Greenwood's future remains uncertain after charges dropped
The 21-year-old Greenwood, who also played for England's national team, had charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service this week. The decision about how to handle Greenwood is likely to be about more than just soccer, with the club’s image and commercial appeal also under consideration. Sportswear giant Nike, which said it was "deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations," ended its sponsorship deal with Greenwood last year. Because of the nature of the charges, consideration may also be given to the number female fans the club has and a recently-formed women’s team that is growing in popularity. Greenwood may determine his career would be better served by having a fresh start away from United, perhaps in another country.
wftv.comEx-pop star Gary Glitter freed from UK prison
LONDON — (AP) — Former pop star Gary Glitter was released from prison in England on Friday after serving half of a 16-year prison sentence for sexually abusing three young girls in the 1970s. The 79-year-old singer, whose real name is Paul Gadd, was freed from a prison in Dorset, in southwest England. It is common for offenders in the U.K. to be freed halfway through their sentences and then be placed on probation. Glitter was arrested in October 2012 under Operation Yewtree, the national investigation launched in the wake of the child abuse scandal surrounding the late BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile. Glitter is best known for the hit “Rock & Roll (Part 2),” released in 1972, but he fell into disgrace after being convicted on child abuse charges in Vietnam.
wftv.comKlopp grateful for small step after Liverpool-Chelsea draw
Now Liverpool sits eighth in the league — Chelsea is 10th — and belongs there after three games without a win. “Arsene Wenger lost his 1,000th game 6-0 (Arsenal vs. Chelsea, 2014), so I am really happy that didn’t happen,” Klopp said. I expect progress and I think from the last league game (a 3-0 loss against Brighton) it was progress, definitely, and that’s important.”There are several factors behind Liverpool’s sudden decline. Villa's rise under manager Unai Emery extended to five wins in the Spaniard’s seven league games in charge, with only one defeat. The Magpies also failed to capitalize on the draw between Liverpool and Chelsea earlier in the day by widening the gap on them.
wftv.comBritish boxer Eubank Jr. wears rainbow armband at weigh-in
MANCHESTER, England — (AP) — British boxer Chris Eubank Jr. wore a rainbow armband at the weigh-in Friday before his middleweight bout against Liam Smith after a nasty exchange at a news conference. Smith had repeatedly asked Eubank at Thursday's pre-fight press conference “do you want to tell us something?” in reference to Eubank's sexuality. Eubank responded with claims about Smith’s fidelity to his wife, and Sky Sports apologized for “personal and homophobic remarks." On Friday, Eubank wore a pro-LGBTQ armband on his right arm throughout the weigh-in and faceoff with Smith ahead of their bout at Manchester's AO Arena on Saturday. The British Boxing Board of Control said it is “considering the conduct” of the fighters.
wftv.comUK leader Rishi Sunak says sorry for not wearing seat belt
LONDON — (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologized Thursday for taking off his seat belt to film a social media video in a moving car. A spokesman said Sunak made an “error of judgment” while filming a message for Instagram from the back of an official government car during a visit to northwest England. Spokesman Jamie Davies said the prime minister “fully accepts this was a mistake and apologizes.”“The prime minister believes everyone should wear a seat belt,” he said. Failing to wear a seat belt is punishable in the U.K. by a fine of up to 500 pounds ($620). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
wftv.comUK police investigate disappearance of couple with newborn
LONDON — (AP) — The father of a British woman who has been missing for two weeks with her partner and newborn baby appealed Thursday for her to contact police. Police say they are “increasingly concerned for the welfare” of Constance Marten, Mark Gordon and the infant. Detectives say Marten, 35, gave birth a day or two before the couple and baby left their broken-down car by the side of a highway in northwest England on Jan. 5. Since then, there have been reported sightings of the couple in southeast England and the London area, the most recent more than a week ago. Marten comes from a wealthy, aristocratic British family and grew up in a Georgian mansion on a country estate in southwest England.
