Angry Salah launches stunning tirade on Slot and Liverpool hierarchy
Mohamed Salah has claimed Liverpool have thrown him “under the bus” by saying he has been made a scapegoat.
The Egyptian, who has lost his place in the Liverpool team, said he doesn’t have a relationship with manager Arne Slot any more as he accused the club of breaking their promises to him.
And he has cast doubt on his future by saying he will wave goodbye to Liverpool fans against Brighton next week – and that he is not sure what will happen after the African Cup of Nations.
An angry Salah, who signed a lucrative two-year contract in April, felt Liverpool turned on him while saying he was not sure why he had been dropped in what he called an unacceptable situation for him.
“It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus,” said the Egyptian, after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw at Leeds, in which he was left on the bench throughout. “That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.
“I got a lot of promises in the summer and so far I am in the bench for three games so I can’t say they keep the promise.
“I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.
“It is not acceptable for me. I don’t know why this is happening to me. I don’t get it. I think if this was somewhere else, every club would protect its player.”
Salah is the third highest scorer in Liverpool’s history with 250 goals, but was omitted after they lost six of their previous seven league games.
He added: “How I see it now is like you throw Mo under the bus because he is the problem in the team now. But I don’t think I am the problem. I have done so much for this club.
“The respect, I want to get. I don’t have to go every day fighting for my position because I earned it. I am not bigger than anyone but I earned my position. It’s football. It is what it is. After what I have done for the club it really hurts. You can imagine, really.”
Salah had never previously been left out for two consecutive matches before sitting out the last three, and he was an unused substitute in two of them.
He equalled a Premier League record last season by contributing to 47 goals, scoring 29 and assisting 18, but lost his place in November.
He added that he could not believe: “That I’m sitting on the bench for 90 minutes! The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I’m very, very disappointed to be fair. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season.”
Salah had a meeting with Slot on Friday and said: “He knows my feeling. He knows my feeling.”
The 33-year-old has 18 months left on his new contract and was asked if he regretted signing it. “Imagine how bad that I have to answer it, honestly. That hurts, even the question hurts. This club, signing for this club, I will never regret it. I thought I’m going to renew here and end my career here, but this is not according to the plan.”
Salah heads to Africa after next weekend and added: “I called my mum yesterday – you guys didn’t know if I would start [against Leeds] or not, but I knew. Yesterday I said to them, come to the Brighton game. I don’t know if I am going to play or not but I am going to enjoy it. In my heads, I’m going to enjoy that game because I don’t know what is going to happen now. I will be in Anfield to say goodbye to the fans and go the Africa cup. I don’t know what is going to happen when I am there.”
Salah has had interest from Saudi Arabia in the past and declined to say if an offer was still on table, adding: “I don’t want to answer this question, because the club is going to take me to a different direction.”
I don’t want to die estranged from Meghan, says father Thomas Markle
Thomas Markle has said he does not want to die estranged from his daughter after reports he had his leg amputated following surgery in the Philippines.
Mr Markle said he would like to meet the Duchess of Sussex Meghan’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and her husband Harry, the Duke of Sussex.
It comes after Meghan was said to have “reached out” to her father, who she has been estranged from since her 2018 wedding when he was caught staging paparazzi photos in the run-up to the big day.
A spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex said: “I can confirm she has reached out to her father.”
No further details have been released, including whether or not Meghan’s attempt was successful.
Meghan is said to have previously tried to reach out to him in the past.
Mr Markle told The Mail on Sunday: “I’ve always said I am open to reconciling with my daughter. I have never stopped loving her.
“I don’t want to die estranged from Meghan. I want to meet my grandkids. It might be nice to meet her husband too.”
Mr Markle said he has not yet received a message from her, the newspaper reported.
Mr Markle, who moved from Mexico to live in the Philippines, has never met his grandchildren Archie, six, and Lilibet, four.
The retired TV lighting director ended up in intensive care on Wednesday after a three-hour emergency operation, The Daily Mail reported.
He was later said to have had his leg amputated below the knee after his foot turned black.
His son, Thomas Markle Jr, said before the news that the duchess had “reached out” that he hoped Meghan would show “compassion”.
