Patrick Stewart has got straight down to business in his first day as Rangers CEO by demanding answers from the SFA over the penalty they DIDN'T get at Hampden. It was an all-time classic at the national stadium as Celtic and Rangers played out a 3-3 thriller before the Hoops edged it on penalties to claim the first trophy of the season. As is expected whenever the Glasgow giants face, there was no shortage of controversial incidents - a prominent one coming in stoppage time when Vaclav Cerny went down on the edge of the penalty box under contact from Liam Scales. Rangers appealed for it but ref John Beaton played on and VAR Alan Muir opted not to call him across to the monitor. Nothing was given, and Record Sport understands that new CEO Stewart - who started in his new role on Monday morning after the final - has spoken to the SFA to ask for an explanation over the non-award. READ MORE: Liam Scales responds to Rangers penalty claim as Ireland star celebrates another trophy win with Celtic READ MORE: Ireland star Liam Scales told he is 'lucky' not to concede vital Old Firm penalty Speaking on Sunday night's Hotline Live , ex-grade one whistler Des Roache insisted VAR should have spotted the foul and pulled it back for a check. And Roache believes Muir broke with protocol by failing to tell ref John Beaton to take a look at the flashpoint for himself on the pitch side monitor. Roache said: “The laws of the game state that, if you are pulling a player outside the penalty area and it continues inside the penalty area it’s a penalty kick. “Going by the footage we are seeing, Liam Scales clearly has a hold of Cerny whose foot is on the line. The line is part of the penalty box so therefore it should have been a penalty. You’ve got to go by fact. And the factual letter of the law is that’s a penalty kick. “Going by the footage we are seeing, Liam Scales clearly has a hold of Cerny whose foot is on the line. The line is part of the penalty box so therefore it should have been a penalty. You’ve got to go by fact. And the factual letter of the law is that’s a penalty kick. “I don’t understand why VAR didn’t pick it up because that’s what VAR is there for. It’s there to pick up obvious errors and they have the benefit of hindsight and being able to slow down the camera. So I was very surprised that it wasn’t given. “I thought, on the pitch, John had a magnificent game and, like you guys, when I first saw it I didn’t think it was a penalty. But it was only when I saw the stills I thought, ‘You know what? That one wasn’t right!’. “I don’t think you need to draw any lines. What you need to do is get John across. Certainly, if it was me, I’d have asked the referee to come across and say, ‘Look, I’m not sure about this. You might want to take a look at it’. “If John didn’t want to take it on a review that’s absolutely fine. No problem at all. But I think it’s your duty as a VAR, when you are looking at it with that technology, and when there’s a seed of doubt in there. And there was certainly a seed of doubt as soon as I saw it.” Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts .
Monday, December 30, 2024 UK citizens heading to the European Union will face new travel regulations in 2025, including the implementation of biometric border checks under the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the introduction of visa-waiver requirements. These changes are part of the EU’s effort to modernize and secure its borders. EES Biometric Border Checks The long-anticipated EES system is expected to go live in 2025 after several delays. This digital border control system will replace the traditional passport stamp process with biometric data collection, such as fingerprints and facial scans, to record travelers’ entries and exits from EU countries. First-Time Registration: When the system launches, UK travelers will need to scan their passport, provide fingerprints, have a facial photograph taken, and answer four questions about their trip. Subsequent Travel: For future trips over the next three years—or until their passport expires—travelers will only need to provide one biometric detail, either a fingerprint or a facial scan. Process at Ports and Airports At airports, biometric checks will occur upon landing. For Eurostar, Eurotunnel, or ferry travelers, the checks will be conducted on UK soil before departure. Drivers crossing via ferry ports will be required to exit their vehicles for biometric processing, raising concerns about potential delays and longer queues. To streamline the process, travelers will be able to pre-register their details via an app or self-service kiosks at select locations. However, the rollout is expected to be phased, with some teething issues anticipated during the initial implementation. Exemptions for Children Children under 12 will only need to have their photo taken and will not be required to provide fingerprints. Visa Waiver Requirements Alongside the EES, UK citizens traveling to the EU will also need to obtain a visa waiver under the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS), which is set to be introduced in 2025. This electronic authorization will cost €7 and will be valid for three years or until the traveler’s passport expires. Impact on Travelers The new rules aim to enhance border security and streamline data collection, but they are likely to alter the travel experience for British citizens. Critics have expressed concerns about potential delays, particularly at ferry ports where drivers must leave their vehicles for checks. To minimize inconvenience, officials recommend pre-registering biometric details and ensuring all travel documentation is up to date. The UK government advises travelers to familiarize themselves with the new requirements before their first trip to the EU in 2025. Conclusion These new measures mark a significant change for UK travelers to the EU, with the introduction of advanced biometric technology and visa-waiver systems. While the updates aim to improve border security and efficiency, travelers are advised to prepare for potential initial delays as the systems are rolled out across member states.US stocks sank on Friday as technology firms led a broad-sweeping decline across each major index. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 1.49% while the S&P 500 lost 1.11%. The Dow Jones shed 333 points to end the day. "I think what you see today is a lack of faith," UBS senior portfolio manager Alan Rechtschaffen told , citing uncertainty around trade and productivity. A sell-off in government bonds is also weighing on equity appetite, with the 10-year Treasury yield now trading above 4.6%. Bond traders may be adjusting to expectations of higher-for-longer interest rates next year, and are monitoring how the Trump administration responds to rising fiscal deficits. Despite Friday's sharp decline, indexes remained in the green for the holiday week. Investors may still be holding out for stocks to rally into the year-end, as is typical during the last five trading days of the year. While gains have been made during the holiday-shortened week, it could bode ill if the so-called Santa Claus rally fails to manifest. "When Santa doesn't show up and stocks are lower over this period, the S&P 500 has generated an average January and forward annual return of -0.02% and 5.0%, respectively," Adam Turnquist chief, technical strategist for LPL Financial, wrote this week. Read the original article on
The Latest: Former President Jimmy Carter is Dead at age 100
