A non-league match was abandoned after sexist abuse was allegedly aimed at a female referee, a football club has said.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds said its match at Coventry Sphinx was called off at half-time after a comment from the crowd of a “sexist nature” was heard being directed at her.
The Northamptonshire side said it was “deeply concerned and disappointed”.
“A comment of a sexist nature was allegedly directed toward the female match official towards the end of the first half,” said an AFC Rushden & Diamonds spokesperson, in a statement posted on X.
“Discriminatory language or actions of any kind have absolutely no place within our community club or the wider football community.”
Attempts to identify the individual were unsuccessful and the matter had been reported to the “relevant authorities”, the club said.
Speaking to the club’s in-house media after the match, Diamonds first team manager Elliot Sandy said the referee stopped the match while the culprit was removed from the ground.
He said the match resumed, but that at half-time, she told the team she did not feel comfortable continuing.
“I obviously condemn what’s happened today; there’s no place for it in football and I feel really sorry for her that it has actually happened,” said Sandy.
The two sides both play in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
A non-league match was abandoned after sexist abuse was allegedly aimed at a female referee, a football club has said.
AFC Rushden & Diamonds said its match at Coventry Sphinx was called off at half-time after a comment from the crowd of a “sexist nature” was heard being directed at her.
The Northamptonshire side said it was “deeply concerned and disappointed”.
“A comment of a sexist nature was allegedly directed toward the female match official towards the end of the first half,” said an AFC Rushden & Diamonds spokesperson, in a statement posted on X.
“Discriminatory language or actions of any kind have absolutely no place within our community club or the wider football community.”
Attempts to identify the individual were unsuccessful and the matter had been reported to the “relevant authorities”, the club said.
Speaking to the club’s in-house media after the match, Diamonds first team manager Elliot Sandy said the referee stopped the match while the culprit was removed from the ground.
He said the match resumed, but that at half-time, she told the team she did not feel comfortable continuing.
“I obviously condemn what’s happened today; there’s no place for it in football and I feel really sorry for her that it has actually happened,” said Sandy.
The two sides both play in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has dissociated himself from the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to expel the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, from the party.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, on Saturday.
Fintiri, who is also the Chairman of the PDP 2025 Elective National Convention, noted that the decision was not in the best interest of the party.
He said he would not be party to any attempt that could further plunge the PDP into unending crisis.
“As a faithful party member, my position is clear: I stand for the peace and stability of the PDP, and I will not support anything that could lead to its disintegration.
“I believe that peace and reconciliation are the only ways forward for our great party,” the governor was quoted as saying.
FILE PHOTO: FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Fintiri urged all stakeholders to work towards healing the divisions within the party and to strive for unity and cohesion.
He stated that as a party man, he remained committed to supporting efforts that promote peace, stability, and progress within the PDP.
The governor reiterated that his position was guided by the desire for peace and reconciliation and will continue to work towards achieving this goal.
‘Anti-Party Activities’
Wike and a former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, were expelled from the PDP on Saturday for anti-party activities.
The party also expelled the National Secretary of the party, Samuel Anyanwu, and eight others.
The decision was taken at the national convention of the party in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The PDP national convention is taking place at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Adamasingba, Ibadan, Oyo State.
A chieftain of the PDP, Bode George, moved the motion for the expulsion of 11 key members, citing what he described as activities inconsistent with the party’s collective interest as reasons for the move.
The chairman of the PDP in Bauchi State quickly seconded the motion. The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Muhammed, put the vote forward for members to adopt and ratify the expulsion of those involved, and it was unanimously accepted.
Also present at the convention are Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Governor Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Governor Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Governor Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
Elliot Anderson is a winter target for Manchester United, Arsenal keen on Cameroon forward Etta Eyong from Levante, and Ivan Toney will reportedly not leave Saudi Arabia in January.
