Month: May 2021

Former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone has predictably shot down F1’s Sprint Qualifying format that will be trialed this season, insisting the idea “complete nonsense”.

F1 is set to experiment at three venues this year with a new qualifying format that will see drivers compete in a Saturday afternoon 100-kilometer race that will determine the grid for race day.

The concept will be rolled out for the very first time at the British GP at Silverstone in July, with Monza and Interlagos also expected to trial the idea which, if successful, could become more widespread in 2022.

But Ecclestone says the sport’s current management is taking the wrong approach to the concept.

“The way they have decided it now is complete nonsense,” the 90-year-old reportedly told Germany’s Sport Bild.

“If the winner of the sprint race also gets points and is also on the first grid position, at the end of the season that does not give a true reflection of who is really the best driver.”

Read also: Teams’ financial compensations for Sprint Qualifying revealed

Ecclestone, who once suggested that drivers should line up on Sunday’s grid in the reverse over of qualifying, still believes that the idea of inversing positions holds merit.

“My original idea was to give the winner of a sprint race maybe ten points, but let him start the race from tenth place,” explained Mr. E.

“If he had then moved up to third place in the race, for example, his real ability would have been better seen.”

Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers

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Scott Parker claims he is not “mad or deluded in any way” for insisting his belief in Fulham’s ability to remain in the top flight has not waned.

The Cottagers are nine points from safety with only 12 points available from the remaining four matches of the season.

Burnley sit one place above Fulham in the table, and a win for Sean Dyche’s men would secure their place in next season’s Premier League while confirming their opponents relegation.

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Fulham host Burnley on Monday and Parker accepted his side’s fate was out of their hands.

“My own belief is not waning, at this present moment in time no definitely not because at this moment there’s four games left,” the Fulham manager said.

“Of course I do keep saying that, (but) I’m not mad or deluded in any way and I understand the predicament we’re in and I understand how difficult that challenge is, but at this moment, it’s still a challenge, it’s still there.

“Is it in our hands? No, but what is in our hands is the next four games and can we win four? That’s the aim. But in the real real short term we need to win on Monday night.

“After Monday, if we don’t win that then my belief or where I see it is going to be very very different. Of course it is.

“But over the course of the season I always looked at a team that have been competitive, I’ve always looked at a team indifferent at times and inconsistent and of course that’s why we are where we are but it’s certainly a team that can win games and that’s what we need to start on Monday night.

“That’s the main focus from me, I’m not willing to indulge or look at anything different other than that at this present moment in time and that may change in the future or in the near future but at the moment that’s not the case.”

 

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Roy Hodgson would not have welcomed the Amazon cameras delving into the current goings on at Crystal Palace, but is looking forward to watching the ‘When Eagles Dare’ documentary next month.

It was announced on Wednesday the broadcaster would launch a new docuseries on June 4, covering the Eagles’ journey from the brink in 2010 while in administration to their Sky Bet Championship play-off triumph three years later.

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Amazon Prime Video have produced similar shows on Tottenham, Leeds and Manchester City in recent seasons and Hodgson, speaking before Saturday’s trip to Sheffield United, said: “I’m not certain (Marcelo) Bielsa, the guys at Sunderland, Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola, I don’t know how much they actually welcomed it.

“I’m certain the decision to do the documentary wouldn’t be a decision that would land on their table, it would be a decision made by the club.

“But if you want my honest opinion about would I have liked to have been a prominent figure and people seeing behind the scenes behaviour, I wouldn’t have welcomed that. That’s a purely selfish thing, of course. I prefer to do my work with a degree of privacy and not to make it all public.”

The 73-year-old has previous in this department. Back when he was in charge of Switzerland during the early 1990s, he allowed a film maker an insight into his life and received a bad review… from his wife.

Hodgson explained: “There was a quite famous film maker who decided he wanted to sort of go behind the scenes with regard to my thinking, personality and character and I accepted a dinner invitation.

“It was a dinner with him, answering questions over dinner, and my wife has never forgive me for that saying ‘it was the worst decision you ever made’.

“She didn’t think it was a good idea in the first place and she didn’t think the questions and the way I handled them was particularly good.

“And she’s normally right about those things. Actually I never watched it back because I wasn’t that happy with it anyway and at least I spared myself the pain of watching it.”

