Dame Kelly Holmes has announced she is gay and says she has hidden it for 34 years.

Speaking during Pride month, the two-time gold medallist said she realised she was gay at the age of 17 after kissing a fellow female soldier, and that her family and friends have known since 1997.

The Olympic champion told the Sunday Mirror: “I needed to do this now, for me. It was my decision. I’m nervous about saying it. I feel like I’m going to explode with excitement.

“Sometimes I cry with relief. The moment this comes out, I’m essentially getting rid of that fear.”

The 52-year-old also revealed she struggled with her mental health because of having to hide her sexuality, and that she had to keep several same-sex relationships she had during her time in the Women’s Royal Army Corps secret, for fear of being courts marshalled.

Until 2000, it was illegal for gay, lesbian and bisexual people to serve in the British Army, Royal Navy and RAF – and Dame Kelly feared she would still face repercussions for breaking that law during her time in the forces.

She contacted a military LGBTQ+ leader in 2020 to find out if she could be sanctioned for breaking army rules and was told she would not be.

She said: “I felt like I could breathe again, one little call could have saved 28 years of heartache.”

Dame Kelly took part in her final major championship in 2004, with a double gold medal-winning performance at the Athens Olympics.

In 2005 – the year she retired from athletics – she was made a Dame by the Queen.

She has since been made an honorary colonel with the Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment.

Dame Kelly set up a charity in 2008, created to support retired athletes to transition out of their sport, and to create mentoring programmes to inspire young people from disadvantaged backgrounds into sports.

Dame Kelly Holmes announces she is gay – and kept it hidden for 34 years
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Zverev – World number three Alexander Zverev faces an eight-week ban from tennis if he repeats the behaviour which led to his expulsion from the Mexican Open.

In February, the Olympic champion was fined $40,000 (£31,000) and forfeited all his prize money for striking the umpire’s chair in Acapulco.

Zverev has now been found guilty of a ‘major offence’ after an ATP review.

The German 24-year-old will be banned if he commits another similar offence within 12 months of the incident.

Similar offences include unsportsmanlike behaviour and verbal or physical abuse of anyone at a tournament.

As well as the eight-week ban, Zverev has been handed a further suspended $25,000 (£19,000) fine.

The biggest penalty in men’s tennis to date was a 16-week suspended ban given to Australian Nick Kyrgios in 2019 for verbally abusing a chair umpire and smashing two racquets.

Zverev has until 11 March to appeal against the decision.

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‘Some will consider it too lenient’ – Analysis

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

As with Nick Kyrgios, who was also deemed to have committed a major offence for an ugly pattern of behaviour in 2019, Zverev’s extra punishment is on hold.

Kyrgios’ 16-week ban was suspended for six months, but due to injury the Australian only played half a dozen tournaments in that time.

Zverev, in contrast, will expect to play about 20 events over the next 12 months.

In that long period of time, he cannot afford to be disrespectful or aggressive to any officials, players or spectators.

Some will consider a suspended sentence too lenient, but the ATP’s decision does put the onus on Zverev to change his behaviour in a permanent and meaningful way.

Source – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/60658371

Zverev given suspended eight-week ban for striking umpire’s chair
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World Cup – European teams are well on the road to next year’s World Cup as we reach the halfway stage of qualifying for the tournament in Qatar.

Fifty-five member associations are hoping to progress from their qualifying group, with some closer than others.

England saw their 100% record ended in the last round of fixtures but Denmark maintain theirs after six games while Armenia are one of the surprise packages so far as they sit second in Group J, behind Germany.

How are the other Home Nations doing? And who else is looking strong for qualifying? BBC Sport takes a look at the state of play in each of the 10 groups, where the top teams qualify automatically for Qatar 2022.

How many nations qualify?

There will be 13 teams from Europe at next year’s World Cup. As mentioned above, 10 of those will be the group winners with a further three places up for grabs.

Those three will come out of the 10 group runners up and the two highest-ranked teams from the Nations League who have not already qualified or finished second in a group.

Those 12 teams will play in a play-off of two knockout rounds to get down to the three additional teams to make up the 13.

Key dates

How the groups look

Group A

Portugal are top of the standings and the only team in Group A yet to taste defeat.

Serbia were denied the chance to stay on the same number of points as Portugal as a late own goal by Nikola Milenkovic earned Republic of Ireland their second point in the group.

Group B

Spain are top of Group B with 13 points from their six games, although they have played two more games than Sweden and Greece, who are second and third respectively.

