Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

England to have female ref in charge for first time in World Cup qualifier

England to have female ref in charge for first time in World Cup qualifier

KATERYNA MONZUL will become the first woman to referee an England men's international when Gareth Southgate's team face Andorra in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday (9).

The Ukrainian will be joined by assistant referees Maryna Striletska and Svitlana Grushko, both also from Ukraine, in an all-female on-pitch officiating team at the Estadi Nacional in Andorra la Vella.


France's Stephanie Frappart - the first woman to referee a Champions League match - will be the video assistant referee, with other officiating roles filled by men.

Monzul, 40, was part of the first all-female refereeing team to take charge of a senior men's international when she officiated in the goalless Nations League draw between San Marino and Gibraltar in 2020.

She has also officiated at four women's World Cups, including the 2015 final, when the United States beat Japan 5-2.

England top their six-team qualifying group for the 2022 Qatar World Cup with five wins and a draw from their first six matches, while Andorra sit fifth with three points.

(AFP)

More For You

Immigration-Getty

Commuters cross London Bridge on October 15, 2024 in London. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Comment: It’s time for a clear plan on immigration

The immigration white paper has been delayed to after the May local elections. The delay is sensible, as US president Donald Trump’s tariff games make economic conditions less predictable than ever, but necessary too. UK government ministers know how they want to talk about immigration – that control matters – but are torn about what policies that leads to.

There are real dilemmas of control. Downing Street and the Home Office want overall numbers to come down, but chafe at the Treasury constraint of making the fiscal numbers still add up. Health secretary Wes Streeting wants to invest more in NHS training, but not to turn away doctors and nurses who could reduce waiting lists in the meantime. With university finances more fragile than ever, education secretary Bridget Phillipson does not want to push half a dozen local universities over the brink to deliver a statistic on immigration.

Keep ReadingShow less
Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp's transformation in Day Drinker leaves fans stunned with a fresh, mysterious look

Lionsgate

Johnny Depp's dramatic new look in ‘Day Drinker’ sends internet into a frenzy

Johnny Depp is stepping back into Hollywood’s mainstream with a powerful new role in Day Drinker, his first major studio film since the defamation trial with ex-wife Amber Heard. With a fresh look and an intriguing character, Depp is ready to headline a movie that’s already got people talking.

In the first official image from the film, Depp appears nearly unrecognisable. Dressed in a deep navy suit, his long silver hair pulled back and a salt-and-pepper beard framing his face, he cuts a sharp yet mysterious figure. Holding a glass in one hand, he looks worlds away from the roles fans might remember, but that’s exactly what’s catching everyone's attention.

Keep ReadingShow less
Aimee Lou Wood

Aimee Lou Wood speaks out against SNL’s controversial ‘White Potus’ parody, calling out the mockery of her appearance

Getty Images

Aimee Lou Wood criticises SNL’s ‘White Potus’ parody for mocking her teeth

Aimee Lou Wood, star of The White Lotus, recently found herself at the centre of controversy after a parody of her character aired on Saturday Night Live (SNL). The skit, a political spoof titled The White Potus, humorously exaggerated aspects of the show, but for Wood, it went too far. Comedian Sarah Sherman impersonated Wood's character, Chelsea, with oversized prosthetic teeth. For Aimee Lou, this portrayal hit a nerve, and she openly criticised it.

Taking to Instagram, the actress expressed her discontent, calling the parody “mean and unfunny.” She argued that while she understood SNL was known for satire, the skit could have been executed with more sophistication and less cheap humour. Wood, who has always been open about her unique appearance, especially her noticeable gap teeth, clarified that she doesn't mind caricatures or playful jabs, but felt this one crossed a line. “I have big gap teeth, not bad teeth,” she wrote, pointing out that the entire joke seemed to target her appearance rather than the content of the skit.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hanumankind's Chenda Melam Fusion Shakes Up Coachella 2025

Hanumankind performs at the Mojave Tent during Coachella 2025

Getty Images

Hanumankind drops Kerala’s chenda beats at Coachella, redefining desi rap and Indian hip-hop

On a sweltering April evening in California’s Coachella Valley, something unexpected cut through the desert air, something thunderous: the rhythm of Kerala’s traditional chenda melam! Hanumankind, the Texas-raised rapper with roots in Kerala, showed up to the global music festival bringing a piece of home with him.

Dressed in black jeans and a ganji, Hanumankind commanded the stage with an energy that was impossible to ignore. But the most iconic part of the performance was the presence of Kochuveettil Beats, a traditional chenda melam ensemble dressed in crisp white mundus. As the drummers pounded out fierce rhythms, Hanumankind launched into Run It Up, his latest hit and the crowd packed with both die-hard fans and curious newcomers, went wild.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK-Jobs-iStock
People commuting on the London Bridge. (Photo credit: iStock)
iStock

UK job market slows before business tax increases

THE UK saw a drop in the number of payrolled workers and job vacancies in the lead-up to business tax hikes and US tariffs, according to official data released Tuesday.

Preliminary estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a fall of 78,000 in payrolled employees in March compared to February. In February, the number had dropped by 8,000 from the previous month.

Keep ReadingShow less