QUOTES OF THE DAY

“It’s a dangerous one to call on governments to proactively offer asylum. But if we are approached by Iranian players seeking asylum, then of course we should be looking to provide that support to them because we know they have chosen to make a very bold and brave political statement and we know the risks to their lives are serious and severe”

- Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, who chairs the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, after Iran’s players stood in silence during their country’s national anthem ahead of their World Cup defeat to England on Monday.

“You were lucky to have known both”

- The King to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa when they looked at a 1996 photograph of Nelson Mandela and the late Queen during the Mr Ramaphosa’s state visit.

“At first I thought he wouldn’t remember, but when he did it, I was like: ‘Oh my God, he’s done the worm”’

- Finlay Fisher, 11, who has cerebral palsy, was delighted when Jack Grealish kept his promise to do his “worm” celebration if he scored a goal at the World Cup after the pair met during a Manchester City community event last week.

“He had so much on his plate, he had just scored a goal for England, and then he remembered to do that celebration for Fin. It just shows the level of integrity and what a legend the guy is”

- Finlay’s father Dan Fisher praises

Jack Grealish.