“My only wish is that Meghan shows my father some compassion. He is literally fighting for his life,” he added.
Mr Markle pulled out of attending Harry and Meghan’s wedding seven years ago after he was caught staging photographs for the paparazzi in the US, and then suffered a heart attack.
Harry’s father, now the King, stepped in to walk Meghan down the aisle.
Mr Markle went on to repeatedly speak to the media and later claimed he had been “shunned” by Meghan.
He criticised the duchess but still said he wanted to reunite with her, and publicly pleaded to be able to see Archie and Lili, saying in 2023: “She is not the person I knew as my daughter.”
The duchess won a High Court privacy and copyright claim against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over articles that reproduced parts of a “personal and private” handwritten letter she wrote to Mr Markle in a bid to get him to stop talking to the press.
Meghan, who has not seen her father for seven years, paid gushing tributes to Mr Markle on her now-defunct lifestyle blog The Tig before she married into the royal family.
She called herself a “daddy’s girl” and wrote how he invested “blood, sweat and tears” so she could pursue her dreams.
The Duke of Sussex, who is also estranged from his brother the Prince of Wales and has a troubled relationship with the King, has never met Mr Markle in person.
Harry reunited with the King face-to-face at a private tea in Clarence House in September after 19 months apart, after previously telling how Charles would not speak to him amid the duke’s High Court battle with the Home Office over security.
Mr Markle has reflected on how both he and the King know how “tough” it is to be estranged from their child.
This week, the duchess’s new With Love, Meghan Christmas special – which has been roundly lambasted by critics – premiered on Netflix the same day as news broke of Mr Markle’s admittance to intensive care.
Ashes 2025 live score: Australia eye victory after England collapse
Australia will hope to seize second Test victory and a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series with England facing an almost certain defeat on day four in Brisbane.
Mitchell Starc and the rest of the home side dominated again yesterday to leave the tourists in tatters, closing on 134-6 and still 43 behind their opponents. Starc first impressed with the bat, making 77 and sharing a significant partnership with Scott Boland that both swelled Australia’s advantage and ensured that they could make use of the best bowling conditions later in the day at the Gabba.
Having made a bright enough start to their attempt to launch a fightback, England collapsed in a heap under the lights as they lost five wickets for 38 runs having been 90/1. It prompted more tough questions over the temperament and technique of Ben Stokes’s side, who look likely to find themselves 2-0 down and the series all but over at some point today.
Follow all of the latest from the Gabba with our live blog below:
Pat Cummins set for Australia return in third Ashes Test: ‘I’ll be good to go’
It appears that Mitchell Starc will have one of his running mates back alongside him in Adelaide – Australia captain Pat Cummins is on track to return for the third Test.
Pat Cummins set for Australia return in third Ashes Test: ‘I’ll be good to go’
Mitchell Starc stars again
How good was Mitchell Starc yesterday? It’s turning into quite the series for the Australian left-armer, chipping in with 77 vital and patient runs to make England toil in the field and then removing Joe Root and Jamie Smith late in the day. He really is some cricketer.
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick reacts to his side’s collapse
Trescothick told TNT Sports: “We’re fairly philosophical about what we are trying to do and are obviously not quite operating as we need to. They have been better than us today and put us under a lot of pressure. It’s always challenging when that happens.
“There’s a lot more detail [why we are not operating] and not just highlighting one thing. We are trying to score runs when we can, and take wickets when we can. In certain areas we haven’t been as good as we need to be for long enough. We try to do that and put it right all the time.
“Of course we work with them as coaches. Myself and Baz will talk with them about what we are trying to do and the principle of how we are trying to play our style of play. When we get it right we dominate and put pressure on the opposition.
“Other times we don’t always get right and play bad shots, and that gets highlighted. It is what it is. You have to have some way of trying to play the game. Every game and innings with the batters we try to work out how we can make it better for next time. You play bad shots but sometimes you have to stick your principles with what you are trying to do.”
Trescothick insists England will ‘stick to principles’ after disastrous day in Ashes
“They’ve been better than us today, and they’ve dominated today,” Trescothick said. “They’ve put us under a lot of pressure, and it’s always challenging when that happens.
