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Why Nathan Aspinall Confronted Luke Littler’s Dad After Their First Ever Game

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Fame opens the door to the invasion of privacy. This is something 18-year-old Luke Littler quickly learned following his World Darts Championship victory last year after Nathan Aspinall offered the prying eyes to his renown an insight into the hard-nosed relationship he has with his father.

The Runcorn-born arrowsmith achieved instant stardom after beating three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 at Alexandra Palace last year. In doing so, he became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious event, and his rise as one of the greatest teenage athletes in history has ushered in a fresh wave of darts enthusiasts over the past few years.

Despite still being a teenager, Littler has basically won all there is to win when it comes to darts. He’s already a nine-time major winner, including the World Darts Championship, the UK Open, the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam, the Players Championship Finals, the Premier League, and the World Series Finals.

However, his sudden fame over the past few years has provoked considerable public curiosity, and one of his rivals, Aspinall, has shared his first encounter with the teenager and reflected on how his father, Anthony, has played a pivotal role in cultivating his roaring success.

Aspinall Details First Time He Met Littler

The world No.1 was just 12 at the time

nathan aspinall luke littler

“The first time I came across Luke, I think it was in Chester in a tournament and I beat him 4-3,” said The Asp, as per the Daily Mail. “I think he was aged four! No, he was around 12 and, wow, I just thought ‘Who is this kid?’

“I remember seeing his dad with him, and he was dead critical of him because he’d lost. I was thinking, mate, he’s 12, and I was in the top 16 in the world at that time. I said ‘Give him a break’. His dad said: ‘No, he needs to learn.’ That hard talk over the years has probably produced one of the best players in our sport. He’s amazing and what else can you say?”

Luke Littler

Littler has quickly become one of the most marketable names in English sport after his meteoric ascent to superstardom over the past three years. Considering his youth, much speculation has surrounded his potential to eclipse Phil Taylor’s iconic record of 16 World Championship titles, with The Power himself offering the teenager some valuable advice after his remarkable victory last year.

Phil Taylor’s Advice to Luke Littler

“If I could give him one piece of advice, or one tip to help him stay at the top, it wouldn’t be anything to do with his darts or the way he navigates his way around the board,” he said via the Sun. “I would tell him shoes. If you’re not standing comfortably on the oche, you’re not going to hit a target the size of your little fingernail, so make sure your shoes fit perfectly — and take two or three pairs with you everywhere.

“And sleep. Make sure you get enough rest. I still take a mattress topper with me everywhere I go because some hotel beds are like sleeping in the middle of the road. Your darts won’t go where you want them to land if you are bleary-eyed after a restless night.”

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Tottenham Handed Transfer Blow as Juventus Schedule Emi Martinez Meeting

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Tottenham could have a problem brewing amid reports one of their players may have fallen down the shortlist of another club. Spurs are in the midst of a record-breaking transfer window that has seen them spend more than they ever have, with their spend totaling more than £230million so far.

The North London club will continue to spend, backing Roberto De Zerbi to put together a European qualification attempt next season, and they can afford to do it.

But that doesn’t mean sales are not necessary, with the books needing to be balanced, even if just partially, while De Zerbi will also want to avoid having an overcrowded squad next season. As part of that equation, goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is effectively for sale, but there may be a problem.

Juventus pushing to sign Vicario alternative

Tottenham Hotspur's Guglielmo Vicario reacts vs Brentford

According to Sky Italy, Juventus are now advancing their interest in Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who was seen as the one name that was put ahead of Spurs stopper Vicario this summer.

According to the report, Juventus officials are meeting in Italy today, on Wednesday, to discuss a possible deal for Martinez, It’s reported the club officials will discuss whether a deal is possible and how much they are willing to pay to sign the World Cup keeper.

Crucially, it’s added that Vicario is seen as a secondary option, and that the Old Lady will ‘exhaust all options’ to sign Martinez first before moving on to the Spurs player.

Juventus CEO Giovanni Carnevali recently said: “Martinez is playing (at the World Cup) so we have to wait and see.

“He is a goalkeeper who interests us. However, I reiterate what I said earlier regarding Juventus: there could be many opportunities. We need to evaluate things carefully, especially right now, given that the valuations for some players are excessively high—unrealistic figures.”

Spurs relying on Vicario exit this summer

Tottenham Hotspur's Guglielmo Vicario looks dejected after Crystal Palace's Jorgen Strand Larsen scores via Reuters

The problem for Tottenham is not only that they will miss out on a chance to land a transfer windfall this summer, with Vicario carrying an asking price of £20million, but Spurs also need to make room.

The North London club have snapped up Martin Dubravka to serve as the club’s new back-up, and they have given Antonin Kinsky a new contract, effectively making him a number one.

The reality is that Spurs no longer have a spot for Vicario, and they will be relying on a sale this summer. The keeper is said to want a move back to Italy this summer, and if Juventus are not interested, Vicario’s chances of finding a new club in Italy are likely to be drastically reduced. That could be a problem for the goalkeeper, and perhaps a bigger one for Spurs.

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Egypt File Complaint and Post Stunning Statement After Argentina Loss

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Egypt have filed a complaint and posted a stunning statement on social media following their dramatic defeat to Argentina at the 2026 World Cup.