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The former England manager will be one of plenty to watch When Eagles Dare, which was created by the club’s in-house production team – Palace TV.

With Amazon joining Sky Sports, BT Sport and BBC in broadcasting Premier League matches during the last two seasons, the Croydon-born coach expects more clubs to be asked to star in similar programmes.

“The fact is we get so much from the broadcasters, they’ve done so much in terms of putting money into the game and that money doesn’t just help academies, it’s communities with community projects and certainly provides a lot of income for the players involved, so they’ve got to try and get something back,” Hodgson said.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing it. It has been a long time in the making, a lot of hard work has gone into it and it covers a very interesting period of the club’s history.

“The club could so easily have plummeted into what is League One and that would have been one hell of a long way back to get into the Premier League from there.

“It was thanks of course to true supporters like Steve Parish and Stephen Browett who put their fanship on the line along with their money to rescue the club.

“So I can’t wait to see it and I’m certain for any Crystal Palace fan it will be a must-watch but I think it would interest a lot of football fans, who are not connected with Palace itself.”

With safety virtually assured, next season will be the Eagles’ eighth-consecutive campaign in the Premier League.

This could still be the last for Hodgson though, with his contract due to expire in the summer.

“Most of us in football, we are somewhat like actors in a way, it’s a profession that grips and is a hard one to leave behind,” he said.

“I’ve got two important weeks now, with five games and I’m anxious to see those through and then there will be plenty of time for me to contemplate what should be the next move for myself.”

 

Brendan Rodgers says ‘uncharacteristic mistakes’ cost Leicester in their 4-2 home defeat at the hands of Newcastle.

The Foxes lost centre-back Jonny Evans in the warm-up and his absence told as they were swept aside in the Premier League.

Caglar Soyuncu turned into Joe Willock for the 22nd-minute opener.

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The in-form Englishman raced into the box and finished past Kasper Schmeichel for his fourth goal in as many games.

Newcastle’s first-half dominance continued through Paul Dummett, who made it 2-0 not long afterwards.

He rose above Wesley Fofana at a corner to head home from close range.

After a much-needed break, Leicester still failed to control the game in the second half.

Callum Wilson caught Leicester on the counter-attack and rounded Schmeichel before finishing into an open net. He scored again nine minutes later to all but end the affair.

Late goals from Marc Albrighton and Kelechi Iheanacho, both great finishes, weren’t enough to inspire a comeback.

Speaking after the defeat, Rodgers said: “It’s very easy to analyse. It was a game in which we made so many mistakes and you can’t afford to do that.

“It was uncharacteristic. It’s a period of the season where we need to be super concentrated, you are very close to achieving what you want to achieve. We lacked concentration and if you do that against good teams and good players they punish you.

“They kept going and over the course of 90 minutes we could have had four or five goals ourselves but there were too many mistakes.

“It’s young players. You can see the first goal is a poor mistake. You don’t have that time to relax and Cruyff [turn] out of the situation. There were other mistakes as well. It happens.”

When asked about Evans’ injury, Rodgers continued: “He is the brain in our defensive line. He is a great talker. Caglar [Soyuncu] and Wesley [Fofana] are both individuals. They are fantastic talents but he is the brain who organises. It was big blow for us.”

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Speaking about their top-four hopes, he added: “We are still in a really good position and everything is still in our hands.”

The result leaves the Foxes on 63 points from 35 matches. They can be overtaken by Chelsea if Thomas Tuchel‘s men overcome Man City on Saturday.

Fifth-placed West Ham can move within two points of Leicester if they beat Everton on Sunday.

Nine of the original European Super League clubs – including the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ – have declared their commitment to UEFA and its competitions at continental and domestic level.

However, the three who have not renounced the Super League – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus – are set to face “appropriate action” under UEFA’s disciplinary process.

The 12 clubs announced themselves as founder members of the breakaway league on April 18, but within 72 hours it had fallen apart with the English clubs withdrawing after fan protests and Government pressure.

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The clubs will make a combined 15million euro (just over £13m) goodwill contribution to benefit children’s and grassroots football across Europe.

They will also have five percent of UEFA competition revenues withheld for one season. This money will be redistributed.