“We’re trying to score as many runs as we can. We’re trying to take wickets when we can.
“In certain areas, we probably haven’t been as good as we need to be, for long enough. And we’re trying, obviously, to do that and trying to put that right all the time.”
Nasser Hussain questions Ollie Pope future after ‘bizarre’ dismissal
“Pope’s dismissal was utterly bizarre,” said Hussain. “There is something in your brain that, however positive you want to be, driving on the up on this surface is not easy. We have seen that.
“Pope spoke to me about it on interview the other day – about learning from the first Test that there are certain shots you have to put away. On this Brisbane pitch, the drive on the up is not the shot to be playing.
“Pope nearly got caught and bowled early on, he then hit over the fielder Josh Inglis at cover and then he nicked one over slip off the outside edge. I sat in the press box thinking to myself, ‘what is going through Pope’s head now?’ I would have been thinking ‘that shot started a collapse in Perth so put it away’.
“But what does Pope do? He goes down the other end, drives on the up with a closed bat face and is caught and bowled as 90-1 becomes 90-2 and the collapse comes.
“That’s where I question him. If I, sat up in the press room, can see a wicket coming, how can Pope himself not say, ‘if I carry on batting like this I am going to get out’.
“Put that shot away for a while like the greats do. Steve Smith does it. Joe Root does it. Pope doesn’t do it. He believes if he keeps doing it, he will get away with it.”
Michael Neser opens up on new Australia chance in Ashes
“To be honest, after last season when I thought I was bowling superbly…and I did my hammy really badly, I thought that could have been my chance [gone],” Neser said. “I’ve always dreamed about playing for Australia. It’s something that I live and breathe, is cricket. So to be given another chance, I’m very honoured.
“It was a long recovery, think it was 12 weeks out of it, and I may have come back a week or two quicker than I should have. I probably wasn’t 100% [fit] at the back end [of last summer]. I chose not to go to county cricket and focus on getting my body right for the start of the season and really focus on Australian summer. A big pre-season did me wonders. I feel strong again and I feel like my hammy is back to where it was.”
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick reacts to dire Ashes situation
“You are disappointed. Of course you are. We appreciate we are behind the game.
“But you have got to try to remain focused and positive on what you are trying to do. There’s an opportunity here.
“Yes we are behind in the context of the game but we have to come out tomorrow and get to a position where we can have partnerships with the last few wickets we have and get a total we can have dart at.”
Michael Vaughan criticises ‘humiliated’ England
Michael Vaughan bemoaned another day of “humiliation” for England after they collapsed to the brink of a second successive hefty Ashes defeat against Australia in Brisbane.
The tourists finished day three on 134 for six, still 43 adrift, at the Gabba and former captain Vaughan insisted they only had themselves to blame for sticking to their attacking philosophy.
Vaughan told BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: “England were humiliated in that second day in Perth, and today and yesterday.
“Australia have just dominated two days of cricket. From England having a decent day one we all got a bit excited within two days. Australia have gone, ‘OK, we will show you how to bat in Test match cricket and then we will show you how to bowl’.
“This one way of playing and ultra-aggressive driving on the up at all costs when the ball is doing a bit just doesn’t work.
“It’s just not possible to play this style of cricket against quality bowlers. Let’s just mention this Australian team have got over a thousand wickets not playing. This is their second string.”
Scott Boland lauds Australia after seizing big advantage over England
Scott Boland: “That was great fun, yes. We wanted to put the ball in the right areas as much as possible and I think we bowled pretty well there. England always play their shots and I felt if we put the balls in the right areas we’d get chances. Michael Neser held some great catches.
“Our main objective at the start of the day was to get some overs into the England bowlers for the second innings, but also stretch our bowling into the night session and Mitchell Starc batted awesome.
“Every fast bowler feels pain [when bowling] but Mitchell seems to push through more than most.”
Woeful England slide towards second Test defeat as Mitchell Starc and Australia dominate
England suffered another dose of despair at the Gabba as Australia moved in for the kill on day three of the second Ashes Test.
