Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Ozil aims to address lack of British Asians in football

Ozil aims to address lack of British Asians in football

Former Arsenal star Mesut Ozil hopes to boost the numbers of British Asians breaking into professional football after helping launch a development centre in Bradford.

The United Kingdom has a South Asian population of more than three million people, which amounts to seven per cent of the population.


Yet only 11 British Asians have played the professional game in England.

In a bid to redress that stark imbalance, Fenerbahce midfielder Ozil joined forces with the Football Association and the Football for Peace organisation.

Football for Peace, led by former British Asian player Kashif Siddiqi and the FA, are co-launching the Mesut Ozil Development Centre in Bradford, which has a large South Asian community.

The centre will run football and life skill sessions at League Two side Bradford City's training ground.

Several Premier League and Football League clubs have also signed up to the initiative and it is hoped the Bradford centre will be the first of many to open nationwide.

Ozil has Turkish roots but represented Germany, the country of his birth, before quitting the international stage in 2018 in protest at "racism and disrespect".

"I have always been surprised why the South Asian Community are only allowed to be fans of the game, why are we not seeing more players or managers breaking into professional football?" Ozil said.

"I want to support them, give them an opportunity to be successful both on and off the pitch.

"I am from an ethnically diverse background and understand the challenges. I hope the Football for Peace Mesut Ozil Centre will become the platform they need."

The centre will also provide workshops for parents to help build the relationship between South Asians and the wider football community.

Siddiqi, who co-founded Football for Peace said: "Football has given me so much and working with Mesut we want to create a platform that will provide a framework inside the football pyramid between professional clubs and also our community."

More For You

bella thorne Charlie Puth

Bella Thorne says Charlie Puth launched a hate train after she refused to sleep with him

Getty Images

Bella Thorne says Charlie Puth launched a hate train after she refused to sleep with him

Highlights:

  • Bella Thorne accuses Charlie Puth of sparking a ‘hate train’ after she turned him down.
  • She claims he publicly misled fans about their brief romance in 2016.
  • Puth had previously implied she cheated on her ex Tyler Posey with him.
  • Thorne is now engaged to Mark Emms; Puth married Brooke Sansone in 2024.

Actor Bella Thorne has reignited a years-old controversy with singer Charlie Puth, accusing him of turning public opinion against her in 2016 after she refused to sleep with him. The former Disney star made the claims in an Instagram comment responding to singer Jade Thirlwall’s recent remarks about never wanting to work with Puth.

 bella thorne Charlie Puth Actress Bella Thorne and Charlie Puth attend the Y100's Jingle Ball 2016Getty Images

Keep ReadingShow less
Manisha Koirala

An Audience with Manisha Koirala

Manisha Koirala: Courage, Cinema, Community

This July, the iconic Shaw Theatre in London will host an afternoon of inspiration, culture and connection as Bollywood star and cancer survivor Manisha Koirala takes the stage for a very special event. ‘An Audience with Manisha Koirala’, taking place on Sunday 13 July from 12.30 to 4.00pm, promises to be an unforgettable afternoon celebrating not only a glittering film career but also an extraordinary story of survival and strength.

Organised by Ovacome, the UK’s ovarian cancer support charity, this one-of-a-kind event offers fans and supporters the rare chance to see Manisha in person and hear her story in her own words. Interviewed by Dr Amir Khan, NHS GP and TV personality, and Fatima Patel, Managing Editor of Asian Standard, Manisha will reflect on her journey through the highs of stardom, her battle with ovarian cancer, and the resilience that carried her forward. She will also treat the audience to an exclusive reading from her acclaimed book Healed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Archer-Getty

Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. (Photo: Getty Images)

Bumrah claims five at Lord’s as Archer strikes early on Test return

JOFRA ARCHER made an early breakthrough on his return to Test cricket at Lord’s on Friday, while India captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a low score on the second day of the third Test.

Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. Later, Gill, who had scored 585 runs in four innings in the series including three centuries, was caught behind for 16.

Keep ReadingShow less
​Alcaraz

Alcaraz has won 35 of his 38 matches on grass, including 20 in a row at Wimbledon since losing to Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.

Getty Images

Alcaraz beats Fritz to enter third straight Wimbledon final

 

Highlights:

 
     
  • Carlos Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz in four sets to reach his third Wimbledon final in a row.
  •  
  • The match was played in extreme heat, with on-court temperatures nearing 32 degrees Celsius.
  •  
  • Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 24 matches, the longest of his career.
  •  
  • He is aiming to become the fifth man in the Open era to win three straight Wimbledon titles.

CARLOS Alcaraz reached his third consecutive Wimbledon final on Friday with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) win over American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less