Manchester United will make signing Nottingham Forest‘s England international midfielder Elliot Anderson, 23, a priority in the January transfer window. (Mirror)
Levante’s Cameroonforward Etta Eyong, 22, is being looked at by a host of clubs, but Arsenal are showing the most interest. (Sport – in Spanish)
England striker Ivan Toney, 29, will not be leaving Al-Ahli in January, according to the Saudi Arabian club’s sporting director Rui Pedro Braz. (Goal)
Poland striker Robert Lewandowski’s contract at Barcelona runs out next summer and the 37-year-old says he will “soon be ready to decide” on his future. (Footmercato – in French)
Tottenham are interested in a move for Japan winger Takefusa Kubo, 24, in January from Real Sociedad. (Football Insider)
Spurs are also monitoring France attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche, 23, during the international break as they consider making a bid for the Monaco player. (TeamTalk)
Wolves have made a loan offer for Lazio‘s out-of-favour Greek goalkeeper Christos Mandas, 24. (Il Messaggero – in Italian)
Crystal Palace‘s Spanish wing-back Daniel Munoz, 29, has said playing for Manchester United would be a “dream come true”. (AS – in Spanish)
Pep Guardiola is frustrated by how little playing time Manchester City attacker Claudio Echeverri, 19, is getting on loan at Bayer Leverkusen. (Bild – in German)
West Ham are open to selling German striker Niclas Fullkrug, 31, in the winter transfer window. (Football Insider)
Chelsea have agreed deal to sign Ecuadorian centre-back Deinner Ordonez, 16, from Independente del Valle – he will move in 2028 when he turns 18. (Fabrizio Romano)
Oti Mabuse has showcased her impressive weight loss as she said she feels ‘stronger, healthier, and more alive’ after setting goals and dropped from a size 18 to a size 10
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Oti Mabuse is best known for her impressive performances on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. She has also entertained viewers from her stint in the I’m A Celebrity jungle.
But after leaving the dance show and becoming a mother, Oti saw her weight rise. Now, the professional dancer, 35, has showed off her impressive weight loss transformation after shedding the pounds and dropping dress sizes.
Oti, whose younger sister Motsi is still a judge on Strictly, shared her weight loss journey with her fans. Oti, who is featuring on The Wheel this weekend, has since opened up on her bid to lose weight. In a candid social media post, she called it “one of the toughest but most beautiful experiences of my life”.
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Taking to TikTok last year, Oti explained the life changes she made in order to hit her target. She revealed she had dropped from a size 18 to size 10, confessing to feeling “stronger, healthier, and more alive”.
The decision came ahead of her latest tour and she explained she gave herself goals rather than getting on the scales. And she shared a video of her updates along the way. While she explained the journey keeps on going, Oti was very proud of her update.
At the time, taking to TikTok, Oti said: “After my pregnancy, dealing with gestational diabetes meant I had to be even more mindful of my health, especially being pre-diabetic. So I started to change how I approached food, movement, and how I looked at my own body.”
She revealed the weight loss journey wasn’t about “getting skinny,” but more rather about “gaining strength, confidence, and discipline in a way that feels sustainable and true to me”.
She continued: “And honestly? It hasn’t been easy. Changing lifelong habits, trying new foods, pushing my body in ways I never have before— it’s been hard work.
“But the results? Wow. To see my body transform, not just in shape, but in how it feels… that’s a win every day. I’m proud of where I am, at whatever size, and I want every woman to feel that sense of pride too.”
While Oti revealed at the time her weight loss was ahead of her tour this year, she coincided it with a spell on I’m A Celebrity. She fell just short of an appearance in the final.
She lasted 22 days in the Australian jungle and told Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly after leaving camp: “I expected to be nervous the whole time but when you’re in there… my goal became to focus and get the job done.
Discussing her efforts in the Bushtucker Trials in her eviction interview, she admitted: “You tell yourself ‘calm down, it’s not about – you feed the children’!”
During her time on Stricltly, Oti was crowned the winner on two occasions. Her first Glitterball trophy came with soap actor Kelvin Fletcher in 2019.
She followed up that achievement with comedian Bill Bailey in 2020. However, she went on to quit the show after performing with rugby player Ugo Monye in 2021 and she defected to ITV to take up a chair as a judge on Dancing On Ice in 2022.
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Kelly Brook opens up to the Mirror as she prepares to enter the I’m a Celebrity jungle on Sunday night and issued a heartfelt plea to fans who will tune into the show
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Kelly Brook has asked fans of I’m A Celeb to accept her curves(Image: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)
TV star Kelly Brook has begged I’m a Celebrity viewers to accept her curves in the wake of getting trolled over her figure. The star was the target of vicious comments about her body after landing at Brisbane airport last Sunday.