However, Sweden missed a big chance to keep in touch with Spain as they lost 2-1 to Greece, who are three points behind them.

Group C

Euro 2020 champions Italy have continued their excellent form and unsurprisingly lead the way in Group C.

They thrashed Lithuania 5-0 in their last outing and are now 37 games unbeaten. The Italians top the standings with 14 points from six games while Switzerland are second on eight points, although they have played two games fewer than Italy.

Northern Ireland have also got two games in hand on Italy and are third with five points, a draw with the Swiss in their last game keeping them firmly in contention.

Group D

World champions France picked up a much-needed win on Tuesday after their stuttering form of late.

They had gone five games without a win in 90 minutes, a run in which they suffered a surprise early exit in the knockout stages of Euro 2020, but recorded a comfortable victory against Finland with Antoinne Griezmann scoring twice.

France are top of Group D with 12 points from six games, seven points clear of Ukraine who have a game in hand.

Group E

Belgium are well on their way to winning Group E with five wins and a draw from their six games giving them 16 points.

Czech Republic are second with seven points but have a game in hand on the Belgians.

Wales, meanwhile, have two games in hand but were held to a disappointing goalless draw with Estonia in their last game and have seven points from four games.

Group F

Denmark were one of the stories of Euro 2020, responding to the shocking scenes of Christian Eriksen’s collapse to reach the semi-finals, where they were knocked out by England.

They have picked up right from where they left off and, like England, have won all their qualifying games so far, scoring 22 goals and, incredibly, conceding none. They just need two more wins to qualify.

Scotland boosted their chances of securing a play-off spot by beating Austria 1-0 on Tuesday and they are second with 11 points from six games.

Group G

It is tight at the top of Group G with both the Netherlands and Norway on 13 points after six games.

Memphis Depay scored a hat-trick as the Netherlands thumped Turkey 6-1 in their last game and that puts them in first place on goal difference.

Erling Braut Haaland continues his phenomenal scoring form and a hat-trick for the Norway striker in a 5-1 win against Gibraltar takes his tally this season for club and country to 11 goals in eight games.

Despite Turkey’s heavy defeat to the Dutch they remain firmly in the picture with 11 points.

Group H

It is down to goal difference in Group H also with Croatia and Russia both on 13 points.

Croatia are top thanks to their 3-0 win against Slovenia in their last game. Slovakia are third and four points behind the leading pair.

Group I

England lost their 100% record in qualifying when they were held 1-1 by Poland, who scored a dramatic late equaliser. The Three Lions remain in pole position, however, with five wins and a draw from their six games.

It was a potentially crucial point for Poland as it keeps them in the hunt for qualifying. They are third with 11 points, one behind the impressive Albania, who have won four of their six qualifiers so far.

Hungary have 10 points and the trio appear to be in a three-way battle for second place.

Group J

A comfortable win for Germany against Iceland means they top Group J with 15 points from six games.

Armenia were held 1-1 by Liechtenstein but remain second with 11 points having lost just one of their six games so far.

Read Also – Lionel Messi -‘I feel no empathy for him’, says Simon Jordan,

Source – https://www.bbc.co.uk/

World Cup 2022 qualifying – Who is close to qualifying
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Lionel Messi – Simon Jordan wasn’t buying Lionel Messi tears as he bid an emotional farewell to Barcelona on Sunday.

Messi will be ending his 21-year association with Barca after it was revealed they were unable to afford giving him a new contract.

The Argentine cut a very emotional figure during his farewell press conference, sobbing as he waved goodbye to the club he joined when he was just 13 years old.

Jordan can’t see why though…

Reacting to the sad scenes at the Nou Camp on Sunday, the outspoken talkSPORT pundit said: “I thought it was a pretty snappy press conference. Particularly because of the crocodile tears.”

Jordan added he feels no empathy for Messi, who’s set for a move to Paris Saint-Germain, where it’s claimed he will receive £25million a year.

The talkSPORT host added that Messi, who admitted he requested to leave Barca last summer, could have avoided this situation happening altogether if he really wanted to stay at the Camp Nou.

Instead, he insists the maestro’s exit is motivated by money and does not feel sorry for a footballer who is only moving on to pocket another ‘humongous bag of money’.

Jordan continued: “Messi could have signed a contract at Barcelona last year if he wanted to. Nothing’s changed at Barelona, if anything it’s got worse.

