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We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
We have a curated list of the most noteworthy news from all across the globe. With any subscription plan, you get access to exclusive articles that let you stay ahead of the curve.
In a tragic incident in northern Belgium, four lives were lost when a train collided with a school minibus on Tuesday. Among the deceased were two children, according to the nation’s Deputy Prime Minister.
“This morning, a heart-wrenching crash between a train and a school bus occurred in Buggenhout, resulting in the loss of four lives, including two young children,” announced Maxime Prevot on X, expressing the gravity of the situation.
Prime Minister Bart De Wever shared his sorrow, stating, “I am deeply moved by this horrific accident. My thoughts are with the families affected by this tragedy.”
Photographs from the accident site in the Flanders region depict a minibus, severely damaged, overturned beside the railway tracks. Emergency personnel set up tents around the scene, while the commuter train involved remained stationary on the rails, marking the aftermath of the collision.
According to police spokeswoman An Berger, the minibus was carrying seven children, a supervisor, and a driver at the time of the accident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the train passengers.
“The impact was extremely violent,” Frederic Sacre, a spokesman for Belgium’s Infrabel rail agency, told Agence France Presse (AFP), adding that the train was travelling at 120 kilometres per hour.
“The minibus was thrown about 15 metres into a metal pylon,” he said.
‘Barrier closed’
Sacre said footage from the scene showed that the barriers at the crossing had been closed and a red light was showing at the time of the incident.
Belgian media reported that the pupils came from a school for children with learning disabilities.
Belgian interior minister Bernard Quintin expressed his deep sadness at the “tragic accident”, writing on X that “my thoughts go out to the victims and their loved ones”.
“I wish the injured much strength,” he wrote, thanking the emergency services for their work.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen joined in the stream of commiserations from politicians, saying she was “heartbroken” by the collision.
“My deepest condolences go out to the victims’ families and their loved ones,” she posted online.
In a poignant revelation, NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski opened up about experiencing “visions” of reconciling with Kyle Busch, his long-standing rival, before the latter’s unexpected passing last week. Keselowski noted that during their last encounter, he could sense Busch was grappling with health issues.
Kyle Busch, celebrated as a two-time Cup Series champion, tragically died at 41 after battling severe pneumonia that advanced into sepsis, leaving the racing community in shock.
The rivalry between Busch and Keselowski was legendary within NASCAR circles. Although Keselowski acknowledged in the wake of Busch’s death that their relationship was not amicable due to their fierce competition, he expressed profound respect for Busch as a competitor.
Throughout their careers, the duo faced off in countless races, often igniting intense and controversial moments on the track. Their competitive spirit was a hallmark of their sporting encounters.
Yet, Keselowski reflected that their last meeting was notably devoid of their usual heated exchanges, hinting at a softened dynamic in their final moments together.
‘I was flying to Dover last week with Kyle,’ he told People, and added ‘it was probably more by chance than anything else.’
Brad Keselowski (above) said he had ‘visions’ of calling a truce in his rivalry with Kyle Busch
Keselowski shared that their final exchange outside the track lacked their typical fiery rapport
‘Kyle is normally a fairly gregarious person, very outgoing – and he wasn’t. He sat down one row behind me and next to me and fell asleep right away and I could tell he wasn’t feeling well.
‘I didn’t really think that much of it, to be honest. And that was pretty much the last time I saw him.
‘We were in a race and you get in a race and you don’t really see each other. So I saw him on the racetrack.’
Keselowski continued: ‘I guess I had visions before his death of… actually, I thought about this multiple times: What’s it going to be like when we’re both in the Hall of Fame and we’re doing some kind of ceremony together, whatever that might be? Will the hatchet be buried? I think so.
‘And will we actually be able to share a laugh about it? I guess in my mind, I hope so and now obviously not.
‘The hard part is the closure was supposed to be when we were retired and when we were done racing together and I don’t think that’s just for me, by the way. I think that’s for a lot of people. And to not get that is tough.
