A ‘Liver Bird’ sits on top of the Liver Building in Liverpool. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images
Executives at Anfield have applied to register the Liver bird, the symbol of Liverpool, as a trademark. The club say it’s a necessary move to protect counterfeiters making money from fake shirts. Is this a legitimate claim?
This isn’t the first [...]

Andy Reid scores for the Republic of Ireland against Cyprus in 2004. Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Here’s a good way for a manager to generate public interest in a humdrum international friendly: make an incendiary decision, one that hints at spite and hypocrisy and will almost definitely impact on the team’s long-term welfare.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s omission of [...]

An artist’s impression of the Olympic stadium for the London 2012 Olympics. Photograph: PA
YesNo

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe addresses a speech, on April 18, 2008 during celebrations for the country’s independence. Photograph: Alexander Joe/AFP
The idea that sport and politics don’t mix is the first resort of the ignorant fan, born of a blithe denial of the truth. History provides any number of examples to the contrary, from Joe Louis [...]