Category Sports News

After Katie Boulter, a tennis player, complained about the abhorrent abuse she received, Sir Keir Starmer says the government will look into whether additional protective measures can be implemented on social media platforms.

British number two Boulter revealed to BBC Sport earlier this week how much of her social media accounts were abusive and death threats.

For their upcoming European Championship defense in Switzerland, several England players have said they intend to stop using social media.

Prime Minister Starmer told the BBC’s Katie Gornall that because of this abuse, female athletes should “adjust their own lives.”

According to him, “If you look at the volume of abuse, it tends to be even greater for women than it is for men, and it’s the same in sport.”

“So we need to consider what we can do more. It’s a shame that some of these athletes want to stay off social media while they are the defending champions.

They shouldn’t have to adjust to the circumstances of other people’s lives.

When asked what he could do to address the issue of social media abuse, he responded, “We need to look at what we can do, working with some of the platform providers, to see if we can take some additional measures, put other things in place.

Boulter shared screenshots of her private inbox on Tuesday, giving BBC Sport unmatched information about the volume and nature of abuse players receive.

The 28-year-old said, “I think it kind of shows how vulnerable we are.” You really don’t know if anyone is visiting the website. You really don’t know where you live or if they’re close by or anything else like that.

Additionally, her entire family was threatened.

According to data science firm Signify, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), about 8, 000 abusive, violent, or threatening messages were made available to 458 tennis players on their social media accounts in 2024.

The abuse “never really stops,” according to England’s forward Lauren James.

“Sometimes, it’s not even about my performance because they’re treating me badly and they’re sending me abuse, even when someone loses at a computer game.”

“I guess it might touch someone when it’s your first time, but I’m used to it.” I’ll just swipe it off my shoulder.

Starmer continued, “I would also say to everyone else that they need our support, not our abuse, that they deserve our support, not that they have been abducted,” and that they have earned our support, not that they have been abducted.

So “come on if you’re into football, get behind this team and actually back them.”

Starmer was present to unveil a new school sport partnerships and enrichment framework for schools, making sure that all students had access to high-quality sports and extracurricular activities.

During the first round of Club World Cup group games in the United States, more than 400, 000 (423, 004) seats were unused.

More than half a million spectators turned out in 56.8% of the stadiums (556, 369).

The tournament’s first 16 matches were played at nine different stadiums, each with a capacity of 979 and 373 seats.

The expanded competition serves as a rehearsal for the USA, Canada, and Mexico’s participation in the international men’s World Cup in the coming summer.

In half of the 16 games so far, the stadium’s capacity has fallen below 50%, with the other half involving more than 50%.

The most watched game of the match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD was by far the worst.

The stadium was only 13.6% full, according to the official attendance.

With 10 minutes left, local journalist Maher Mezahi claimed to have counted 97 fans and 577 before kick-off.

The stadium was 20% full for Salzburg’s victory over Pachuca in Cincinnati while it was 17% full for River Plate’s victory over Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds.

Chelsea defeated LAFC in their opening game at 31% of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s capacity.

Nearly 1.5 million tickets have been sold for the tournament, according to Fifa, and despite the problems, there have still been sizable crowds.

At the Rose Bowl Stadium in California, Paris St-Germain defeated Atletico Madrid 4-0, drawing the crowd’s record to 819 seats.

Miami, which has a sizable Hispanic and Latino population, had a high turnout for the three matches. According to Fifa, 60, 927 people watched the Inter Miami vs. Al-Ahly opener.

In the 65, 000-capacity Hard Rock Stadium, Boca Juniors’ Group C game against Benfica attracted more than 55, 000 spectators.

Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal resulted in 62, 415 people in Miami’s third game.

For Bayern Munich’s 10-0 win over Auckland City, there were gates of 18, 161, 21, and 21, respectively, for Juventus’ victory over Al-Ain and 152 gates of 212, 161.

The games were played in smaller stadiums with 91% and 81% capacity, respectively.

With some of the games scheduled during regular work hours, Fifa may be disappointed that they did not.

Chelsea defeated LAFC on Monday at 3 p.m. local time in front of 22, 137 fans in a stadium that can accommodate 71, 000.

There were a number of factors, according to Atlanta Journal-Constitution author Doug Roberson, but “it’s not because people here don’t care about soccer.”

More than 70, 000 fans watched Chelsea face Newcastle in a friendly competition known as the Premier League Summer Series at the Atlanta stadium two years ago, which almost sold out. At 8:30 PM, that game took place.

Every other weekday from noon to 3 o’clock (local time) until the group stage is over, two or three games are played during regular work hours.

More than 40, 000 seats were left in the Met Life Stadium on Tuesday for the goalless draw between Borussia Dortmund and Fluminense.