‘The loss of Kyle Busch is much greater than how it affects me, and so I don’t wish to belittle that.’
A chilling clip of Busch’s heartbroken widow previously revealing that she would have the NASCAR legend’s baby if he died resurfaced on Monday.
Busch’s widow Samantha revealed back in November that she would have his baby if he died
Busch is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their two children, Brexton, 11, and Lennix, four
It was recorded six months before Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion, died suddenly last week. He is survived by his wife, Samantha, and their two children, son Brexton, 11, and daughter Lennix, four.
The couple, who welcomed both of their children through in vitro fertilization after struggling to get pregnant and several miscarriages, ran the Bundle of Joy Fund, which attempts to help families remove the financial burden of fertility treatments.
Busch and his wife publicly campaigned to make IVF treatment more accessible for thousands of families across the United States, earning praise from Donald Trump.
And, during an episode of her podcast Certified Oversharer, which aired in November, a haunting clip shows Samantha saying she told Busch she would have another child to ensure there was a ‘connection’ to him if he died.
Samantha told author Ashley George, her guest that day: ‘Here’s something I’ve never told anybody. I’m a certified over-sharer. So a lot of people ask me what we have done with our embryos because we still have some.
‘I can’t part with them. We are paying to freeze them until… they’re going to have to come with me. I don’t know what else to do at this point because I love them so much and can’t make a decision.
‘Kyle was like, “We’re done having kids” and I said, “But what if?” I told him the most morbid story the other day. I was like, “What if you passed? I would have to have another kid to be connected to you and name that child after you”.
‘He was like, “What is wrong with you?” and I was like, “These are the things I think about Kyle.” I love being a mom and I have never told anybody that until I told you.’
Naomi Schiff, the Sky Sports F1 presenter, has joyfully shared the arrival of her first child with her husband, Alexandre Dedieu.
The 31-year-old racing commentator took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce the birth of her son, born on October 8, by posting a series of heartwarming photos.
Expressing her delight, the former W Series driver shared how her newborn has profoundly transformed her life, also unveiling his charming name.
She wrote: “Raphaël Schiff-Dedieu – born October 8th, 2025.”
“In such a short time, my little boy, you have completely altered my world. You’ve granted me a role I always aspired to, yet never realized I would cherish so deeply.”
‘I can’t wait to watch you discover the world, to help you feel brave, to lift you when you fall, and to remind you every day just how deeply you’re loved. Thank you for making me your mom. Ilysm’.
Sky Sports F1 presenter Naomi Schiff has revealed she has welcomed her first child with husband Alexandre Dedieu
The pundit, 31, announced the special news on Instagram on Tuesday by sharing a series of adorable snaps of her newborn son, who was born on October 8
Naomi looked every inch a doting mum in the adorable pictures as she lay with Raphaël as he peacefully slept.’
Friends of Naomi’s rushed to the comments to congratulate her and husband Alexandre, who she tied the knot with last September.
Fellow Sky F1 expert Natalie Pinkham wrote: ‘Absolute perfection, the world needs more posts like this, love you guys,’
Former F1 TV favourite Will Buxton added: ‘So many congratulations x.’
Max Verstappen’s sister, Victoria Verstappen as well as Ruth Buscombe, Holly Ramsay, Susie Wolff and Charlotte Tilbury also sent their congratulations.
Naomi announced in May that she was expecting her first child with husband Alexandre as they shared a sweet video revealing her baby bump.
The TV presenter looked sensational in a white bra and unbuttoned jeans showing off her blossoming bump as she posed for photos.
She wrote: ‘Been keeping the tiniest little secret’.
The former W Series driver gushed that her little bundle of joy has ‘completely changed her world’ and revealed his sweet name
She wrote: ‘Raphaël Schiff-Dedieu – born October 8th 2025. My little boy, in so little time you have completely changed my world. Thank you for making me your mom. Ilysm’
Famous friends of Naomi’s rushed to the comments to congratulate her and husband Alexandre, who she tied the knot with last September
During her pregnancy, Naomi has kept her followers up-to-date as she shared a series of photos cradling her baby bump.
