BERLIN (Reuters) -The German economy contracted slightly in the first quarter of 2023 compared with the previous three months, thereby

Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has admitted “not everything was perfect” for supporters at the Champions League final in Istanbul. Manchester City supporters reported issues with transport to the out-of-town Ataturk Stadium for the showpiece match on June 10 against Inter Milan, as well as a lack of toilets and limited access to water. Football Supporters Europe is gathering fan accounts from Istanbul in order to compile a report to present to Uefa. Ceferin, speaking at the European Football Fans Congress in Manchester, said this year’s men’s and women’s club competition finals “proved Uefa had learned from past mistakes”, but he added: “We’re well aware that in Istanbul not everything was perfect and I’m certainly not playing down the problems encountered by some. “But let us continue working together to improve what we can improve. I’m thinking in particular of transport links, to better understanding the hosting of disabled supporters and access to water and toilets for everyone. “I can assure you that next year’s Champions League final at Wembley and Euro 2024 in Germany will be a unique experience for fans.” Close to the start of his address, Ceferin referenced the extremely serious issues which faced Liverpool fans in particular at the 2022 Champions League final in Paris. An independent report into the chaos at the match in the French capital found Uefa bore “primary responsibility” for what almost became “a mass fatality catastrophe”. Ceferin said: “Given what some of you experience recently, I would understand if I got a cold reception. “I also came here to say sorry. We would love to erase events that happened last year. Everyone welcomed the decision to move the Champions League final from St Petersburg to Paris and we know what happened. “Good intentions are often not enough, we know that and we are sorry for that. “I think we should roll up our sleeves and ensure that attending a football match remains a unique and unforgettable experience for everyone.” Ceferin said he had also come to ask a favour of supporters. “Our relationship cannot be one-sided,” the Slovenian said. He said Uefa needed help to get rid of the “idiots” who “hide in the ground” and behave abusively. “Let’s work together to put our house in order and ban from stadiums anyone who comes to a stadium not for the love of football, but with hatred for others,” he said. Ceferin again thanked fans for their crucial role in causing the collapse of the European Super League in 2021. “You were not just the 12th man, you were the first name on the team sheet for a match that lasted not 90 minutes, but 48 hours,” he added. “You saved football, and for that football lovers will be grateful forever.” Ceferin also said fan pressure - along with lobbying from Europe’s domestic leagues - had been key in limiting the expansion of the Champions League’s new league phase from 2024-25 to eight matches instead of 10. He said the move had cost clubs “hundreds of millions of euros” but said Uefa was sticking with it because “it is the right thing to do”. Read More ‘A dangerous mess’: Uefa under more pressure from fans after Champions League final chaos Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Maxi Hughes was robbed of victory in a boxing ring on Saturday night in the fight of his life. Hughes is one of the most decent and honest men in the British boxing business and he deserves some justice for the heist. The robbery took place in a boxing backwater in Oklahoma when Hughes fought George Kambosos in defence of his IBO lightweight title. However, the real prize was the right to be ranked as the IBF’s No 1 contender. Hughes boxed a simple, smart, careful 12 rounds and Kambosos, once a renowned world champion and attraction, fought like a man who only had to show up. In the end, that is all he had to do. At the finish of 12 controlled rounds from Hughes, he placed a ceremonial cowboy hat on his head to take the verdict; there was a long, long delay and that is never good for justice in a boxing ring. Hughes had stopped smiling before the decision was announced. One judge went 114-114, one went with 115-113 for Kambosos and the third, a man called Josef Mason, delivered the fully outrageous score of 117-113 for Kambosos. The Mason score means that in his opinion from ringside, Hughes managed to win just three rounds. I watched the fight live and watched it again; the American commentary team are silenced by the verdict. And so was I – Hughes won as many as nine rounds in a display of old-fashioned boxing. It was a delight to watch. It was not a slugfest, nobody famous outside of boxing was in the ring, nobody ripped their top off to reveal their naked breasts and, presumably, there will be no justice for Hughes. Right now, boxing is an event sport, and this fight was not, if I’m being brutally honest, an event. In the ring at the end, Kambosos, who is a nice enough man, tried his best to hide his feelings. He knew. However, in the often-ridiculous realm of boxing conspiracies, there is a huge fight for Kambosos against a boxer called Teofimo Lopez; Kambosos shocked Lopez in 2021 to win three versions of the world title. Last month Lopez shocked Josh Taylor in New York. It is a simple storyline to follow and not pleasant to even be considering that dark forces could be at play. It still feels like incompetence, not corruption. Hughes, meanwhile, has always worn his heart out on his sleeve. “It was a bit of a kick in the b*****ks,” said Hughes. “I feel pretty silly standing here in my cowboy hat. I won that fight. I won it clearly.” Hughes has never been a mainstream boxer, never been one of the boys and men that promoters protect and develop. Hughes is from the other side of the boxing tracks. It has been a long and hard boxing road for Hughes in fights that he was often expected to lose. He lost for the sixth time in 34 fights, but this was the hardest loss to accept. He is 33 now, enjoying the career it looked like he would never have. He entered with the IBO lightweight title, a belt that can be used as a ticket to much bigger things. “I made him miss, I picked him off, I controlled the fight,” said Hughes. “I took this fight, I asked for it, I pushed for it, and I only did that because I want to earn the dollars to provide for my family. That is why I box.” At the end, the Kambosos interview was drowned by boos and Hughes had to take a break from talking to accept the applause. It was a tiny victory for the Yorkshire man on a night when the latest blatant heist took place in a boxing ring. It will continue, but it would be fair if Hughes could get some recognition for his part in a bad, bad night for officials at ringside. Read More Muhammad Ali’s ‘comedy’ fight shows why Fury vs Ngannou isn’t the joke you think it is The Independent’s pound-for-pound boxing rankings Tyson Fury: Netflix viewers in awkward mix-up after misreading title of boxer’s Netflix documentary series Anthony Joshua slammed by Carl Froch for criticising ex-coach Anthony Joshua explains key change in mentality ahead of Dillian Whyte fight Teofimo Lopez makes retirement U-turn and calls out major name

(Reuters) -Lululemon Athletica lifted its annual profit and revenue forecasts for a second time after beating quarterly estimates on Thursday,

A man has barricaded himself inside the famous Caesars Palace hotel and casino in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning, claiming he is armed. Vegas police said the man pulled a woman into his room “by force” and that she remains inside. “She is still in the room at this time,” a police spokesman said on Tuesday during a press update. “The female has been heard from and is still OK.” The officer added that no shots have been fired and no weapons have been seen. SWAT teams and crisis negotiators are on site. A bystander told The Independent a broken window could be seen on the outside of the building, and someone inside was throwing objects out. Read More Armed man barricades himself in room at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas as SWAT teams descend

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