Maybe there will be another show for half time in extra time.
Anthony May
@dranthonymay.bsky.social
Senior Lecturer in Sociology at BCU. I mainly research in sport.
They seem to be playing a mega mix of the Macarena. What would they have played if England had got through? The Birdie Song maybe, or Agadoo?
What would be the worse punishment out of reading 1000 AI generated essays, or one by Tony Blair?
There were actual Cold War spies that were punished less than this. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Southampton expelled from play-offs for spying on Middlesbrough, Oxford and Ipswich
Southampton have been thrown out of the play-offs after admitting they spied on three clubs during the Championship season.
bbc.co.uk
I can see the proposed HS2 terminal from my office window. The whole thing was supposed to be finished this year. If delays continue there's a fair chance I'll have retired before it's done. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
HS2 could cost up to £102.7bn and trains will be slower than first planned
The new cost range and train speed are being announced as a
bbc.co.uk
What is the point of spying on football training? What could they find that they couldn't reasonably guess? Or... do Middlesbrough have WMDs? It could be that.
I doubt even Starmer's closest allies could say what his real views are. The problem is if you don't tell people what you do stand for, people can easily assume that you don't stand for them.
Just finished facilitating a session on the social impact of football @fairgameuk.bsky.social conference. Really enjoyed it. A lot of good folk here.
Initially I thought this was ludicrous but if the precedent can be applied elsewhere, there are a couple of jobs I might yet get and a couple of funding bids I might yet win. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
Afcon 2025: Morocco declared the winners after Caf overturns final defeat by Senegal
Morocco declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football overturns the result of their final defeat by Senegal.
bbc.co.uk
I hope Michael Sheen hosts House of Games in character as Brian Clough.
I wish I had been better at football as a youngster. Even a largely unimpressive career could have got me to the real summit: becoming a Sporting Director. It's the best job ever! Little accountability, decent job security, and you get to go on a shopping spree every year.
Divorced Beheaded Substituted in the opening 20 minutes?
So, the UK taxpayer is supporting thousands of Brits who didn't want to be UK taxpayers. Cool. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK launches operation to support thousands of Britons in Middle East
Officials are understood to be working on plans to evacuate British nationals, should airspace remain closed.
bbc.co.uk
How was everyone's 2025? I was fortunate enough to have two fellowships in the same Czech city, at the Universities of Brno and Brno Brookes.
A good line to remember for that tricky “do you have any flaws? question that interview panels seem keen on. www.espncricinfo.com/story/brendo...
McCullum: England 'over-prepared' in second Test build-up
Head coach defends planned break between Brisbane and Adelaide Tests with series on line
espncricinfo.com
Neser and Boland are just landing it in the right spot and letting the ball do the work. England are obsessed with 90 mph bowlers, but for this series they would have been better off getting Joe Leach out of retirement.
Australia are going to get a visit from the pitch inspectors. Eight championship points docked for a substandard deck.
I think whoever designed the new Blues ground has been listening to a lot of Pink Floyd.
There's often a chap (sometimes more than one) set up on my route to work, playing guitar. He has a mic, an amp and it seems like he has a small PA. If you are fully amplified, are you still a busker?
Time will tell but this seems like it could be the next Grand Slam Track. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-...
R360: Nations issue international blanket ban on recruited players
Rugby's leading nations come together to issue a blanket ban on R360 recruits playing internationals.
bbc.co.uk
This is the first time I have genuinely never heard of the half time act. Not the performer's problem obviously, but a worrying development for me. This is clear a sign as any that I've crossed into middle age. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Super Bowl 2026: Bad Bunny to perform at half-time show
The Puerto Rican pop star has otherwise avoided the US on his forthcoming world tour because of ICE.
bbc.co.uk
It turns out bowling ok in a novelty tournament isn’t really the prep you need for international cricket. On the plus side, quizmasters everywhere have a new question for their bank.
I was in Tesco and they were playing the Liquidator over the PA. Might be the first time I've heard it without... I'll call them embellishments.
Graduation day today, our session is in a bit. I've already dropped by the Symphony Hall to see one of my dissertation students who rearranged their ceremony, due to a clash with Oasis at Wembley. I can think of some academics who would be more sympathetic with that than others.
Now the interim leader might be good, bad or indifferent but the thing that came to mind straight away is Ice Town. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reform Warwickshire council head quits after five weeks, leaving 18-year-old in charge
Rob Howard says ‘health challenges’ are behind resignation and teenage deputy George Finch will lead until replacement found
theguardian.com
On the face of it this is a terrible waste of time, money and resource. However, put yourself in the shoes of a lecturer who can see HS2 from his office window, and needs examples of failed government policy for lectures. Every cloud. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
HS2 delayed beyond 2033 as minister attacks ‘appalling mess’
Heidi Alexander says billions wasted in ‘litany of failure’, amid speculation cost will now exceed £100bn
theguardian.com
Doing something funny with my hands while presenting @sportanthro.bsky.social conference last week. A good event and a very welcoming crowd.
In a study of UK police sergeants, Scott Banks and @dranthonymay.bsky.social examine the impact of New Public Management strategies on policing, using semi-structured interviews to explore their managerial challenges www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
