6 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Football fans’ most exciting part of matchday revealed in study – and ‘deeply meaningful’ moment may surprise you
FOOTBALL fans get a bigger rush from the pre-match pint than from the game itself, a study suggests.
Supporters’ interactions with friends were found to be “deeply meaningful” and the most exciting part of matchday.
Football fans get a bigger rush from the pre-match pint than from the game itself
The findings are from 17 hard-core fans fitted with heart rate monitors ahead of a final.
The participants were tracked for four hours before the game then 90 minutes of action.
A large, prolonged and collective spike came during the time spent with mates before kick-off.
The only time there was a bigger rush was when the Brazilian fans’ team scored in the first half of a game near Rio de Janeiro — but the high did not last as long.
Researcher Professor Dimitris Xygalatas, from the University of Connecticut, said: “What we see is that the pre-game ritual generates more emotion than the game itself.
“There’s just one moment in the entire game when they have more collective emotion, and that’s when they scored a goal.
“Rituals are the kinds of things that, at first glance, don’t make any sense in terms of human behaviour, but are deeply meaningful to people.”
Prof Xygalatas, a fan of Greek football, said the same effect also probably applied to concerts, festivals and religious events.
He added: “Our study supports the idea that sports are about more than just the game.”
GettySupporters’ interactions with friends were found to be the most exciting part of matchday[/caption]
6 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Fury as BA calls Falkland Islands capital by its ARGENTINIAN name in ‘ludicrous and insulting’ blunder
BRITISH Airways has been branded disgraceful for using the Argentinian name for the capital of the Falklands Islands on in-flight entertainment screens.
The UK’s flag carrier airline refers to Port Stanley as Puerto Argentino.
Port Stanley is the Falkland Islands’ only cityRexGetty255 British military personnel died in the 74-day conflict in 1982[/caption]
The British title is relegated to a set of brackets underneath.
Ed West, of The Spectator magazine, spotted the blunder and said: “Curious wording for a British Airways in-flight map.”
Last night, BA promised to investigate as the error was described as “ludicrous” and “insulting” by Falklands war veterans.
Argentina still claims sovereignty but its invading forces lost the 74-day conflict in 1982.
British forces scrambled halfway around the world to put down General Leopoldo Galtieri’s troops after they took Port Stanley in a surprise raid.
This Saturday is the 43rd anniversary of Britain’s victory.
Former head of the Royal Navy, Admiral Lord West, who won the Distinguished Service Cross during the war, said the name error was “disrespectful” to islanders.
He told The Sun: “It’s disgraceful.
“The Falklands are a British overseas territory and 99.9 per cent of islanders want to stay British.
“We have said very clearly there will be no discussions about sovereignty.
“For the flag carrier airline to give Port Stanley another name is unforgivable.”
Lord West, whose HMS Ardent was sunk by Argentine forces, added: “I don’t know why they would do it.
“Everyone on the Falkland Islands calls it Port Stanley.
“They should change it back as soon as possible.
“This is insulting to the population of Port Stanley.”
In all, 255 British personnel lost their lives defending the islands.
In 2017 Argentina’s senate voted to rename Port Stanley as Puerto Argentino and celebrate Sovereignty Day there if it is ever recaptured.
The in-flight map shows only the names of world capitals and not countries’ names.
It means BA does not reference the Falklands by its Argentinian name Islas Malvinas.
British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group, is based in Spain.
A BA spokeswoman said: “We are grateful this has been brought to our attention.
“We’ll be reviewing it with the third party supplier that provides the in-flight map service.”
BA in-flight entertainment screens refer to Port Stanley as Puerto Argentino
6 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Eye-watering sum scandal-hit Gino D’Acampo’s restaurant empire owed when it plunged into administration revealed
GINO D’Acampo’s restaurant empire owed £7million when it plunged into administration, The Sun can reveal.
The scandal-hit TV chef’s chain of eateries was saved from the brink of closure last month in a £5million buyout.
Controlling company Upmarket Leisure owed £5.3million to HMRC and almost £2million to creditors.
Among them were food suppliers owed almost £500,000, a wine dealer due £302,000 and a pasta company expecting £4,809.
A statement of affairs shows Upmarket only has £117,000 in cash at the bank and £320,000 in other assets to try to cover its debts.
It lists D’Acampo, 48, as a ten per cent shareholder of the business, which ran five venues across London, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester.
HMRC had issued a petition to wind up Upmarket at the High Court and administrators were appointed after a previous sale fell through.
Staff were warned about a delay in wages being paid.
But the jobs of all 400 employees were saved when the company was bought out in May.
Last year, the Italian was unable to pay staff and the taxman after his My Pasta Bar chain wound up with around £5million losses.
6 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Moment cops dig up Channel migrant dinghies hidden deep under French beach in blow to smugglers
CHANNEL migrant smugglers are hiding boats deep under French beaches, police have revealed.
A haul of nautical equipment was found by officers buried along the beach at the resort of Wimereux.