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“I know he wanted to have his power battle with the incumbent president [Josep Maria Bartomeu]. For Messi to be on television crying about this, talking about the challenges that face him with his humongous bag of money is for me beyond the pale.

“He could’ve done a deal last year but he didn’t want to, he wanted to play hide and seek with himself. He wanted to play power games with Barcelona.

“Barcelona have paid him more money than anyone else would have paid him.

“He may love being in Catalonia, he may have been there since he was 13 years of age but what’s helped that has also been the inordinate, extreme and obscene amounts of money they’ve been able to pay him.

“So when I sit there and watch this situation, I don’t feel any empathy for him. I don’t sit there and think it’s terrible for him to be travelling off to PSG where he gets paid an inordinate amount of money.

“He was responsible in part for why the situation has manifested itself. Messi would have known about the challenges that Barcelona had.”

Source – https://talksport.com/

Lionel Messi -‘I feel no empathy for him’, says Simon Jordan,
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Sunisa Lee took Olympic gymnastics all-around gold as defending champion Simone Biles watched from the stands after withdrawing to prioritise her mental health.

The 18-year-old Olympic debutant, who helped the USA win team silver on Tuesday, finished on 57.433.

Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade won silver and Russian Angelina Melnikova bronze.

Jessica Gadirova’s 10th place was the best result ever by a British woman in the event.

Andrade’s score of 57.298 secured Brazil’s first ever women’s gymnastics medal at the Games, while Melnikova took bronze with 57.199.

“It’s my first world ranking, so I know where I am and where I stand,” said 16-year-old Gadirova, whose twin sister Jennifer finished 13th.

“Over the years hopefully I will just grow. I’ve got a few days to rest the legs up ready for the floor final [on Monday].”

The twins helped Great Britain win a historic team bronze on Tuesday and Jennifer may yet join Jessica in Monday’s floor final if Biles withdraws.

Biles withdrew from the team final on Tuesday and later announced she would not compete in the all-around final either, but the four-time Olympic gold medallist enthusiastically cheered on her fellow gymnasts from the stands.

The 24-year-old has yet to confirm whether she will compete in the individual apparatus finals, which start on Sunday, saying she will take “each day as it comes”.

Read Also – Sajid Javid criticised for ‘cower’ Covid remark

After Biles withdrew from the team final, Lee said the Olympic star “carries the team basically”, but the teenager has shown she is ready to take star billing.

Lee broke her foot in June 2020 but concerns over her floor routine after the injury proved unfounded as the American’s score of 13.700 was enough for gold in a highly competitive final.

American Cup-winning artistic gymnast Katelyn Ohashi said on BBC Radio 5 Live that Lee had proved “she’s a real competitor”, adding: “She’s followed in the footsteps of Simone.”

Brazil’s Andrade has had her own injury struggles, with the 22-year-old suffering a third serious knee injury in four years in 2019.

She led at the halfway stage, but errors on the floor – her final apparatus – saw Lee pip her to gold.

Source – https://www.bbc.co.uk/

Sunisa Lee takes gymnastics all-around gold as Simone Biles watches
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Carlo Ancelotti has left Everton to become head coach of Real Madrid for a second time. The 61-year-old Italian, who managed Real Madrid for two years between 2013 and 2015, has left Everton after 18 months in charge at Goodison Park.

He succeeds Zinedine Zidane at Real and the move leaves Everton searching for a sixth permanent manager in five years.

Ancelotti has signed a three-year deal at Real and said the move represented “an unexpected opportunity”.

He added: “I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them.

“While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time.”

Real will present Ancelotti to the media on Wednesday, while Everton said they “will begin the process of appointing a new manager immediately”.

• Daily Euros bonus podcast: Balague & McNulty discuss Ancelotti’s switch

‘A brutal truth’ – analysis

Phil McNulty, BBC chief football writer

Everton will have been left stunned by the speed of developments in the last 24 hours as owner Farhad Moshiri’s “Hollywood” manager leaves.

Ancelotti’s arrival was regarded as a real coup by Moshiri, persuading one of the game’s most decorated and respected figures to come to Merseyside to restore Everton to former glories.

The 61-year-old’s reign has been a mixed bag with dreadful home form balanced out by results like their first win over Liverpool at Anfield since 1999 – but ultimately a 10th-place finish in his first full season was a disappointment.

Ancelotti, however, was still held in huge regard by Everton supporters, who have been left bitterly disappointed by his decision to depart.

