NEWCASTLE, UK: Football fans with hearing disabilities will for the first time ever experience the atmosphere of a live match during Newcastle United’s Premier League home game against Tottenham thanks to the newly-introduced technology of haptic shirts.
NUFC’s front-of-shirt sponsor, Sela, will introduce the world-first haptic shirts that allow deaf fans and fans with hearing loss to experience live atmospheres during a football game at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
Haptic shirts use a technology that transforms the noise of the stadium into real-time touch sensation. Fans and the match day mascots, who are deaf or have hearing loss, will be wearing the shirts in the stands.
A leading live events and experiences company, Sela has been the driving force behind the initiative as a demonstration of their commitment to using innovation to provide moments to all fans.
The company has committed to providing this technology at all future Newcastle home games and hopes its actions will inspire football clubs across the Premier League, Europe and beyond to build on efforts to improve accessibility.
Moreover, the match will also see Sela donate its front-of-shirt sponsorship to RNID, the national charity supporting the 12 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
Sela’s Senior Vice President Ibrahim Mohtaseb said: “St. James’ Park is renowned for its noise and passion. Through this initiative we hope to enable deaf fans and fans with hearing loss to feel a part of this.”
He welcomed the whole football family to join them by adopting the technology.
Peter Silverstone, United’s chief commercial officer, said: “When Sela shared the idea and technology behind the haptic shirts, we supported the concept immediately, knowing it would make such an impact to our supporters who are deaf or have hearing loss.”
He added: “‘Un-silence the Crowd’ fills everybody associated with this initiative with deep pride, from all NUFC, Newcastle United Foundation, Sela and RNID, along with all stakeholders who have helped make this possible.
“We believe that ‘Un-silence the Crowd’ will be truly game-changing for football and expect this campaign will revolutionize the football experience for any fan who is deaf or has hearing loss, regardless of which team they support,” concluded Silverstone.
It is set to be a historic occasion, marking the first time a hearing-loss charity has been promoted on a Premier League front-of-shirt, as well as the launch of the cutting-edge shirts themselves.
Meanwhile, Teri Devine, RNID’s director for inclusion, said: “It’s fantastic to see Sela and Newcastle United leading the way in championing this technology which has the potential to have a real and lasting impact on how people who are deaf and have hearing loss experience live sports.”
Devine expressed excitement to be part of the collaboration and said he hoped this exposure opens up conversations among football fans about hearing loss and encourages other football clubs to raise their game and make sure deaf fans are fully included.
Haptic shirts from Sela to allow Newcastle fans with hearing loss to experience live atmosphere in EPL
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Haptic shirts from Sela to allow Newcastle fans with hearing loss to experience live atmosphere in EPL
- NUFC’s front-of-shirt sponsor, Sela, introduces world-first haptic shirts that allow fans with hearing disability to experience live atmosphere during NUFC-Tottenham clash on Saturday
- Haptic shirts use a technology that transform the noise of the stadium into real-time touch sensation
Former Croatia midfielder Nikola Pokrivač dies in car accident at age 39
- The federation announced that Pokrivač died Friday night in a car accident
- Pokrivač made 15 appearances for Croatia’s national team
ZAGREB: Nikola Pokrivač, a former Croatia national team midfielder who played at the 2008 European Championship, has died in a car accident, his country’s soccer federation said. He was 39.
The federation announced that Pokrivač died Friday night in a car accident in the city of Karlovac.
Pokrivač played for Dinamo Zagreb, Monaco and Salzburg before being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2015.
Pokrivač made 15 appearances for Croatia’s national team.
Marijan Kustić, president of the Croatian Football Federation, called Pokrivač a “great football player” who “showed great courage in life by overcoming a terrible disease.” He offered condolences to Pokrivač’s family.
Dinamo said in a statement that Pokrivač was a talented midfielder who played 69 times for the team and participated in four championship titles.
F1 fans enjoy start of Saudi Arabian GP weekend at fan zone
JEDDAH: Fans from around the world enjoyed the first day of the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix race weekend on Friday at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit fan zone.
The site, next to the racetrack, offered a range of experiences including F1 interactive simulators, sim racing, a pit stop challenge, an F1 show car, driver selfies in augmented reality and a virtual pit tour, all designed to bring fans closer to the sport.
There were also food trucks, live music, cutting-edge driving simulators, virtual racing games and several F1 cars for photo opportunities.
Many fans who spoke with Arab News said they had traveled from places such as Riyadh, Dammam, Hail, Taif, Madina and Jizan to experience the race in Jeddah.
“It is an amazing event and as a family we are really enjoying every bit of it. I was really looking forward to seeing a racing car close up, and this is what Formula 1 is all about,” said local Saudi businessman Fahad Al-Malki, there with his family from Jeddah.
He added: “It is an amazing experience from the moment you start arriving around the road. It is so organized. I love the way everyone is so cooperative while you walk in, people are smiling and everyone is welcoming you, I enjoy that. My family is here and you get different ages of groups and families are sitting together and they are enjoying it. It is an amazing experience.”
Meanwhile, Jimmy from Glasgow, Scotland, described the Formula 1 weekend as “amazing.”
“This is my first time to attend the F1 race and I am glad to see it here in Jeddah,” he said. “Besides watching the (racing) I also had the chance to explore the fan zone. It is incredible and the food court is fantastic. Simply, my friend and I are just having fun and enjoying everything here.”
