United States star Megan Rapinoe delivered a powerful speech after being named the women’s player of the year at last night’s Best Fifa Football Awards.
She said: “We have such an incredible opportunity being professional footballers, so much success, an incredible platform.
“I ask everyone here, lend your platform to other people, share your success. We have a unique opportunity to use this game to actually change the world for better. I hope you take that to heart, do something, we have incredible power in this room.”
2. Messi beats Van Dijk and Ronaldo to award
Barcelona star Lionel Messi was named the Best Fifa men’s player for 2019. The Argentine captain took the top honour ahead of Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo.
Two people have been jailed for illegally accessing CCTV footage of Emiliano Sala’s post-mortem test. Sherry Bray, 49, and Christopher Ashford, 62, were jailed for 14 months and five months respectively.
After signing for Cardiff City in January Sala died after the plane he was travelling on crashed into the English Channel.
4. Wada warns Russia
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) has warned Russia that it could face a ban from major sporting events because of “discrepancies” in a lab database, the BBC reports.
Russia has been given three weeks to explain the inconsistencies or risk being excluded from the Olympic Games and world championships.
5. Bairstow axed from Test squad
England have dropped Jonny Bairstow from the Test squad for the tour to New Zealand in November.
The Yorkshire wicketkeeper has been named in the Twenty20 squad and England and Wales Cricket Board selector Ed Smith said: “He’s had a very busy summer, it’s an opportunity for him to step back, reset and come back better.”
England Test squad for the two-match series in New Zealand
Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Jack Leach (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Dominic Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
England T20 squad for the five-match series in New Zealand
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex, captain), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Sam Billings (Kent), Pat Brown (Worcestershire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Tom Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Matt Parkinson (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), James Vince (Hampshire)
(Image credit: David Rogers/Getty Images)
6. England make ten changes for US clash
England head coach Eddie Jones has shuffled his team for the Rugby World Cup pool C clash against the United States on Thursday. George Ford will captain the side while Billy Vunipola, Tom Curry, Elliot Daly and Joe Marler retain their places.
England starting XV vs. United States
15 Elliot Daly, 14 Ruaridh McConnochie, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Joe Cokanasiga, 10 George Ford (captain), 9 Willi Heinz; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 George Kruis, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Lewis Ludlam, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Anthony Watson
7. Double injury blow for Scotland
Scotland scrum-half Ali Price has been ruled out of the rest of the Rugby World Cup after suffering a foot injury in Sunday’s 27-3 loss against Ireland.
Price is the latest blow for Scotland after Hamish Watson was also sidelined for the tournament because of a knee injury. The injured duo will be replaced by Henry Pyrgos and Magnus Bradbury respectively.
8. Hamilton’s title warning
Lewis Hamilton may have built a strong advantage in the 2019 Formula 1 drivers’ standings, but the Mercedes ace has warned that his championship lead “could disappear” following Ferrari’s recent fightback.
The 34-year-old Hamilton warned: “I am under no illusion that my gap in the championship could disappear. It is not won yet. We need to pull our socks up and get the f*** on basically.”
9. Red rivals tussle for Maddison
Liverpool will battle Premier League rivals Manchester United for the hand of James Maddison in January.
The 22-year-old midfielder was linked to Old Trafford in the summer, but Liverpool now have their eye on the Leicester City playmaker.
Apparently, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp sees Maddison as the “new Philippe Coutinho”.
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has come under fire from the club’s former midfielder Paul Ince.
Ex-England captain Ince said: “The results are going to be up and down all season. I’m prepared to accept that, as long as they challenge for the top four.
“I’m more concerned about the director of football situation and the way Ed Woodward is building the club. He’s rightly getting a lot of stick - people who appoint managers should be made accountable.
“For the results, for the structure of the club, for the recruitment, and so on. Woodward isn’t a football man, he’s a money man.”
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
Mason Greenwood: footballer arrested on suspicion of rape and assault
Handball: swapping bikini bottoms for tight pants
Cristiano Ronaldo’s second coming
Bank holidays and boycotts: are MPs trying to jinx England?
Weightlifting: Olympic Games set for transgender first
Sport shorts: Champions League expansion plan to be agreed
Sport shorts: Sturgeon slams Rangers fans over title celebrations
Sport shorts: Klopp’s unwanted record as Liverpool lose again at Anfield