A French cop works to uncover a migrant dinghy buried beneath the sands of a beach in the resort of WimereuxPolice NationalePolice NationaleThe dinghy that was dug up by French cops[/caption]
Police NationaleCops also found other equipment for the dinghy, including pumps, fuel and an outboard motor to propel the migrants to England[/caption]
The find included an inflatable dinghy, an outboard motor, lifejackets and oars.
The gangs are stowing their boats underground at night and directing migrants to dig them up, inflate them and set off on crossings.
A French officer told The Sun: “The equipment was all neatly packaged and ready for use when the migrants arrived.
“This follows lots of cars being driven by the smugglers being intercepted, so that the boats can be confiscated.
“They now seem to be hiding the boats late at night, leaving them there for a while, and then telling their clients where to find them.”
They can be packed with 80 people — but are designed to carry 20.
Pictures taken by Calais police show a French officer using a shovel to dig up a boat from the sands at Wimereux last week.
Huge numbers of migrants are now reaching England’s south coast, lured by the promise of free hotels, healthcare and little prospect of being deported.
The 42 per cent increase has heaped pressure on Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government, whose pledge to smash smuggling gangs has failed to deliver results.
Figures also show French police have intercepted just 38 per cent of migrants in small boats this year.
In the year to April, there were 33 boats with more than 80 people on board, compared with 11 in 2024 and one in 2023, figures from French and UK Home Office show.
6 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Mystery over Maddie McCann suspect Christian Bruecker after ‘huge sum he spent after she disappeared’ is revealed
THE man suspected of killing three-year-old Madeleine McCann is said to have spent £45,000 in the year after she vanished.
Christian Brueckner got through vast sums despite not paying his rent, reports suggest.
Dan CharityChristian Brueckner is said to have spent £45,000 in the year after Madeleine McCann vanished[/caption]
PAMadeleine vanished on May 3, 2007, while on holiday with her family in Praia da Luz in Portugal[/caption]
6 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Shocking number of sex offences reported in the military last year revealed as ‘little progress made’ stopping attacks
A SEX offence was reported nearly every day in the military last year.
It reflects an earlier MoD revelation that it paid £3.3million in compensation to personnel who were victims of sexual assault in the past five years.
Of the suspects in the latest figures, 205 were in the Army, 50 in the Navy and 59 the RAF.
In the other cases the identity of the suspect was unknown.
Ex-Army intelligence officer Col Philip Ingram said: “The military keep quoting a zero- tolerance policy but in reality, that is all they are doing about the scourge of sexual assaults.
“There is little real action or progress and no support for commanders trying to identify and root it out.”
Two thirds of the alleged offences happened in the UK.
There were 25 reported crimes in Cyprus, 18 in Germany, seven on the Falklands and two in Gibraltar.
Two dated to the 1970s, six to the 1980s and four to the 1990s.
In October an investigation into abuse on UK submarines found “intolerable” misogyny and bullying.
It followed claims made by ex-lieutenant Sophie Brook.
The MoD says it is creating a tri-service team to tackle complants, while an independent Armed Forces Commissioner will make unannounced visits.
Peter J JordanA sex offence was reported nearly every day in the military last year (stock picture)[/caption]
6 days agoNew York StateComments Off on Save time and money with five simple breakfast recipes you can make and freeze
ARE you a family that is raring to go of a morning?
When it comes to brekkie, these freezer-friendly bakes will save you time and money.
Whip up a batch of these simple delights, freeze and dish out when they are needed.
OAT-ALLY GREAT: Oaty, chewy homemade flapjacks are a brilliant freezer brekkie.
Whizz up oats, peanut butter and honey, press into a tray and bake. Slice into bars and freeze between baking paper.
When you want to eat them, pop them in the microwave for just ten seconds.
BURRIT-WOAH: Scrambled eggs, beans and cheese wrapped in tortilla wraps will make the ultimate handheld breakfast.
Wrap individually in foil before freezing as this will help when you come to cook them.
Then, take them out of the freezer when you need them and after only a few minutes in the oven, they will be delicious.
ROLL WITH IT: Upgrade the petrol station pasty with this homemade version.
Use cooked pork mince or lentils with any leftover veg and once your mixture has cooled, wrap in shortcut puff-pastry pasty portions.
Bake for 15 mins, then freeze. They will crisp up in 15 minutes straight from frozen and they are perfect for lunchboxes if you need an extra meal this week.
COOKIE CRUMBLE: Oat and banana bakes are similar to the likes of Belvita biscuits without the price tag.
Mash bananas with oats, cinnamon and chocolate chips. Scoop on to trays, bake and freeze.
They’re naturally sweet, packed with fibre and should thaw by the time you reach work or the school gates.
BATCH A PLAN: Dedicate half an hour a week to doing some batch-baking.
With these staples in your freezer, your mornings should be easier, plus, no more last-minute expensive brekkie buys on your way to work.
GettyWhip up a batch of five simple delights, freeze and dish out[/caption]
All prices on page correct at time of going to press. Deals and offers subject to availability.
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