The tourists were a distant second best in every way as they hobbled to the brink of a loss that would leave them 2-0 down with three to play. Their hopes of reclaiming the urn were fading faster than ever as they faded to 134 for six, still 43 adrift.
It was abject viewing at a ground that has become synonymous with English heartache, Australia’s tailenders grinding the visiting attack into the Brisbane dirt.
Their last three wickets put on 128 runs as England’s weary bowlers struggled to make a dent against a lower-order who were taunting them with their mere presence.
In building a total of 511 and a lead of 177 they batted just long enough to use up the last of the natural light, then set about chopping down opponents who were unable to show the same diligence and dedication.
Woeful England slide towards second Test defeat as Starc and Australia dominate
Bethlehem lights up Christmas tree for first time since 2022
A giant Christmas tree adorned with red and gold baubles stands in the West Bank city of Bethlehem for the first time since the start of the Gaza war.
The Palestinian city, revered by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus, had refrained from public Christmas celebrations over the past two years as war raged in Gaza.
But as a precarious ceasefire in Gaza enters its second month, the city held a ceremony on Saturday night, lighting up the 20-metre tree at the edge of Manger Square. It was last lit in Christmas 2022.
Thousands of Palestinians from across the West Bank and Israel filled the square, erupting in cheers when the tree’s lights were turned on shortly before 8pm.
“We came to celebrate, watch and enjoy, because for several years we haven’t had the chance,” said Randa Bsoul, a 67-year-old Palestinian from Haifa in Israel.
Israel’s assault on Gaza has devastated the territory of some 2 million Palestinians. Last month, the reported death toll climbed above 70,000. The war began in October 2023 after a surprise attack on Israel by the Hamas group ruling Gaza, in which around 1,200 were killed.
Although Gaza is some 60km (37 miles) from Bethlehem, the war has painfully affected Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Many have family and friends in Gaza, and the war has shrivelled the tourism that Bethlehem’s economy relies on.
The past two years have been “like hell”, said a Bethlehem shopkeeper selling souvenirs, who asked to remain anonymous because of fears of reprisal by Israeli forces.
“We are trying our best to keep going,” the shopkeeper said, describing a worsening economic situation and tightening Israeli restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the West Bank.
Israel has erected new military checkpoints across the territory over the past two years and some Palestinian communities have, in effect, been sealed off by gates and roadblocks.
Moreover, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced from their homes by Israeli forces waging an assault on northern West Bank cities since the start of the year.
Israel and Hamas agreed to a truce in October as part of a US plan to end the war. Although it is formally holding, Israel has repeatedly carried out air strikes that it says are fending off attacks or destroying militant infrastructure. Hamas and Israel repeatedly accuse each other of violations.
“As Bethlehem lights its Christmas tree, the deep anguish endured by our people in Gaza does not leave our hearts,” Bethlehem mayor Maher Canawati told reporters this week.
“The wound of Gaza is our wound, the people of Gaza are our people, and the light of Christmas has no meaning unless it first touches the hearts of the afflicted, and the oppressed all over Palestine.”
In Bethlehem, Palestinians said that they were hopeful that Christmas and the new year would bring peace after two years of what some described as agony and pain. They hoped that Saturday’s ceremony would bring some joy for those suffering in Gaza.
“We are looking for hope,” said Diana Babush, a Palestinian in her fifties from Bethlehem. “We are looking that, from this moment, peace will prevail. We hope that we can have peace and prosperity.”
In contrast to the time before the war in Gaza, there were no fireworks following the lighting of the Christmas tree, a solemn nod to the uncertainty of the future.
“It’s scary because no one knows what will happen in the future. But we are hopeful,” said Bsoul from Haifa.
Tower of London closed after ‘crumble and custard’ thrown at Crown Jewels case
Four people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after the display case containing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London was apparently covered in fruit crumble and custard.
The vault where the artefacts are displayed, known as the Jewel House, was temporarily closed to the public while police investigated the potential attack. A group called Take Back Power, who say that they are campaigning for higher taxes on the wealthy, have taken responsibility for the protest.
The group said in a statement posted online that two protesters covered the Crown Jewels display case with custard and apple crumble at around 9:50am on Saturday morning.