As she prepares to strip off for the famous Jungle shower, the former model and TV presenter urged viewers to be “accepting” of the way she looked. She said: “Obviously, I am not a 20-year-old bikini model anymore. You know, life changes and your body changes. And I just hope people are accepting of me and how I look now, and not comparing me to how I used to look. You know, I am a very different person. I am older, but I am still strong and I am still fit, and that is the most important thing.”
Instead, she said she had “embraced” her curves. “I feel really confident. I feel like my body is in good shape. I just feel great,” she says. “I am 46, I embrace my curves. I embrace my body. I ran a marathon this year….so I am proud of that.”
Kelly has been forced to address comments over her figure for years. She once said: “I’ve always been a curvy girl and I’m proud of that.” When trolls previously accused her of being “too big”, she replied: “I’m a healthy size 12. I’m not apologising for having boobs and a bum.” And she is prepared to show them off after packing “plenty of swimsuits” for the famous Jungle Shower.
In fact, she has even discussed it with Myleene Klass whose white bikini went down in I’m a Celebrity history, in 2006. “Yes, Myleene did talk to me about the shower,” Kelly says. “She said that when she arrived she did not actually have a swimsuit that was appropriate for the television… so she actually had to run out and get something. I think it would be very difficult to try and recreate something like that. That was fate that was meant to be, and that was her moment”
Although she has vowed to strip off, it won’t be for long. “The showers are freezing so I will be in and out very quickly,” she says. Kelly admits the toughest part of being away is being separated from husband Jeremy Parisi, 40.
“That is what is really quite frightening,” she says. “We have been together 10 years… we do pretty much everything together.” Their relationship was a highlight of BBC hit Race Across the World, but the experience also raised a question for Kelly.
“I wonder if I can do this on my own,” she says. “I relied on Jeremy so much…so when this opportunity came up, I thought, ‘You know what? I should really test myself.’” She admits she doesn’t know how he will cope with her being out of the country.
“I am actually more worried about him being at home alone… I did not freeze any little meals for Jeremy, and he will probably be living on like takeaways,” she says. His mother, however, will step in.
“We have organised for his mum to come over and take care of him and the dog in the house. He is Italian. At the end of the day, he is a mamma’s boy.” Kelly says she quietly sought advice from several friends who’ve done the show before, including Oti Mabuse, Jane Moore, and Chris Moyles.
“Everyone I spoke to said it was life-changing… one of the best things they have ever done,” she says. Chris offered one unlikely tip. “He said ‘make sure you can sneak in a microwave,’” she laughs. Fellow Loose Woman Jane also advised keeping busy. “She said, if you love cleaning… that really passes the time,” she says.
Like every contestant, she has specific fears about what might be in store. “I have heard that the dunny is the place where all the spiders hang out,” she says. “When it rains, they all kind of crawl in there.”
Then there was the leech story. “Jane showed me a picture of her bra where a leech was… it lived off her breast all night. That was pretty gross.” Kelly has filmed and worked around the world, but says nothing compares to this.
“I have never, ever been in the middle of a jungle, sleeping under the stars,” she says. “I think it is going to be probably the most challenging thing I have ever done in my life… I have heard that it is life changing.” She adds: “I do not know who I am in there with yet but I am just hoping we just all have fun together.”
Kelly will turn 47 in camp, but managed a small party before flying out with her Heart Radio colleagues. “We had some drinks, and I got gifted a beautiful cake of my face, which was hilarious… So we had a little celebration before I left.”
One issue when she is in camp could also be mornings. “I am not great in the mornings, and not having sugar, salt, coffee… that is going to be the biggest test,” she says. “I kept saying to myself every day, I am going to wean myself off the coffee in Australia.”
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The show, which starts on Sunday night on ITV, also features Angry Ginge, Jack Osbourne, Martin Kemp, Lisa Riley, Aitch, Alex Scott, Eddie Kadi, Shona McGarty and Ruby Wax. Ant and Dec return to presenting duties.
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