadon Sancho out on loan
1970-01-01 08:00
Basketball-Doncic fever hits Madrid as Mavericks forward returns to face Real
Basketball-Doncic fever hits Madrid as Mavericks forward returns to face Real
By Fernando Kallas MADRID Dallas Mavericks' Slovenia forward Luka Doncic will get a rapturous home welcome when he
1970-01-01 08:00
Ivory Coast asylum seeker becomes top Welsh language activist
Ivory Coast asylum seeker becomes top Welsh language activist
Ivorian Joseff Ngabo is the first person of colour to lead a Welsh language campaign group.
1970-01-01 08:00
Bank of England to review how it stress tests banks
Bank of England to review how it stress tests banks
By Huw Jones LONDON Britain's banking system is well capitalised to withstand shocks the Bank of England said
1970-01-01 08:00
There Were So Many Fan Fights at Dodger Stadium Last Night
There Were So Many Fan Fights at Dodger Stadium Last Night
The Los Angeles Dodgers won a hell of a lot of baseball games this season but it's looking more and more that none of that will matter as Arizona Diamondbacks h
1970-01-01 08:00
Marketmind: 'Remarkable' US markets surf crosscurrents
Marketmind: 'Remarkable' US markets surf crosscurrents
A look at the day ahead in U.S. and global markets from Mike Dolan U.S. stocks have surfed through multiple
1970-01-01 08:00
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