Claudio Ranieri and his Cagliari players celebrated wildly after the Serie A club staved off relegation by beating Sassuolo.
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Cagliari beat Sassuolo 2-0 in crucial clash
Victory ensures they stay in Serie A
Ranieri soaked by players in joyous scenes
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Islanders needed a win from their final two matches of the season to survive in Serie A, and they managed to put up a convincing performance in their penultimate game as they beat Sassuolo 2-0 to move up to 14th. After the contest, Cagliari's players celebrated jubilantly as they drenched their manager and former Leicester City boss Ranieri with water right after the full-time whistle.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Ranieri had his work cut out at the club after helping them to secure promotion to the top division last season. Cagliari were off to a disastrous start as they managed to secure just three points from their first nine matches. The 72-year-old had offered to resign after taking responsibility for the team's failure, however, the club and the players convinced him to stay, and that decision has paid off.
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WHAT NEXT FOR CAGLIARI?
The Italian side are all set to face Fiorentina in their final game of the season on May 26. Although they are only three points above 18th-placed Empoli, with a plus one goal difference over their rivals, Serie A prioritises head to head records and not goal difference when teams are level on points. As Cagliari took four points from Empoli this season, even if they win their final match of the campaign and Ranieri's side lose, Cagliari will be safe from relegation.
Australia’s first day of Test cricket on the new broadcasters, Seven and Fox Sports, recorded a combined average of fewer than 1 million viewers nationally at peak time in the final session
Daniel Brettig in Adelaide07-Dec-2018Australia’s first day of Test cricket on the new broadcasters, Seven and Fox Sports, was unable to break a wider trend of falling television audience numbers, recording a combined average of fewer than 1 million viewers nationally at peak time in the final session.In April, the two networks shelled out a combined A$1.18 billion to Cricket Australia for the broadcast rights over five years, based in part on the concept that live sport remains one of the few broad-based audience drivers for television. At the same time, the deal contained a sizeable digital component, for streaming rights to Foxtel through their new Kayo app and other existing platforms, but it remains unclear exactly how large that audience is.A move to two parallel broadcasts for Test cricket has been an enormously complicated exercise for CA, Fox Sports and Seven, based largely around the hope that a rising tide of coverage would lift all boats, whether free-to-air or on pay TV. The early signs from day one were that the combined audience would be no larger than that enjoyed exclusively by the Nine Network – typically around the 1 million mark in recent times – for the previous 40 years, with the creep away from traditional television broadcasts to streaming and other forms of entertainment continuing.Seven’s coverage was watched by an average 454,000 viewers nationally in the morning session, rising to 588,000 in the afternoon and peaking at 773,000 in the evening session leading into the national news. Fox Sports, meanwhile, returned an average of 137,000 before lunch, 162,000 in the afternoon and 214,000 in the evening. The combined average figure for the final session was thus 987,000.While comparisons with past broadcasts are affected by the aforementioned move away from television to digital entertainment, these figures ran reasonably close to the equivalent match last summer, the first Test of the Ashes in Brisbane in late November, and the corresponding Test four years ago when Australia played India in Adelaide after the match was rescheduled due to the death of Phillip Hughes. The 2017 third session average for the Gabba Test was 1.361 million.There is a far more significant drop-off, however, if the figures are measured in terms of the five city metropolitan audiences so often quoted by television networks and advertisers alike. According to OzTam figures, the comparison for evening session audiences in 2014, 2017 and 2018 show a major decline, from 874,000 four years ago, to 823,000 last year and a mere 544,000 on Thursday. Changes in metropolitan viewing habits have meant that regional audiences are now propping up overall numbers more significantly than in the past.Seven and Fox Sports were eager to push the “reach” figures tabulated from day one, which are based on the number of people tuning in for at least five minutes across the day, and their enthusiasm was echoed by the CA chief executive Kevin Roberts. “It was moving from the talk off the field to the action on the field and it just saw how cricket is just a positive and uniting force,” he told SEN Radio.”We reached 3.4 million Australians yesterday. The numbers are still being put together, but we do know we reached 3.4 million Australians through the day. The third session went particularly well. I’m sure there were many, many Indians tuning in in different parts of the world as well. I’m just really happy for the players. They deserved the success they had yesterday. It was a brilliant day of Test cricket. Walking that tight rope in recent times, how hard do they go? Our goal is always to win, but our expectation is that we compete with respect. The way they played made me feel proud.”What is not in doubt is that a day Test in Adelaide draws fewer spectators and eyeballs than the day-night fixtures played over each of the past three seasons. Roberts indicated that he was keen to ensure that, in future, the match returned to a floodlit form.”It was actually the second highest crowd we’ve had for a day one Test against India at the Adelaide Oval,” Roberts said of a day one attendance of 23,802. “What we saw was many of those 24,000 yesterday sitting in the shade which meant the stands on the eastern side were quite empty. No doubt we’ll see a far bigger crowd on the weekend. We think we would’ve had 15,000 or so interstate visitors if it was a day-night Test so there’s no doubting we’ve lost that group of fans.”You look at the way fans have embraced it. It matters what the fans think and they’ve voted with their feet. Those numbers are incredible so we’re really excited about getting back to that in the future. Part of that fabric of cricket both nationally and internationally is so rich so we embrace the fact that they’ve had a different view about this Test match. We hope that the sentiment from fans is something India can see.”Adelaide’s crowd on Friday grew to 25,693 in somewhat less hostile weather conditions. CA and broadcasters alike will hope that the television audience follows a similar upward trend.