She has been off air from Sky Sports since the Dutch Grand Prix concluded at the end of August.
Naomi became a regular face for viewers of Sky’s F1 coverage since joining the broadcaster’s punditry pool in 2022.
At the time, Lewis Hamilton came out in defence of Naomi after the former racer received abuse following her coverage at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
She was targeted by trolls after appearing in the paddock in Baku, with some questioning her credentials in the sport and criticising her personality.
Hamilton was quick to hit back at her critics and said she was more than qualified as a racer to work as a pundit, calling her a great asset and saying the sport had a ‘long way’ to change attitudes.
‘Naomi is an ex-professional racing driver & totally qualified to give her opinion as part of the Sky team,’ he wrote on Twitter.
‘She’s been a great asset since joining and we should welcome more representative broadcasting with open arms. Still have a long way to go to change these attitudes in sport.’
Naomi announced in May that she was expecting her first child with husband Alexandre as they shared a sweet video revealing her baby bump
During her pregnancy, Naomi has kept her followers up-to-date as she shared a series of photos cradling her baby bump
Naomi is a former motor racer and ambassador for women’s racing who was appointed as a Sky Sports F1 pundit for the 2022 season (pictured 2021)
At the time a Sky Sports F1 statement read: ‘Naomi has been an excellent addition to our award-winning F1 team. Her experiences as a driver and her passion for and expertise of the sport have been welcomed by millions of viewers so far this season. Hate won’t win.’
Naomi began racing single-seater cars aged 16, in South Africa, where the Belgium-born motorsport star grew up.
The star competed in several racing series globally, most notably in 2019 when she took part in the first season of the all-female W Series which made British racer and three-time title winner Jamie Chadwick a star.
Naomi returned to the series as a reserve two years later but, by that time, had already begun trying to forge a career in broadcasting.
She quickly became a core member of the team after joining Sky and many of her co-presenters were in attendance last September when she tied the knot with husband Alexandre Dedieu.
It is not known for how long Schiff plans to be absent from her punditry role as she adjusts to her new family life.
She is not the only pundit currently out of action, with colleague Natalie Pinkham also taking some time away from the screen after undergoing neck surgery.
Rumors are swirling in the arts and literary communities, suggesting that Andy Warhol’s famed magazine, Interview, has recently experienced a significant staff departure and may be on the brink of closure for the second time in its 56-year history.
However, these whispers seem to be unfounded. According to Mel Ottenberg, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Interview is doing well and thriving. Despite claims of a large-scale editorial walkout, Ottenberg assures Page Six that the magazine is in good health, emphasizing, “Interview just signed a lease on a new and bigger office space, the next issue is out in a few weeks, things are good.”
Ottenberg, a renowned fashion stylist known for his collaborations with celebrities like Rihanna and Justin Bieber, stepped into the role of creative director at Interview in 2018 and was promoted to editor in 2021.
Addressing the rumors, Ottenberg stated, “It’s been a while since anyone left Interview, and while a few team members have recently departed, that’s perfectly normal. In fact, we’ve welcomed two new staff members within the past week.”
Interview was originally founded in 1969 by the iconic artist Andy Warhol and journalist John Wilcock, who co-founded the Village Voice. The magazine was initially edited by Warhol’s Factory associates, including Gerard Malanga, Glenn O’Brien, and Bob Colacello.
It became famous for having celebrities interview other celebrities. Robert Pattinson and Zendaya recently interviewed each other, Beyoncé interviewed sister Solange Knowles in 2017, and Jon Voight interviewed Angelina Jolie in 1997, for example.
Peter and Sandra Brant’s Brant Publications bought the title in 1989, and Ingrid Sischy headed it for nearly 20 years, until 2008.
In 2018 it filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and appeared to be shuttering.