The Concacaf Gold Cup, which is also taking place in the United States and Canada, has to compete with the Club World Cup.

16 nations compete in the continental football championship in North, Central, and the Caribbean.

Saudi Arabia has also been invited this year.

In front of 12, 610 spectators at the 18, 000-capacity Pay Pal Park in California, the tournament was attended by a record-breaking 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago.

Britain’s Jacob Fearnley produced a hugely impressive display to see off mercurial French qualifier Corentin Moutet at Queen’s and reach a first ATP Tour quarter-final.

Edinburgh-born Fearnley battled to a 6-3 2-6 6-2 win on the Andy Murray Arena to set up a meeting with Czech Jiri Lehecka in the last eight.

The match looked to be getting away from Fearnley after a dominant start as Moutet – who stunned world number four Taylor Fritz in the opening round – swept through the second set.

But Fearnley dug in with an impressive third-set display as the fiery Moutet lost his cool – not for the first time – and hit a ball into the stands after being broken by the 23-year-old.

Backed by the vocal home crowd, Fearnley upped the aggression on the court to secure a fine victory.

“It’s really special for me, I’ve dreamed of these moments since I was a young boy”, Fearnley said.

Fearnley has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the last 12 months, rising from outside the top 500 to now sitting at 60th in the world.

This was just his sixth tour-level match on grass but it did not look like it as he played some brilliant tennis at times that Moutet had no answer for.

The British number two came back from 0-40 down in his first service game of the match before immediately breaking Moutet to take control of the opener.

It looked like a straightforward afternoon for Fearnley as Moutet grew increasingly irked but the Frenchman regained his composure to dominate the second set, the momentum swinging after three double faults by the Scot in his first service game.

However, Fearnley found an extra level in an excellent third set and Moutet had no answer to his big hitting, with his frustrations boiling over as he received a time violation after arguing with the umpire.

But Fearnley kept his composure well to serve out victory and join compatriot and British number one Jack Draper in the last eight.

“I tried to stick to my game plan and be aggressive”, he added. “I did that better in the third set and the result speaks for itself.

Instead, a full day of matches were scheduled for the following day, though Premier League games can be moved to December 26 to be broadcast on television.

On December 30th, a new game will be played.

To some fans, seeing the holiday season’s staple removed from the calendar, another game cut out of the equation, and the holiday season was sacrilege.

To some, having to navigate a limited or nonexistent public transportation system to a game is a welcome relief.

The Premier League’s agreement with the Football Association during the congested calendar is the crux of the situation.

The Premier League agreed to end the FA Cup fifth round in favor of removing replays, which was another tactic that the traditionalists detested, and set the record straight for midweek. Additionally, it agreed not to hold matches on the same weekend as the sixth round.

The team then made a 38-game commitment that included five midweek games and 33 weekend games.

That was what the Premier League on Wednesday produced. The five midweeks begin in December, January, and March, one in the middle of February, and then, as previously mentioned, one in December.

The only way to have 33 regular match weekend dates in 2025-26 is on December 27.

Because the competition will begin on August 16; any earlier would have shortened the Club World Cup’s time gap by just four weeks. Manchester City tried and failed to move their season opener, as it was.

A global brand, The Premier League. Since not every place with a TV deal celebrates Christmas, and hardly any of those nations play games on Boxing Day, so 27 December seems more appropriate.

On Saturday, December 27, 2015, the starting time for that match week is 15:00 GMT.

Not all games can be moved, though. The 20: 00 GMT one of the four televised kick-off slots from last year’s Boxing Day could theoretically be used.

On December 28th, or on December 28th, matches could also be shown. All of this needs to be decided.

Without defining what that means, Package E of the new TV deal that goes into effect in August makes reference to a rather ambiguous “six additional matches.”

However, nothing in the agreement mentions a weekend when all ten games will be shown.

Any games that were moved to Boxing Day will have been broadcast on a separate channel, so it doesn’t seem like all those that aren’t shown live.

There is some good news for those who watch Boxing Day football from morning until night.

The EFL will have a full schedule for all of its three divisions, and they will also stream every game.

Ousmane Diomande’s move to Crystal Palace is being discussed with Sporting Lisbon.

Given the uncertainty surrounding Marc Guehi’s future with just 12 months until his contract expires, the FA Cup holders are looking to strengthen their defense this summer.

Diomande, age 21, is a serious target for Palace, but it’s still to see if the clubs can agree on a deal. He has also attracted interest from all over Europe.

The Ivory Coast international is valued at around £40 million, breaking the club’s current transfer record of £32 million for Christian Benteke in 2016.

Given Guehi’s contractual circumstances, Palace have prioritized signing a new center-back this summer.