Laisly, from the Philippines, said: “I am very surprised. I was really looking forward to seeing a racing car from close up, it is really an interesting event. I’m really excited to see the race and at the same time enjoy the atmosphere of the fan zone.”
She added: “For us as Filipinos who are working here in Saudi Arabia, it is really one of a kind and hopefully these kinds of events will continue and recently there are many opportunities to see a race like this.”
Dortmund to treat every game as a final in bid for top four, says Gross
- “In this stadium, with the fans, you can beat any team in the world. (Missing out) on that would hurt a lot,” Gross told reporters on Saturday
Borussia Dortmund will approach every match like a final as they push for a top four finish in the Bundesliga, midfielder Pascal Gross said ahead of Sunday’s home game against seventh-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Dortmund are eighth in the table with 42 points from 29 games, their worst position since 2014-15 when they finished seventh. They trail fourth-placed RB Leipzig by six points with five games remaining in the season.
Dortmund’s confidence in securing a European spot has grown, with Gross seeing his side’s 3-1 midweek home win over Barcelona in the Champions League as a boost, despite the side losing 5-3 on aggregate, which eliminated them from the competition.
“In this stadium, with the fans, you can beat any team in the world. (Missing out) on that would hurt a lot,” Gross told reporters on Saturday.
“That’s why we need to do everything in our power in the final five games to get as many points as we possibly can. This season is crazy. We’ve almost lost too many games already to be able to reach that goal.
“But when you look at the table, you can see that anything is possible. The next five games are all finals for us.”
The 33-year-old added that the team was more cohesive now, “I feel like we’re more solid now. If one person makes a mistake, someone else smoothes it out for him. That helps you to trust in what you’re doing.”
Dortmund manager Nico Kovac called for more passion and aggression in the next five games and said captain Emre Can and midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka, who missed the Barcelona game with injury, are in contention to feature against Gladbach.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says he will discuss his future at end of season
- Carlo Ancelotti has eluded speaking about his future after recent reports that again linked the Real Madrid coach with a move to Brazil’s national team
- The veteran Italian manager was asked several times by reporters on Saturday at a pre-game press conference if he would leave the Spanish giant this summer
MADRID: Carlo Ancelotti has eluded speaking about his future after recent reports that again linked the Real Madrid coach with a move to Brazil’s national team.
The veteran Italian manager was asked several times by reporters on Saturday at a pre-game press conference if he would leave the Spanish giant this summer, and each time he responded that he didn’t want to speak about it.
“At the end of the season we will speak about this with the club,” he said more than once.
The 65-year-old Ancelotti is under contract with Madrid through June 2026.
Speculation regarding his career plans has once again spiked after Madrid’s exit from the Champions League this week. Britain’s Sky Sports has reported that he will step down following the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona on April 26.
Besides the Copa del Rey, Madrid is still in the fight to defend its La Liga title and is also to play in the Club World Cup this summer.
Madrid is in second place behind Barcelona in the league. It hosts fourth-place Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Brazil has reportedly been after Ancelotti since last year as it seeks an elite coach for the 2026 World Cup. Brazil fired Dorival Júnior as coach last month.
Ancelotti is the only coach to have won the Champions League five times — three times with Madrid (2014, 2022, 2024) and twice with AC Milan (2003, 2007). He is also the only coach to have steered teams to domestic league titles in Spain, England, Italy, Germany and France.
Sinner backed to hit top gear in time for French Open after doping ban
- “His physical preparation is focused on Roland Garros. It’s a gruelling event with long, best-of-five-set matches,” Volandri told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport earlier this week
World number one Jannik Sinner may take time to hit his stride on his return from a three-month doping ban next month but will be in top form when he heads to the French Open, Italy’s Davis Cup captain Filippo Volandri said.
Sinner has not played since winning the Australian Open at the start of the season. He accepted a ban in February following a deal with the World Anti-Doping Agency, which had challenged a tribunal’s decision to clear him after two positive tests.
The 23-year-old’s ban will end on May 4 and he will make a return at the Rome Masters that begins three days later. His national team captain believes Sinner will hit top gear, though, only in time for the year’s second Grand Slam, which starts on May 25.
“His physical preparation is focused on Roland Garros. It’s a gruelling event with long, best-of-five-set matches,” Volandri told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport earlier this week.
“I’m convinced the preparation he’s had over the past three months will be beneficial in the long run. He has not been able to complete a proper winter pre-season in recent years and this break allows him to recharge for the next two to three seasons.”
Sinner, who was cleared to return to training from April 13, ramped up his preparations this week with a stint in Monte Carlo, and also practiced with Indian Wells champion Jack Draper of Britain at the Tennis Club de Beaulieu in France.
Volandri, who guided Italy to Davis Cup glory in the last two years, said he had spoken to Sinner’s coach Simone Vagnozzi and had no doubt about the player’s mindset before his comeback in Rome.
“He told me Jannik is extremely motivated, fully focused on upcoming tournaments and mentally calm,” Volandri said.
“Let’s not forget nothing replaces match adrenaline and that’s why I don’t expect a winning streak right away ... But the more matches he plays, the closer he’ll get to his ideal form for Paris.”