The arrival of a highveld thunderstorm, and the threat of lightning that came with it, brought the first game of the Sunday double-header to a premature end
The Report by Liam Brickhill25-Nov-2018
Marco Marais shapes to smash the ball away•MSL
The arrival of a highveld thunderstorm, and the threat of lightning that came with it, brought Tshwane Spartans’ game against Nelson Mandela Bay Giants at Centurion to a premature end with Giants seven runs ahead on DLS. Just as heavy, grey cloud rumbled over the ground Giants nipped out two Spartans wickets in three balls – including the prized scalp of AB de Villiers – to derail Spartans’ chase just as five overs were completed and the umpires stopped play.Giants had been kept to 143 for 9 by a clinical effort with the ball from Spartans, with Jeevan Mendis’ legspinning variations proving too much for the middle order as he collected 4 for 22. Seamer Lutho Sipamla chipped in with 3 for 29, getting rid of Marco Marais for 47 and Chris Morris just as he set himself to cut loose in the final over, and were it not for the approaching weather, Spartans’ chase should have been an easy one.It had been predicted that rain would reach the ground at 4pm, but the clouds started to roll in much sooner and the early loss of Gihahn Cloete stalled Spartans’ efforts to stay in touch with the DLS par. Even more troublesome were the quick dismissals of Tony de Zorzi and de Villiers moments before the game was stopped.Struggling to pierce the cover field, de Zorzi edged a cut at Sisanda Magala in the fifth over, and with Spartans just behind the DLS par, Carmi le Roux struck the knockout blow with his first ball. De Villiers walked across his stumps, looking to attack the fine leg boundary, but le Roux beat his paddle with a full ball that struck his boot. It was a marginal call, and the ball may well have missed the off stump, but Umpire Bongani Jele upheld the appeal to set Spartans even further back.Lightning had been visible to the south of the ground, and it has struck the floodlight towers during a domestic game at Centurion in the past so before another ball had been bowled, with player safety in mind, umpires Jele and Johan Cloete removed the players from the field.The weather spoiled what had been an excellent day in the field for Spartans. Both Mendis and Sipamla found themselves on hat-tricks, and though neither completed the milestone Spartans never let Giants off the hook.Giants captain Jon-Jon Smuts and fellow opener Marais had got their team off to a flier first up, but the opening stand was quickly snapped by Corbin Bosch, who has been picked up by Spartans as a replacement for the injured Lungi Ngidi. With his third ball, he found the top edge of Smuts’ pull, and Mendis then got to work on the middle order.Ben Duckett was stumped for 3, having wandered out of his crease looking for a single unaware that the ball had ricocheted off his body and rolled into wicketkeeper Cloete’s gloves. In his next over, Mendis bowled Christiaan Jonker with an arm ball, and he ended his spell with the dismissals of Rudi Second and Sisanda Magala with consecutive balls.With Spartans’ bowlers tight on the yorker at the death, Sipamla returned to repeat the trick in his final over, getting rid of Morris and Tahir with successive deliveries to dent Giants’ charge. He had also removed Marais three runs short of his fifty, and Giants stumbled a little to get to their total. Bad weather, and last-minute wickets, meant it was just enough.
Mason Greenwood's loan club Getafe have been hit with a three-game partial stadium ban by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
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Getafe hit with punishment by RFEF
Spanish side given partial stadium ban
Fans abused Sevilla coach and player
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Madrid club were hit with a €27,000 fine and will have to close off part of their central stand for the next three games in La Liga as part of a punishment from Spanish football's governing body, it was announced on Wednesday.
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THE EXPLANATION
The partial closure is punishment for the racial and xenophobic abuse that was aimed at Sevilla coach Quique Sanchez Flores and Marcos Acuna in last week's La Liga game. The match was stopped by referee Iglesias Villanueva in the second half as part of the league's protocol for dealing with racism after racial insults were aimed at the defender and the coach.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Spanish football has toughened its stance on racism following many high-profile incidents. Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has been a vocal critic of the lack of action taken to fight the issue in Spain after he was the target of abuse on many occasions.
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Sevilla boss Sanchez Florez was appalled after being insulted during the game. He said afterwards: "I don't want people to use the word gypsy as a racist insult. Some of the crowd think they can come to a game and say whatever they like. We're workers who need to be respected in the work space. I think it's abhorrent."
An in-depth look at India’s batting troubles in England
Bharath Seervi12-Aug-20181 – This was the first time that India have lost a Test match by an innings under Virat Kohli. It was in England again that they were last beaten by an innings – The Oval in 2014 – although never in the past 44 years have they fared so poorly at Lord’s. Meanwhile, for England, it was their first innings victory at Lord’s since the 2010 Test against Pakistan.1023 – Balls bowled in this Test, making it the third-shortest among all completed matches in England over the last 100 years. It is the second-shortest Test at Lord’s, and the shortest since 1888.494 – Balls faced by India in this Test. Only four times have they faced fewer than that while losing all 20 wickets.ESPNcricinfo Ltd4.77 – Ratio of India’s bowling average to their batting average in this Test, which puts it among their ten worst defeats in history. They conceded runs at 56.57 per wicket while scoring just 11.85 per wicket. The last time they had a poorer was in 2011-12, during the SCG Test.33 – The highest score for India in this Test, by R Ashwin in the second innings. There have been only three Tests where the top score was lower.1952 – The last time an England bowler returned better match figures than James Anderson’s 9 for 43 in a home Test against India. That was Fred Trueman when he took 9 for 40 at Old Trafford in 1952. India lasted only 349 deliveries in that Test. Anderson also became the highest wicket-taker (99) in India-England Tests going past Bhagwath Chandrasekhar’s tally of 95.153.50 – India’s average total in England over their last four Tests. They have passed 200 only once and have been bowled out five times in under 50 overs. Since 2014, India’s average runs per wicket of 23.17 in England is the worst among all visiting teams.ESPNcricinfo Ltd6 – India openers to bag a pair in Tests. M Vijay was the unfortunate batsman in this Test, following on from his partner Shikhar Dhawan, who scored nothing in the Mohali Test against South Africa in 2015. Vijay is also the sixth opener to get two ducks in a Lord’s Test and first since Saleem Elahi in 2001. Kuldeep Yadav also bagged a pair in this Test, which makes it the fourth instance of two India players not opening their accounts.1996 – The last time India’s top-three batsmen combined for fewer runs in a Test. Vijay, KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara made 36 at Lord’s. Vikram Rathour, WV Raman and Sourav Ganguly made 26 runs in Durban.9.83 – The combined average of India’s No. 1, 2 and 3 on this tour – their worst in any series of two or more Tests, eclipsing the 13.91 set on a tour of New Zealand in 2002-03. In 12 innings between them at Edgbaston and Lord’s, India’s top three have added just 118 runs with highest score of 26. On the recent South Africa tour, they averaged just above 15, whereas in the two series against Sri Lanka at home and away last year, they managed averages of 75.16 and 54.66 respectively.