wftv.comArsenal 8 points clear, commanding Premier League title race
Eight points clear in the Premier League, playing the most free-flowing soccer in England, and now humbling its fiercest rivals in front of their own fans. A 2-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday left no doubt over who the dominant force is in north London. Arsenal had an eight-point lead for a couple of days at the start of the month but second-place Manchester City had a game in hand then. British bookmakers are now making Arsenal odds-on favorites for the title, which brings its own pressure heading into the second half of the season. Chelsea stayed in 10th place but trimmed the gap to fifth-place Tottenham to five points.
wftv.comMan United flying high after City win and Liverpool loss
Beating City 2-1 strengthened the rising belief that Ten Hag is turning the fortunes around for the 20-time English champion. United is up to third on the table — a point behind City and six off leader Arsenal, which plays Tottenham on Sunday. United was 10 points clear of its fiercest rival Liverpool, which suffered a sixth league loss at Brighton, and first there since 1961. "What we’ve found this year is that we can’t finish the chances when we get them,” West Ham manager David Moyes said. The striker converted a first half-penalty, which continued his perfect record from the spot for the Bees, with 21 scored from 21 attempts.
wftv.comUK woman gets dying wish of funeral flash mob dancing to ‘Another One Bites the Dust”
“She wanted everyone to remember her funeral but not for a sad reason,” friend Samantha Ryalls, 43, who helped arrange the flashmob, told the BBC. “Her best friend Sam booked us, but this was about six months before she passed — so Sandie basically planned her own funeral,” Phipps said. Phipps said that some in the church were stunned, but most eventually warmed up to the performance. “It was very odd to first pretend to be there for the funeral, and then to see family and friends crying and upset,” Phipps said. She wanted her funeral to reflect her.”Woman “broke tradition” by planning surprise flash-mob dance for own funeral https://t.co/TmCa3TVnPK pic.twitter.com/gcRBn0exA6 — BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) January 12, 2023©2022 Cox Media Group
wftv.comPlane carrying rocket takes off for 1st UK satellite launch
LONDON — (AP) — A modified jumbo jet carrying a Virgin Orbit rocket took off from southwestern England Monday, marking the first attempt to launch satellites into orbit from Western Europe. The rocket will then take nine small satellites for mixed civil and defense use into orbit, while the plane, piloted by a Royal Air Force pilot, returns to Cornwall. If successful, the mission will mark the first international launch for Virgin Orbit, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson. “This is the start of a new era for the U.K. in terms of launch capabilities," said Ian Annett, deputy chief executive at the U.K. Space Agency. The mission is a collaboration between the U.K. Space Agency, the Royal Air Force, Virgin Orbit and Cornwall Council.
wftv.comWrexham thrills Hollywood owners with upset win in FA Cup
COVENTRY, England — (AP) — Welsh soccer club Wrexham thrilled its Hollywood owners by causing a big shock in the FA Cup on Saturday. “I’m completely and totally speechless,” Reynolds, best known for starring in the “Deadpool” movies, tweeted to his 21 million followers. What a win.”McElhenney, an American actor and director who was the creator of TV show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia," was just as stunned. McElhenney followed that up by posting: “We’re just getting started.”With its exciting win over Coventry, a team from the second-tier Championship, Wrexham ensured there will be non-league representation in the fourth round — or the last 32. Wrexham, the world’s third oldest professional club, was the architect of one of the FA Cup’s greatest upsets, beating then-English champion Arsenal in the third round in 1992.
wftv.comEngland player Raheem Sterling to return to World Cup
Raheem Sterling will rejoin England’s World Cup squad after a break-in at his home in the U.K. The Chelsea forward had left England’s camp in Qatar to be with his family, which meant he missed his country’s 3-0 win against Senegal in the round of 16 on Sunday.
England's Rice admits mid-season World Cup taking its toll
It’s time to take note when even Declan Rice admits a mid-season World Cup is proving physically challenging, The workhorse England midfielder said he was feeling the strain after playing three games already in Qatar with a match against Senegal in the round of 16 coming up Sunday.