They face fines of 100m euros (almost £87m) each if they seek to join an unauthorised competition in the future, and a fine of half that if they breach any other terms of the declaration, UEFA said in a statement.

They will also rejoin the influential lobbying group the European Club Association.

A spokesperson for Manchester United confirmed the Glazer family would personally cover their club’s share of the goodwill money requested and the withheld funds.

It is expected that the amount the Glazers would be liable for is between five and 10 million euros.

It’s understood Liverpool’s owners, the Fenway Sports Group, will fund their contribution rather than the club itself.

The other teams to pledge their commitment to UEFA competitions are Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: “I said at the UEFA Congress two weeks ago that it takes a strong organisation to admit making a mistake especially in these days of trial by social media. These clubs have done just that.

“In accepting their commitments and willingness to repair the disruption they caused, UEFA wants to put this chapter behind it and move forward in a positive spirit.

“The measures announced are significant, but none of the financial penalties will be retained by UEFA. They will all be reinvested into youth and grassroots football in local communities across Europe, including the UK.

“These clubs recognised their mistakes quickly and have taken action to demonstrate their contrition and future commitment to European football. The same cannot be said for the clubs that remain involved in the so-called ‘Super League’ and UEFA will deal with those clubs subsequently.”

On those clubs – Real, Barca and Juve – the tone was strikingly different in UEFA’s statement.

“UEFA has reserved all rights to take whatever action it deems appropriate against those clubs that have so far refused to renounce the so-called ‘Super League’,” the statement concluded.

“The matter will promptly be referred to the competent UEFA disciplinary bodies.”

The Football Association said it was “delighted” the six English clubs had committed to UEFA’s competitions.

It added in a statement: “The FA has an ongoing inquiry into the involved of the six English clubs and we have formally requested all relevant information and evidence regarding their participation. Once we have the required information, we will consider what appropriate steps to take.”

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Les clubs de la planète entière s’apprêtent à vibrer, à nouveau, plus que de raison. L’un des groupes les plus puissants et les moins habillés des années 2000 s’apprête à se reformer : celui que composaient Nicole Scherzinger, Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton et Kimberly Wyatt… les poupées chatons, alias les Pussycat Dolls. C’est ce qu’a confirmé une source du journal britannique The Sun, assurant que l’ex-leader du girls band était prête à tirer un trait sur les rancoeurs qui avaient fini par les séparer en 2010. Un gros chèque à la clé l’a tout de même aidée à se jeter à l’eau.

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“On lui a fait une offre qui s’élève à plusieurs millions d’euros pour reformer le groupe, explique-t-on. Et on lui a donné une avance énorme qui a fait qu’elle ne pouvait pas refuser. Nicole Scherzinger a dit non à de nombreuses reprises, mais avec l’anniversaire des dix ans de leur séparation, elle a fini par penser qu’elle était prête.” Au programme, une tournée internationale qui devrait débuter en 2020 et, si tout se déroule au mieux, des surprises musicales qui compléteraient la liste déjà longue des tubes des Pussycats Dolls – allant de Don’t Cha à Button à I Don’t Need a Man. “Elles en sont aux toutes premières étapes, mais maintenant qu’elles savent qu’elles vont se réunir, plusieurs d’entre elles parlent de travailler sur des nouveautés.“

Les Pussycat Dolls, abusées par leur producteur ?

L’avenir des Pussycat Dolls semblait relativement incertain, d’autant qu’une ancienne membre du groupe avait dénoncé la formation en 2017. Sur Twitter, Kaya Jones, membre très éphémère de la bande, a affirmé qu’il s’agissait d’un “réseau de prostitution“. “Oh, on chantait et on était célèbre, écrivait-elle. Pendant que tous ceux qui nous possédaient se faisaient de l’argent. Robin [Antin, la créatrice du girls band, NDLR] et le label prenaient tout l’argent. Nous, les Pussycat Dolls, étions payées 500 dollars la semaine. Pendant que nous étions abusées et utilisées.”

Faire fuir des cambrioleurs ? C’est du gâteau pour Julia Vignali. Mercredi 18 septembre 2019, l’animatrice de M6 était invitée dans Touche pas à mon poste (C8) afin de parler de la saison 8 du Meilleur Pâtissier, actuellement en diffusion. Et elle en a profité pour raconter une anecdote qui en a surpris plus d’un sur le plateau.