Worst average for India’s top-three batsmen in a Test series (2+ matches)
Series Average Highest score 50+ scores Series resultIndia in England, 2018 9.83 26 0 -India in New Zealand, 2002-03 13.91 76 1 LostSouth Africa in India, 1999-00 14.16 37 0 LostIndia in South Africa, 2017-18 15.50 50 1 LostIndia in South Africa, 1992-93 17.52 62 1 Lost
The first Test has not produced great drama over its first three days, but it has given both South Africa and Bangladesh reasons to feel good about themselves
Firdose Moonda30-Sep-2017It may not look like it but there is a lot to get excited about in Potchefstroom, whether you’re South African or Bangladeshi. Though the first Test is hardly the stuff great dramas are made of, it is providing both sides with positives mostly because of the pitch. Yes, it’s placid. No, it’s not deteriorating. But still, it is serving as a stage to satisfy some demands, even though the hosts would not originally have thought it would.Pre-match, Faf du Plessis admitted South Africa requested something with some pace and bounce. That’s a tough ask here, where it is traditionally flat, made tougher by the fact that it’s the early season and there wouldn’t have been much rain. In hindsight, South Africa shouldn’t be too displeased. Though their hearts may be telling them to make it as green and mean against subcontinental sides as possible, their heads know it is not always sensible.South Africa’s batting has been their weakness in the last year and they don’t want to subject themselves to the same torrid conditions as they try to rebuild. A pitch like this would have helped their batsmen gain confidence they will need later in the summer, when India arrive and they may have to bat on spicier surfaces.Aiden Markram got an easing into international cricket, Dean Elgar took the leap into the newly established elite in the country, Hashim Amla became Hashim Amla again and though Temba Bavuma and Faf du Plessis did not have enough time and Quinton de Kock did not even get the chance to bat (yet), suddenly things look a lot more solid than they did two months ago. And unless something completely unexpected happens in the next two days, they are likely to win the match.But Bangladesh also win. Their 320 was their highest in South Africa by some distance, and only six short of their highest-ever score against South Africa. The only other time they have managed over 250 was the first time they played here, following on in the second-innings in East London in 2002. That pitch was flat; this one may be flatter.The surface should not take away from the way Bangladesh approached their innings. The marked difference from the Bangladesh now and the Bangladesh that South Africans may have in their memory from 2008 is that the class of 2017 is confident and attacking. They believe in their abilities and they’re not afraid to say it – Sabbir Rahman confidently said even if South Africa scored 1,000 runs Bangladesh would back themselves to get it – or to show it. Against the short ball, Mominul Haque, the new holder of the highest score by a Bangladesh batsman in South Africa – took on the short ball. That alone should say how much Bangladesh have changed.In the four Tests, Bangladesh have played in South Africa before this tour, they have lost all by an innings. They might lose this match as well but not by that much of a margin.Perhaps South Africa shouldn’t really be surprised. The last time they saw Bangladesh in whites, just over two years ago, Bangladesh took a first-innings lead in the first Test and were performing impressively in the second. Since then, Bangladesh have beaten England and Australia at home, scored over 500 against New Zealand in Wellington, were competitive in patches in India and won a Test in Sri Lanka. They wanted this tour to illustrate that they could transfer that overseas. The early evidence is that they are succeeding, to some degree, especially when it comes to their mental approach.Rather than enjoy all the things mentioned above, Bangladesh are understandably upset with themselves for not doing more. “I don’t think we are happy scoring just 300 runs in this type of wicket,” Mominul said. “They got almost 500 runs so we should have scored at least 400, or even closer to their total. I don’t think anyone is happy with this score.”Mominul was also not entirely happy with his own score, not because he was eyeing a century but because he may have something of a point to prove. He was dropped for the Australia series and a public outcry resulted in him being recalled within 24 hours. This is first significant score since and while he has not changed much about his batting style, he has changed his mindset. “I don’t think I changed my batting style. I changed my mentality. In these situations, if you get stuck in your mentality, you will suffer. If you have to survive in this level, you have to be mentally strong,” he said.Collectively, the whole Bangladesh side has become stronger. For now, it may not make for the most intriguing cricket but it is an important stage in their continued evolution as a Test team and that is a small victory.
Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has told Football FanCast he believes there are three Premier League players who would be capable of replacing Andy Robertson.
Robertson struggling this season
Robertson has received his fair share of criticism this season, having not managed to reach his usual high standards, and there were even calls for the Scottish left-back to be replaced during the January transfer window.
Jamie Carragher urged Arne Slot to bring in a new left-back, with the 30-year-old club “legend” said to be “hanging on in every game”, and there has been no major turnaround in form over the past couple of months.
The Reds have been assessing potential targets for the summer, and they have identified a number of options from abroad, with Slot said to admire Girona’s Miguel Gutierrez, while Bayern Munich’s Alphonso Davies was also of interest prior to the Canadian signing a new contract.
Liverpool plotting to sign "underrated" ace as part of triple La Liga swoop
The Reds mean business…
ByTom Cunningham Feb 19, 2025
However, speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, Pennant has stated he believes there are also three Premier League left-backs who could replace Robertson in the summer.