But three months later, Peter bought the magazine out of bankruptcy, and it relaunched as a bimonthly magazine, rather than a monthly.
NEW YORK (AP) — Celebrated tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins, renowned for his innovative spirit and unique sound that propelled him to the forefront of jazz for over half a century, passed away on Monday at the age of 95.
Sonny Rollins performs during a concert in Tokyo, Oct. 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Junji Kurokawa, File)
From his remarkable beginnings as a teenage prodigy to his dynamic solo endeavors and explorations in free jazz, Rollins was highly esteemed for his improvisational prowess. As one of the few remaining legends from the bebop era, alongside icons like John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, he significantly shaped the role of the saxophone in jazz.
Even rock enthusiasts encountered his artistry through the Rolling Stones’ 1981 album “Tattoo You,” where Rollins delivered a soulful sax solo on “Waiting on a Friend,” inspired by observing Mick Jagger’s dance moves.
Despite his lasting acclaim, Rollins never rested on his laurels. He often took extended breaks from performing and continually embraced a variety of musical styles, seeking new horizons in his craft.
Rollins frequently described himself as “a work in progress,” emphasizing that he wasn’t the kind of artist to settle into a single mode of expression.
While his early bebop work was the most popular with his fans, Rollins never looked back, saying he found it “excruciating” to even listen to the flaws in his older recordings.
Enduring achievements
In the 1990s and 2000s, Rollins released a string of critically acclaimed albums. He maintained a rigorous practice regimen, and continued to tour, into his 80s. Pulmonary fibrosis, a thickening and damaging of the lungs, would eventually force him into retirement. He played his last concert in 2012 and stopped playing altogether in 2014.
While he missed the adoration of crowds, he missed the actual playing more.
“I played a couple of concerts early on where I was out in the open in the afternoon,” He told the New York Times in 2020. “I was able to look up in the sky, and I felt a communication; I felt that I was part of something. Not the crowd. Something bigger.”
His 2001 album “This is What I Do,” earned him a Grammy award for best jazz instrumental album. He won again in 2006 for best jazz instrumental solo for “Why Was I Born?”
“Why Was I Born” was from the album “Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert,” a live recording from a performance in Boston just four days after the Sept. 11 attacks. Rollins, who had been evacuated from his apartment a few blocks from ground zero, had gone ahead with the concert at the urging of his wife and manager, Lucille. She died in 2004.
His survivors include a nephew, Clifton Anderson, and nieces Vallyn Anderson and Gabrielle DeGroat.
Meeting the greats
Rollins had gotten his first major break in his late teens when he was invited to join Thelonious Monk’s band. He soon was jamming with Miles Davis and Bud Powell, who introduced him to the recording world even before he finished high school.
But like many jazz musicians in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Rollins’ rising star almost faded when he became hooked on heroin at the age of 19. As his addiction grew steadily worse, Rollins served two stints in jail — 10 months in 1950 and three months in 1953 — and ultimately found himself living on the streets in Chicago. In 1954, Rollins checked himself into a hospital in Lexington, Ky., to undergo drug treatment.
He underwent a spiritual awakening as he kicked drugs.
“I began to have a deeper philosophy of what life was about,” he told the AP in 2007. “From that point on is when my consciousness awoke.”
After being discharged, he returned to Chicago and signed on as a member of the Max Roach-Clifford Brown quintet. In 1956 he recorded a solo album, “Saxophone Colossus.” Its stripped-down, hard bop sound announced him as one of jazz’s premier sax players and remained one of his most influential works.
In the following two years Rollins hit upon a different approach, switching to a pianoless trio on three more landmark albums: “Way Out West,” “A Night at the Village Vanguard” and “Freedom Suite.”
Then, at the peak of his popularity, Rollins went into seclusion, spending the next two years practicing alone on a solitary niche above the East River on a Williamsburg Bridge walkway.
“The thing that I am most proud of in my career is that fact that I was able to see beyond being popular and all that stuff,” he told the AP in 2007, “and do what my inner self told me to do.”