The brutal truth is that for all Moshiri’s finance and ambition, Everton still cannot regard themselves as anywhere near the elite, which always makes them vulnerable to clubs such as Real Madrid setting sights on their prize assets.

The usual suspects are being linked, such as Eddie Howe after he turned down Celtic, former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo and ex-Everton boss David Moyes – although that is unlikely to happen after he verbally agreed a three-year deal at West Ham after taking them into Europe. Moshiri, though, is something of a wildcard and may have ideas of his own.

A man to overturn Real’s woes

Ancelotti has won 15 major trophies during his career and is one of only three managers to win three European Cups – along with Liverpool legend Bob Paisley and former Real boss Zidane.

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The Italian has domestic titles with AC Milan in his homeland, Chelsea in England, Paris St-Germain in France and also in Germany with Bayern Munich.

Having previously won the Champions League twice with Milan, he guided Real Madrid to a landmark 10th success in the competition in 2014 but departed as manager a year later.

Real won the Champions League three times under Zidane but ended the 2020-21 campaign without a trophy, having finished second in La Liga behind city rivals Atletico Madrid.

Source – https://www.bbc.co.uk/

Carlo Ancelotti leaves Everton for Real Madrid return
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Jose Mourinho has been appointed Roma manager from the start of the 2021-22 season. The 58-year-old will replace fellow Portuguese Paulo Fonseca, who Roma announced earlier on Tuesday would leave at the end of the current season.

Mourinho was sacked as Tottenham Hotspur boss on 19 April and had said he would “wait to be back in football” following his dismissal.

He has signed a three-year deal with Roma, who are seventh in Serie A.

“Thank you to the Friedkin family for choosing me to lead this great club and to be part of their vision,” said Mourinho, who has also managed Inter Milan, Chelsea, Manchester United and Real Madrid outside his homeland.

“After meetings with the ownership and Tiago Pinto, I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions. It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project.

“The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season.”

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Mourinho was dismissed after 17 months in charge of Spurs following a poor second half of the season in which they slipped from top of the table to outside the European places.

This season Mourinho suffered 10 league defeats in a single campaign for the first time in his managerial career.

“When Jose became available, we immediately jumped at the chance to speak with one of the greatest managers of all time,” said Pinto, Roma’s general manager.

“We were blown away by Jose’s desire to win and his passion for the game: no matter how many trophies he has won, his primary focus is always on the next one. He possesses the knowledge, experience and leadership to compete at all levels.

“We know that in order to build a successful sporting project it takes time, patience and the right people in the right positions. We are supremely confident Jose will be the perfect coach for our project, for both our immediate and long-term future.”

Source – https://www.bbc.co.uk/

Jose Mourinho named Roma boss from start of next season
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Andy Ruiz Jr, the first (and only) Mexican heavyweight champion in the history of boxing, is coming off a big win over Chris Arreola.

Last night’s unanimous decision victory marked Ruiz’s first fight since losing the heavyweight gold back to Anthony Joshua in December 2019.

Seemingly back on track, the question is, who’s next?

6. Dillian Whyte

Assuming his plans to face Francis Ngannou in the Octagon don’t pan out in the immediate future, kickboxer turned boxer Dillian Whyte will need a new opponent. Riding high off his victory over Alexander Povetkin back in March, Whyte could do with a new challenger to his WBC interim heavyweight strap.

Could Ruiz be that man?

5. Derek Chisora

Visibly devastated by last night’s loss to Joseph Parker, Derek Chisora will likely be looking to bounce back as soon as possible. With another crack at regaining the WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight title unlikely to occur any time soon, perhaps a fight with another viable contender is just what Chisora needs. It would certainly be a hard-hitting affair.

4. Deontay Wilder

‘The Bronze Bomber is finally readying himself for a return following his 2019 loss to Tyson Fury. With the Fury vs Joshua superfight up in the air, for now, it’s plausible Wilder will get his rematch sooner than expected. If not, a clash with a fellow former heavyweight champ could be Wilder’s ticket back into contention.

That is, of course, if he can beat Ruiz…

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3. Kubrat Pulev

The Bulgarian slugger has not fought since his loss to Anthony Joshua in December 2020. At 39, Pulev will need to get a move on with fighting again if he wants any chance of getting another crack at championship glory. A throwdown with fellow Joshua victim Ruiz would make sense and could be a turning point for the victor.

2. Joseph Parker

It’s a long shot for the near future, but Andy Ruiz Jr would presumably like to avenge his December 2016 loss to the Kiwi hard man at some point. Parker picked up a majority decision to secure the vacant WBO heavyweight championship that night.

