A judge lifted a court order on Friday that had stopped newspapers from reporting allegations about England captain John Terry.
Terry’s lawyers were granted the injunction last Friday after the Chelsea star learned that a newspaper was about to publish a story about his private life. The order even prevented publication that the injunction even existed.
However, High Court judge Michael Tugendhat lifted the injunction altogether on Friday and said newspapers were allowed to identify Terry.
PHOTO: AFP
Publication of the allegations could affect Terry’s standing with England coach Fabio Capello, who has instilled a strict disciplinary code within the squad. The Italian might take away the captaincy from the central defender if he believes his off-field behavior might affect the team.
‘FAMOUS’ WOMAN
The court injunction related to a story about the 29-year-old Terry, who is married, and his ties with another woman whom the judge did not identify. The judge said she was “a famous person,” but not in the world of sport.
The judge said that Terry, who was referred to as LNS in the judgment, accepted the truth of certain information covered by the order.
“I do not know whether or not LNS considers that those matters were acceptable for a person in LNS’ position in life,” he said.
One of the issues in the case, the judge said, was the effect the allegations might have on Terry’s image. He has several sponsorship deals on top of his reported £170,000 (US$275,000) a week salary with Chelsea.
‘FREE TO LIVE’
“That is why sponsors may be sensitive to the public image of those sportspersons whom they pay to promote their products,” the judge said. “Freedom to live as one chooses is one of the most valuable freedoms, but so is the freedom to criticize — within the limits of the law — the conduct of other members of society as being socially harmful, or wrong.”
The judge also said the newspaper, the News of the World, should have been given notice about LNS’ intention to seek an injunction.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care