Il y a quelques années, alors qu’elle était à la campagne, la belle brune de 44 ans a fait face à des cambrioleurs. “Il y a des gens qui se sont introduits dans ma maison de campagne, j’ai eu super peur, je me suis dit que ça allait être la cata“, a tout d’abord confié Julia Vignali. Mais elle s’est bien vite rendu compte que les individus en question ne lui voulaient aucun mal : “Et vous savez ce que je leur ai dit ? ‘Vous voulez un petit gâteau ?’” Une technique surprenante, mais qui a très bien fonctionné. “Je leur ai donné, puis on s’est tapé la discute, ils sont repartis, et voilà ! Comme quoi, les gâteaux, même dans un truc genre Crimes ou Faites entrer l’accusé, ça peut vous sauver“, a conclu la compagne de Kad Merad.

Surpris, Cyril Hanouna a demandé à son invitée les détails de cette histoire. Julia Vignali a donc précisé qu’au départ, les cambrioleurs étaient persuadés qu’elle leur avait volé une voiture. Quand ils ont réalisé que ce n’était pas le cas, ils ont dégusté leur “petit gâteau” et sont repartis. À la recherche du véritable coupable sans doute.

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Douce nouvelle pour Kieran Culkin. Le comédien de 36 ans est papa pour la première fois, d’une petite fille nommée Kinsey Sioux. En annonçant la nouvelle, son épouse Jazz Charton a voulu partager sa joie immense… mais pas seulement. Sans aucun filtre, la jeune maman a raconté cette journée jonchée d’obstacles. “Après vingt-cinq heures de travail à la maison, on est arrivé à l’hôpital trop tard pour que je puisse obtenir le moindre antidouleur, écrit-elle sur son compte Instagram. J’étais déjà dilatée et prête à pousser. Elle est sortie au bout d’une heure, pour la pleine lune, le vendredi 13. Évidemment, il fallait qu’elle naisse un vendredi 13 !“

Pour accompagner son récit, Jazz Charton a publié une photographie d’elle, quatre jours après l’accouchement, pour prouver qu’il était impossible de retrouver sa ligne par l’opération du Saint Esprit à la sortie de la maternité. “Je vis dans ces sous-vêtements très sexy, en mailles, qui viennent de l’hôpital. Ils m’empêchent de trop souffrir, poursuit la compagne de Kieran Culkin. Mes seins sont engorgés, j’ai fait éclater les vaisseaux sanguins de mon visage en poussant, mon gros ventre que j’aimais tant s’est dégonflé pour laisser place à une petite panse… mais ça valait le coup. Je n’ai jamais ressenti autant d’amour, je ne me suis jamais sentie aussi complète.“

And just like that our little Kinsey Sioux (‘Zissou’) is home. After 25 hours of laboring at home, we arrived at the hospital too late for any pain meds as I was already dilated and ready to push (if I ever do this again I want ALL THE DRUGS, all of them!) and she was out within the hour during a full moon on Friday the 13th. Of course our daughter was born on Friday the 13th. This is me 4 days postpartum – I live in sexy surgical mesh underwear that’s keeping a world of pain in check, my boobs are engorged, I burst blood vessels In my face from pushing, my big pregnant belly that I loved so much deflated to a mere paunch but it’s all so worth it. I’ve never been more in love and we’ve never felt more complete.

Une publication partage par (@jazzcharton) le 18 Sept. 2019 1 :32 PDT

My favourite surprise so far. We had no idea how much we wanted this until it happened. We’re excited/terrified/ecstatic/unprepared but we cannot wait to meet our little unexpected creation in September #theglobeswerefun #koalatummy

Une publication partage par (@jazzcharton) le 14 Mai 2019 9 :31 PDT

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Nombreuses sont les célébrités à s’être donné rendez-vous à l’Opéra Garnier ce 20 septembre 2019. Comme chaque rentrée, l’Opéra de Paris a lancé sa nouvelle saison de spectacles en grande pompe. Une soirée organisée en partenariat avec la maison Chanel, qui a non seulement habillé certains des invités VIP, mais également les danseurs d’un nouveau ballet présenté vendredi soir.