Footage shared by the group showed one demonstrator removing the large foil tray of crumble from a bag and slamming it against the glass protecting the Imperial State Crown.
Another then repeatedly poured a tub of bright yellow custard on the front of the case.
The activists then opened their coats to show their T-shirt slogans which read “Take Back Power” before one shouted “Democracy has crumbled” and another shouted “Britain is broken. We’ve come here to the jewels of the nation to take back power.”
Two activists also held a sign reading ‘Democracy has crumbled – Tax the Rich’ in front of the display cabinet.
The group’s statement continued: “By around 10:30, the two action takers and two others had been taken into custard-y by police”.
Surprised tourists could be seen reacting to the stunt which happened on Saturday morning, while a Tower of London worker quickly approached shouting: “Excuse me, excuse me”, as she radioed for help.
Take Back Power targeted the Ritz Hotel on Wednesday by emptying bags of manure next to its Christmas tree. It said it carried out the stunt to demand the government establishes a permanent citizens’ assembly – a “House of the People” – with the power to “tax extreme wealth and fix Britain”.
Police initially said that the Tower of London had been closed to the public but clarified that it is only the Jewel House that is shut off.
Police minister Sarah Jones said that the protest incident at the Tower of London was “disgraceful”.
In a statement on X, Ms Jones said: “Disgraceful incident this morning at the Tower of London. I am grateful to the police for their swift response and for the full investigation, which is now underway.
“There is a clear difference between the democratic right to protest and unacceptable behaviour.”
The Metropolitan Police said that officers arrived at the scene on Saturday morning after reports of criminal damage.
A spokesperson for the force said: “Police were called at 09:48hrs on Saturday, 6 December to the Tower of London following reports of criminal damage to a display case, containing the State Crown.
“It was reported that four protesters threw suspected food onto the case before two left the scene.
“Officers worked closely with City of London Police and security officers and four people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They have been taken into custody.”
The Tower of London, which was built in the 1070s by William the Conqueror, now attracts more than three million visitors a year. The tower displays the Crown Jewels collection and the Coronation Regalia are at the heart of this exhibition.
This includes the Imperial State Crown, which is worn by the monarch at the end of the coronation ceremony and at formal occasions like the state opening of parliament.
Lighter than St Edward’s Crown – the Coronation Crown – the Imperial State Crown was worn by the King as he left Westminster Abbey on his coronation day and during his appearance on the palace balcony.
It was originally made for the coronation of his grandfather George VI in 1937 and contains 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, four rubies and 269 pearls and weighs over a kilogram.
Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity which looks after the tower, said the Crown Jewels were not damaged during the incident.
It added that the tower was open to the public, and that the Jewel House, which is home to the historic treasures, temporarily closed while police investigated but has now reopened.
Perfect portraits: from groups to selfies and candid pics, expert tips
Portrait photography has come a long way from the days where everyone needed to be smiling directly into the camera, as a flash bulb popped.
And in fact, following on from an era where social media sites offered very curated, sometimes heavily filtered snapshots of our lives, more natural, candid images that really show off our personalities and experiences are now very much on trend. Think authentic photos of genuine moments where no-one is really paying attention to the camera. Instead they’re focused on enjoying what’s happening and the people they are with. For example, friends around a table enjoying a drink and a chat. Families engaged in a favourite activity. Photos that look like a glimpse into someone’s normal every day.
The best way to capture these in-the-moment shots? On a mobile: our ever-present, hand-held, do-everything device that has steadily taken over photography in the 26 years since the first camera phone appeared. Samsung’s newest device, the Galaxy S25 FE offers a wealth of photography-first features, from multiple cameras, lenses and wide angle settings, to in-built AI technology that will help you take the best possible pictures, then easily edit them afterwards. And as a photographer who runs masterclasses in mobile photography I couldn’t wait to try it out.
Photography that’s fun
The phone itself is slim and lightweight, which makes it so much easier to hold steady, for clear, crisp, blur-free images, and take discreet, candid snaps.
Of course, we all have friends, family members and even pets who love performing for the camera. But for those who are a bit more reluctant to step into the frame, the Galaxy S25 FE offers a whole host of easy-to-use, fun AI features that will have even the most camera-shy feeling completely confident and ready for their close-up.
