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      Exact date final episode of Soccer AM will be aired – and it’s sooner than you think

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      SOCCER AM will air its final episode on Saturday, 27 May.The Sun this morning revealed that the cult Sky Sports show will be axed at the end of the season after nearly 30 years on the air.
      Soccer AM has been axed after nearly 30 years on the air
      Bosses have decided to axe the show with ten episodes remaining.
      It will finish on the final weekend of the season, and will not extend to the Champions League final.
      Staff were told on Tuesday that the programme’s run would be coming to an end.
      And they were also informed that they would be made redundant upon its conclusion.
      READ MORE ON SOCCER AM
      A source told The Sun: “It was a complete bombshell.
      “Morale is at an all-time low, they are raging.
      “It’s going to be an interesting watch over the next few weeks.”
      Soccer AM debuted in 1995 and enjoyed incredible initial success.
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      It featured a variety of celebrity guests from the worlds of sport, music and telly.
      Soccer AM enjoyed great success with previous presenters Helen Chamberlain and Tim Lovejoy – with Max Rushden and Andy Goldstein having also hosted the show.

      It is currently presented by John Fendley and ex-footballer Jimmy Bullard.
      Both hosts are understood to be “fuming” upon today’s news.
      A Sky Spokesperson says “Soccer AM has played an important role in our coverage of football for the past three decades, and we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our customers.
      “We now go into a period of consultation to discuss the proposed changes with our people. We are unable to provide more detail while these consultations are underway.”
      Soccer AM was previously presented by Tim Lovejoy and Helen ChamberlainCredit: Rex Features More

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      Why has Soccer AM been cancelled?

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      SKY SPORTS fan’s favourite Soccer AM is set to be axed at the end of the season.The Saturday morning football show has been on the air for nearly 30 years.
      Former Soccer AM hosts Lim Lovejoy and Helen ChamberlinCredit: Sky Sports
      Why has Soccer AM been axed?
      Staff were told the unfortunate news that the show would be coming to an end and that they would be made redundant in May.
      A source told the Sun: “It was a complete bombshell.
      “Morale is at an all-time low, they are raging.
      “It’s going to be an interesting watch over the next few weeks.”
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      A Sky Spokesperson has said: “Soccer AM has played an important role in our coverage of football for the past three decades, and we continually adapt to the evolving needs of our customers.
      “We now go into a period of consultation to discuss the proposed changes with our people.
      “We are unable to provide more detail while these consultations are underway.”
      Most read in Football
      Who presents Soccer AM?
      Soccer AM is presented by former Wigan Athletic and Hull City star Jimmy Bullard.
      He is joined on the presenting team by John ‘Fenners’ Fendley.
      The show was first presented by Russ Williams and Helen Chamberlin.
      Then in 1996, Helen was joined by Tim Lovejoy, and the two formed a well-loved partnership.
      The iconic pairing is the duo that most people associate with the show.
      Lovejoy left the show in 2007 after 11 years in the job, while Chamberlin presented Soccer AM up until 2017.
      Former Soccer AM presenter, Lovejoy, discussed his relationship with the show with the Atheltic in 2020: “I stopped watching it when I left, it was too hard to watch it.
      “I tune in every now and then because Fenners is on it and I want to support him.
      “Again, another crap analogy, it’s like watching your old girlfriend with another man.
      “I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t watch it. So I stopped watching it totally.
      “And then I started tuning in again to watch Fenners, because obviously I worked with him for years and he’s a top bloke.
      Read More on The Sun
      “It’s too hard for me because I watch it all and I want to join in with it.
      “I’d really like to input on the show and put stuff on there and I find it too hard.” More

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      Sky TV reporter banned from Premier League ground after sneaking girlfriend into dressing room and getting kicked out

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      A SKY TV reporter is in trouble with a Premier League club for making an uninvited visit to their dressing room on match day.He showed his girlfriend the out-of-bounds inner sanctum a couple of hours before kick-off in an unscheduled tour.
      A Sky TV reporter faces a ban from an unnamed Premier League stadiumCredit: PA
      However, a steward found him and the pair.
      They were duly ordered from the premises.
      And the reporter may not be allowed back into the stadium for some time.
      Written media passes at Premier League games get journalists access to a press room and a seat in the designated area of the stands, with plugs and desks to use laptops.
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      Broadcast media, such as Sky Sports, have slightly different rules with permission to enter certain specified zones before, during and after matches.
      Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson famously banned the BBC for seven years until 2011 following a documentary about him and his son Jason.
      Also in 2011, Fergie temporarily suspended Sky Sports’ TV cameras from his press conferences after taking exception to a question about Ryan Giggs.
      And the current United boss Erik ten Hag followed a similar tact just weeks into his tenure last August.
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      The Dutchman refused to take questions from Sky reporter Gary Cotterill, ignoring him three times in a 15-minute press conference.
      It is understood the snub came after Cotterill tried to speak to Ten Hag when he watched United play at Crystal Palace at the end of last season. More

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      ‘Lee Mason must’ve drawn it’ – Sky Sports viewers left baffled by Kieran Trippier’s penalty graphic during Newcastle win

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      TV VIEWERS were baffled by a graphic of Kieran Trippier penalties amid his “sh*thouse” antics in Newcastle’s last-gasp win at Nottingham Forest.One fan joked ref “Lee Mason must’ve drawn it” as a Sky Sports image showed two amazing Trippier spot-kicks.
      Kieran Trippier duped Forest into thinking he would take a crucial stoppage-time penalty and was pictured in a bemusing graphic of two spot-kicksCredit: Rex
      Viewers wanted to see these two virtual Trippier penalties in real lifeCredit: https://twitter.com/AverageStriker/status/1637030021461057537
      Viewers hailed the England right-back for pretending he was going to take the stoppage-time penalty that Alexander Isak eventually fired home.
      Trippier’s tactic took the pressure off Isak and onto himself as Forest players tried to unsettle him.
      And although he confused the opposition on the pitch, it was Sky who left observers puzzled with their incredible graphic.
      It labelled a spot on the bottom left of the post as a “missed” Trippier penalty and another mark on the far angle of bar and upright as “scored”.
      READ MORE TOP FOOTBALL
      Noting the fine margins, one fan posted: “Would absolutely love to see that scored penalty.”
      Another wrote: “Broke the angle. Ref too scared to disallow it.”
      And a third blamed Mason – even though Paul Tierney was the ref in Friday’s comeback victory at Forest.
      In fact, 32-year-old Tripper has missed both his penalties at club level – for Tottenham and Atletico Madrid.
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      But he did net confidently in England’s only ever triumph in a World Cup shootout.
      Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions beat Colombia 4-3 on penalties to reach the 2018 World Cup quarter-finals.
      It follows supporters praising Tripper for his behaviour before Isak’s match-winning second goal.
      One said: “World class s***housery by Trippier pretending to take penalty so he got all the mind games then gave ball to Alex. Absolute genius never seen that before!!!”   More

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      ‘Are you a stalker or something?’ Sky Sports pundits can’t believe Gary Neville’s question to Howe after Newcastle win

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      GARY NEVILLE left his fellow pundits in disbelief with a question he asked Eddie Howe. Newcastle boss Howe had just seen his team complete a 2-1 comeback victory over Nottingham Forest to move them within a point of fourth-place Tottenham.
      Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville were left in stitches as Neville asked a peculiar questionCredit: PA
      The question was directed towards Newcastle boss Eddie HoweCredit: https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/1636857634547531777

      And while Howe spoke to Neville and Co on Sky Sports after the game, the Manchester United legend asked a peculiar question.
      He asked: “What are your plans for the next couple of weeks?”
      Perhaps realising his question could be seen as bizarre, Neville was seen starting to smirk before host Kelly Cates burst out laughing and Jamie Carragher interjected with a brilliant comment.
      Carragher said: “Are you a stalker or something?”
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      Howe, who’s team can now have a rest due to the international break, said he would likely be back focusing on the next game very soon.
      He also revealed the squad would be visiting Dubai.
      Afterwards, Cates joked: “We’re really sorry about him [Neville] and we’ll sort out his restraining order.
      “We’ll let you go before it gets more uncomfortable.”
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      Neville and Carragher laughed throughout the exchange, and fans online were left in stitches as well.
      One user said: “When Gary starts going high-pitched and Carra starts giggling, you know it’s good 🤣.”
      A second commented: “Quality 😂.”
      A third wrote: “‘Can I go?’ 😳 Stalker Neville is born 😆.” More

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      ‘Neville can replace Crawley’ – Fans in awe of Man Utd icon’s cricket skills as he and Carragher face Broad in the nets

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      FANS have been left in awe at Gary Neville’s cricket skills as he and fellow pundit Jamie Carragher were put through their paces by England legend Stuart Broad. The bowler is a huge Nottingham Forest fan and was at the City Ground for their friday night clash against Newcastle.
      Stuart Broad gave the football pundits a lesson on cricketCredit: Sky Sports
      It turned out that former youth cricketer Neville had lost very few of his skillsCredit: Sky Sports
      Given his connections to the Tricky Trees, Sky Sports recruited Broad to get Neville and Carragher out of their comfort zone with some top-level cricket.
      The pair took to the indoor crease with Broad sending down some thunderbolts in their direction.
      Decked out in full cricket gear, both Neville and Carragher initially struggled to get to grips with the challenge, with the former Liverpool defender at one point quipping of his rival: “This is worse than his Valencia moment!”
      But the longer the challenge went on, the clearer it became that there was a quality gap between the pundits.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      And Neville, the former opening batsman for his local cricket club Greenmount, impressed both Broad and Sky Sports viewers.
      One wrote on Twitter: “Think Nev can open in place of [Zak] Crawley.”
      Another viewer went with a similar theme as they said: “Neville can’t be worst then Crawley being honest.”
      While another fan said: “[Neville is] a much better batsman than a manager.”
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      Other tweeters dug out an old newspaper headline from the Bury Times which showed a young Neville alongside Australian opener Matthew Hayden as they clocked up a century apiece for Greenmount.
      The former Manchester United full-back managed to respond impressively to some of Broad’s fierce bowling, smacking the ball back towards the bowler on multiple occasions.
      But Carragher struggle to connect with most of Broad’s balls and even had his wickets taken out on one occasion.
      Broad, 36, declared Neville the winner at the end of the challenge.
      A fun day for England’s cricketer would however finish with a duff note as his beloved Forest side conceded a late penalty to lose against Newcastle.
      Bowler Broad is England’s second highest wicket taker in test cricketCredit: Sky Sports
      Neville was happy with his superior performance compared to CarragherCredit: Sky Sports More

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      How MOTD-style show could look on ITV with Man Utd legend Roy Keane No1 pundit and popular TV host the new Gary Lineker

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      WITH iconic BBC football highlights show Match of the Day under threat, a Premier League highlights show at another broadcaster could look VERY different. Following controversy surrounding the impartiality of host Gary Lineker, MOTD now faces being taken off air with a bidding war for the Premier League highlights package set to take place.
      The BBC face a battle to keep hold of viewing rights to keep Match of the Day on airCredit: Alamy
      The BBC currently pay £211million for the package, but bidding for Prem TV rights for homeland broadcasters is set to begin anew this year.
      It could see the iconic programme lose its spot on the BBC, with ITV a potential new home, though they have not held the rights since 2004.
      But what might this new programme look like?
      HOST – LAURA WOODS
      Laura Woods could be the new host of ITV’s version of MOTDCredit: Getty
      Laura Woods is perhaps the most obvious choice to take over from Lineker as host of a new highlights show.
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      She is already a host on the broadcaster for some FA Cup games and is the main presenter for it’s NFL coverage.
      Woods also has experience presenting on Sky Sports, while her witty banter has also seen her become a popular radio host on talkSPORT.
      Other candidates for the role include Mark Pougatch, who has led ITV football coverage since 2015, and Jules Breach, who is regularly seen presenting BT Sport Score.
      PUNDIT – ROY KEANE
      Roy Keane has won many fans with his punditry styleCredit: ITV
      Roy Keane is regular viewing for watchers of ITV and Sky Sports, with his blunt punditry style winning many fans.
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      The Manchester United legend worked with ITV on both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and is regularly seen on Sky Sports during their Super Sunday shows.
      PUNDIT – JILL SCOTT
      Jill Scott would be a popular choice among fansCredit: Reuters
      Queen of the Jungle Jill Scott – who will also appear at Soccer Aid – is a popular choice among those who could be brought into the fold for ITV’s new programme.
      The former Women’s Super League star and England Women’s International has previously done punditry work on Sky Sports and for ITV during the World Cup.
      PUNDIT – ALLY MCCOIST
      Ally McCoist picked up the ‘pundit of the year’ award earlier this monthCredit: PA
      It’s safe to say Ally McCoist is one of the most popular pundits in the country.
      His passion for the beautiful game saw him land the “pundit of the year” award at the Sports Journalist Association awards.
      His punditry work list includes the likes of BT Sport and ITV, while he has already struck up an iconic partnership alongside Woods on talkSPORT.
      PUNDIT – ENI ALUKO
      Eni Aluko was the first female pundit to work on Match of the Day in 2014Credit: PA
      Eni Aluko is another pundit with a strong CV and experience on ITV, bringing a good level of analysis in each appearance.
      She became the first female pundit on MOTD back in 2014 before joining ITV in 2016 to work on the European Championships. She has since worked on the 2018 and 2022 World Cups with the broadcaster.
      PUNDIT – IAN WRIGHT
      Ian Wright could be drafted over from BBC’s showCredit: Getty
      Ian Wright is a mainstay on the current MOTD, and with him currently working on ITV for the FA Cup and for England games, Wright’s inclusion would be a no-brainer for ITV chiefs.
      However, having already shown solidarity with Lineker (albeit for a very different reason), Wright may choose not to return in a similar capacity and instead stay as a match day pundit.
      Other options ITV could opt for include Karen Carney, Jermaine Defoe, Joe Cole and Lee Dixon.
      COMMENTATOR – SAM MATTERFACE
      Sam Matterface is currently the lead commentator for ITV football coverage, so there seems little sense in changing this.
      Read More on The Sun
      Similarly to MOTD, there would likely be a high number of commentators working during a match day.
      This could see the likes of Clive Tyldesley given more work while MOTD commentators such as Guy Mowbry could also be drafted over. More

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      ‘Who actually watched that?’ – Joshua Buatsi launches blistering attack on Eddie Hearn after leaving DAZN for Sky Sports