During his absence, jazz moved away from the fast-paced, tightly woven sound of bebop to the more frenetic and chaotic free jazz. When Rollins chose to return to the scene in 1961, he embraced the new sound — a move that divided his fans. In the mid-’60s, Rollins toured heavily in Europe, switching back and forth between more traditional and avant garde approaches. He contributed original music to the soundtrack of “Alfie,” the 1966 British film that made Michael Caine a star.
It was during a trip to Japan when Rollins discovered Zen Buddhism, prompting another lengthy sabbatical that would last into the early 1970s.
A living legend
When he chose to record again in 1972, he was now regarded as a legend and gained mainstream acceptance. He was granted a Guggenheim fellowship that year, and was inducted into the Downbeat Hall of Fame the next. He appeared on the “Tonight Show” and began playing in concert halls instead of nightclubs.
Theodore Walter Rollins was born into a musical household in Harlem on Sept. 7, 1930. His father, a naval petty officer, played the clarinet, his sister played the piano, and his older brother was a violinist.
When he was eight, his parents insisted he study the piano, but, as he recalled, “it didn’t take.” Instead, he said, he’d rather be outdoors playing baseball. But by age 11, Rollins became fascinated with the saxophone, and persuaded his parents to buy him one — an alto.
He had difficulty affording lessons and was largely self-taught, but Rollins quickly became an all-star, switching to tenor sax and playing the clubs at night.
He leaves behind many unreleased recordings, and said he didn’t plan to leave behind instructions for what to do with them.
“After I get out of this planet I’m not going to have any say about what’s going on, so I’m not worried about that,” he told the New York Times in 2020. “And, boy, I agonize over my music; I won’t have to agonize about it anymore. Thank God.”
In a recent interview, Nikita Kuzmin, a star from the popular show “Strictly Come Dancing,” expressed his enthusiasm for the program’s new host, Johannes Radebe, assuring fans that Radebe will “never stop dancing.” This comment comes in response to some viewers’ confusion regarding Radebe’s new role on the show.
Last week, it was officially revealed that Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe, a seasoned professional dancer on the show, would be replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as the new hosts of the ballroom competition.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman had been a beloved hosting duo since 2014, leaving fans curious and eager to find out who would take over their iconic roles.
Speaking on “Good Morning Britain” this past Tuesday, May 26, Nikita Kuzmin shared his thoughts on the BBC show’s fresh lineup.
The Ukrainian dancer described the new hosting team as “absolutely epic” and expressed his excitement about the positive changes they would bring to the show.
Nikita continued: ‘Obviously Tess and Claud are legendary, so to go with Emma, Josh and JoJo, it’s absolutely epic.
Fan favourite Strictly Come Dancing pro revealed longtime co-star and newly announced presenter Johannes Radebe will ‘never stop dancing’
Appearing on Tuesday’s (May 26) Good Morning Britain, Nikita opened up about the BBC show’s new additions
‘And plus JoJo, we know JoJo so well. It’s just so, so lovely.’
From there, Ranvir Singh asked Nikita how Johannes planned to balance presenting with his already stated desire to continue dancing too.
He responded: ‘JoJo will never stop dancing. It’s Johannes… I’m sure he will present…. Johannes will be fantastic at whatever he does.’
In a behind the scenes clip posted on Strictly’s Instagram story, Johannes, 39, and new co-star Josh, 43, discussed their excitement.
The Last Leg star Josh said: ‘It doesn’t feel real’
To which Johannes replied: ‘You’re telling me, you’re telling me.’
Josh went on: ‘Jojo, how you feeling about not being part of that dancing team and having to interview them?’
Johannes responded: ‘Listen, I’m not hanging up my dancing shoes as yet. That I’m definitely not doing. I mean, I cannot. What is my life without a Cha Cha Cha?’
Josh joked: ‘Oh, I feel the same. That’s how I feel every morning.’