Radieuses, les comédiennes Virginie Ledoyen et Ana Girardot étaient sur leur trente-et-un pour ce rendez-vous parisien de prestige. Non loin de là, Elsa Zylberstein a profité de cet événement en bonne compagnie avec Nathalie Péchalat, sensuelle en robe lamée décolletée. Eclatante dans sa robe Chanel d’or, issue de la collection Métiers d’art 2018/2019, Cécile Cassel portait quant à elle l’une des dernières créations de la maison signées Karl Lagerfeld, décédé en février dernier. L’actrice et chanteuse d’Hollysiz est en revanche repartie pieds nus de cette “soirée magique“, comme ses fans Instagram ont pu le constater.

Soire grandiose l’Opera Garnier avec @elsa_zylberstein Dfil des danseurs et Gala d’ouverture de la saison. Dessert ” Comme un tutu ” ! Merci @lacoste #elenabonnay #rafaelbonachela #sergelifar #balanchine #williamforsyth

Une publication partage par Nathalie Pchalat (@nathaliepechalat) le 21 Sept. 2019 2 :52 PDT

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The costumes for last night’s ‘Variations’ ballet performed at the @OperadeParis opening gala were designed by the House, under the direction of Virginie Viard, with Lemari’s contribution. A member of CHANEL’s Mtiers d’art, the floral work represents meticulous savoir-faire skills. #CHANELandDance #CHANEL @maison_lemarie #Lemarie

Une publication partage par CHANEL (@chanelofficial) le 21 Sept. 2019 12 :57 PDT

Franck Riester, ministre de la Culture, a récompensé des figures majeures de la gastronomie française, un des piliers du rayonnement de notre pays à travers le monde. Lundi 23 septembre, il a accueilli dans son ministère du 1er arrondissement de Paris Pierre Hermé et David Sinapian pour les récompenser.

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Le ministre a ainsi remis l’insigne de chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres à David Sinapian. Si son nom est clairement moins connu du grand public que celui du célèbre pâtissier et chocolatier récompensé à ses côtés, il est en réalité un membre incontournable du monde de la gastronomie. Et pour cause, il est le président-directeur général du groupe Pic. Un groupe qui compte 350 collaborateurs répartis entre Valence, Paris, Lausanne, Londres et Singapour. Il est le créateur, avec la cheffe Anne-Sophie Pic, des marques La Dame de Pic, DailyPic et Scook – expert en restauration. Il est aussi le président de l’association Les Grandes Tables du monde depuis 2014.

David Sinapian n’est pas qu’un simple collaborateur de la cheffe, il est aussi et surtout son mari. Ainsi, il a pu compter sur sa présence lors de la remise de sa médaille. Anne-Sophie Pic l’a couvé du regard en compagnie de leur jeune fils Nathan, portable à la main pour capter ce moment exceptionnel.

Interrogé l’an dernier par Paris Match, David Sinapian avait évoqué son couple, dévoilant même quelques détails sur leur histoire d’amour. “Nous nous sommes rencontrés sur les bancs de l’école. À 18 ans, nous étions dans la même classe préparatoire HEC, avec cette particularité : être tous deux originaires de Valence. On se retrouvait la plupart du temps dans le même train. Tout a commencé par des regards furtifs, puis un peu plus appuyés“, confessait-il. Après qu’il a fait le premier pas, son histoire de coeur avec Anne-Sophie Pic était alors lancée : en 1991, ils se sont fiancés, et en 1993, ils se sont mariés (quelques mois, malheureusement, après la mort du papa de la cheffe).

De son épouse, David Sinapian dresse un portrait flatteur. “Ma femme est dans la lumière, je ne cherche pas à l’être et on se fait confiance mutuellement. Je la connais mieux que personne et je ne l’amènerai jamais où elle ne veut pas aller. (…) C’est une maman extrêmement attentive. Elle est formidable ! Elle inculque les vraies valeurs de la vie à notre fils Nathan. Ma femme est très présente. Pourtant, elle a souvent tendance à culpabiliser“, disait-il en ajoutant qu’elle était de nature “très amoureuse, sensible et exigeante, surtout avec elle-même“.

Thomas Montet