Football focus
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.It sounds like a pub joke. Bill Clinton, Vladimir Putin and Tony Blair meet at the Millennium Summit of world leaders in New York.
It sounds like a pub joke. Bill Clinton, Vladimir Putin and Tony Blair meet at the Millennium Summit of world leaders in New York.
Tony says to Bill: "What have you come here to achieve?" President Clinton replies: "I'd really like to get a Middle East peace deal before I leave office." Then Tony turns to Vladimir and asks the same question. The Russian president replies that he wants to demilitarise space, for both domestic and foreign policy reasons. Then Bill and Vladimir ask Tony what he came to New York to do. "Well, I think we've really got to stop Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink moving to Villa on a free transfer. Honestly, Fifa doesn't know what it's doing. I'm going to make a fuss about this one."
Goodness knows what, say, President Festus Mogae of Botswana or King Harald V of Norway will make of Mr Blair's initiative. And, just to be fair, Mr Blair has also raised some issues of truly global import, such as the plight of Africa. But the fact that our Prime Minister has let it be known that he will be bothering busy international statesmen and stateswomen with football transfer fees suggests that, just for once, the Downing Street machine may have missed the goal.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments