The Lockdown Runner Rose Harvey only took up running 10 years ago - to meet people and get fit. Today she was told she is off to the Olympics with Team GB marathon team. 👏

If you can, I'd urge you to watch the cross-examination of Angela van den Bogerd by Edward Henry KC from just before lunch.

Comprehensive, devastating and eviscerating. AVDB had no response.
#PostOfficeInquiry
youtube.com/watch?v=MhwYjr…

You heard what Zola said. 🫡

This is hideous…

New at Post Office inquiry: Angela Van den Bogerd admits she got her bonus in 2019 after 'lying' to the High Court in the Bates trial.

'So despite a finding in the High Court that basically you lied, you got your bonus?' Edward Henry KC tells the inquiry.

'Yes,' she says.

An earlier kick off than the Friday Arsenal game goes a long way to help filling Stamford Bridge. Also a different more expansive approach to marketing it. They even had posters for the game at Highbury & Islington tube last weekend

Chelsea 🔵 fans are in for a treat at Stamford Bridge tomorrow. Cracking Champions League semi-final second leg in store v mighty Barcelona (Chelsea FC Women leading FC Barcelona Femení 1-0). Tickets 🎫 here… #cfc

mpv.tickets.com/?utm_medium=or…

North London derby predictions from our panel - Leon Mann MBE goes for a draw, Art de Roché and Matt Barlow see Arsenal winning. Alison Bender oversees latest episode of #HighPress with William Hill previewing Tottenham v Arsenal. #NLD
Watch the full show here:…

I’m taking my family to this match tomorrow. Should be an absolute belter. Chelsea FC Women 90 mins (ish) away from a place in the UEFA Women’s Champions League final BUT defending champions Barcelona will be steaming 😤 after losing the first leg - their first home defeat in 5 years! Chelsea 1-0 up… 🍿

Stats via the independent “Key Match Incidents Panel” made up of former players and coaches plus 1 rep from the PL and 1 from PGMOL. They sit every week to review key decisions and assess whether they were correct or not. (So the PGMOL aren’t marking their own homework).

One reason it’s still so challenging for gay athletes to come out publicly is the way algorithms and clickbait publishers distort and twist stories. Here, Google has now labelled the topic “plans for homophobia” (!) and one downmarket site has added a “couples in hiding” line. /1

Understand fan frustration about VAR - but remember it was the Premier League clubs who voted it in. There’s now a 96% correct decision rate after VAR so they won’t be voting it out, but PGMOL must keep working on training, sharpness, fan experience & communication. Takes time.

Over 30,000 tickets have now been sold for Chelsea vs Barcelona! 🙌

Don’t miss your chance to be at our UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final! Get your tickets for Saturday! 👊

If you need some pre game listening

Jacqui Oatley John Percy Steve Madeley feature on the latest Wolves Weekly “PressPack” talking recent form, incredible fans & why aren’t more people talking about Kilman for England

open.spotify.com/episode/0DrhEU…

Enjoyed joining the Wolves 🐺🟠podcast with Mikey Burrows Steve Madeley and John Percy talking #wwfc form, VAR and Kilman for England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿? podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wol…

Very much enjoyed reading and judging the entries to the The Football Writers' Association Vikki Orvice award category. Congrats to all those shortlisted 👏🏼 👏🏼

🗣 “I do think there is an overreliance on VAR now…I honestly think we should give more responsibility back to the referees”

Conor Coady, Leicester City defender

🗣 “It should hit you in the belly. If I’m having to stand at the screen and look at three or four replays in slow motion, it’s not clear and obvious. You can find a foul in every challenge”

Peter Walton, former Premier League referee

An issue raised by Jacqui Oatley is that we have so much debate about incidents without hearing an explanation from the referee until it is too late. By the time anyone has seen Ref Watch on Sky on a Monday, or Webb appearing on Mic’d Up, the storm is already raging

Time to end VAR toxicity – our experts’ guide to improving it

Tired of the furore around the technology? Our panel of Conor Coady, Peter Walton, Richard Scudamore and Jacqui Oatley offer a measured, constructive approach to the issue