Samsung’s Drawing Assist function is a prime example and was an absolute hit with my kids, transforming our Sunday afternoon walk from a litany of moaning and dragging feet into a fun-filled adventure involving a lucky escape from the shark that apparently now lives in the park pond, and flying through the air with some giant balloons.
And all it took was a few simple, if strategically positioned snaps and some quick sketches using the Sketch to Image* function when editing the photo. This works best when you have some space in the frame around your subjects so you can easily draw what you want to add. In the shark image, for example, we needed enough water to the left of my kids for the shark to emerge from.
In the photo where the children are flying with the balloons, I needed them to be high up against the sky, and I also wanted the trees visible to add some context to the story we were trying to tell. They’re on top of the boulders, but I had to crouch down on the ground to cut out the houses in the background. By using the Generative Edit** function I was then able to replace the boulders with trees and then used Sketch to Image to draw in some balloons to make it look like they were floating away.
You don’t need to be an amazing artist for Sketch to Image to work well either, just enough line and shape for the app to recognise what you want to add into your image. The only limit here is your imagination and creativity. Involving the kids in some fun photography also meant that I got to capture some real, candid moments of them in the beautiful Autumn sunshine, with none of the usual complaints.
Say farewell to photobombers
While playing around with reality can be fun, the Galaxy S25FE’s other AI features can also be used to make more subtle adjustments to enhance your images.
Just a few minutes of work with the Generative Edit function on a day out with a friend, helped me erase two unwanted photobombers from a photo (in which she perfectly co-ordinated with the graffitied heart wall in Borough Market). While removing some distracting weedkiller from the table where my cat was basking in the sunshine ensured the perfect pic where I can really appreciate him in all his fluffy glory.
Shooting at night
Aside from fun and helpful editing functions, the phone’s AI technology is also running in the background to give your photos a boost, whatever and whenever you are capturing them.
This is great when you’re shooting challenging lighting conditions, for example at night. Dark, grainy and blurred photos are a thing of the past, with Samsung’s Nightography feature. Tapping the yellow moon icon that appears in dim lighting will enable this clever function which captures multiple images and then uses AI to blend them together to create one sharper, brighter image.
This can take a few seconds, so you’ll need to keep very still when using this feature – if you can, brace your arms on a table and hold the phone with two hands to keep the camera as steady as possible. It also helps if your subject is still, so this is more for capturing adults and older kids than snapping a restless pet or fast-moving child.
Photo boosting brilliance built-in
For these trickier subjects, from youngsters to four-legged friends, the excellent autofocus on the device makes for pin-sharp portraits rendered in high definition. And if you couple that with the outstanding Samsung colour profile you get beautifully saturated, nicely contrasted images which really pop. All the colours are beautifully rendered and all skin tones (and fur tones) are true to life. No filters are needed here.
And this is not just true of portraits you take of other people. The 12 MP camera lens on the front of the phone makes for gorgeously rendered, high resolution selfies with a variety of crop options, so you can find the perfect angle or image composition.
Taking a selfie at a 1:1 square crop, as well as the standard 3:4 crop option means you can easily include a friend or family member in your photo. And there’s a lovely little feature where you can get the lens to zoom out a little by tapping the ‘two person’ icon to provide a little extra space.
The 9:16 crop option means you can opt for a more flattering, longer and thinner photo while the full frame cop allows you a more zoomed-in selfie.
And if you want to take your selfies to another level, the option to add a little skin toning and smoothing effect and iron out any wrinkles (or in my case remove evidence of a sleepless night) is one of the additional features that makes the selfie camera stand out!
Super-fast charging
The excellent battery life means you don’t need to worry about it lasting, even after a few hours of photo fun. And when your battery does run down, lightning fast charging will see you back at 60 per cent in just 30 minutes, so you don’t have to wait long until you are good to go again.
Overall, whether it is taking vibrant portraits of yourself or capturing creative, candid images of the people (and pets) in your lives, making memories you’ll want to share is easy and fun with the Galaxy S25 FE.
Kirsty Hamilton is a portrait photographer – find out more at her website and on Instagram.
