abandoned

The alleged incident happened in the final minute of the Group C match in Baku.

Immediately following the allegation, England head coach Matt Thorpe was seen on the match coverage on DAZN asking for the referee to come over, before calling his players off the pitch.

After an initial report from Thorpe, the referee told England’s coaching staff, “I cannot hear”.

One of Thorpe’s assistant coaches can then be heard telling the referee “we are reporting racism”, before adding “we do not want to play”.

When another official came over, talking about what would happen after the match, the assistant told him: “No, our players do not want to play”.

He was later heard saying that a player was “upset”.

Heated words were then exchanged between each set of coaching staff, with both saying they were trying to protect their players.

This is the first time the U15 World Cup and Festival has been played, and involves 189 countries and territories.

Matches are played in an eight-a-side format, on smaller pitches, with 20-minute halves.

England are scheduled to play their next match against Zimbabwe at 20:45 local time (16:45 GMT) on Monday, with Republic of Ireland facing Cambodia at the same time.

There has been a significant update to a UK airport that closed its doors four years ago, with plans to reopen for passengers from 2028 following a £160 million project

A UK airport that has been abandoned for the past four years has reached a ‘major milestone’ with plans to be under public ownership. There is hope that holidaymakers will be able to fly from the airport, which had provided routes to some of the most popular holiday hotspots across Europe, within the next few years.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport was forced to close in 2022 after its former owner, Peel Group, said it was no longer financially viable to continue operating. It came as a blow to travellers, particularly locals, who could conveniently fly from the airport to destinations such as Alicante, Palma, Amsterdam, Budapest, Dublin and Paphos, through Wizz Air, TUI or Ryanair.

Now, at a significant turning point for the airport’s future, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) plans to purchase Doncaster Airport, thereby becoming the freehold owner and landlord under the City of Doncaster Council’s lease. The exact details of the planned proposal and its approval are set to be discussed next week, but the update, which would see the airport come under public ownership, has been hailed as a “major win”.

Doncaster mayor Ros Jones said: “This partnership proposal to bring the airport into public ownership is a major win for Doncaster and South Yorkshire. I pressed this proposal back in 2022 and the landowner declined. We are now in a different place and a different time. This proposal will end our lease with the current landowner. As a council, we need to enter into a contractual arrangement with SYMCA to agree how this progresses in a phased approach. The meeting of cabinet next week will take the decisions the council needs for this to take place.”

Previous reports estimate that the airport could reopen with flights available for passengers during the winter 2027-28 season, following a £160 million project. Currently, the airport stands eerily abandoned until a final decision is made about its future, but the latest update has sparked excitement.

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard said the deal was a “major milestone”. He further commented: “I’m delighted to say that subject to formal approval of the MCA board next week and then Peel, we’ve agreed a deal that means we’re taking Doncaster Sheffield Airport and adjacent Innovation Quarter employment land into public ownership.

“This is a deal that puts the future of DSA back in our hands and finally gives one of the biggest and best growth opportunities in South Yorkshire the platform for long-term success that it needs and deserves. Four years ago, we were told that our airport would be closing. But alongside Ros Jones, I said I would do anything I could to save DSA, and I meant it.

“Which is why after months of negotiations and the growing flexibility afforded to us by the government’s devolution agenda, today we can announce that we have come to an agreement for SYMCA to buy the airport and Innovation Quarter employment land from Peel. Subject to the agreement of the MCA board next week, the airport and surrounding Innovation Quarter employment land will be owned and controlled by us, for us; the people of South Yorkshire. This deal means our future will be in our own hands again.

“When the airport closed, almost everything was against us; the owners did not want to sell, we had no legal powers to intervene or stop the airport from closing, and no backing from the government at the time. Today, the future for DSA is bright, with the airport back in our hands, the sky’s the limit.”

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THE historic Birnbeck Pier is currently undergoing an enormous renovation and will open next year for the first time since the 90s.

First look images have been revealed to show what it could look like when visitors can finally step foot onto the structure again.

Birnbeck Pier connects the mainland to a rocky island in Weston-super-Mare, but has been closed to the public since 1994.

The pier is being restored at a cost of £44million and it has been well-received by locals and visitors who are calling it “excellent news”.

In recently revealed images, it shows that along with work on the pier structure, surrounding buildings will be restored too like the Pier Master’s Cottage.

This will become a visitor centre and shop which will also be connected to a new modern cafe building and terrace, which will offer impressive views to the pier.

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Nearby, the Pier View building which has previously been a café, tea room, dress shop, and even military offices during World War Two, will also be restored.

As for what it will become, that’s yet to be decided, but one option being explored is an ice cream parlour.

The Toll House that’s known locally as the ‘shell shop’, will be restored and has potential to reopen as a concession stand.

As for the island, this will also eventually reopen to the public, but it may not be finished in time for when the pier reopens.

When it is complete, visitors will be able to see the restored clock tower and pavilion.

Also on the island will be the refurbished 1888 Boathouse, which will become a cafe on the top floor and an events space below.

Boats will even be able to dock thanks to the restored North Jetty on the island.  

The island used to be very popular thanks to its theme park which had small rides including a miniature railway and water chute. 

Mike Bell, leader of North Somerset Council, told the BBC last month that work on restoring the pier is already a quarter of the way through.

He added: “When people will be able to walk on the pier for the first time, I think it will be a magical moment for the many people like me who were born in Weston and have lived here all their lives.

He continued: “People who have seen this crumbling jewel will be delighted to see it restored.

“The North Jetty will enable us to bring in passenger and other ferry services to Weston.”