A lot has changed in the near five years since, but a Parker vs Ruiz Jr fight would still be very exciting.

1. Anthony Joshua

The one upset in Anthony Joshua’s prodigious career came via a shock defeat to Ruiz at Madison Square Garden. A jaw-dropping TKO finish to an incredibly heated fight from June 2019 etched Ruiz’s name into the history books. He later lost his titles back to Joshua in December of the same year.

Given Joshua was able to get a rematch so quickly, would it not be fair for Ruiz to get another shot too?

Source – https://www.givemesport.com/

Andy Ruiz Jr next fight: Wilder, Whyte, Parker could be in his sights
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Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua look set to agree on a single bout giving a much-welcomed boost to former champion Deontay Wilder.

Fury and Joshua initially set a 50-50 contract for a two-fight saga, although promoter Eddie Hearn says it’s now changed to only one battle.

“I bumped into Fury in Vegas, and he reassured me that he’s all-in,” Hearn told Sky Sports News, who added that both sides are “on the verge” of a one-fight deal to decide the undisputed heavyweight championship in “the biggest fight in British boxing history.”

He also reassured that he has “Not seen a fight fall through at this stage before”.

Fury pushed Wilder out of a trilogy fight despite mediation between the pair lasting months. “The Bronze Bomber” could now face the winner in late 2021.

Hearn seems to be clinging to a deal despite a Tyson Fury stipulated deadline expiring earlier this month.

The Matchroom boss is sure the fight will still happen despite widespread skepticism.

“There are lots of characters involved – some are not so involved but still have comments to make,” he pointed out.

“I wanted to see Fury because you see interviews from various people, and I had started to doubt that he wanted the fight. I felt that he did.

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“When we met up, he made me feel that he wants this fight. “Let’s get this done. It’s the only fight that I want”.

“He’s bang up for this fight, and so is Joshua.”

On how the discussions have moved on since Hearn stated both sides were on the same page for the fourth time since Christmas, Hearn concluded: “People doubted we would achieve the site fee.

“We have achieved that. Now we have to make sure the fighters are happy with the contractual position from the site, which is straightforward and is something we’ve done before.

“It is one of the biggest sporting events of the year.

“We’re in a strong position. Both fighters have signed the contract to fight. Both fighters have agreed to an offer from a site.”

It remains to be seen if Hearn’s optimism overcomes Frank Warren’s disillusionment with how everything has progressed.

UK fans are fearing the worst, and they may have reason to do so.

Continue Reading

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua changes to a one-fight deal
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer claimed “outside influences” are affecting Manchester United penalty decisions, slamming Chelsea for a “cheeky” website reference to Harry Maguire before Sunday’s 0-0 draw.

In the first half of Sunday’s Premier League clash in west London, Callum Hudson-Odoi avoided conceding a penalty, but only after a VAR check on a possible handball.

Luke Shaw claimed after the game that referee Stuart Attwell told United captain Harry Maguire that if he had awarded the visitors a first-half penalty after watching the pitchside monitor, “it’s going to cause a lot of talk after”.

When asked if United should have had a spot-kick, Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “Yes, 100 per cent.

“I don’t understand (why it was not given), not at all, especially when he stops it and he walks across and can watch it. You can see it’s a handball but you think it’s our player that does it. But when you look at it on the video it’s taken two points away from us.”

Asked what Attwell had said to Maguire, Solskjaer replied: “I can’t say because it’s not going to be good for him.”

Pushed further on Shaw’s post-match claim on Attwell, Solskjaer added: “Exactly. I didn’t say it, I don’t want to cause controversy but it’s not right.

“It’s all these outside influences, even the VAR talk before the game on Harry. It’s cheeky when they [Chelsea] put that on the website. That’s influencing referees.

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“You can go back and look at the website. What they are saying about Harry Maguire puts pressure on the referees to give penalties against us.

“There’s loads of talk about us getting penalties when there is no doubt whatsoever, and today we should have had a penalty. That’s as clear as it is.”

A ‘pre-match briefing’ on Chelsea’s website read: “In recent Chelsea meetings the Red Devils’ centre-back has survived VAR reviews of a potential penalty foul on Cesar Azpilicueta and violent challenge on Michy Batshuayi that may well have affected the outcome.”

Source – https://www.standard.co.uk/

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer slams ‘cheeky’ Chelsea website and referee
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