When asked where Liverpool need to strengthen in the summer, Pennant said:“This is probably one of the most important spots that Liverpool need to fill in and that’s left back.
“No disrespect to Andy Robertson, absolutely fantastic player, fantastic servant to the club, a left-back legend, probably one of the best left-backs Liverpool have ever had.
Liverpool's AndrewRobertsonin action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Pablo Sarabia
“But I think now he’s coming to the end of the tether, still can be a great Liverpool player and part of the team, but to be a top left-back at the moment, he’s coming to the end of that cliff.
“Out there now to replace him, Kerkez from Bournemouth, Robinson from Fulham or even the likes of Ait-Nouri from Wolves, he had a good game (on Sunday) and I think he’d suit Liverpool well.”
Slot must sign a replacement this summer
A good case can be made for all three of the players suggested by Pennant, with the trio perhaps like-for-like replacements in many ways due to their ability going forward.
Kerkez has picked up two goals and three assists in the Premier League this season, while Robinson has ten assists in 25 games, having emerged as one of Fulham’s best players, and Rayan Ait-Nouri has been a shining light in a poor Wolves side.
Robertson is no doubt a Liverpool legend, having helped the Reds win almost every major honour at club level, but there is no denying his performances have gone downhill, averaging his lowest average match rating in the Premier League since arriving at Anfield.
Season
Robertson Whoscored rating
2017-18
7.02 per game
2018-19
7.12 per game
2019-20
7.11 per game
2020-21
6.88 per game
2021-22
7.23 per game
2022-23
6.78 per game
2023-24
7.12 per game
2024-25
6.63 per game
The Scotland international has insisted he has what it takes to fight for his place, regardless of who Slot brings in this summer, but until then he still has an important role to play in helping the Merseyside club win a 20th English league title.
One of the issues with Manchester United’s current squad is the lack of goals upfront from strikers Joshua ZIrkzee and Rasmus Hojlund. Zirkzee is a player who brings so much more aside from goals, given his ability to link up play, although Ruben Amoirm would perhaps have liked to have seen him score more than the four goals he has managed so far.
Hojlund is a player who possesses great talent but has looked short of confidence at times this season. He has scored seven goals in the 2024/25 campaign, although just two of those have come in the Premier League.
Marcus Rashford also seems set to leave the club, with The Manchester Evening News reporting that Aston Villa are closing in on a late move for the 27-year-old.
To help add goals to their sides – and potentially fill Rashford’s ‘void’ – United have been linked with a new striker in the final days of the transfer window.
Man Utd's search for a striker
The player in question here is Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface. The 24-year-old Nigerian international came close to a move to Saudi side Al Nassr at the start of the week, and although the deal broke down, he could still leave the German champions.
Transfer Focus
According to a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, United ‘have been made aware of his situation’ due to ‘historic interest’ they have in signing him, and could make a move before the transfer window slams shut on Monday.
The Saudi side had agreed on a fee of £50m for the Nigerian, so it is safe to assume he could cost United anywhere upwards of that fee.
However, they are not the only Premier League side to have been offered the chance to sign him. London trio Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have also been notified of his availability, as have Aston Villa, who need a replacement for Jhon Duran after his move to Al Nassr.
Why Boniface would be a good signing
If there is one thing Boniface will bring to United’s attack, it is perhaps the thing they need most; goals. This season, he has managed to find the back of the net eight times in 15 appearances in all competitions.
Victor Boniface celebrates for Bayer Leverkusen.
He made a strong start to the 2024/25 campaign, with six goals and an assist in the first ten Bundesliga games, but an injury has since kept him sidelined. However, that was certainly a contention of his form the previous season.
In arguably the best team of 2023/24, Boniface led the attack under Xabi Alonso superbly. He managed 21 goals and ten assists in 34 games, showing why football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as a “complete forward”.
Victor Boniface
Just as he did this season, he started the 2023/24 on fire, with nine goals and assists in seven top-flight games.
He has also managed to outperform Rashford over the past few seasons. It has not been an easy couple of campaigns for the England international, who has seven goals across all competitions this season and managed just eight last term.
However, he has an exemplary record at his boyhood club, with 138 goals to his name, in 426 appearances since making his debut back in 2015/16.
Should United manage to sign Boniface, he could be their own version of Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane. Former manager Erik ten Hag confirmed that the club wanted to bring the England captain to Old Trafford in the summer of 2023, but they “couldn’t get him”, with the Bundesliga giants instead winning the race.