In another clip, the pair and fellow new host Emma, 50, shared their anticipation with one another.
Josh remarked: ‘Genuinely, this is the most exciting thing in my life that I’ve ever kept to myself. Can’t wait’, Emma added: ‘I still can’t find the words because my tummy is flipping consistently.
‘I would imagine it’s how you feel when you know you’ve got to walk down the stairs ‘dancing the cha cha! And like everything goes to jelly. That’s how I feel thinking about what we’re about to do.’
Johannes said: ‘It’s petrifying but I can’t tell you how exciting it is.’
Meanwhile, Emma later commented: ‘We’re going to laugh a lot, aren’t we? Just lots of laughing.’
Last week, it was announced Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and long-time pro Johannes will succeed Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman in the ballroom
Josh agreed: ‘Just laugh our way through it.’
The final clip featured Josh by himself, as he spoke about new colleagues Emma and Johannes.
He said: ‘I’ve just realised I’ve been booked to present something with two of the most striking people on television and I look like me. Absolute disaster.
‘Emma is like one of the great TV hosts of our generation. And Johannes is one of the great dancers of our generation. And I’m here as well.
‘I’m looking forward to the first episode because I think it will be the only episode in the history of Strictly where the presenters are more nervous than the dancers. It’s going to be great.’
“To all of our supporters who have created content over the years, thank you immensely,” she expressed with heartfelt gratitude. “The sheer magnitude of the content and the emotions you pour into it can be overwhelming because there’s so much love involved. I want to say thank you from the depths of my heart. I see you, and you are incredibly important to me.”
During her speech, Fergie, hand in hand with will.i.am and Taboo, took a moment to acknowledge her young son in a touching manner. “And now, I finally have the chance to say this on TV,” she shared with a playful excitement, “Hi Axl! ‘Rock That Body,’ we did it!”
Even though Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas amicably parted ways in 2018, their strong connection has endured over the years. With Fergie, Will, and Taboo all reaching the age of 50 in 2025—Apl having turned 50 the year prior—they came together for a memorable birthday celebration.
Fergie took to Instagram in December to share the joyous occasion, writing, “Finally got to break bread and celebrate our milestone birthdays together. What a special night with my brothers, filled with so much love.”
For more on the 2026 AMAs and to see who else made an appearance, keep reading…
Emotions were high as Fergie reunited with her Black Eyed Peas “brothers” during the 2026 American Music Awards held in Las Vegas on Monday.
The 51-year-old “London Bridge” singer joined her former bandmates — will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo — on stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to accept the award for Best Throwback Song.
“This is such a special moment,” Fergie expressed, as they celebrated their 2010 hit “Rock That Body” with her “longtime friends.”
In a heartfelt gesture, she held the hands of will.i.am and apl.de.ap, expressing gratitude to social media users who have kept their music alive through TikTok and Instagram videos.
She held will.i.am and apl.de.ap’s hands while thanking social media users for making TikToks and Instagram videos with their music.
The “Fergalicious” crooner said, “Sometimes, the content you make is so big and the feelings are so big for me it’s overwhelming to look because there’s so much love that you put into it, and I just wanna say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I see you. You mean so much.”
She joked that her and ex-husband Josh Duhamel’s 12-year-old son, Axl, had finally “put [the] song on his playlist.”
Fergie gave the preteen a shoutout, exclaiming, “I get to now say this. I finally, finally get to say this on TV: Hi, Axl! ‘Rock That Body’ we did it!”
The Black Eyed Peas formed in 1992, three years after will.i.am and apl.de.ap started performing together as Atban Klann.
After more than a decade and a slew hits, from “Pump It” to “Boom Boom Pow,” rumors swirled that Fergie was exiting the group.
will.i.am confirmed her departure in 2017.
She had previously stepped away to work on solo music — but returned to the Black Eyed Peas after releasing “The Dutchess” in 2006.
“Nobody is replacing Fergie. She’s working on her solo project, [‘Double Dutchess’] at the moment,” will.i.am clarified at the time — but J. Rey Soul has since taken Fergie’s place.
Fergie, who never returned to the band, announced her separation from Duhamel, 53, that same year.
The former couple finalized their divorce in 2019, and the actor has gone on to welcome son Shepherd, 2, and newborn daughter Rocca with wife Audra Mari.
Fergie made headlines earlier this month for celebrating their baby girl’s arrival via Instagram.
She and Duhamel have a “great” co-parenting dynamic, the “Ransom Canyon” star shared with “Megyn Kelly Show” viewers in March.
“She’s a great mom,” he said — while noting elsewhere he felt as if he lived in her “shadow” during his time married to the “massive star.”
In the heart of north London, jubilant fans have been celebrating their team’s recent triumph, while a different scenario unfolds for another group of supporters in the capital who find themselves on edge.
The intense relegation showdown between West Ham and Tottenham is set to reach its climax on the season’s final day, as Tottenham failed to secure a crucial point in their last match.
The stakes are high, as being demoted to the Championship would have significant repercussions for the team facing the drop, especially considering both clubs have been competing on the European stage in recent years.
Roberto Forzoni, a seasoned sports psychologist, is no stranger to these high-pressure situations. With experience working alongside eight Premier League teams, he brings a wealth of knowledge on managing the stress of a relegation struggle, having previously helped West Ham pull off their remarkable ‘Great Escape’ during the 2006/2007 season.
In an exclusive chat with Oddschecker, Forzoni delved into the psychological dynamics at play in contemporary football. He explored how teams handle relegation threats, the anxiety within locker rooms, the impact of social media scrutiny, and the practices that distinguish top-tier athletes from the rest.
West Ham are looking to gazump Spurs and survive the drop on Sunday afternoon
Trailing their North London rivals by two points, and with goal difference strongly favouring Tottenham, things are looking bleak for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side. But Forzoni says that negative mindset is exactly what drags a team into the position West Ham find themselves in.
‘The biggest challenge in a relegation battle is that players stop focusing on performance and start focusing on consequences,’ he said.
‘They think about criticism, failure, relegation or what mistakes might mean. Players start playing the situation rather than the ball.’
With the immediacy of social media, players and staff experience overwhelming negativity the moment they step off the pitch.
It can affect the most experienced of players, with skipper Jarrod Bowen admitting his role comes with ‘extra responsibility, extra questions to be answered and people pointing the finger at you,’ in a recent interview with Sky Sports.
‘That changes behaviour,’ Forzoni said.
‘Players stop taking risks, play safer passes and become reluctant to try things that normally come naturally to them. Players become reactive rather than proactive.’
‘Anxiety travels through a dressing room faster than confidence. When physical anxiety and cognitive worry both rise too high, performance doesn’t decline gently – it falls off a cliff.’
Forzoni remembers this happening during his time in East London, adding: ‘At West Ham, even members of staff believed the situation was hopeless. That kind of thinking becomes contagious.’
Tottenham are in control of the relegation battle and need one point to secure survival
As things have declined at the club this season, the pressure has become more prominent on the pitch.
In what was seen as a must-win game, West Ham were comfortably beaten 3-1 by Newcastle United, in a performance Daily Mail Sport’s Craig Hope described as ‘self-sabotage. Angry travelling supporters could even be heard chanting that players were ‘not fit to wear the shirt’.
So, with one match left, how can Nuno and his men turn things around?
‘At West Ham, one of the things we changed was work rate,’ said Forzoni.
‘The players felt they were working hard, but objectively they weren’t matching the opposition.
‘So we set targets around effort and preparation. We wanted to become one of the hardest-working and best-prepared teams in the league.
‘Once the players bought into that mentality, the results changed dramatically.’
If he were in the dressing room today, Forzoni says he would look to shift players’ mentality – Less noise, less fear, more work. Focus on the challenge ahead, not what can happen if you fail.