The African nation looked as if they were going to pull off a shock when they led 2-0 with 15 minutes of the last 16 clash remaining. It wasn’t to be for The Pharaohs, though, as Argentina scored three late goals to break Egyptian hearts.

Hossam Hassan’s side were absolutely furious after Enzo Fernandez’s winner in the 93rd minute. They believed that Mohamed Salah was felled in the build-up to the goal and that it should not have counted.

They were also reeling that they had a goal disallowed earlier in the second half when Lisandro Martinez was adjudged to have been fouled in the build-up.

Egypt Make Complaint to FIFA

Hossam Hassan Paul Childs via Reuters

Speaking after the match, Egypt manager Hassan claimed that the game was ‘rigged’ to allow Argentina and Lionel Messi to stay in the competition.

He said: “They want Argentina and Messi to stay in the World Cup for marketing. If they wanted Argentina to win, why invite other teams to participate? This match was clearly rigged, and the whole world witnessed it.

“We were better than Argentina, and football is unfair. We had a clear penalty that the referee didn’t award, and Ziko’s goal at the start of the second half was disallowed, even though it was perfectly legitimate.”

Spanish publication AS have now reported that Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida has submitted a formal complaint against French referee François Letexier and his officiating team following the match.

Egypt are seeking an explanation and have called for an investigation into what they describe as controversial decisions. The federation has also officially called for the French officiating team to be removed from the remainder of the tournament.

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Egypt Post Statement

Egypt coaches argue with the referee after Argentina's winner REUTERS/Marco Bello

The Egyptian FA have now posted an extraordinary statement on social media. It started: “The Egyptian Football Association extends its sincere gratitude to the Egyptian people everywhere for their unwavering support, loyalty, and belief in the national team throughout our FIFA World Cup journey.

“The exceptional support shown by millions of Egyptians, both at home and around the world, was a source of immense pride and motivation for our players and delegation. The national team represented Egypt with honor, determination, and courage, delivering performances that reflected the spirit and character of our nation.

“At the same time, the Egyptian Football Association cannot remain silent regarding the refereeing decisions witnessed during the match against Argentina as well as the failure to make appropriate use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Several key incidents raised serious concerns and left profound questions about the consistency and fairness of decisions that directly influenced the course of the game.

“A number of football experts and specialist analysts, both locally and internationally, have highlighted controversial and influential refereeing incidents during the match. This underlines the importance of maintaining the highest standards of integrity, fairness, and transparency in match officiating, particularly in a competition of the stature and significance of the FIFA World Cup 2026.”

They continued: “Egyptian football has always respected the principles of fair play, sporting integrity, and respect for the game. These same principles require that all teams compete on equal terms and receive equal treatment. What occurred during the match has understandably generated widespread frustration among our players, staff, and supporters, who expected the highest standards of officiating on football’s biggest stage.

“Defending the rights and interests of the Egyptian national team is not a matter that can be ignored, minimized, or treated as secondary. It is a responsibility that we carry with full conviction and determination. Every player who wears the Egyptian shirt, and every supporter who stands behind the team, deserves fairness, respect, and equal application of the laws of the game.”

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Maxxine Dupri’s Real-Life Husband Makes Feelings Clear After Austin Theory Kiss

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Professional wrestling star Kam Hendrix has spoken out following the recent viral footage of real-life wife and fellow wrestler Maxxine Dupri kissing Austin Theory.

The incident occurred on the latest episode of WWE Raw, following Theory’s triumph alongside The Vision partner Bron Breakker in the World Tag Team Championship match against The Street Profits in Rosemont, Illinois.

Theory and Breakker were looking to take down the reigning holders, Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford, and regain the crown from the same duo that snatched it from them a fortnight ago on Raw in London.

The Vision appeared to be on the cusp of defeat once more in the latest tag team title showdown, as Theory was set to be struck by Dawkins with brass knuckles late on in the contest.

The Vision member, Logan Paul, attempted to intervene at one point in the fight, but he was dismissed by the referee and could not stop what was appearing to be an inevitable defeat for his stablemates.

However, Dupri made a sudden appearance during the fight’s climax, stepping in to stop Theory getting hit and landing a low blow on Dawkins.

Maxxine Dupri Joins The Vision on Monday Night Raw

This dramatic intervention allowed Theory to pin down Dawkins and land the clinching move, making The Vision champions once more and ending The Street Profits’ short run as holders.

However, the drama did not stop there, as this is when Dupri was seen embracing Theory and sharing a kiss with him. The moment confirmed Dupri’s allegiance to The Vision and on-screen romance with Theory after much backstage speculation.

The viral moment caused many wrestling fans to question how Hendrix felt seeing his wife kiss Theory on the 6th of July Raw broadcast.

Maxxine Dupri’s Real-Life Husband Responds to Kiss

Austin Theory and Maxxine Dupri

Hendrix, whose real name is Anthony Luke, married Dupri, real name Sydney Zmrzel, last December after about seven years of dating.

It turns out Hendrix was not bothered in the slightest by the incident involving his wife and Theory, as his response on his official X account read: “Damn, didn’t realise how many people were jealous of Kam Hendrix! Feels kinda good, actually.”

Hendrix obviously understands the entertainment and scripted nature of professional wrestling, having been a member of WWE for two years now, so the matter involving Dupri will clearly not bother him.

WWE fans invested in The Vision’s story will be keen to know how Theory and Dupri’s on-screen romance develops and how it could play a part in future events.

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