In their search for more goals, there is no doubt that Kane would have brought just that to United. His record for Bayern is simply outstanding, with 70 goals and 22 assists in just 72 games. He has been phenomenal.
The Red Devils might have their own version of Kane if they signed the Nigerian striker. The pair are noted as similar players across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, showing just how deadly Leverkusen’s number 22 can be in front of goal.
For example, Boniface has an expected goals per game of 0.89xG, compared to Kane’s 0.86xG. The Leverkusen star also averaged 3.7 shot-creating actions per game, with Kane only slightly more, averaging 3.73 shot-creating actions per game.
Stat (per 90)
Boniface
Kane
Expected goals
0.89xG
0.86xG
Shots
5.47
3.79
Shots on target
1.19
1.57
Goals per shot on target
0.43
0.42
Shot-creating actions
3.7
3.73
This could be a brilliant deal for United. For ‘just’ £50m, they would be beating some of their biggest rivals to a striker whose numbers are up there with the England captain, and who could certainly add goals to their side.
This could be the exact deal Amorim needs to help his side push for a respectable Premier League finish.
Dream Hojlund upgrade: Man Utd hold talks over signing "absolute jewel"
Rebekah Vardy must pay £10.9k of Coleen Rooney's legal bill as part of the Wagatha Christie court verdict.
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Court demands Vardy bear legal expenses of Rooney
The judge found 'no fault' of Coleen
Ordered Rebekah to pay 75 per cent of bill
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The seemingly never-ending legal drama between Rebekah and Coleen took another turn on Thursday, as a High Court ruling ordered Vardy to pay a portion of Rooney's legal costs – nearly three years after the original verdict in the now-famous Wagatha Christie case.
The latest ruling, issued by costs judge Mark Wharton, instructed Vardy to pay £10,943.66 toward Rooney's legal bill of £14,591.55 in relation to the latest round of cost disputes. The judgment reaffirmed that Rooney was the "successful party" in this stage of the case, despite Vardy attempting to challenge elements of how Rooney's legal fees were calculated and claimed.
This phase of the legal battle focused on disputes over VAT repayments and privileged legal documents. Despite her objections, Vardy’s application was rejected by the judge, further strengthening Rooney’s legal position.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The libel case began after Rooney publicly accused Vardy in a viral Instagram post of leaking private information to the media. In a calculated social media sting operation, Rooney posted false stories visible only to Vardy’s account and watched as they later appeared in the press. Her final post concluded dramatically: "It’s ………. Rebekah Vardy’s account." The resulting courtroom showdown became a national sensation.
DID YOU KNOW?
Initially, Rooney’s lawyers filed a claim of £1.83m for legal expenses – over three times the original cost estimate. That figure has since been reduced to £1.65m following a previous ruling. In another decision made on Thursday, Mr Justice Cavanagh rejected Vardy’s appeal against the claim that Rooney had understated her legal expenses before the trial began. Vardy argued that Rooney had intentionally downplayed her costs in an effort to protect herself from bearing higher expenses if she lost. However, the judge concluded that while there was a "misjudgment" in transparency, it did not amount to serious misconduct.
Justice Cavanagh said: "There had been a misjudgment in the form of a failure to be more transparent about the basis upon which the defendant’s figures for incurred costs had been prepared, but that was as far as it went."
Judge Wharton’s ruling also acknowledged significant procedural and evidentiary shortcomings from Rooney’s legal team. While these issues didn’t derail her overall victory, they did lead to scrutiny over how some of her legal costs had been reported and reclaimed.
The main issue stemmed from VAT errors made by her legal and agency representatives. Brabners, the celebrity law firm representing Rooney, was found to have mistakenly sought a VAT rebate on behalf of CWR 2021 Limited – a media company run by Rooney and her husband, Wayne. This company was involved in production work, including her Disney+ docuseries, The Real Wagatha Story. Rooney’s agency, Triple S Group, also wrongly submitted VAT claims after contributing payments to the legal expenses. According to Rooney’s barrister, Robin Dunne, the errors were "unfortunate" and steps are being taken to repay the amounts.
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WHAT NEXT?
Although Thursday’s rulings went largely in Rooney’s favour, the case is not yet fully resolved. A further hearing is scheduled to begin on May 6, during which each line of the remaining disputed legal costs will be scrutinised in detail.
As the legal wrangling continues, what began as a social media accusation has spiralled into one of the most drawn-out celebrity court cases in recent memory, with legal bills and reputations still hanging in the balance.