‘The aim is to clear out the noise and redirect attention onto controllable behaviours,’ he said.
‘At West Ham, I asked the players whether they believed we could stay up. Almost nobody raised their hand. Then I asked whether they believed we could win the next match, and a few players did.
‘So we stopped talking about survival and focused entirely on the next game.
‘That’s often the key psychologically – narrowing the focus and simplifying the challenge.’
Roberto Forzoni worked with the Hammers in 2006 and has revealed the key to survival
Forzoni spoke about ‘learned helplessness,’ where people start believing nothing they do will change the outcome.
And while a Spurs win against Everton will nullify anything West Ham can do, players need to approach this game with their blinders up.
‘That means training properly, preparing well, working hard and sticking to the tactical plan,’ Forzoni said.
‘Once you get players concentrating on controllable factors again, the mindset starts to change.
‘Change what their attention is spent on, and you change the performance.’
Representative Ilhan Omar responded succinctly to a Republican initiative aiming to prohibit foreign-born citizens from serving in Congress. After GOP lawmakers, led by Rep. Nancy Mace, introduced a provocative constitutional amendment targeting naturalized citizens, the Minnesota Democrat dismissed the effort with a simple, “Good luck to her.” The proposed amendment seeks to restrict congressional roles, federal judgeships, and Senate-confirmed positions to those who are natural-born citizens, aligning them with the qualifications for the presidency and vice presidency. Mace’s intentions were clear when discussing her proposal.
Singling Out Foreign-Born Democrats
In an assertive post on X, Mace highlighted Omar, along with fellow foreign-born Democratic representatives Shri Thanedar and Pramila Jayapal, as the focus of her measure. She noted that these lawmakers, who immigrated to the U.S. and became citizens, do not meet the birthright citizenship criteria. Mace accused them of prioritizing foreign interests over American ones, stating, “Ilhan Omar. Shri Thanedar. Pramila Jayapal. All born in foreign countries, none were citizens by birth. All sitting in the United States Congress. All making clear every single day their loyalty is not to America. For too long we have allowed foreign-born members to hold seats in this government while making clear they are America last, not America first. We see it every day. This constitutional amendment will put an end to it.”
A Near-Impossible Legal Battle
The proposal stirred significant reactions across political realms, reigniting conservative critiques of Omar, who is a prominent progressive voice and one of the first Muslim women elected to the House. Originally from Somalia, Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000 after fleeing civil war and spending time in a refugee camp. Despite the charged language surrounding the proposal, Omar remained unperturbed, expressing confidence that the measure faced insurmountable challenges. Amending the Constitution requires a formidable process, necessitating approval from two-thirds of both congressional bodies and ratification by three-quarters of the states, a feat rarely accomplished in American history.
At present, there is no indication the proposal has broad support from Republican leadership or enough backing to seriously advance through Congress. Still, Mace defended the proposal in comments to Fox News arguing that people serving in powerful federal positions should have been American citizens from birth. ‘If you hold power in the American government, you should be a natural-born American citizen,’ Mace said. ‘For too long we have allowed foreign-born members to hold seats in this government, while making clear their loyalty is not here. We see it every day.’ According to congressional data, there are currently 26 foreign-born lawmakers serving in Congress – including 19 Democrats and seven Republicans.
The controversy escalated further when Omar was also asked about separate legislation proposed by Randy Fine that would prohibit dual citizens from serving in Congress unless they formally renounce citizenship in any other country. The measure, titled the ‘Disqualifying Dual Loyalty Act,’ was introduced last year and argues lawmakers should owe allegiance solely to the United States. When asked about the bill, Omar appeared unfamiliar with it. ‘Who’s that?’ she responded when Fine’s name was mentioned. Fine later defended his legislation in a statement, saying: ‘I think it’s a fair argument to say you can only swear allegiance to one country, and if you’re in Congress, that allegiance should be to America.’ ‘This bill ensures that the people making laws for our citizens are themselves fully committed to our country, not divided between two.’
