Dunny’s Hairdryer

A NEW parliamentary report has called on football to cut gambling advertising in stadiums.

Good. In fact, getting rid of those annoying neon hoardings altogether would not be a bad idea.

It is hard to argue against attempts to reduce the invasive nature of adverts for betting firms – and it would be even harder if the Government itself did not advocate us all having a punt at least once a week.

You cannot listen to certain radio stations without being bombarded by people telling you to have a wager on the statebacked National Lottery.

Because that is what it is: a wager. You are being asked to gamble on odds that are stacked massively against you.

But, somehow, the National Lottery is seen as good, but bookies are bad.

Not like politicians to be hypocritical.

IN discussions about a European Super League, a mantra is repeated. The Premier League is, by far and away, the best in the world.

Listen to TALKSPORT and you hear it a dozen times every hour.

But IF we have the best league, how come the draw for the Champions League last-16 featured one more German team than English, one more Italian and twice as many Spanish?

Three from the Bundesliga, three from Serie A and four from La Liga, compared with two from the Best League In The World.

No wonder the rest of Europe think we are arrogant.

> FOR those people still complaining about Mary Earps winning the BBC Sports Personality of the Year because the Lionesses got beaten in the 2023 World Cup Final, here’s a reminder that Michael Owen won it in 1998 and David Beckham in 2001.