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      JOSHUA BUATSI has launched a blistering attack on Eddie Hearn after leaving him for Sky Sports.The 30-year-old was the quiet and respectful man of the light-heavyweight division, after clinching bronze at the 2016 Olympics and climbing to 16-0 as a pro under the Matchroom boss.
      Joshua Buatsi has launched a blistering attack on Eddie HearnCredit: PA
      Eddie Hearn has lost Joshua Buatsi to Sky SportsCredit: Getty
      But the Ghana-born Croydon ace – who has had his career stalled by injuries and inactivity – was raging when Hearn took his stable to upstart streaming app DAZN in 2021.
      And he was even more furious recently when Hearn claimed he had ducked a £1million world title shot against Russian champion Dmitry Bivol, leading him to jump ship back to Sky Sports and their new promoters BOXXER.
      At his hometown unveiling, Buatsi fumed: “Matchroom promised me a world title shot over and over again; ‘Beat Ricards Bolotniks (August ‘21) and you’ll get it’. Then it was: ‘Beat Craig Richards (May ‘22) and you’ll get it’.
      “But there were always excuses about writing to the WBA and then it never happened.
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      “I wanted to avoid this topic too but Eddie came out and said I turned down the Bivol fight for £1million.
      “But we had a conversation in confidence that he went public with but he only publicised half of the sentence.
      “He left out all the caveats they wanted included; the contract extensions and extra fights with Matchroom.
      “I took those unmentioned extras as two or three more years on DAZN, two more three years of no publicity and nobody seeing my fights.
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      “I thought I might win a world title on a channel that hardly anybody has access to, let alone watches.
      “So when Eddie comes out and just says ‘he turned down a world title offer and £1m’ that is not the truth.
      “There was a lot more to that offer but he just doesn’t want to tell the public, he just wants to shape their minds.
      “It’s unfortunate because most of the public believes what Eddie says but if you were to track and trace everything Eddie says everyday, you would go mad!
      “The story changes so frequently that people need to look a bit deeper.
      “If you just pick up and notice the pattern of this guy you cannot believe everything he says.”
      SunSport has contacted Matchroom and DAZN for a right to reply to Buatsi’s stinging criticism and he is not usually such a controversial or confrontational speaker.
      But he has been quietly fuming with his once-sparkling career nosediving under the radar since Hearn took a mega-money deal to leave Sky and take his table around the globe online – and he claims he is not the only one.
      We were in a great fight and then I wondered ‘who actually watched that?’ I didn’t even have the app!Joshua Buatsi on fighting Craig Richards on DAZN
      He said: “I understand why other fighters at Matchroom are getting frustrated because I felt that after Craig Richards.
      “We were in a great fight and then I wondered ‘who actually watched that?’ I didn’t even have the app!
      “If it had been on Sky Sports, all those well-known channels and numbers, it would have been widely watched.
      “After being in such a good fight, an all-English fight, I realised that I needed to be more seen in England.
      “I want the people of England to be saying to their friends and family ‘tune in to Spy Sports on Saturday, Buatsi is fighting’.
      “Even though I am young, I don’t want to be downloading apps and entering bank details every time I want something. Boxing fans need to be able to access the fights and the fighters.
      “I didn’t want to have to deal with this stuff really, around the new announcement, but it all links in.
      “When Matchroom left Sky and joined DAZN they took all of their fighters with them, the fighters did not get a say, they were not allowed to question the fact that it was a new app that needed time to grow and develop.
      Joshua Buatsi after signing with Eddie HearnCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Promoter Ben Shalom with Joshua BuatsiCredit: PA
      “None of that was offered, we were told we had to go.
      “My last two fights were good fights against good opponents but not many people saw them. So it’s not a strange idea to see what I am here.
      “Fighters work hard to get here, we have the skills and the heart to get here and then we want the recognition for it and I think that is fair.”
      Hearn is in Mexico promoting the undisputed super-middleweight fight between superstar champion Canelo Alvarez and Islington’s John Ryder.
      But he has claimed on his trip that his company has matching rights for Buatsi’s next bout, suggesting this battle is far from over.
      Buatsi said: “I was a free agent who has just now signed with BOXXER so Matchroom will say whatever they want to say.
      “Matchroom had matching rights for my next fight and I gave them third-party notice, they matched some parts of it but I stated they must match all of the points and they didn’t.
      “They can’t match some of the requests and not all. It doesn’t work like that.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I told them what the important matters to me were and that they had to match them – because I am the fighter.
      “I chose to go with BOXXER because they could provide the certain things that I wanted.”
      Craig Richards was beaten by Joshua Buatsi on DAZNCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More