To find out more about the Samsung Galaxy S25 FE visit Samsung
*Samsung account login and network connection may be required for certain AI features.
**Samsung account login is required. Requires network connection.
Charlton fan dies as Portsmouth game abandoned for medical emergency
A Charlton Athletic supporter has died after suffering a medical emergency during the club’s Championship clash against Portsmouth, causing the match to be abandoned.
The Saturday lunchtime clash at the Valley was halted in the 12th minute while the supporter received treatment and was subsequently postponed.
And Charlton later confirmed that the fan had passed away in hospital despite the efforts of medical staff at the scene.
“The club are devastated to report that a Charlton Athletic supporter has died following a medical emergency during today’s game at The Valley against Portsmouth,” read a club statement.
“The match was halted in the 12th minute while the supporter received treatment and was subsequently postponed. The club would like to thank the Charlton staff and first responders who did everything they could, but sadly the supporter later passed away in hospital.
“The club are grateful to supporters in attendance and the Portsmouth players and staff for their patience and understanding as this tragedy unfolded. Everyone at the club sends their heartfelt condolences to the supporter’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time.”
The game was suspended with just 12 minutes on the clock as the medical teams went to help the fan suffering a medical emergency in the lower tier of the Covered End stand.
Both sides stayed on the pitch for around seven more minutes before referee Matthew Donohue ordered the players to leave the field in the 19th minute and they headed down the tunnel.
The supporter was seen taken away on a stretcher by paramedics after around 12 minutes of treatment. Around 45 minutes after the incident first happened, an announcement came over the tannoy that the match had been abandoned.
“Everyone here at Charlton sends their very best wishes to the supporter affected,” said stadium announcer Dave Lockwood. “We thank our medical team and first responders.
“We will inform when the match will be rescheduled and that will be announced in due course. Please make your way out safely, calmly and in orderly fashion.”
Charlton initially confirmed the abandonment, and said the match would be rescheduled in due course, before later confirming that the supporter had sadly passed away in hospital.
Portsmouth added their condolences in a post on social media, once news of the death emerged.
“Pompey are devastated to learn that the Charlton supporter taken ill at today’s game has passed away,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with their family and friends at this difficult time.”
A minute’s applause had been held before the game for former Charlton players Billy Bonds and Marvin Hinton, who both passed away recently, and Portsmouth had the better of the early going, with Addicks centre-back Lloyd Jones picking up a yellow card.
However, the match was suspended when it became clear the spectator would require immediate medical attention and later abandoned completely.
Jobless youngsters to be offered work in construction and hospitality
Young people on benefits will be offered jobs in construction and hospitality and could lose some of their financial support if they say no under new government plans to drive down unemployment.
Ministers have announced an £820 million package aimed at halting the rise in youth unemployment. The money includes funding for training and work experience in construction, hospitality and health and social care for 350,000 young people on universal credit.
Others will be offered “intensive support” to help them find work, and government-backed guaranteed jobs will be provided for up to 55,000 young people from spring 2026.
However those who don’t engage with help without a good reason could lose some of their benefits.
Youth unemployment is at the highest level since the Covid pandemic driven by a weak economy, an increasing minimum wage, tax increases on business, and rising numbers of young people with mental ill health and disability.
Labour has been criticised for fuelling a jobs market slowdown due to chancellor Rachel Reeves’ increase in employers’ national insurance contributions.
The tax increase has particularly affected the hospitality and retail industries, sectors where lots of young people often get a first job.
There has also been a rise in “Neets” -16-24-year-olds not in employment, education or training in recent years. Some 940,000 young people are now considered Neet, a rise of 195,000 in the last two years driven mainly by increasing rates of sickness and disability.
And the Resolution Foundation has warned that the figure is on course to reach one million for the first time since the aftermath of the financial crisis, when it peaked at 1.2 million in 2012.
Work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden said: “Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.”
Former health secretary Alan Milburn has been asked to carry out a review of the rising number of Neet young people that will shape further reforms to health and welfare.
Mr McFadden said the new funding was “a down payment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment”.
Further plans for young people are expected to be set out in the coming week as the government prepares to publish its national youth strategy.