Author: INDEPENDENT

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter With a statement that initially seemed as clear as you can get, Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin created a world of confusion. Such words might well describe a legacy that always lacked strategic coherence if the Slovenian does indeed step down in 2027.In a rare press conference after the 48th Uefa Congress in Paris, however, Ceferin came out with the following. “I have decided, let’s say around six months ago, that I’m not planning to run in 2027…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailUS Supreme Court justices appeared to doubt state authority to disqualify Donald Trump from holding public office, after the former president challenged a landmark court ruling from Colorado’s highest court that found the former president ineligible for the presidency for his actions surrounding January 6.An historic two-hour hearing at the nation’s highest court on Thursday heard oral arguments in a case that could determine whether the leading candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination for president can remain on…

Uefa celebrates 70 years of leading European footballSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter The 2024/25 Nations League begins in September of this year after the conclusion of the European Championship, with the final set for next summer in early June.Before all of that, though, the draw has to take place to see which countries will be up against each other in the tournament which has split opinion for some time: while plenty of managers and players do not appreciate extra matches thrust upon…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USFive Marines were killed when a US Marine Corps helicopter crashed in southern California. The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter was reported “overdue” after it failed to arrive at Miramar on Tuesday night.The aircraft disappeared somewhere between Las Vegas and Miramar Air Base near San Diego on Tuesday. Search and rescue teams were dispatched to help locate the craft the next day. A civilian group eventually spotted the wreckage of the chopper near the Cleveland National Forest…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Erik ten Hag has denied he made Lisandro Martinez’s knee injury worse by sending the Manchester United defender back on against West Ham on Sunday.The Argentina international was ruled out until April with a ligament problem sustained in a challenge with Vladimir Coufal during United’s 3-0 win at the weekend.But he returned to the pitch before then coming off, with Ten Hag, who is confident the centre-back will not miss the rest of the season. insisting it…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USFormer Fox News host Tucker Carlson has interviewed Russian President Vladimir Putin – with the sit-down set to be released later today. Mr Putin has heavily limited his contact with international media since he launched the war in Ukraine in February 2022. For years, Mr Carlson has expressed an affinity with the Russian leader. In 2022, after the Russian leader launched his unprovoked invasion, Mr Carlson wondered aloud why he should oppose the attempt to annex…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Liverpool will be without Thiago Alcantara again after the midfielder was injured five minutes into his comeback.The 32-year-old made his first appearance of the season as a late substitute in Sunday’s defeat at Arsenal but sustained a muscle problem.Liverpool are waiting to see how serious it is but Thiago, who had been out with a hip problem, faces another spell on the sidelines.The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich midfielder has not started a match for over a…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsPlaywright Kwame Kwei-Armah has announced he will be stepping down as artistic director of the Young Vic theatre after six years in the role.The 56-year-old star became the first African-Caribbean director to lead a major British theatre when he took over from playwright David Lan in February 2018. He said the role has been the “honour of a lifetime”.During his time at the Young Vic, he produced 40 shows for the London theatre and has advocated for increasing diversity within the industry.Kwei-Armah…

Toppled tree falls on roof of California house as state battles floods and landslides Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planetGet our free Climate emailThe death toll has increased to at least nine people from California’s severe storms, officials said.The storm, which has unleashed biblical proportions of rain this week, was expected to continue impacting the state through Friday. Tornado and hail warnings were issued for parts of the central coast, including Morro Bay and Los Osos on Wednesday afternoon.Four people were killed in California by falling trees, the Office of Emergency…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Ex-Tottenham forward Jermain Defoe had contemplated giving up on his managerial dream, but remains determined to follow in the footsteps of Chris Hughton and become a trailblazer for black coaches.Former England international Defoe called time on his distinguished playing career in 2022 and has spent the past 18 months coaching in the Spurs academy.Defoe is well aware of potential hurdles and the low number of black and ethnic minority managers in English football, which has been further…